Beginning this Thu 14 May at 7pm, the Makar / National Poet for Scotland, Jackie Kay will launch a weekly series of online literary and musical performances. Created and curated by Kay, Makar To Makar will showcase a line-up of established talent and emerging voices from Scotland and around the world.
Image: Mary McCartney
Each event will be dynamic, varied and warm, with Kay hosting the show and chatting with guests who will share their passions for good writing. They will also be throwing a spotlight on bookshops, libraries and theatres, including Eden Court!
Jackie Kay: “Eden Court is a dream of a place on the River Ness. Every time I go through the doors there, I feel a real sense of welcome and community. It's a place where you can be mentally as well as physically nourished! Great films, theatre and a great scone too. I love the way that people come not just from Inverness but from all over the Highlands. The cast of Red Dust Road had the best time with the audiences there. The last time I was on there myself, there was a fabulous crowd. I was there judging the Neil Gunn Award and they had described me as The Lady with the Largest Smile in Scotland. I laughed when I heard that come across the tannoy - please take your seats for the lady with the largest smile in Scotland. It meant I could just stand on the stage and smile for the longest time until people started to shift uncomfortably!”
Eden Court CEO James Mackenzie-Blackman: 'We’re honoured that Scotland’s Makar Jackie Kay has chosen Eden Court as her favourite theatre. It was only a year ago that Jackie’s autobiographical play Red Dust Road was performed here. That seems like so long ago now and we can’t wait to, once again, be presenting live performances on our stages as well as a world class cinema programme, our classes programme and getting back in and around the communities our Engagement team serves. Until then we need help to get through this. If you can donate to us, please do.'
The season of readings is called Makar To Makar; Kay’s alternative title as National Poet is Makar, a Scots word for ‘poet or bard’. With the lockdown closing literary festivals around the world, Kay was inspired to curate these live events to entertain and accompany people in the era of social distancing. The writers and musicians are being paid, Makar to Makar supporting artists during a difficult period for performers.
In addition to writers, the line-up features Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who will read her favourite poems. Makar to Makar is produced by National Theatre of Scotland in association with HOME Manchester and Edinburgh International Book Festival and School of Arts and Media, Salford.