Letter: Allure of the East

I don't share Hugh Kerr's scepticism at the decision of Edinburgh International Festival director Jonathan Mills to give prominence to companies from the Far East this August (Letters, 24 March).

The arts in countries such as South Korea, Japan and China are quickly building a strong following throughout the world as shown by the mass popularity of their films in particular, which to many of us are a welcome antidote to their increasingly dull Hollywood and Britflick alternatives.

In addition to this, the economic success of China and South- east Asia is resulting in growing ties with the rest of the world.

Rather than attendances going down, as Mr Kerr predicts, it could well be that this year's Festival taps cleverly into a zeitgeist of growing fascination with all things Eastern.

It is, after all, an international festival.

Gavin Fleming

Grassmarket

Edinburgh