Welcome to the 2009 Universal Arts festival programme

Over the last twenty festivals, we have introduced literally thousands of artists from around the world to UK audiences. Some, now household names like Omid Djalili or Pip Utton, started their careers in our “jewel in the festival crown” (The Stage 2008) Hill Street Theatre. We have brought companies to Edinburgh from over 40 countries, making audiences laugh or cry but always providing a first rate theatre experience.

In 2009, we are, once again, delighted to present a packed programme of high-quality entertainment from around the globe, a programme to cheer you up and encourage positive thinking in these uncertain times. Although this year we are not running Hill Street Theatre, we invite you to three different venues: New Town Theatre, possibly the most beautiful festival venue in town; Universal Arts @ St. Georges West, the building we share with the lively and exciting The World Festival; and the Edinburgh International Conference Centre probably the most comfortable venue in Edinburgh.

From Venezuela we are bringing back an enhanced version of the 2005 five-star hit VENEZUELA VIVA – a story of music and dance from this colourful, vibrant country. From the USA come the unstoppable TAP KIDS with a tap dance equivalent of High School Musical. France sends four hilarious and magical shows without words headed by Total Theatre Award winners FIAT LUX. From Spain we present ALBADULAKE with their mind-blowing acrobatic flamenco circus. From Holland comes the amazing ULRIKE QUADE with her visually stunning Me Too puppet show for adults. From the UK we present a mini festival of five productions by the Master of the one-man show writer-performer PIP UTTON. We are also hosting a UK production of a new adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s Notes From Underground with Scottish BAFTA nominee Anna Kerth who also appears in Venezuela Viva.

If choosing between our outstanding programme of 30 productions is difficult, the simple solution is to see them all!

Tomek Borkowy and Universal Arts Team