TheLeith Festivalis anarts festivalheld in theLeitharea ofEdinburghand takes place mainly in the EH6 and EH7 postcodes of Edinburgh which cover the old burgh of Leith.[1]It is a community based festival that takes place annually. It is run by the Leith Festival Association.[2]It had been previously run by Leith Festival Club. The Edinburgh Short Film Festival, LeithLate and Leith Jazz and Blues Festival also run along the same time as the Leith Festival.
| Leith Festival | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Theatre, comedy, dance, music, art, poetry, film, sport |
| Dates | 20189-17 June (exact dates vary each year) |
| Location(s) | Leith,Edinburgh |
| Years active | 1907–present |
| Website | www |
Background
editThe current version of the Leith Festival started in the late 1980s.[2]It takes place in June each year and includes Leith Festival Gala Day which started in 1907 as the Leith Gala.The Scotsmanhas reported that a precursor to the current day festival was established 100 years before the 2007 event. Leith Gala and Leith Pageant were started in order to raise money to pay for treatment atLeith Hospitalbefore the days on the National Health Service. It continues with the role of fund raising with the parade and Gala day events, fun fair and stalls onLeith Links.There have been a number of festivals of various kinds held in Leith from TheEdinburgh International Festivalto the 1951Festival of Britainand other local festivals. In the late 1960s an Art festival was set up as a community Festival. Over time the Gala expanded to become a community arts event being run continuously in its present form since the late eighties. It is supported by local businesses and funding (when available), and continues to be a much-anticipated annual event.
Timeline
edit1907 First Leith Gala takes place annually.
1932Leith Theatre(also known as Leith Town Hall and The Citadel Theatre) opened – many bands play this venue including Thin Lizzy 4 October 1975
1934 Royles Radio Rascals perform at the "Leith Hospital Pageant".
1936, 15 June The Scotsman reported "During the past fortnight entertainment of various kinds have been held on behalf ofLeith Hospitaland on Saturday these concluded with a number of outside concerts in the principal thoroughfares of Edinburgh and Leith. "The Scotsman has reported the Festival under its various names since the beginning.
1947Edinburgh FestivalandEdinburgh Fringe Festival,which holds many events in Leith, starts
1952 – 1986 Leith Gazette is published – it carries many articles dealing with the festival and publishes an annual two-page photo spread entitled "Sunshine on Leith Festival"
1956Leith Dockers Clubopens
1961 – 1968 Leith Theatre used as venue by theEdinburgh International Festival
1972 Scottish International journal Vol 5, p34, reported that "Leith Festival was first dreamt of, it was as a community festival involving the people of Leith in providing their own entertainment and in helping themselves. It was a development of the squatters campaign in the slums at the foot of (Leith Walk)..."
1973 Festival program entitled "Programme of events for Britain's only free community festival."
1988 Leith Theatre closed, since 2004Leith Theatre Trusthas been set up to bring the theatre back into use
2004Leith FM,later known as 98.8 Castle FM, starts as a two-week festival broadcast
2005Irvine Welshopens festival with first reading of new material at Leith Dockers Club
2010 Tom Allan wrote inThe Guardianof 30 May 2010 that "This year's ten-day Leith Festival got off to a flying start over the weekend with Leith Gala Day. There was a Samba band and dancers, a giant sound system for Edinburgh reggae legends Messenger, and hundreds of stalls sporting everything."
2011 The festival was launched with aWool Bomb attack.TheBBCreported that "Trees have been wrapped in woolly jumpers as part of a guerrilla arts project to mark the start of the Leith Festival."[3]
Past performers & appearances
edit- Kevin Bridgescomedian
- Sandra Brown,writer, broadcaster and actress
- Citadel Arts Group
- Leith Community & Concert Band
- Kingdom Theatre
- Raymond MearnsActor & Comedian
- Janey Godleystand-up comedian and writer
- Irvine WelshScottish novelist, playwright and short story writer
Bibliography
edit- Leith Gazette 1952 – 1986
- The Scotsman
- Edinburgh Evening News
- The Speaker, No.107, June 2013
- The Skinny
- The List
- The Leither Magazine Issue 94
- The Guardian
Programs are held by Edinburgh City Libraries 1990-96; 1998-99; 2002-09 and the National Library of Scotland 1971; 1973; 1990; 1994
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"Leith Festival set to kick off".The Scotsman.Johnston Press.1 June 2007.Retrieved9 April2013.
- ^ab"City vows to save Leith Festival".The Scotsman.Johnston Press.23 November 2011.Retrieved9 April2013.
- ^"Woolly jumper tree art to start Leith Festival".BBC News.British Broadcasting Corporation.10 June 2011.Retrieved16 April2013.