Festival abandons familiar territory

THE Edinburgh International Festival promises a “different kind of theatre experience” this year as a new three-stage complex is unveiled at the Royal Highland Centre, director Jonathan Mills said.

The festival’s opening concert tonight is Frederick Delius’ A Mass of Life in the Usher Hall, which is sold-out except for returns. On Saturday 2008 Macbeth is the first of three major productions on temporary stages in the Ingliston centre.

The festival will return “regularly” to the centre in future years for productions outside conventional theatres in the city, Mr Mills predicted.