Join Vanessa Kisuule and Safiya Sinclair for an electric night of performance poetry and spoken word in the International Festival’s Old College Quad venue. Both artists bring their wealth of diverse experiences to the event, which promises to be a memorable one.
Bristol-based Vanessa Kisuule is a writer and performer who has won over ten slam titles, including The Roundhouse Slam 2014, and has featured on radio and TV. She was Glastonbury Festival’s Resident Poet in 2019 and her recent poem on the historic toppling of Edward Colston’s statue, Hollow, went viral, gaining over 600,000 views on Twitter in three days. Kisuule is currently working on an essay collection and her debut novel.
She is joined by Safiya Sinclair, a writer working across poetry, fiction and memoir. Sinclair’s writing is political and rooted in her childhood in Jamaica, where she was born and raised. She is a winner of a Whiting Writers’ Award, the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Poetry and the Phillis Wheatley Book Award, amongst others. Her poetry collection Cannibal was selected as one of the American Library Association’s Notable Books of the Year and she is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Literary Arts Department at Brown University.
A Toast to the People brings together two spoken word artists, each performing their own set of performance poetry that includes a specially commissioned piece inspired by Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson’s ‘A Toast to the People’. Following their sets, the two artists take part in an exclusive discussion about their work and the pervading issues and themes of today.
Venue: Old College Quad - University of Edinburgh, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL
Our Old College Quad outdoor venue is home to our afternoon chamber music series, a session of traditional Scottish music, five nights of inspirational spoken word and unmissable late night cabaret.
Our outdoor venues are covered, but you should come dressed appropriately for the weather, including suitable footwear for walking across grass.
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!Amy Liptrot’s bestselling memoir is brought to life in an epic and elemental world premiere at Church Hill Theatre.
READ MOREScottish Highland and Island musical traditions collide with brand-new compositions by folk band Breabach.
READ MOREThe voices of Edinburgh’s communities shape an ever-evolving sound installation inside St Giles’ Cathedral's magnificent interior.
READ MOREThe Edinburgh International Festival returns from 2nd to 25th August 2024 with live performance throughout the city.
READ MOREJourney to 17th-century Italy with Il Pomo d'Oro and countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński in an enchanting performance of early Baroque music.
READ MORELatin American music meets Afro-Cuban and contemporary classical in this bold interpretation of Christ’s Crucifixion.
READ MOREFerocious and emotionally charged, Internationaal Theater Amsterdam’s production of Heinrich von Kleist’s Penthesilea is a powerful fusion of a rock concert and an ancient tragic love story.
READ MOREKick off your International Festival in style with Festival Director Nicola Benedetti and handpicked music icons.
READ MOREEdinburgh Festival Chorus revives Mendelssohn's arrangement of Johann Sebastian Bach’s sublime piece about Christ's last days on earth before his resurrection.
READ MOREMulti-talented British-Indian musician and composer Datta introduces the International Festival to the sounds of the ancient sarod.
READ MOREFrom sacred hymns to Latin American pop culture, Schola Cantorum de Venezuela shares their diverse repetoire.
READ MOREThe legendary Brazilian dance company blends Brazilian forms with ballet and contemporary dance to create a unique style, illuminating the uniqueness of Brazilian culture.
READ MORESidiki Dembele furthers the mission of his griot ancestors, with captivating drumming rituals from West Africa.
READ MOREOne of the UK’s most accomplished chamber groups showcases music from Clara Schumann, Helen Grime and Antonín Dvořák.
READ MOREJakub Hrůša and the Bamberger Symphoniker bring a little-known symphonic masterpiece to light.
READ MORESoprano Elizabeth Llewellyn and pianist Simon Lepper delve into the colourful world and emotive landscapes of the late Romantic era.
READ MORETake a deep dive into one of the first multicultural symphonies with the Bamberger Symphoniker, narrator Gerard McBurney and guest artists.
READ MOREThe Leonore Piano Trio mentors last year’s rising stars of classical music.
READ MORERenowned French pianist Alexandre Kantorow showcases the visions of four great composer-pianists in a captivating recital at The Queen's Hall Edinburgh!
READ MOREMusician Hamilton de Holanda stages a vibrant union of Brazilian choro and contemporary jazz.
READ MOREFrom Bach's Baroque elegance to Piazzolla's Argentine flair, French guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre performs a virtuosic programme comprising centuries of music.
READ MOREJakub Hrůša and the Bamberger Symphoniker pair a late masterpiece by Antonín Dvořák with his son-in-law Josef Suk’s most ambitious orchestral work.
READ MOREGuest curators create a mixed bill of music and inspired conversation, featuring handpicked artists from the International Festival programme.
READ MOREThe world premiere of Aakash Odedra’s latest work creates a mediative exchange between the Indian classical dance Sufi Kathak and Islamic poetry.
READ MOREFèis Rois' Ceilidh Trail celebrates their 25th anniversary with traditional music played by professional young musicians.
READ MOREBerlin Philharmonic's principal horn, Stefan Dohr, presents Brahms's poignant Horn Trio and Ligeti's 20th-century masterpiece, inspired by the former's brilliance.
READ MOREAfter last year's acclaimed The Magic Flute, The Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus, along with their Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev, further their exploration of Mozart's operas.
READ MOREAnimated by his collaborations with Jarvis Cocker, Feist and Daft Punk, musical maverick Chilly Gonzales steps out onto the stage with his brand-new show, GONZO.
READ MOREVocalist Peni Candra Rini sings to traditional percussion from her native Indonesia.
READ MOREThe acclaimed Chiaroscuro Quartet brings the bygone era of Haydn and Beethoven back to life at The Queen's Hall Edinburgh.
READ MOREExperience Scottish Opera’s immersive staging of Igor Stravinsky’s opera in the unique setting of the National Museum of Scotland.
READ MORELed by Maxim Emelyanychev on the fortepiano, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra soloists present captivating renditions from the world of Mozart.
READ MOREDon't miss this rare chance to hear Youssou N’Dour mix ancient traditions with eclectic world influences at the Usher Hall on 13th August!
READ MOREDiverse compositions spanning Janáček to Lianne La Havas are woven together by Sheku Kanneh-Mason and pianist Harry Baker.
READ MOREDiscover the São Paulo-based collective’s musical process as the ensemble performs all around you at the Usher Hall!
READ MOREThe São Paulo-based artist collective takes on an eclectic array of compositions, spanning French baroque to Afro-samba.
READ MORERevel in popular Brazilian music with the São Paulo-based collective Ilumina, as part of their International Festival residency.
READ MOREBritish singer Ian Bostridge joins Edinburgh-born pianist Steven Osborne for Franz Schubert’s visionary song cycle Schwanengesang.
READ MOREStep inside the world of 17th-century London, as the Usher Hall gets catapulted through time and re-invented as a public drinking house!
READ MORELose yourself in Grechaninov’s hypnotic sound in a late-night concert given by the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and their director James Grossmith!
READ MOREGuest curators create a mixed bill of music and inspired conversation, featuring handpicked artists from the International Festival programme.
READ MOREThe International Festival regulars perform two Viennese classics alongside the European premiere of Nokuthula Ngwenyama’s cosmically inspired Flow.
READ MOREPull up a beanbag next to the musicians and be swept along by Mahler’s story, which culminates in the Adagietto, the composer’s great declaration of love.
READ MORELed by conductor Gianandrea Noseda, the European Union Youth Orchestra leads an educational expedition across the instruments of the grand ensemble.
READ MORERecline on a beanbag and lose yourself in the epic story of a loveable rogue turned chivalrous knight at the Usher Hall on 16th August!
READ MOREThe acclaimed Komische Oper Berlin and director Kirill Serebrennikov, known for his daring, satirical productions, present Mozart’s iconic comic opera.
READ MOREIranian-American musician Mahan Esfahani reveals the rich harpsichord repertoire of the late Baroque period.
READ MOREThe Hallé and Sir Mark Elder return to present Mahler's dramatic Fifth Symphony in its entirety alongside Lili Boulanger's Psalm 130.
READ MOREViolist Jennifer Stumm and violinist Liza Ferschtman assemble an electrifying cohort of up-and-coming musicians.
READ MORECharismatic jazz musician Domo Branch returns to The Hub for a night of original music and improvisation.
READ MOREThree pioneering musical languages dramatically contrast in this expedition of the concerto form, guided by conductor Elim Chan.
READ MOREThe infinitely gifted singer-songwriter Cat Power takes on Bob Dylan’s legendary 1966 'Royal Albert Hall' concert as part of the Edinburgh International Festival!
READ MOREExperience the vocal versatility of Thomas Quasthoff, the German bass-baritone who swapped classical for jazz.
READ MOREThe piano virtuoso contrasts two exquisite pieces by Maurice Ravel with the second of Franz Liszt’s Années de pèlerinage.
READ MOREEncounter the rich musical traditions of Egypt and the Levant with Mustafa Said, award-winning Egyptian singer, musicologist and composer!
READ MORETriumphant and hope-filled ensembles by Benjamin Britten and Joseph Haydn meet Wynton Marsalis’s vibrant celebration of New Orleans.
READ MOREThe Mandé jazz sensations blend West African folkloric music with the sounds of London's music scene.
READ MOREWomen composers hold the spotlight in this concert of 19th-century music at the Usher Hall on 20th August.
READ MOREPierre-Laurent Aimard, one of the world’s greatest pianists, performs a collection of pieces from Schoenberg and other composers.
READ MOREThe UK premiere of a multimedia impassioned elegy for the victims of New York’s 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.
READ MOREThe Fifth Step, David Ireland's latest collaboration with the National Theatre of Scotland tells a complex story about men, intimacy and our belief systems.
READ MOREDiscover an 18th-century Dublin concert with music from Handel, Geminiani and the mysterious musician Mr Charles.
READ MORECombining Arthurian cosplay and emotive contemporary dance, Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young present their major new dance work 'Assembly Hall' at the Festival Theatre!
READ MOREIndie pop sensation Bat for Lashes unveils new songs in her euphoric art-pop sound at The Queens Hall Edinburgh on 23rd August as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.
READ MOREMulti-award-winning Japanese violinist Midori returns to the International Festival with her long-time recital partner, American pianist Özgür Aydin in a dazzling programme.
READ MOREExperience the works of two late-Romantic musical titans in celebration of conductor Sir Donald Runnicles's 70th birthday.
READ MOREBass-baritone and voice professor Thomas Quasthoff conducts 12 gifted students in an intimate performance of Gioachino Rossini's musical swansong, Petite Messe solennelle.
READ MOREThe Edinburgh Festival Chorus joins the orchestra for Verdi's powerful setting of the Catholic funeral mass.
READ MOREAmerican indie pop band The Magnetic Fields returns to the International Festival for a very special anniversary.
READ MORETo celebrate his 80th birthday year, world-renowned British conductor and International Festival regular Sir Andrew Davis returns to the first opera he ever conducted!
READ MOREOur Festival Director Nicola Benedetti joins Philharmonia as solo violinist in this family-friendly rendition of an instantly recognisable piece of classical music.
READ MOREWinner of the Scottish Awards for New Music for innovation in New Traditional Music, the GRIT Orchestra is bound to push the limits of genre and Celtic culture.
READ MORECome along to the Costume Society Scotland's season of varied talks on fashion, costume, textiles, accessories and related subjects between between October and April at Augustine United Church!
READ MOREA lecture about spiritual healing and help through the teaching of Bruno Groening is taking place at The Open Door Community Centre, Edinburgh on various dates throughout the year.
READ MOREThese tea and talk sessions deliver a series of small-scale talks from the RZSS team in the stunning setting of the Mansion House at Edinburgh Zoo.
READ MORECome join us for for our annual Record Store Day party. After the past 3 lovely events in St Vincent's Chapel down the road, we are bringing RSD fun back to St Stephen Street.
READ MOREJoin Sam Cairns as he shares his journey to conquer Everest, step by gruelling step, at Dynamic Earth on 22nd April!
READ MORETo celebrate Earth Day 2024, this screening of 'Animal' will be followed by a short presentation by climate expert Mr. Stéphane Crouzat on 24th April at the Institut Français d'Ecosse.
READ MOREThe universe started with a bang — but how will it end? Join us for an evening with theoretical astrophysicist Dr. Katie Mack, and journey to the farthest reaches of the cosmos to find out!
READ MOREThis evening is dedicated to the work of the internationally acclaimed Scottish filmmaker, Simon Fildes, showcasing a compilation of his works titled ‘Dancing on the Inside’.
READ MOREDiscover more about Lord Byron through the life and letters of the Romantic poet at this talk on 24th April at the National Library of Scotland!
READ MORE