WHAT’S THE STORY?

THE Scottish political landscape is to take centre stage at this year’s Beyond Borders International Festival of Literature and Thought.

The two-day event at historic Traquair House in the Scottish Borders will see no fewer than three First Ministers, past and present, sharing their personal experience and future hopes for Scotland and the wider world.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond MP join the festival on different days to discuss the impact of the Referendum and the General Election as well as what it means to be the First Minister of Scotland, while Lord Jack McConnell reveals what happens when you lose high office in “What Jack did Next: Life after Politics”.

Now in its sixth year, the Beyond Borders festival brings together renowned international writers, artists, diplomats and cultural leaders to exchange ideas in a series of live panel discussions throughout the weekend.

In addition to debates about contemporary issues from at home and abroad, the festival on August 22 and 23 includes walks and cycle rides in and around the grounds of Traquair, as well as exhibitions and intimate lunchtime tête-à-tête sessions. Past speakers include writer and historian William Dalrymple, artist and poet Peter Sacks, and the late Marie Colvin.

“We believe there is something for everyone in this year’s programme,” said executive-director Mark Muller Stuart. “Whether you are interested in politics, literature, art, music or spellbinding stories from around the world, Traquair House and its beautiful grounds offer the perfect setting for a weekend of vibrant public debate, walks, rides and food tasting. We urge everyone to come and travel beyond borders.”

THERE’S MORE

TWENTY years on from the tragic events in Srebrenica, Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson MSP goes back to her roots in journalism to interview veteran foreign correspondents Kate Adie and Allan Little about reporting from international conflict zones in “Srebrenica Remembered”. This panel will be accompanied by all-day screenings of Srebrenica Survivors, a documentary film directed by Bosnian Samir Mehanovic, which tells the stories of those who survived the genocide.

Other international talks feature journalist Magnus Linklater on the rise of Islamic State, veteran UN diplomat Staffan de Mistura on the search for peace in Syria, and Indian politician Shashi Tharoor on the future of India. The programme also encompasses literary talks from novelist Rachel Cusk and Palestinian writer Raja Shehadeh, as well as historical tales from William Dalrymple about “Mughals in Kilts” and Andrew Duff on a Buddhist Himalayan Kingdom.

In another session, celebrated poet Blake Morrison will talk about Shingle Street - his first full-length poetry collection for almost 30 years – detailing life on the Suffolk coast and haunting portraits of the past.

Away from the main stage, Stuart Kelly talks to Murray Pittock in the Traquair Chapel about the Jacobite Uprising, while Mary Kenny takes walkers on a Jacobite romp, and food writer Fiona Bird goes foraging with local writer Fi Houston.

On a light-hearted note Steve Richards returns for a satirical look at the UK’s political classes with former Lib-Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell, while Yasmin Alibhai-Brown performs her Fringe show “Promiscuous England”.

Other theatrical performances include Guy Masterson’s award-winning rendition of Under Milkwood, and Gerald Gifford plays a unique collection of 18th century pieces on the Traquair Rucker’s harpsichord.

AND MORE

ON Sunday, August 23, journalist Sarah Smith is in conversation with Alyn Smith MEP, European Institute of Peace director Martin Griffiths, and Dr Oscar Guardiola-Rivera as they try to answer the question “What is Europe?” This will be followed by the presentation of the European Institute of Peace Prize.

Running over both days, the exhibition “A Mile in Their Shoes”, with artist Siemon Scamell-Katz, shares the stories of eight girls and the road their shoes have travelled.

Installed in a Bedouin tent, the exhibition seeks to raise awareness of the fate of thousands of women who have fled the conflict with Islamic State in Northern Iraq, and to raise support for a day centre taking care of 400 escapees. At the core of this exhibition are the women and girls who fled abduction and conflict.

All proceeds from donations made via the exhibition will go directly to the Jinda Centre, run by WADI Dohuk and supported by UNICEF. This is a social and psychological safe haven for women and girls who are affected by the war.

“By working together, with fondness and peace we can give them back their hope,” says Cheman Rashed, Director of WADI’s Dohuk team.

The exhibition is curated by The Knitting Circle and supported by Beyond Borders.

Another exhibition at the festival will commemorate the tricentenary of the 1715 Jacobite Uprising with an exhibition of rarely displayed documents and artefacts from the Traquair archives. This exhibition, which runs until September 30, tells the story of the Stuarts’ involvement in the 1715 rebellion and the Nithsdale escape, and will also display a collection of Jacobite jewellery as well as a collection of Jacobite glass on loan from the Drambuie Collection which contains cryptic symbols and messages that depict allegiance to the exiled Stuart kings.

Richard Demarco, director of the Demarco European Arts Foundation, who will speak about his life in the arts in celebration of his 85th birthday, said: “This festival puts Traquair on the international map and gives a new and dynamic beating heart to international arts festivals.”

The full Beyond Borders Scotland summer events programme and box office is available online at beyondbordersscotland.com