A war in the desert, a coalition fighting shadows, but this is not Iraq, this is not Afghanistan. This is the war in Mali - the deadliest peacekeeping mission in history. This is the home of Ibrihim, an interpreter attached to the UN Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). His life has been shaped by a decade of civil war; where the legacy of French colonialism collides with the new global forces of Islamist terror and mercenary armies. A new drama from award-winning writer and director Jack MacGregor, Everything Under the Sun is a play about peace - and what it means to keep it."

The face of warfare has changed again. Advances in technology have moulded the battlefield and triggered changes to the Laws of War, placing civilians at the heart of military decision making. As tech giant Polemos seeps its way into the world’s militaries, a civil uprising gives birth to a rebel force. Immerse yourself in the battlefield of the future and make real-time decisions in the heat of war. Save lives or take them, all from the apparent safety of the control room. Join the fight. In a world where technology rules, you are vital.

A new musical, written by serving Scottish soldiers and veterans, about their own experiences as young soldiers. They have just been posted to Colchester as part of 16 Air Assault Brigade. The soldiers have only recently passed their infantry training, at which they developed strong friendship bonds. They are about to head off to Afghanistan for a six-month tour of Helmand Province. Using a mixture of modern contemporary music, drama, video/DVD and pictures, Warriors shows how these Scottish soldiers deal with life – from training and relationships at home to the fast pace of operations away from loved ones.

It Won’t Be Long Now is drawn from first-hand accounts of Hong Kong under Japanese occupation. It shows the hardships and suffering Allied POWs and local Hong Kongese faced but also reveals the enduring humanity and will to survive that exists when everything else has been stripped away. Performed by Aitchison and Lee in English and Cantonese, the show is profoundly physical, expressive, nuanced and human. ‘Very professional... a thoughtful design... an important history of Hong Kong that should not be forgotten’ (Strand, HK). Ticket includes optional 15 minute post-performance discussion.

Scottish poets will be reading work exploring our collective history and common creative future, including a special evening spotlighting Hamish Henderson. The programme, a mix of familiar poets and young talent, is curated in partnership with the Scottish Poetry Library. We’re particularly fortunate to be working with the Scottish Poetry Library’s Next Generation Young Makars, and their mentors who will present new writing in the Scots Lied, Gaelic and English that examines Scotland’s past and future. Come along to find out what the next generation of Makars are thinking.

A compellingly captivating ode to the Black British war veterans, telling various stories of men and women of Black British heritage who fought in WWI and WWII. It is an interdisciplinary performance that weaves dance, text, live music and visuals to capture the participation of these brave men and women who were often hidden from the British war effort. Choreography utilises African, Caribbean, contemporary and Lindy Hop dance styles. The live music of the berimbau and the violin creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and ambiguity, of embarking on this journey to the unknown.

What if your home becomes the place you fear? Home After War is a room-scale, interactive virtual reality experience that takes you to Fallujah, Iraq. A city that was, until recently, under Islamic State (IS) control. The war against IS has ended but the city is still unsafe. In the experience, you meet an Iraqi father called Ahmaied who has returned to his home, only to face the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Join him and discover the unfolding of a tragic event. Learn about what it’s like to fear the home you once loved as you hear Ahmaied speak of his loss and his hopes for his family, country and the world.

Witness how Ukrainian art & culture have become targets of the ongoing war; and meet the inspiring people on the front lines protecting it. What happens when museums can no longer show their collections, instead need to hide them? What does it mean to be a street artist when your city is being bombed? What does it take to be a musician when your country is under attack? “You Destroy. We Create.” takes you on a 25-minute immersive journey through the war-torn country, where artists and professionals from the cultural sphere are busy protecting, rebuilding and creating art.

Operation Fringe invites the player to complete a time sensitive mission to prevent a drone attack. The storyline for this AR trail was inspired by the Stories from Tomorrow document by PW Singer and August Cole. An enemy force holds the quantum advantage, giving them an edge unlike any before seen in history. They have taken control of the UK’s entire drone fleet and plan on attacking civilian festival goers during the fringe. A mysterious hacker reveals they have cracked all of the enemy’s encryption and entered their’s internal systems but have since disappeared. The players job is to recover the data and prevent the drone attack.

In Expressions of the Army we asked ten Army photographers to select ten photographs that represent their work documenting the life of British Army soldiers. As a soldier they are prepared, as a photographer they are creative. Carrying their own photographic equipment, as well as their military equipment, Army Photographers can regularly be carrying over 35kg of equipment. Expressions of the Army, which is exhibited around Edinburgh takes the viewer beyond the perceptions gained from the media and takes you into the lives of soldiers by the photographers who live among them.