Creative Scotland Crowdmatch has provided £1,555 of match funding
New Scottish Play - In the Cold Light
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Aim
To get "In the Cold Light"to Edinburgh Fringe, a visually inventive show combining theatre and screen to explore memory, grief, and identity
“…maybe one day, I’ll look back at Danny and I,
see things in the cold light
and know.”
The gravestones of two friends pull a journalist into an investigation he hopes will bury the past. Instead, it unearths the harsh reality of staying silent, confronting him with the one story he refused to tell.
Scottish playwright George Grant returns with this powerful meditation on grief. With innovative staging that blends theatre and film, In the Cold Light is a sharp, funny and quietly devastating exploration of how we mourn - and what we leave unsaid.
In 2026, we will present a full-run of In the Cold Light for audiences at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. But before all that, there’s a bit we need to clear up…
Who are we?
My name is George. I’m a writer/director, originally from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire. Two years ago, I made my switch to the performing arts following a period of disillusionment with my career in bridge engineering and haven’t looked back since. My debut show Operation Blank performed at Edinburgh Fringe 2025, netting 5-star reviews and award nominations. This year, I’m returning to the capital to see if I can go one better - getting off the shortlist, and onto the top step of the podium.
Along for the journey is a team of freelance artists, who have given this show a remarkable vote of confidence. They include friends, family and total strangers – from experienced industry professionals to up-and-comers looking for that big break. We really believe in this project and are determined to make it as good as it can be. And I’m pleased to say, we haven’t been hanging around.
What have we done so far?
To date, we have a completed script, cast and imagery. We have already secured our venue for the festival (TheSpace@SurgeonsHall) and, thanks to our team having an Edinburgh base, we’ve been able to secure accommodation as well.
In the Cold Light's May scratch performance
At the start of May, we performed a scratch run of the show in front of a live audience, gaining valuable feedback and stage time. The response from the crowd was incredible and we feel like we are 80% of the way there – but to close that final 20%, we will need your support.
What we need…
With each passing year, staging a show at the Edinburgh fringe becomes an increasing financial burden. The festival remains the strongest path for young independents to break into the mainstream performing arts. But no one should have to risk the sustainability of their own personal practice in order to attend. We have already put north of £3000 into the project to pay for venue and registration and are projected to require another £4000 before we take to the stage. While a strong run can recoup most of these costs, many require up-front payments, not promises. Which is why we have turned to crowdfunder for support.
The funds raised from this Crowdfunder will go towards three primary areas:
1. Finish paying off the venue cost – we have already paid off most of our venue cost. Help us get across the finish line!
2. A high quality projection hire for the show - In the Cold Light involves a significant amount of projection. For the show to truly reach its potential, this is an area we have to invest in
3. Marketing - a strong marketing campaign can be make or break for a fringe show. Additional funds will help us pay for more posters and physical ad space, as well as more frequent digital ads. It will also help us increase the quality of our marketing content, by helping to provide fair pay for a videographer.
If we were to exceed our target, additional funds would be allocated towards fair pay for the cast and crew, and additional marketing, such as paying for flyer distribution.
Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you in August!
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 31st July 2026 at 11:55pm