Goat culture-shock

Summer: the time not only for some of our members to disport themselves on Mediterranean beaches and secrete themselves in pampas grass hot on the trail of a zoological coup, but also for festivals. Our eye turns inevitably to the Festival City: Edinburgh. And, with a sense of sick shock, surprise, and a little sadness, really, we note the profound lack of sheep-and-goat themed entertainment on offer in the world’s largest conglomeration of annual international cultural festivals.

Of the Edinburgh International Festival itself, one might hope for some goatish cavorting in the production of Euripides’ The Bacchae (there is little Classical Greek drama without some goatery, we find), though, bizarrely, this is not mentioned as a selling point. The programme otherwise reads depressingly as if the organisers somehow thought they could write the goat out of high culture altogether.

We are aghast, after thoroughly interrogating the Edinburgh International Jazz and Blues Festival, Book Festival, and Film Festival sites, to have our searches returned with a contemptuous ‘no matches found.’ Has the world gone insane?

With trembling fingers we move to the Fringe. Here, at least, there is some hope, though a sheep-theme is more prominent by far than anything goaty (too edgy?). For the parsimonious, free stand-up comedy is provided by Bringing in the Sheep. We are keen to see anything by The Black Sheep, and like the succinctly titled Men With Bananas (Using Eco-Horror Movie Clips) Demonstrate Handy Survival Tips For Dealing With Rampaging Frogs, Zombie Sheep, Gigantic Poisonous Shrews, Marauding Snails, 6ft Killer Chickens And Radioactive Weasals, Preparing You For... Nature's Revenge, which also promises ‘horror and nudity.’ A production of the Mystery Plays intrigues us, as we are told ‘audience members can interact with the ensemble whilst being surrounded by sheep,’ which sounds lovely.

Thus is the sheep associated with trifling and comedy. In contrast, the high-minded seriousness of goat-inspired drama is brought home by the Polish thespian troupe, Song of the Goat/Teatr Piesn Kozla. Their show, Lacrimosa, is, thrillingly, billed as

a poetry of violence, a metaphor for totalitarianism and the blind rage of a single person placing themselves on an equal par with God.

We expect nothing less from a theatre company inspired by ruminants.

Though afterwards, you may need to go for a drink.

Thanks to an Edinburgh Hon.Mem. for the Fringe links!