Meet the graphically glorious 1927, who return to Edinburgh with their brand-new show Roots.

Founded in 2005 by animator & illustrator Paul Barritt, and writer & performer Suzanne Andrade, 1927 have spent the past 14 years honing their signature fusion of handcrafted animation and storytelling (and winning rather a lot of awards along the way). Witty, stylish and subversive, they blend sophisticated stagecraft with a nostalgia for the early days of cinema.

1927 was last seen at International Festival 2015 with a wildly inventive The Magic Flute, created in collaboration with Barrie Kosky, Artistic Director of Komische Oper Berlin (who also make an appearance in the 2019 programme). Mozart’s beloved comedy was reimagined in a boundary-busting production reminiscent of 1920s silent movies, Weimar cabaret, and the dark humour of Edward Gorey.

It’s hard to describe in words just how much fun the production was, so we’ll show you a video instead…

1927 are back this year with a brand-new show of their own as they bring the European premiere of Roots to the International Festival. Roots is based on a medley of little-known folk tales that offer a fascinating glimpse into the imaginations of our forebears. Expect to meet tyrannical ogres, magical birds and some very, very fat cats.

There won’t be any opera this year, but there is a live score. In keeping with 1927’s commitment to the gloriously strange and the slightly unsettling, the music involves Peruvian prayer boxes, donkey jaws and musical saws among other more standard instruments.

Take a sneak peak at their visually brilliant new show below.

1927's European premiere production of Roots comes to the International Festival on 9-25 August 2019.