'A festival that places people at the centre of politics,’ is how the Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick MSP describes this year’s Festival of Politics, in which case it’s fitting that it will boldly reflect the event which people are all talking about – next month’s Independence Referendum. Over three days an array of talks will explore various facets of the debate, from currency to EU membership to defence and the oil industry, all intended to be inclusive to each side of the debate.

There will also be a special showing of the National Theatre of Scotland’s revival of In Time O’ Strife, Joe Corrie’s Scots theatre classic about the impact of the 1926 General Strike upon a Fife mining community. ‘I’m a long-time admirer of Joe Corrie, a writer whose work is hugely undervalued in Scotland,’ says Marwick, a Fifer herself. ‘I’m delighted that he will finally be recognised in the debating chamber of our nation’s Parliament.’

Tony Hollingsworth’s film One Humanity will also screen, about the Nelson Mandela 70th birthday tribute at Wembley Stadium and the International Tribute for a Free South Africa in 1990, a piece with extra significance given the role of Mandela’s legacy in the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony. ‘We want people with different views to come together and ask ‘What Next for Scotland?’’ says Marwick. ‘This year’s Festival offers the perfect opportunity to listen to informed opinion and balanced debate on some of the big issues that have dominated the Referendum campaigns so far.’

Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, Fri 15–Sun 17 Aug.