As a part of My Light Shines On, the Edinburgh International Festival commissioned some of Scotland’s major national artistic companies to create extraordinary works that audiences could enjoy from their own homes. In a tribute to the enduring spirit of our Festival City, they brought light and life to sites that had to stay empty this year. These unique performances for film reflected on what it means to keep a hopeful light burning in dark times.

The International Festival celebrated their long-standing relationship with Scottish Ballet with an expansive programme for film, including three duets from world-leading choreographers. Helen Pickett is the pioneering choreographer behind the 2019 International Festival’s acclaimed The Crucible. She revived her shorter duet work Trace, alongside Resident Choreographer Sophie Laplane’s Oxymore, both of which were commissioned for the 2013 International Festival. Alexander Whitley investigated the relationship between technological progress and the human capacity for forethought with Prometheus & Epimetheus, created in collaboration with Digital Artist in Residence Zachary Eastwood-Bloom.

Emerging choreographer Nicholas Shoesmith, who danced the role of John Proctor in The Crucible, presented the world premiere of Catalyst. This specially commissioned work was performed on the Festival Theatre’s empty stage in a gesture of creative resilience.

Three existing digital performances were also made available for International Festival audiences. Frontiers challenged outdated gender norms in classical ballet, created by San Francisco Ballet choreographer Myles Thatcher. Idle Eyes was an electric piece by Sophie Laplane featuring dancers from Scottish Ballet alongside the company’s Youth Exchange Programme. Tremble saw 26 dancers performing in an abstract dining room, from award-winning choreographer-directors Jess and Morgs.