22 May 2006
Sir Sean Connery to headline Scottish Parliament's Festival of Politics
Sir Sean Connery first visited Holyrood in August 2003 while the Scottish Parliament building was under construction. |
The Festival of Politics 2006 will launch with a unique insight into the life of the world's most famous Scot. Sir Sean Connery will headline the Scottish Parliament's second Festival of Politics when he takes part in a rare ‘In Conversation' interview with Presiding Officer George Reid on 23 August during which he will share his views on Scotland, its politics and its place in the world.
Sir Sean is the first in a high-profile line-up of guest speakers to be announced as taking part in the Festival of Politics which will take place at Holyrood between 23 and 26 August.
The Scottish Parliament's award winning event proved a groundbreaking addition to Edinburgh's festival season last year, when the inaugural festival attracted almost 3,000 people to 22 events.
This year's event is shaping up to be bigger and better than the first.
It has been expanded by one day to include Saturday events for the whole family and will feature more than 50 debates, workshops and performances ranging from educational games for children to challenging discussions on global political issues. Announcing the event with Sir Sean Connery, Presiding Officer George Reid said:
“I look forward to quizzing Sean on his life and work, his engagement with Scottish politics and what he will be doing next.”
“Sir Sean's involvement in the Festival is a mark, not only of the increasing profile of this event, but of the Parliament taking its place on the world stage.”
It was also announced today that Sir Sean Connery will be in Edinburgh for 10 days over the summer to attend the Edinburgh International Film Festival of which he is Patron and to play host at a number of events celebrating the EIFF 60th birthday.
Background Notes on Festival of Politics
The full programme of events for the Festival of Politics 2006 will be announced in late June. The 2005 event included presentation, debate and performance from: Vanessa Redgrave, Andrew Marr, Neil Kinnock, Shirley Williams, Anne Lorne Gillies, Tom Devine, Ted Cowan and Rowena Arshad.
Tickets for all events at the Scottish Parliament's Festival of Politics will go on sale on 26 June. Entry to most events is free, main events will carry a nominal ticket fee of £5.00. Concessions, with tickets costing £3.00, will be available to under-16s, students and pensioners. Tickets will be available from the Scottish Parliament's visitor services or from the Hub in Edinburgh 's Royal Mile.
Sir Sean Connery first visited Holyrood in August 2003 while the Scottish Parliament building was under construction. Images and quotes from his visit can be found at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/news/news-03/pa03-050.htm
He also attended the Holyrood building opening ceremony in October 2004 and the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in July 1999.
For further information the media contact is:
Eric MacLeod, Tel: 0131 348 5389
E-mail: [email protected]
RNID TypeTalk Calls welcome
The Festival of Politics is an initiative of the Scottish Parliament.
The Festival of Politics 2006 Partners are:
Standard Life; BAA Scotland; and ScottishPower.
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