City gets ready for an artistic InvAsian

Published on Monday 4 February 2008 09:28

A NEW festival dedicated to Asian culture will be part of the 2008 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

InvAsian will celebrate Asian music, dance, comedy, drama, film and art, showcasing acts from Japan, Korea, India, Pakistan and China.

An Indian and Chinese Elvis, Korean Beatboy performances and traditional Indian dancing and singing will be among the highlights of the festival which will run throughout this year's Fringe.

InvAsian is the result of a partnership between production company clubWest and Tartan Silk Public Relations, with events taking place in the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh's Quincentenary Hall.

Kevin Williams, of clubWest, said: "There is so much Asian talent worldwide and in the UK, that it just made perfect sense to bring it all together in one place.

"The Royal College of Surgeons complex is the ideal venue for the festival, with performances scheduled in all four performance spaces inside the magnificent Quincentenary Hall."

The Consul General for India, Mr Ramesh Chander, also welcomed the creation of the festival.

"The introduction of a festival, especially dedicated to Asia, is a welcome change which I am sure will draw appreciation, enthusiasm and encouragement from the multicultural society of Scotland," he said.

InvAsian will run from August 3 to 25.