in good nick Comic Helm is on a mission pull–out

Published on 13/08/2012 01:03

THE artist Ricky Demarco called for Inchcolm Island to become an annual feature in the Edinburgh festivals line-up yesterday after taking a new production of Macbeth there, 23 years after a former production.

He challenged Jonathan Mills, the director of the Edinburgh International Festival, to stage a show on the island, reached by ferry in the Firth of Forth.

It was a more original Edinburgh experience than the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston, he said, where the festival has brought three major European shows this year.

In 1988-89, with an Italian and then a Scottish company, Demarco staged Macbeth and a prologue on the island. This year’s play is performed by a student company from St Andrews University, Hands in the Air productions, in the majestic 12th Century abbey against the sound of gulls and overflying aircraft. “I dare Jonathan Mills to ever, ever appear here,” Mr Demarco said.