Sophie Pasola takes a look at Edinburgh’s newly reincarnated Festival of Peace & Spirituality.
Initially intended as a contribution to the 2001 Edinburgh Fringe, the very first Festival of Spirituality and Peace proved to be uncannily timely, given that events in New York only a month later altered global attitudes to faith and religion forever. Since then, the festival has sought to cultivate a mutual understanding and respect of faiths and culture using live music, dance, film, and workshops. It’d be easy to dismiss as idealism -after all, celebrating abstract concepts like peace in such a turbulent cultural landscape is no mean feat – but complete with a new name, Just Festival’s courageous 2013 programme packs the inspirational clout necessary to drive such positive change.
While St. John’s Church remains the festival’s hub, 28 venues across the city (including the Filmhouse, Cornerstone Bookshop and several of the city’s eateries) will play host to this year’s offerings from the 2nd to the 26th of August. The plethora of enlightening events include performances of Fermín Cabal’s compelling and poetic Tejas Verdes, which marks 40 years since Chile’s coup d’etat and eloquently voices the story of the 3,000 individuals ‘disappeared’ at the hands of the Pinochet government. Thanks to funds raised by the marathon-running Edinburgh University Chaplaincy, South African choral masters Soweto Melodic Voices will also feature, using traditional song and dance to inject their trademark vibrancy to the occasion.
If you’re looking to experience something equally rousing but closer to home, Black Dingo Productions will be presenting a hat-trick of plays exploring the troubling widespread problem of sectarianism in Scotland. Alternatively, you might choose to refresh yourself with a tipple in Edinburgh’s very first Death Café (an invitation to talk about death over tea and cake) before heading to a film screening or calligraphy workshop.
Just Festival’s director Katherine Newbigging explains that that the planned events are inspired by “finding the simplicity at the heart of complex issues”. It’s true that the discussion of diversity and inter-faith relations remains treacherous terrain, but it’s one that will only become more easily navigated with increased participation. And with such a varied and inspiring programme; what better opportunity to get involved?