Whilst many sectors are returning to some form of normality, albeit under new guidelines, live performances still aren't possible and we don't know when this will change.
August is usually the time when we're awash with world-class entertainment choices, with many festival-goers resorting to complicated spreadsheets to manage their tight viewing schedule.
2020 of course is very different, being the first time in our 41-year history that we're not opening our doors to the performers, staff and audiences involved in both the Edinburgh International Festival and The Fringe. Not to be defeated by circumstances though, both festivals have curated some great online content, which includes a way for us to raise some of the income we're missing via a crowdfunding campaign. You can read more about this and EIF's My Light Shines On initiative below.
As always, we're missing the audiences, performers and staff who are at the heart of everything we do. Our thoughts are with everyone who continues to be affected by the pandemic. Stay safe and well and we look forward to the time when we can welcome you back through our doors.
In the meantime, our light shines on...
Support us through comedy
We understand you may have had your fill of support requests, with so many organisations struggling during enforced closure. If you're missing your live comedy fix this month though, we hope you'll like this one, as you get top performers beamed live to your front room for just £9 (£1 less than the cost of an average Fringe ticket) and the proceeds all go to supporting The Queen's Hall.
The first AJ Bell Fringe on Friday event takes place at 9pm tomorrow, 7 August and features David O'Doherty, Tiff Stevenson, Magical Bones, Erika Ehler, Lost Voice Guy, Craig Hill, Elaine Davidson, Marcel Lucont, Diane Chorley and Christopher Macarthur Boyd. Buy your ticket here.
Further events with different line-ups will take place each Friday during August, with tickets available for each one via the link above.
Edinburgh International Festival: My Light Shines On
On 8 August we will be joining the Edinburgh festivals and other venues to light up the sky as a sign of hope that, whilst we may be quiet now, our building will resonate with music, laughter and creativity again in the future. This is part of Edinburgh International Festival's My Light Shines On programme, which is available on their Youtube channel from 9.30pm on Saturday.
Launching with 'A Celebration of the City', a specially commissioned film made (safely) by artists coming together for the first time since lockdown, there is also content from QH favourite artists including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra with Paul Lewis, Aidan O'Rourke, and Breabach as well as from the National Theatre of Scotland, Scottish Ballet, Scottish Opera and much more.
This is of course all in addition to the archive concerts from the Morning Recitals to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 from 10 August.