Elegies
Elegies is the first dance adaptation of Elegies for the Dead in Cyrenaica by legendary Scottish poet and songwriter Hamish Henderson.
About Elegies
Experience a dance poem lamenting the lives lost in our challenging world of wars, ecocide and inequality.
Weaving together dance theatre, spoken word and live music, this is the first dance adaptation of the poetry book Elegies for the Dead in Cyrenaica (1948) by Hamish Henderson, Scottish soldier-poet, singer-songwriter and scholar-folk revivalist. Celebrate the 75th anniversary of Henderson winning the Somerset Maugham Award in 1949 for this very book, still considered the finest poetic writing to come out of the Second World War. The fragility of life is depicted in Henderson’s first-hand accounts from the North African desert military campaign and captured in his dedication of the book: ‘for our own and the others'; the story of the common bonds in the ‘deadlands’ of Cyrenaica (modern-day Libya) and shared helplessness of those loved ones at home waiting, praying - and dancing.
Set in a dancehall and a desert, this production is led by dancer-choreographer duo Helen Gould and George Adams who together with dancers Nicola Thomson and Edwin Wen embody ceilidh, jive, swing and lindy hop, evoking popular social dance culture of the 1940s and creating a cultural bridge to the present day.
Gould and Adams incorporate the reading of Henderson’s poems by poet/spoken word artists Morag Anderson and Stephen Watt, live music from vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Cera Impala and upcycled period costumes and set created by costume and light designers Katie Duxbury and Roddy Simpson.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Sponsored Links
Other Events at Scottish Storytelling Centre
Exhibition: Sea and Wind by Tea Bendix
The Scottish Storytelling Centre is delighted to present an exhibition of illustrations by Tea Bendix, inspired by the collection Danish Folk Tales by storyteller Svend-Erik Engh.
READ MORE
Heartbeats of Ukraine
Join the Culture Code Ensemble and the Cross-Party Group on Ukraine for an evening in aid of Hospitallers, a Ukrainian voluntary organisation of paramedics, at the Scottish Storytelling Centre!
READ MORE
MCFBards Showcase: Where Voices Rise and Stories Resonate
Join Multi Cultural Family Base (MCFB) at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 21st February a powerful celebration of diverse talent shaping the future of Edinburgh’s artistic landscape!
READ MORE
By Creating We Think: Patrick Geddes and the Futures of Edinburgh
This event, at Scottish Storytelling Centre on 22nd February, is open to all with an interest in the future direction of culture and creative society in Edinburgh and beyond.
READ MORE
Guid Crack: Funny Old Death
Join guest storyteller Peter Chand for another session of Edinburgh’s monthly storytelling club held upstairs in the Waverley Bar on Friday 28th February!
READ MORE
Through the Shortbread Tin
The National Theatre of Scotland is touring in 2025 with a brand new show 'Through the Shortbread Tin' and stops off at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 8th & 9th April!
READ MORESponsored Links
Similar events you might like...
Close-Up Magic at The Joker & Thief
Experience close-up magic with Tim Licata, one of Scotland’s most entertaining sleight-of-hand artists, at your table in the lovely Joker & Thief pub every Thursday!
READ MORE
Dr. Bonk’s Macarbaret
Scotland's silliest surgeon, Dr. Bonk, is back with his hit SELL-OUT SHOW 'Dr Bonk's Macarbaret', an evening of drag, burlesque, music, comedy, and medical mayhem!
READ MORE
Stand Up Horror
Actor, writer and tour guide Alex Staniforth invents a horror story every night at Stand Up Horror... you decide what the characters do, find and sometimes - yes sometimes - even love!
READ MORE
Teen Acting Class - 12 years to 18 years
Leith Youth Drama teen acting classes return for ages 12 to 18 years on Thursdays at Custom House Leith.
READ MORE
Fables Stage Taster Sessions: Take Two: Electric Boogaloo
Enjoy this new, free 2-hour theatre taster sessions from Fables’ Stage Community Theatre at Out of the Blue Drill Hall on Saturday 8th or 22nd February!
READ MORE
Manipulate Festival: Snapshots
Snapshots is a platform for artists based in Scotland to try out new or developing work across puppetry, circus, physical theatre, visual theatre and dance!
READ MORE
Manipulate Festival: Open Studio - Dusk Till Dawn
This intimate Open Studio brings drama on the small scale: a plant surviving a storm, a moth using celestial navigation to find its way, a barn owl quietly hunting for prey.
READ MORE
Queenz: Drag Me To The Disco!
Queenz are back with a BRAND NEW SHOW! Join the gals for an electrifying, live vocal, drag-stravaganza, where Dancing Queenz and Disco Dreams collide for the party of a lifetime!
READ MORE
Manipulate Festival: The Law of Gravity
In a new collaboration between Blind Summit and Scottish Ensemble, puppeteers and musicians play together to discover the ways puppetry and music lead each other in a fragile dance.
READ MOREFind other events in Edinburgh
Sponsored Links