CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR EVENT

Soundhouse: The Rugged Island: A Shetland Lyric

Pioneering Glasgow-born filmmaker Jenny Gilbertson directs this poignant “story documentary” about crofting families in Shetland with live score by Inge Thomson and Catriona Macdonald.

Soundhouse: The Rugged Island: A Shetland Lyric

About Soundhouse: The Rugged Island: A Shetland Lyric

Jenny’s husband-to-be plays Johnny: a young man torn between his duty to home and his love for Enga, with the promise of a new life in Australia. Hailed by John Grierson - father of the British documentary movement - as “one of the best descriptions of life in the country anybody has yet made”, this tender and beautiful dramatisation of Shetland life surpasses the bounds of both fiction and non-fiction filmmaking.

Soundhouse Winter Festival is proud to present this extraordinary Scottish film, with music commissioned by HippFest for award-winning multi-instrumentalist and composer from Fair Isle: Inge Thomson, performing with Shetland-born Catriona Macdonald - considered one of the world's leading traditional fiddle players.

With: John Gilbertson, Enga Stout.

Performing live: Inge Thomson, Catriona Macdonald

The show will be introduced by a short solo set by Amy Laurenson

Sponsored Links

Edinburgh Street Historians
Escape The Past
Fayre Play
Children's Classic Concerts
Hilton Glasgow

Other Events at Traverse Theatre

A Play, A Pie and A Pint

9th September 2025 - 1st November 2025

A popular feature of the Traverse programme, A Play, A Pie and A Pint, Òran Mór returns this Autumn!

READ MORE

Man’s Best Friend

25th September 2025 - 27th September 2025

Man's Best Friend is Douglas Maxwell's hilariously heart-warming story about the give-and-take of companionship, don't miss it at the Traverse Theatre in September!

READ MORE

Spælimennir

29th September 2025

The folk group Spælimennir, from the Faroes, have just celebrated their 50th anniversary and are touring in 2025 with a date at the Traverse Theatre on Monday 29th September!

READ MORE

Night Waking

1st October 2025

A darkly funny and deeply unsettling one-woman play is coming to the Traverse Theatre. Night Waking is an urgent, razor-sharp meditation on motherhood, colonialism, and the things we leave behind.

READ MORE

Black Hole Sign

8th October 2025 - 18th October 2025

Black Hole Sign takes a razor-sharp scalpel to the absurdities, tragedies and hilarity within of one of our most beloved but besieged institutions... the NHS.

READ MORE

BATSHIT

21st October 2025 - 25th October 2025

Back by popular demand, Fringe First winner and one-woman tour de force BATSHIT returns to Traverse Theatre in October!

READ MORE

So Young

23rd October 2025 - 25th October 2025

Both touching and funny, So Young is a story about coming back together after time apart.

READ MORE

Soundhouse: Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening

27th October 2025

Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening explore the connecting threads of music, landscape and people over a period of almost 2000 years.

READ MORE

Babatunde Aléshé: High Expectations

2nd November 2025

Join multi-award-winning comedian Babatunde Aléshé as he this time guides us through family life, his new found fame and the joys of Costco in this hilarious new stand up show!

READ MORE

Soundhouse: Erik Palmberg Quartet

4th November 2025

The Erik Palmberg Quartet has gained a lot international attention recent years and the group is one of the most interesting Scandinavian jazz acts today.

READ MORE

Arlington

6th November 2025 - 8th November 2025

Enda Walsh's Arlington is a dark fable of surveillance, connection, and the power of imagination. Catch it at the Traverse Theatre this Autumn!

READ MORE

Ryan Young

10th November 2025

Ryan Young is a multi award winning fiddle player injecting fresh and innovative ideas into the realm of traditional Scottish music.

READ MORE

Òran

13th November 2025 - 15th November 2025

Don't miss the thrilling story of Òran and his journey to rescue his best friend from the Underworld at the Traverse Theatre this Autumn!

READ MORE

Through The Mud

14th November 2025 - 15th November 2025

Against a stunning live soundtrack of gospel and blues, Through The Mud explores what it takes to become a revolutionary.

READ MORE

Andy Irvine

17th November 2025

Andy Irvine is one of the great Irish singers, don't miss him live at the Traverse Theatre on Monday 17th November!

READ MORE

Opera Highlights

22nd November 2025

Scottish Opera's much-loved Opera Highlights come to the Traverse Theatre on 22nd November, as they tour around Scotland with a brand-new show!

READ MORE

Jakub Klimiuk Quintet

12th January 2026

An accomplished London-based guitarist and composer, Jakub Klimiuk takes his quintet on tour with a brand new set of material, with a date at the Traverse Theatre on 12th January!

READ MORE

Sponsored Links

TGC Leisure
Hilton Glasgow
Headline PR
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon
Hostelworld

Similar events you might like...

Cinetopia DOC: Mistress Dispeller + prerecorded Q&A

Cinetopia DOC: Mistress Dispeller + prerecorded Q&A

17th September 2025

Come along to Cinetopia's next DOC screening: Mistress Dispeller by Elizabeth Lo at Filmhouse on 17th September, followed by a pre-recorded Q&A with Lo!

READ MORE
RSNO 2025/26: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert

RSNO 2025/26: Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert

19th September 2025

Enjoy iconic film, The Empire Strikes Back, in all its grandeur in this live symphonic concert experience with the RSNO at Edinburgh's Usher Hall!

READ MORE
Ali Plumb’s Untitled Film Quiz Project

Ali Plumb’s Untitled Film Quiz Project

20th September 2025

Ali Plumb's Untitled Film Quiz Project is returning to Cameo Edinburgh on 20th September with a brand new quiz run and his big blue suitcase full of movie merchandise that you could win!

READ MORE
Beautiful Chaos 2.0 Premiere

Beautiful Chaos 2.0 Premiere

20th September 2025

Blending contemporary dance, film, and poetry, Beautiful Chaos 2.0 is a vibrant exploration of friendship, shifting identities, and the beauty of cultural connection!

READ MORE
The Big Bike Film Night - Edinburgh

The Big Bike Film Night - Edinburgh

Selected dates between 24th September 2025 - 5th October 2025

The Big Bike Film Night is on a mission... bringing the best cycling short films from around the world together for you! Don't miss the 2025 edition at Edinburgh's Summerhall.

READ MORE
European Wooden Surfboard Meet 2025

European Wooden Surfboard Meet 2025

3rd October 2025 - 5th October 2025

The European Wooden Surfboard Meet 2025 comes to Scotland for the first time at Lost Shore Surf Resort from 3rd to 5th October.

READ MORE
Family Film Screenings

Family Film Screenings

4th October 2025 - 26th October 2025

Book our Family Planetarium Films! Celebrate spooky session with these classic adventures, showing at 10am on selected dates in October.

READ MORE
Edinburgh Short Film Festival 2024

Edinburgh Short Film Festival 2024

7th October 2025 - 16th November 2025

The Edinburgh Short Film Festival returns from 7th to 16th November bringing some of the world’s best short films to Filmhouse!

READ MORE
Mystery Event : Red Carpet Celebration

Mystery Event : Red Carpet Celebration

12th October 2025

We invite you to the Mystery Event: Red Carpet Celebration — an interactive gala where our community comes together to honour five years of Groove Back and Pirita’s 20 years in dance!

READ MORE

Find other events in Edinburgh

Sponsored Links

Edinburgh Street Historians
Escape The Past
Fayre Play
Children's Classic Concerts
Hilton Glasgow
TGC Leisure
Hilton Glasgow
Headline PR
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon
Hostelworld

Popular Events

Doors Open Days - Edinburgh
Scotland's annual Doors Open Days festival gives you free access to lots of fascinating buildings across Edinburgh! This year's event will be held on September 27th & 28th!
The Talented Mr Ripley
This electrifying new stage adaptation of The Talented Mr. Ripley brings Patricia Highsmith’s iconic psychological thriller to life like never before. Catch it at the Festival Theatre in September!
Conifox Terror Scream Park
Terror Scream Park, Edinburgh’s most intense 18+ horror event, launches for the very first time this autumn at Conifox Adventure Park.
Out With The Buckleys
James and Clair Buckley are taking their vlog offline and around the UK on an unfiltered, unedited live tour and bring it to the Usher Hall on Friday 1st May!
Santa & Elf Dash 2025
Put on your Santa hat and join Blast Running for festive fun at the Santa & Elf Dash, set in the beautiful Cammo Nature Reserve in north-west Edinburgh on Sunday 21st December!

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall