Acknowledgement of Country

A spectacular free outdoor event opening the 75th Edinburgh International Festival

Featuring Gravity & Other Myths / Djuki Mala / Aidan O’Rourke / Ekrem Eli Phoenix / National Youth Choir of Scotland

When was the last time you felt the hairs on the back of your neck stand up? When did you last hear that collective intake of breath from a crowd? Or feel that electric moment of silence before the applause begins? When did you last see something truly awe-inspiring?

Hailing from Adelaide, Australia, award-winning contemporary circus powerhouse Gravity & Other Myths and critically acclaimed Australian First Nations dance-theatre sensations, Djuki Mala will open the 2022 International Festival with this glorious free opening night event.

In MACRO, a thirty-strong troupe team up with the NYCOS choir for a stunning performance. There will be music, projections, drums and a spectacular light display. Expect a heart-in-mouth display of skill, daring and superhuman coordination.

A co-production with Adelaide Festival, the show features a cross-cultural musical collaboration between Djuki Mala, with their unique fusion of traditional dance, pop culture and storytelling, and five revered Celtic musicians including Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle), Kathleen MacInnes (vocals) and Brìghde Chaimbeul (pipes).

Join this inspirational community of performers in a celebration like no other as we kick off our 75th anniversary year in spectacular style. You won’t believe your eyes.

Full details will be announced on 27 June 2022. Visit eif.co.uk for more information.

About Gravity & Other Myths

As Australia’s leading acrobatics and physical theatre company, GOM challenges new circus as an artform through conceptual sophistication and acrobatic virtuosity while nurturing human connection. GOM has cemented their place as a leader in the Australian arts sector through steady growth, six critically acclaimed works and broad global success having toured to 37 countries with a collective attendance of 750,000+. The company applies an honest approach to performance, illuminating the complexities of humanity through genuinity, humour and physicality.

About Djuki Mala

Djuki Mala achieved overnight success when Frank Djirrimbilpilwuy uploaded a video clip of the group dancing to “Zorba the Greek” on YouTube in October 2007. Within twelve weeks it had peaked at over 500,000 hits worldwide and to date it stands at over 2.5 million views.

Since 2007 they have created a number of shows combining their re-interpretations of popular culture and dance with narrative and drama. The work reflects the juxtapositions they see in contemporary Yolngu culture, and offers a rare and insightful view into Aboriginal Australia.

Always exuberant and blending their contemporary experience as young people with their traditional culture, their identity as Yolngu people is always in the foreground. Dressed in traditional costumes and ochre, with Gara (spears) & Galpu (spear thrower) they create work that is a marvel of timing, comedy and clowning, warming both the heart and soul. Behind the humour is startling movement skill and discipline, drawn from traditional culture and dance.

Project Credits

A co-production between the Edinburgh International Festival and the Adelaide Festival.

Supported by EventScotland.

Part of the UK/Australia Season 2021–22, supported by the Australian Government through the International Cultural Diplomacy Arts Fund and the Australian Cultural Fund, and the British Council. With further support from the Government of South Australia through Arts South Australia.

In collaboration with Scottish Rugby.