A PROGRAMME championing home-grown Scottish talent has revealed its shortlist of acts who will perform at the Edinburgh Fringe this year.

Made in Scotland aims to promote the work of the nation's most gifted creators by showcasing their music, acting and dance at the world-renowned event.

The project, a partnership between the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, the Federation of Scottish Theatre, the Scottish Music Centre and Creative Scotland, pays for the chosen performers to take part in the arts-fuelled festival.

A total of 22 artists, companies and ensembles will be featured as part of the scheme, which has this year been granted £550,000 by the Scottish Government’s Expo Fund.

Roughly £100,000 of the funding will go on to further support those involved in embarking on future opportunities and tours after the Fringe ends.

Six of the final 22 will also be given the chance to exhibit their work on an international platform, in Belgium next month.

Acts range from a Scottish folk-inspired musical to a black comedy celebrating sisterhood during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

Also featured is award-winning Scottish Kenyan storyteller Mara Menzies, who will explore the legacy of colonialism and slavery. A play telling the true story of a child asylum-seeker arriving in the UK and a production combining music, video and spoken word are also included in this year’s selection.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “This is the 11th year of the Made in Scotland showcase. The breadth and depth of home-grown talent participating in the programme represents a roll call of gifted Scottish-based performers.

“It provides artists with an international platform that will enhance Scotland’s reputation as the UK’s most cultural nation, a finding highlighted in a recent British Council survey.”

Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “The 2019 Made in Scotland Showcase once again highlights the brilliant and compelling work that artists and companies are creating here in Scotland today.

“The Edinburgh Fringe is the world’s biggest annual exhibition of contemporary performing arts and an exceptional international platform for Scottish work to be seen, appreciated and selected for touring by arts industry from around the world.”

She added: “It is an exciting development to see the inaugural Made in Scotland Festival kick off in Brussels this June.”

Gill Maxwell, Scottish Music Centre executive director, said: “The Scottish Music Centre is delighted that this year’s 11th edition of Made in Scotland will present nine world-class music shows.

“Highlighting the quality and diversity of Scotland’s composers, songwriters, musicians and artists, this impressive programme presents new Scottish music from across all genres: from electric and acoustic multi-artist showcases to solo instrumentalists, contemporary classical and jazz ensembles to new twists on folk music and ingenious specially crafted music-making for children, this year’s wide-ranging line-up offers something for every music lover.”