Refract:24 – Preview

REFRACT:24
Tue 23 – Sun 28 Jul ‘24
refract.org.uk

Experiential performance, music and events that challenge you to see things differently!

Tue 23 July

Reem Anbar & Friends
19:00
£10
Reem Anbar is an internationally renowned Palestinian oud player and musician. Growing up in Gaza, she became known as the region’s first music therapist and appeared regularly on many stages and media platforms. She now performs internationally as a solo oud player and leader of Gazelleband, appearing at festivals, universities and concert halls.
40 mins
In the Chambers
MUSIC
–
Lee Martin for Gag Reflex presents
Ben Hart: HeX
20:15 | Age 12+
£18
The Fringe’s real-life witch is dropping into Refract before returning to Edinburgh for his 10th spellbinding year. Internationally acclaimed magician and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Ben’s shows are a unique kind of alchemy. Funny, dark and baffling, Hart’s an altogether new species of conjurer… HeX is a curated collection of Ben’s favourite and most exciting material from the last decade alongside new ideas fresh from his laboratory, guaranteed to put a spell on you. Don’t miss this chance to catch the star of stage and screen up-close and in real life.
‘There’s nobody else we’d rather watch onstage’ (Penn and Teller).
60 mins
In the Cabaret Club
COMEDY/MAGIC
–
Wed 24 July

Lee Martin for Gag Reflex presents
Ben Hart: HeX
20:15 | Age 12+
£18
The Fringe’s real-life witch is dropping into Refract before returning to Edinburgh for his 10th spellbinding year. Internationally acclaimed magician Ben’s shows are a unique kind of alchemy. Funny, dark and baffling, Hart’s an altogether new species of conjurer… HeX is a curated collection of Ben’s favourite and most exciting material from the last decade alongside new ideas fresh from his laboratory, guaranteed to put a spell on you. Don’t miss this chance to catch the star of stage and screen up-close and in real life.
‘There’s nobody else we’d rather watch onstage’ (Penn and Teller).
60 mins
In the Cabaret Club
COMEDY/MAGIC

Thu 25 July

Autin Dance Theatre presents
Street Games
14:30 & 17:00
Free | Age 5+
Inclusive and accessible fun featuring street games, live music and dance with BSL performance and interpretation. Expect games from around the world (from places including Fiji, Bangladesh, UK, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Barbados) that everyone can get involved in, hosted by three fabulous Game Hosts and party music sets from EIF Sound and Music.
60 mins
On the Plaza
DANCE
–

The Untold Orchestra presents The Summer of Soul
Doors 19:30 | Start 20:00
£20
Joined by guest vocalists, Nicole Battick and Dija Bhlue, The Untold Orchestra join the Refract line up this year to bring all the favourite soul classics. Expect hits from artists such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and more. The Untold Orchestra bring orchestras into the 21st century through memorable performances celebrating musical icons from the last 100 years, exciting collaborations with up and coming and internationally acclaimed artists, and through community projects for people across the city. This will be their debut performance in Sale.
80 mins plus interval
In the Cabaret Club
MUSIC

Fri 26 July

Autin Dance Theatre presents
Brimstone: The Dragon
13:00, 16:00, 18:30
Free | Age 5+
A roaming theatrical experience that sparks imagination and instils wonder with children and their families. The six-metre long Giant Dragon puppet, is brought to life by four highly skilled puppeteers to tell the magical and adventurous story of Brimstone, a fearsome and misunderstood beast from a hidden island.
30 mins
On the Plaza
FAMILIES
–
Autin Dance Theatre presents
Street Games
14:30 & 17:00
Free | Age 5+
Inclusive and accessible fun featuring street games, live music and dance with BSL performance and interpretation. Expect games from around the world (from places including Fiji, Bangladesh, UK, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Barbados) that everyone can get involved in, hosted by three fabulous Game Hosts and party music sets from EIF Sound and Music.
60 mins
On the Plaza
FAMILIES
–
Raggle Taggle Arts presents
The Old Time Rags Travelling Show
15:15 & 17:45
Free
The ragtime musicians are travelling through
Live from their wagon with a show for you
With a story, a dance and a foot tapping song
will they stay or have to move on?
Join the ragtime musicians for a family friendly interactive live music and dance show.
30 mins
On the Plaza
FAMILIES
–

Kyla Brox
Doors 19:30, Performance 20:00
£20
Refract is delighted to welcome back “the finest female blues singer of her generation” (Manchester Evening News) Kyla Brox. Blues and soul become inextricably entwined in award-winning singer-songwriter, Kyla Brox, who is at the very top of the UK Blues scene.

Her voice; tender, urgent, gritty, blurring the distinction between pleasure and pain, mixed with the enchantingly fluent guitar work of Paul Farr, inspired bass playing of Danny Blomeley and in-the-pocket drumming of Mark Warburton, combine to make a unique and powerful, often joyous, always emotional experience.
2 hours inc interval
In the Cabaret Club
MUSIC
–
Sat 27 July

Teatro Pomodoro present
The Running Showers
12:00, 15:30, 17:00
Free
A sudsy-clean, interactive walkabout performance! Splish-splashing through the streets, with our shower caps and rubber ducks!!Do you sing in the shower?…We Do!!!
30 – 45 mins
On the Plaza
PERFORMANCE FOR FAMILIES
–
Autin Dance Theatre presents
Brimstone: The Dragon
13:00, 16:00
Free | Age 5+
A roaming theatrical experience that sparks imagination and instils wonder with children and their families. The six-metre long Giant Dragon puppet, is brought to life by four highly skilled puppeteers to tell the magical and adventurous story of Brimstone, a fearsome and misunderstood beast from a hidden island.
30 mins
On the Plaza
FAMILIES
–
Linden Dance present
Unboxed
14:30, 17:30
Free
An explosive dance work in which a mixed-race man and a white woman set themselves in opposition to two giant wooden cubes in a physical representation of their battle with prejudice and judgement. The toxicity of the subject matter reverberates in the pulsing soundtrack and the performers’ athletic physicality which draws on Afro-fusion and contemporary movement styles.
30 mins
On the Plaza
DANCE
–
Sun 28 July

Hebe Reilly & Maddy Edden present
Yoga Rave
10:30
£10 | Age 8+
Join qualified yoga teacher Hebe Reilly and disco, funk & house DJ Misscothèque for a morning yoga rave jam-packed with your fave ‘90s & ‘00s rave classics.

Yoga Rave is a fun fusion of guided floor based yoga moves and stretches (with accessible options available), free-style movement and dancing to a live DJ before we come back together for a guided cool down and relaxation – guaranteed to start your day with a stretch and a smile.

Everybody is welcome – there will be plenty of accessible options and space for freestyle movements.
Please bring your own exercise mat
2 hours
In the Chambers
YOGA
–
Teatro Pomodoro present
The Running Showers
12:00, 15:30, 18:00
Free
A sudsy-clean, interactive walkabout performance! Splish-splashing through the streets, with our shower caps and rubber ducks!!Do you sing in the shower?…We Do!!!
30 – 45 mins
On the Plaza
PERFORMANCE FOR FAMILIES
–
Linden Dance present
Unboxed
14:30, 17:30
Free
An explosive dance work in which a mixed-race man and a white woman set themselves in opposition to two giant wooden cubes in a physical representation of their battle with prejudice and judgement. The toxicity of the subject matter reverberates in the pulsing soundtrack and the performers’ athletic physicality which draws on Afro-fusion and contemporary movement styles.
30 mins
On the Plaza
DANCE
–
The Bandstand
New for Refract! This year we welcome a series of sensational music artists to our outdoor bandstand on the Plaza on Sun 28 July:

Arun Ghosh: Indo-Jazz Family Gig
13:00, 16:45
Free
Arun Ghosh is an award-winning clarinettist and bandleader.
His sound is IndoJazz: with joyful, soaring South Asian melodies and hypnotic grooves.
A charismatic and communicative performer, Arun will be playing a special, family and young people friendly show for Refract Festival…but all ages are welcome!

Zoe Kyoti Trio
15:00
Free
Manchester based singer-songwriter Zoe Kyoti merges blues and folk traditions with exotic world music influences. Her heartfelt songs explore tales of lost love, rebirth, rebellion and adventure. The result is both dramatic and uplifting, full of intensity, playfulness. She joins us at Refract as a trio with self-effacing guitarist Ulrich Elbracht and Andrew Chaisty on bass.
30 mins

Psychederek
16:00
Free
Psychederek – aka Lewis Olsen – crafts music which is difficult to pin down by genre. From his bedroom studio in Stretford, Manchester, he combines electronic music with live instruments to create a unique fusion of sounds. The result is dreamy and ambient, but also weighty and hard hitting. This will be a solo live set.
45 mins