12 years from its inception, the British Council’s biennial Edinburgh Showcase will this year stage more than 30 productions across the Fringe. These range from young unknowns to established artists and encompass new writing, physical and visual theatre, live art, and mixed-media installations.

From 22-29 August up to 250 international programmers, venue and festival directors from more than 50 countries will attend this year’s Showcase in the middle of the world’s biggest festival of performing arts. Companies taking part in the Showcase are deliberately chosen to represent the more unusual and cutting edge British work that might never otherwise have the chance to be seen by this group of prestigious programmers.

The added benefit for Edinburgh audiences is the presence of a fantastically diverse range of British companies on the Fringe.

Two of the more eclectic choices in this year’s Showcase are Bootworks Theatre Collective who are bringing their Black Box, a five minute show staged within a portable, fully functioning miniature theatre for an audience of one and Blast Theory whose work Rider Spoke will take their audience on bicycles through the streets of Edinburgh to hidden locations where they can eavesdrop on the thoughts of other riders or commit their own secrets to tape.

Sally Cowling Director of Drama and Dance at the British Council, said: ‘Over the last 12 years the Edinburgh Showcase has provided a unique platform for a huge variety of artists, many of whom were included at the very beginning of their careers. The Showcase gives them the opportunity to experience the fantastic madness of Edinburgh at festival time and, crucially, to connect with influential international promoters in a supported environment.

'The Showcase is an important marketplace for British theatre makers looking to build an international profile for their work, but, as well as the immediate commercial opportunities they also get a chance to build creative relationships that bring benefits over a much longer period of time. For example, Adrian Howells who travelled to Israel and Singapore following the 2007 Showcase returns this year with a new piece inspired by his tour.’

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Chief Executive, Kath Mainland said: ‘The British Council’s Edinburgh Showcase remains a true benchmark of quality that inspires international promoters and ensures that performers continue to return to the Fringe.

'Everyone in the industry is aware of the extraordinary benefits the Showcase brings to the artists involved, what is less widely articulated is the bravery of the programming choices that are made by the British Council. The Edinburgh Showcase highlights the best of the UK’s theatre and alongside Made in Scotland is a brilliant opportunity to profile our leading performers and productions.’

The Edinburgh Showcase brings an estimated £1m to the UK theatre industry annually. It has been made possible by the generous support of the Scottish Arts Council, Arts Council England, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Wales Arts International. This year the Showcase is collaborating with Made in Scotland, an initiative funded by the Scottish Government’s Expo Fund.

For further information or images please contact Simon Raeside on +44 (0)131 524 5745 or email simon.raeside@britishcouncil.org.