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The world premiere of Rona Munro’s took place at the Edinburgh International Festival this week.ÌýÌý

Exploring the turbulent history of Scotland’s medieval monarchy through the lives of three Stewart kings – King James I, II and III - the production comes at an interesting time, a month before , and is the first collaboration between the National Theatre of Scotland and the National Theatre of Great Britain.ÌýÌý

Kirsty talks to the playwright Rona Munro and to members of the cast, including Danish actress Sofie GrÃ¥bøl (Sarah Lund in The Killing), about this timely exploration of Scottish history and identity.Ìý

Photograph byÌýJames McMillan.

The staggering scale of the Edinburgh Festival can be just a little bit daunting. With thousands of shows on offer, how on earth do you choose what to see?Ìý Why do performers risk the wrath of critics and the sodding rain to return year after year? ÌýAnd what are the best survival tips for navigating the city at this time of year?Ìý

Newsnight’s Culture Correspondent investigates the weird and wonderful aspects of the Edinburgh Festival, taking a whistle stop tour around the capital’s landmarks and meeting some of the festival’s most colourful characters, including the self-styled King of Edinburgh, a 90-year-old performer who returns year after year,Ìýand two of the wackiest puppets in town.ÌýÌý

Comedian Arthur Smith explores the history of , an iconic Edinburgh venue which has helped to launch the careers of a whole host of leading comedians over the past three decades, including The League of Gentlemen, Graham Norton, Miranda Hart and The Mighty Boosh. Ìý

Founded in 1985 with just two small theatre spaces and hand printed tickets, The Pleasance now sells one in every five tickets on the Fringe and for many people is synonymous with the Edinburgh Festival.ÌýÌý Mark Gatiss, Ben Miller and Jenny Éclair recall their early performances at the Pleasance with fondness and Arthur catches up with Paul Merton in the Pleasance Courtyard to find out why this particular venue has influenced our culture so much.ÌýÌý

Image credit: Theo Davies

Art critic Alastair Sooke selects his highlights of the , which was founded just ten years ago and now takes place in 30 venues around the city.ÌýÌý

Alastair treads across Jim Lambie’s vibrant floor installation at the Fruitmarket Gallery, plays with the psychedelic video games in FAILE & BÃ¥st’s Deluxx Fluxx Arcade at Summerhall, explores the work of influential German artist Isa Genzken at Inverleith House, and meets Susan Hiller, one of the grandes dames of contemporary art.ÌýÌý

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Image -ÌýJim Lambie, 2014 - Installation View

Photograph by Ruth Clark, courtesy of The Fruitmarket Gallery.

This year’s Festival has a South African flavour and this week we look at shows which celebrate 20 years of full democracy in South Africa and also remind us of Africa’s troubled past.ÌýÌý

While Inala – featuringÌýdancers from the Royal Ballet and Rambert, and music from Ladysmith Black Mambazo - is a celebratory fusion of western and African cultures, in Exhibit B audience members encounter a series of tableaux vivants of black performers, calling to mind the ‘human zoos’ popular in Victorian times, and in The Zulu, Grammy Award winning performer Mbongeni Ngema’s recalls the famous battle of Isandlwana in which the Zulu people defeated the British in 1879. ÌýWe talk to some of the artists tackling African history through theatre.ÌýÌý

Photograph by Simon Turtle.

It’s no surprise that next month’s is a theme of this year’s Festival, with many writers and performers and comedians addressing the thorny topic through theatre and comedy.ÌýÌýÌý

In recent months many members of Scotland’s cultural community have been outspoken in their support for Independence, while the voices of those arguing against Independence have been far less in evidence.ÌýÌý

Kirsty talks to playwright Alan Bissett, actor David Hayman, writer Denise Mina and American comedian Erich McElroy about why this might be, and about whether artists and writers have a particular role to play in the run up to the vote.ÌýÌý

After a controversial construction project, trams finally returned to Edinburgh earlier this year and are now providing a new addition to an already striking cityscape.Ìý We took over a tram earlier this week and treated commuters and tourists to some special performances from acts who are performing at the Festival. Ìý