FEET FIRST

1st January – the traditional doorway into the excitement of the New Year

Edinburgh’s Royal Mile – the historic, evocative stage for a new initiative for Scottish theatre

Building on the history of the outdoor entertainments traditionally provided during Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, 1st January 2009 will see the premiere of FEET FIRST, a major, free and accessible new event showcasing a wide range of outdoor entertainment led by Scottish artists.

Creativity in Scotland is on the cusp of striding confidently into the future – outdoor theatre is a rapidly emerging form of this creativity. The nascent talent available in the country is now getting the opportunity to prove itself. Derived from the tradition of First Footing, FEET FIRST will provide a unified canvas for these artists to create new work.

The Stage - FEET FIRST will approach The Royal Mile (High Street) as one, unified stage and the evening as one unified performance, thus creating creative coherence and a unity of time and place.

FEET FIRST will use all of this wonderful setting – the buildings, the rooftops, the closes, the shop windows, the sky above, and the street itself. By using different pieces of performance, design, and  installation, together with sound and lighting, the space will be connected physically.

The Performance - FEET FIRST will be constructed as one coherent performance with start and finish points. Within this whole it will incorporate fixed and travelling performances, installations/ performances in shop windows, sound and lighting installations running the length of the street, down the closes and around notable features, aerial performance above the heads of the audience, live music, and a spectacular finale.

FEET FIRST will be an exciting addition to both Edinburgh’s cultural life and the creative health of the nation: new artists, a new event, new opportunities, new audiences, all on the first day of a new year.

For more information on FEET FIRST together with line-up of artists please click here (PDF)