SCOTTISH Building Society has doubled down on its commitment to offering Edinburgh customers passbook accounts, in a bid to support them with their financial needs.
With more than 67 percent of Scottish Building Society members across Edinburgh holding a passbook, they will continue to have access to the account, which can play a crucial role in helping them to manage their finances.
The move comes after several major banks across the UK announced they would be removing passbooks, which provide a paper record of banking transactions, from their services.
Recently Virgin Money announced it would remove passbook savings accounts, resulting in 100,000 customers across the UK being told they will no longer be able to use them to pay in or withdraw cash in person.
Despite several banks now no longer offering the service, Scottish Building Society believes passbooks still have an important role to play in helping customers manage their finances.
Feeling reassured by physical evidence of how much they hold in their accounts many customers prefer to bank this way to manage their finances.
The rise in the cost-of-living crisis has prompted many people to revert back to using physical money in a bid to help them budget, with passbook savings accounts serving as a valuable tool in helping them to manage this.
Removing this service alongside many local branches closing risks leaving many customers feeling alone, particularly during this economic climate Scottish Building Society warned.
Scottish Building Society has made significant investment in its high street branches to provide accessible banking for all and enhance its physical presence in communities, with the society most recently opening a new relationship centre in Edinburgh in June last year.
Meanwhile, as part of its 175th anniversary celebrations, the building society launched the Scottish Building Society Foundation in May last year, an initiative designed to give back to Scottish communities with an incredible £175,000 designated to local charities and good causes across Scotland.
Paul Denton, CEO at Scottish Building Society, said: “As a mutual organisation owned by and run for the benefit of our members, we want to make sure we are providing customers with everything they need to manage their finances in a way which is easy for them and stress free.
“While online services are the main stay for a lot of customers, there is a large portion of people who are not confident in using online banking or simply don’t want to, and they can rightly feel aggrieved that they are facing the prospect of having to do so.
“At Scottish Building Society our purpose is to serve the local community, and this is why we will continue to offer passbooks as a vital tool for customers, as well as investing in our branches to provide accessible, in-person facilities which will serve their local communities. Simply put, we want to ensure our members have choice when it comes to managing their finances, and we believe in offering them that.”
Lisa McKay, Edinburgh Relationship Manager, Scottish Building Society, said: “”At Scottish Building Society we understand how important it is for members to have options, which works for them, for managing their finances. For many, this means having a physical passbook which helps them keep up to date on their accounts.
“Our passbook savings accounts can be a really useful tool in this regard and that’s why we are committed to continuing them. If you are interested in learning more about how passbook savings accounts, please give us a call or visit your local branch and we will be happy to support.”
Seasonal Artistic Disorder: Past and present works by Bernie Reid
Artist/s / Participants:
Bernie Reid
About the Exhibition:
Seasonal Artistic DisorderPast and present works by Bernie Reid The work included in SAD could be seen as an inventory. I wanted to take the opportunity allowed by this exhibition to sit different works from the last fifteen years alongside current works in order to reflect on the sometimes dispirit avenues of my practice and to see if new ideas emerge from these assemblies.
It is sometimes a rare moment for an artist to be able to set out works side by side and have the space, both physical and mental, to see how the works play, conflict, or settle with each other so I wanted to take advantage of this time to do some self-curation.
My past works engage with the figurative tradition seen through the lens of my history with graffiti and stencil art and they are often an attempt to work through the conflict between my influences.
I find challenge in sampling the traditional and the new and trying to try to coalesce these samples into something greater than the sum of its parts.
There are also examples of my interest in the decorative arts with my painted rugs and a sculpture piece which will appear “naked” for this outing.
At present I’m interested in the phenomena of AI generated art and its effect on painting and how art is perceived in general and I’ve tried to address my own issues with this burgeoning technology.
My hope for the show is, through the mixture of work from different periods, to have a kaleidoscopic moment for my own edification and the viewers entertainment.
Artist Bio:
Bernie Reid is an Edinburgh-based artist with an international reputation whose body of work includes mixed media paintings, trompe l’oeil decorative rugs, graphic screen prints and sculpture. Reid’s explorations of subculture, fashion, graffiti and eroticism can be seen throughout the work of his 30-year career as an illustrator and artist.
Reid often employs mediums and techniques associated with graffiti such as stencils and spray paint in his work.
His mixed media paintings use these techniques alongside traditional oils to depict abstracted and psychedelic figurative forms influenced by the subcultural practices of sampling and hacking established culture in order to create new identities, the deviant sensibility of graffiti never being too distant from the outcome.
Themes of subcultures and eroticism also manifest in Reid’s graphic screen prints. Driven by a taste for control and technical efficiency and influenced by the stylings of mid-century advertising and Italian futurism – Reid uses exaggerated shapes and line work to create figurative illustrations inspired by urban society.
As an illustrator Reid worked on commissions for clients such as Wallpaper magazine, Stella McCartney, Telegraph Newspaper, Habitat, Liberty London, Boxfresh, ID magazine and has had his personal work featured in a number of illustration books and journals.
Reid’s work has been shown internationally in galleries which include MOMA New York, SFMOMA, 019 in Ghent, Serpentine Galleries in London, Garage Museum in Moscow and on the island of Stromboli for the Fiorucci Art Trust.
Additionally, Reid regularly facilitates projects for Artlink, a local charity that aims to help people with mental health connect with a creative practice and others seeking to find wellness through art.
Opening Event
Thursday, 18th April, 5 pm – 8 pm Exhibition Dates Times Weekdays 22nd – 26th 11am – 4pm
One of the best parts of going to university is the chance to join wacky societies where you can meet like-minded peers and make friends for life.
Most universities across the country have hundreds of societies to suit everybody’s tastes, with the sole University of Birmingham featuring over 500 clubs and societies on campus.
If you’re specifically into sports and physical activity, the likes of Lancaster, Oxford, Bristol, and Nottingham University might be the perfect place to develop your skills both in class and on the pitch. But if you’re after quirkier societies that allow you to unwind and enjoy your secret guilty pleasures, there are loads of clubs all over the nation that are bound to tickle your curiosity.
Abodus Student Living, a leading expert in providing homely student accommodation, explores some of the most unusual university societies available in the UK. Fancy signing up to one?
AstroSoc (Leeds University) Most people prefer dancing the night away inside a colourful nightclub or binge-watching a Netflix series in their cosy student flat in Leeds. But what if you’d rather spend the evening looking at the night sky?
Aaron Kirkwood, Head of Sales and Marketing at Abodus Student Living, says that the University of Leeds is home to the perfect society for stargazers.
“If you have a passion for planets, comets, and starry nights, the University of Leeds hosts a club that will take you on cloud nine.
“AstroSoc is the ideal society for students interested in the stars, where you’ll take part in stargazing sessions and attend fascinating lectures from experts in astronomy, astrophysics, and astrophotography.
“The society’s website says that members take regular trips to various planetariums while also arranging wholesome getaways into the Moors and Dales to enjoy unspoiled sky views.”
20 Minutes Society (Newcastle University) Standing as one of the most popular societies at Newcastle University, the 20 Minutes Society is a unique club that isn’t subject-bound, making it the right pastime for someone with infinite interests – or none at all!
The premise of the society is based on creativity and spontaneity, as it aims to host an improvised and unpredictable social activity each week. Members simply receive a text message and email 20 minutes before the club’s weekly gathering, guiding them to a specific location where they will participate in impromptu events or activities.
The 20 Minutes Society is also known for organising mystery holidays and weekend trips to cool locations such as Budapest, Zagreb, Krakow, and Amsterdam.
HotChocSoc (Edinburgh University) Doesn’t this society sound delicious? Brits are known for having a sweet tooth for all things chocolate, with about two-fifths of the population confessing to being true chocoholics.
The HotChocSoc at Edinburgh University is the ideal club for anyone who enjoys sipping a hot cup of cocoa. The only prerequisite for joining this exquisite society is to have a knack for milk, dark, or caramel chocolate – and if you like it in a mug, even better!
Winters in the Scottish capital can get very chilly, so it’s no wonder the HotChocSoc is a favourite among students who want to keep warm during the colder months.
The society focuses on good vibes and hot drink recommendations and throws in the regular café get-together, study sessions, and movie nights to unite social fun and sweet treats.
Hide and Seek Society (Exeter University) Let’s be honest – moving to a new city, studying for a degree, and kickstarting your professional career is all grown-up stuff. What if you are not ready to let go of those childhood blues?
One of the quirkiest clubs out there is the Hide and Seek Society at Exeter University, a wholesome society for anyone looking to conserve their inner child.
As well as meeting up for ‘Hide and Seek’ sessions, members get involved in many other classic games such as ‘Stuck in the Mud’ and ‘Grandma’s Footsteps’. Believe it or not, they even organise their very own Sports Day with competitions that bring back fond memories.
Quidditch Society (Oxford University) If you have a knack for Harry Potter films, you will no doubt know what Quidditch is all about. If not, it is a sport played high in the air on broomsticks.
Of course, that can’t quite happen in real life, so students at Oxford University and Oxford Brookes scamper around on the ground instead with a broom between their legs.
Apart from the flying elements, all the rules are identical to those described in J. K. Rowling’s books, with Britain’s brightest minds chasing a ‘quaffle’ (i.e., a volleyball) aboard an old stick.
The Quidditch Society holds training sessions twice a week in preparation for quidditch competitions across the country and welcomes students from all backgrounds regardless of their sporting experience.
Shrek Society (Glasgow University) Arguably one of the most unusual societies across all universities, the Shrek Society at Glasgow University brings together students with a not-so-concealed love for DreamWorks’ famous green ogre.
The society is dedicated to upholding and celebrating the cultural impact of the Shrek cinematic universe, running frequent ogre-themed pub quizzes, study sessions, and even scavenger hunts.
Karaoke night-outs are a regular occurrence, too, allowing members to sing their hearts out to several popular hits from the iconic movies. What’s not to like?
Joining a society is one of the best decisions you can make to meet new people and unplug from the chores of academic life.
With so many quirky clubs on offer, you are bound to find one that floats your boat. Would you sign up to one of the weird, wacky societies mentioned above?
Edinburgh locals and those with a connection to the city are being invited to share stories and memories of the former Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, now redeveloped as the University of Edinburgh’s Edinburgh Futures Institute, as part of a new mass-participatory writing project at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Celebrating the Book Festival’s move to its new home at EFI, Words from the Wards will see collected stories from both Edinburgh residents and those from further afield, shared as part of a programme of multi-artform events that will take place in the iconic Category A-listed building during the Festival in August.
The Old Royal Infirmary was central to the city’s life, with generations of Edinburgh residents and visitors passing through its doors, corridors and wards. With the 20,000m² space now transformed into a world-leading venue for collaboration, conversation, and creativity, Words from the Wards will allow the memories already created in the building – from new births and mourned passings to the careers of the doctors and nurses who worked there – to be celebrated.
Alongside the public submissions, Words from the Wards will also feature contributions from leading Edinburgh writers and artists, including Dr Gavin Francis, Michael Pederson, Hannah Lavery, Sara Sheridan, Lisa Williams and Kirstin Innes.
Submitted stories from the public will be published at the Book Festival’s ‘On the Road’ blog at www.ontheroad.edbookfest.co.uk, creating a time capsule of memories about the Old infirmary through the eyes of those who worked and visited there throughout the years.
A selection of the submitted stories will be read by their authors, alongside the professional writers, at special events on-site at EFI on one of the former hospital wards during the Festival.
During the Book Festival there will also be a tie-in with Edinburgh Futures Institute Culture and Community team’s ongoing Recycling a Hospital project, which will see a new object created from materials preserved from the building’s original interiors (floorboards and slates), and poetry written by community members, installed within the space. The object, called ‘The Spirit Case’, will become a hub for gathering further stories, with Book Festival visitors invited to engage with the existing stories and contribute their own reflections and memories of the building.
Noëlle Cobden, Communities Programme Director at Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “We’re incredibly excited that the Book Festival’s new home is the Edinburgh Futures Institute – not just because of the visionary ideas and projects at its heart, but because of its building’s rich and meaningful history.
“The Old Royal Infirmary is where many local residents – and those now further afield – took their first breaths, and its walls have witnessed uncountable moments of hope, fear, joy, and grief.
“We want to capture and honour the experiences, relationships and memories that people connect with the building’s previous life, as the Book Festival becomes part of its future. We hope that as many people as possible will share their stories with us, as our fantastic associated writers will also do, and can’t wait to discover the hidden, personal histories which make this place so special.”
Writer Kirstin Innes said: “Like many, many people born in Edinburgh, I began in this building. Of course, I don’t remember that but I do remember being 19 and going back there, visiting my grandfather in the early stages of dementia, after he’d had a stroke.
“Thinking about this commission has already started conjuring scents and sounds – hospital bleach, my footsteps on the stone staircase, the scrape of a chair on aged linoleum. This place means so much to so many of us – it’s an honour to be asked to write something about it.”
Working with architecture firm Bennetts Associates, the University of Edinburgh has been transforming the iconic, category-A listed Old Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh into Edinburgh Futures Institute to develop a space for multidisciplinary collaboration, data-led innovation, education, research, and partnership.
The Edinburgh Futures Institute includes state-of-the-art teaching facilities, rooms for co-working with industry partners, incubation areas for businesses, labs for innovation and prototyping, and exhibition and performance spaces.
The revitalised building is transforming the local area, creating a major public piazza, new garden spaces, and several new points of access from Lauriston Place, Middle Meadow Walk and Quartermile – opening this historic site once again to the public and welcoming Edinburgh communities, residents and visitors, as well as University of Edinburgh staff and students.
Last month we told you about a ministerial visit by Baron Cameron of Lochiel. Only a few weeks after that visit, we hosted another, this time from MSP Mairi Gougeon. Ms Gougeon, who is Holyrood’s Cabinet Minister for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, was visiting us in part to find out how smoothly or otherwise the process of acquiring the Heart for the community had been and also to announce that there would be a review into the Community Right To Buy process which will begin this summer.
During her visit she spoke to several of the Heart partners, including Chair of HEC (History of Education Centre), Alice Bacciarelli and potter Borja Moronta.
“It was wonderful to meet so many of the team and visitors at Heart of Newhaven and hear how they are offering a hub for the community,” said Ms Gougeon. “To see how much they have achieved is remarkable, especially when so much of it had to be done in the face of all the additional difficulties caused by the pandemic.
“Their dedication to offering space to artists and looking at so many different ways to bring people together is really impressive and I look forward to hearing about their future plans.”
Staffing changes
We have recently welcomed a new caretaking team of three to the Heart; Mike, Johnrobert and Emmanuel. They can be found beavering busily round and about the buildings at all hours.
Please make them welcome.
By having three members in the team, we hope to be able to eventually enable full access to the site as well as ensure added security.
Thanks to further funding, from Age Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund, we have also been able to appoint two new project staff, both of whom started in March.
A new Dementia Meeting Centre Manager, Jan Bee Brown, started working three days per week from March 6. Jan is a well known local story teller and was with us at the start of our Heart journey and so we are pleased to welcome her back after three years working in Shetland. She has plenty of relevant experience resulting from her role as a part-time Dementia Advisor with Alzheimer Scotland.
Alongside this new team, we are happy to announce that our staff members Roger Walpole and Kim Thomson have been confirmed in their positions as Centre Manager and Centre Administrator respectively following the initial transition period of the Heart. We hope they will both be with us for some time to come.
Meeting Centre activities
The Meeting Centre at Heart of Newhaven is excited to be partnering with Healing Arts Scotland to take part in their ITAC Healing Arts Week Relay. Meeting Centre Artist in Residence, Willy Gilder, will be hosting three playful creative workshops together with Fenella Kerr and Jan Brown on: Wednesday 10th, 17th & 24th April at Heart of Newhaven 1.30pm – 3.30 pm.
Come along and get creative with like minds, all materials will be provided plus tea and cake to help get the creative juices flowing.
Session 1. Wednesday 10th April – ‘Mapping the Mind’ with Fenella Kerr
Session 2. Wednesday 17th April – ‘Creating with Clay’ with Jan Brown
Session 3. Wednesday 21st April – ‘Drawn to the Dance’ with Jan Brown
All sessions are free and dementia inclusive. If you would more information contact Jan Brown at jan.brown@heartofnewhaven.co.uk
Our response will be part of Scottish Ballet’s partnership with Healing Arts Week in partnership with The Edinburgh International Festival this summer.
Our ‘Schooldays’ Heritage Lottery Fund coordinator, Simone Kenyon also started two days per week from the end of March.
Simone will be leading the community team’s latest project, which will bring together pupils from the local schools in the area, together with older residents and Heart partners, to share memories of their schooldays and leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. More details in the weeks to come.
Gardening group update
Funding has arrived in our bank account for the Community Garden project which began in March and Hayley, our sessional worker, is organising a number of intergenerational sessions on Monday afternoons and Thursday mornings. Do come and admire the continuing developments in the garden.
These include: new high, easily accessed planters and new compost bins, all kindly built by Leith Mens Shed; a beautifully woven willow screen to hide the road, created and donated by Judy Gray, seen at work in the photo; a “dead hedge”, also part of the screening process; lots of seedlings sprouting and potatoes chitting by the Anchor Building windows.
With the Lottery funding we have bought lots of new tools for volunteers and visiting groups to use, and other immediate plans include raising the height of the existing beds, surrounding them with wood chip paths, siting and filling the high planters and acquiring more shrubs and climbers to grow along the north fence.
New volunteers, experienced gardeners or those keen to learn, are always very welcome at Hayley’s sessions. Ask for details in The Heart or contact her directly to learn more: bloomyogaedinburgh@gmail.com.
Our Christmas Tree project has really taken off and we now have an army of knitters handing in squares as well as those people who have joined our knit and natter sessions.
Primary school children, church groups, line dancers, knitting circles, knitters from London, Inverness, Sleaford and Lancashire are just some of the knitters who are contributing to our growing bundles of squares.
We are approaching our first 1,000 and 150 decorations but we need many more and it will be you, who by knitting and spreading the word, will keep the momentum going.
Knit and natter groups meet in the Heart on Tuesdays at 7.15 till 8.30 and on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 10 till 12.
Happy knitting!
13th April – Scran and a Song
As well as our Open For Coffee morning on Saturday 13th April, the Scran Van will be rolling up to provide some free lunches from 12.30. There will be a limited number, so get there early.
The food will be accompanied by performances from the Mens’ Shed and there will also be bicycle maintenance from Euan from EZ Bike Tours.
Bring your bike along for a wee tune up and advice. More details online or on our social media.
Remember to check our website and social media regularly.
For example have you seen the latest addition to the Culture & Heritage blog page? It features an interview with Cassandra Baron, one of the Heart’s resident creative Partners. (We featured Borja Moronta a few months ago: all you need to do is scroll down till you find it.)
All our Partners produce a lot of wonderful work and we don’t have space to feature them all in our regular newsletters, but we hope to include more about them on the website. So remember, check it out regularly.
Congratulations
Talking of Partners, we’d like to congratulate Neil Smith our Partner and resident composer, who had a piece of his work premiered recently in the Reid Concert Hall. We didn’t know about it in time for the March newsletter’ belated congratulations, Neil.
He shared a stage with three other premiered pieces of music, with his contribution – Regular Music, a piece for piano and nine-piece ensemble. He’s pictured with the ensemble along with conductor Oliver Cope.
Ssh!
Finally, don’t tell anyone, but the Heart has been chosen as the setting for some scenes in a new film currently under production. We are thrilled to be part of something so exciting but we can’t tell you too many details yet.
All we can say is that someone famous will be on set! You’ll have to watch this space. Meanwhile, we have to apologise in advance to anyone using the building on Monday 15th April when filming will be happening on the ground floor of the Victoria Building and in the playground.
There will also be preparatory work and then reinstating afterwards so be prepared!
Our Adult classes cater to individuals eager to draw from life models, providing unwavering support as you cultivate confidence in your unique artistic style. Immerse yourself in a nurturing environment where you’ll receive guidance on fundamental drawing techniques, perspective, and basic human anatomy.
Teaching Approach:
Get ready to be inspired! Each week, you’ll encounter diverse poses and fresh concepts carefully crafted to challenge and expand your artistic perspective. Our instructors will offer valuable insights to enhance your approach to drawing from life models.
What You’ll Learn:
By the end of the 10-session course, you’ll achieve the following milestones:
Gain a solid understanding of perspective and basic human anatomy, effectively applying these concepts to your life drawings.
Develop versatile skills in capturing life models through various poses and mediums.
Cultivate newfound confidence in nurturing your distinct style in life drawing.
Prepare your artwork for a group exhibition.
Required Resources and Costs:
We provide easels and drawing boards for your convenience. To begin, simply bring your preferred paper (A3 size or larger) and your choice of drawing materials. Options may include pencils, charcoal, chalk, colored pencils, or pastels.
For any question regarding the course: Art@grantonhub.org
All Levels welcome
Fee: £96.60 for 10 sessions of two hours each and your participation to a group exhibition
Capacity: 13 persons
Location: Granton:Hub, Madelvic House, Granton Park Avenue, Edinburgh, EH5 1HS, UK
Dates: Tuesdays 6:30pm – 8:30pm
16th April
23rd April
[no session on 30th April]
7th May
14th May
21st May
28th May
4th June
11th June
18th June
25th June
29-30 June Summer Drawing Exhibition / Summer Show at Granton:Hub
Award-winning housebuilder, Cruden Homes, has announced the release of luxury 1-and-2 bedroom apartments at its popular West Craigs Green development in the heart of west Edinburgh.
Many plots come complete with generous balconies and stunning views over green open space, creating the perfect spot to unwind. Prices in the latest release of apartments range from £220,000 to £293,500, with first completions expected in Autumn 2024.
The new development has seen high levels of demand and the new apartments add to a range of 3 bedroom terraced and semi-detached houses and 4-bedroom townhouses, each with their own private gardens.
The West Craigs area is undergoing exceptional transformation and offers a growing and friendly neighbourhood with an abundance of green space, including the brand-new Lennie and Meadowfield Parks. There are also plans for a new primary school, cafe and health centre, all within walking distance.
Ideally located between Barnton and South Gyle, West Craigs Green is just five miles from Edinburgh’s city centre and benefits from excellent transport links, including cycle routes, bus, rail and tram stops within close proximity.
The Gyle shopping centre offers a range of amenities, including high street shops, a supermarket and eateries, all easily accessible on foot or by car.
Last month, the stunning new ‘Orchid’ show home opened for viewing at the development, offering a modern open-plan living with a large kitchen/dining area at the back of the home, a welcoming lounge, very generously sized master bedroom and a family bathroom.
Hazel Davies, Sales and Marketing Director at Cruden Homes, said: “West Craigs Green is a thriving community-inspired development in Edinburgh providing the ideal place for buyers who want to live in a scenic location, yet within easy reach of city life.
“Following the enthusiastic response to the first phase of West Craigs Green, our brand new apartment offering only serves to extend the appeal of the development, making it the perfect location for first time buyers, young professionals and those looking to downsize.”
theSpaceUK continues its tradition of championing new writing with an eclectic array of shows that promise to entertain, enlighten, and engage. From stand-up comedy to poignant dramas, musical mayhem to physical theatre, there’s something for every taste.
With over 150 brand new shows going on sale at theSpaceUK for the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, here are some highlights of the shows you won’t want to miss:
Theatre
David Hare’s groundbreaking drama play, Via Dolorosa deals with the history, complexities, and tensions of the Israel-Palestine conflict in this new adaptation by Chasing Rainbows. The 2023 Fringe First winners, Xhloe Rice and Natasha Roland, return with their smash-hit sell-out, What If They Ate The Baby? Enter the world of housewife secrets and societal expectations in this comedic exploration of hidden desires and untold truths.
There’s a world of suspense and intrigue with Agatha Christie’s The Rats by Hart Players, a one-act play from Agatha Christie’s Rule of Three collection. Take a witty and irreverent trip through ballet history in Bluffing Your Way in Ballet, which features an ensemble of former Royal Ballet dancers telling tales from backstage stories to iconic performances.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant nightlife of 1980s urban culture in Bouncers & Shakers by Paperlight Theatre as nightclubs and cocktail bars come alive with energy. From prom to after-party, follow the generational identity crises of a group of friends in Disco, Baby? by Acting Speaks Louder, set to an original score blending pop, funk, jazz, and disco. Set in the 1980s, follow Kevin’s journey from coding to time travel as he navigates an alternative AI world with his brand-new Commodore 64 in Hungry Like the Future by Greene Shoots Theatre Company.
Join eccentric ex-detective Richard P Cooper in two uproarious adventures, featuring time-bending mysteries and laugh-out-loud escapades in Defective Inspector: A Stitch in Time and Defective Inspector: An American Odyssey by The Defectors. Strap in for a sky-high spectacle as two passengers embark on a comedic journey 30,000 feet above the Atlantic with Cabin Fever by Fresh !nk Theatre Company. Bucket List by Show Don’t Tell Productions is a darkly humorous tale of shared lives and afterlives.
The complexities of platonic and romantic love are explored in Three Bed (No Living Room) by Laldie Theatre, an original play set in a student flat in Edinburgh, exploring queer identity in the 2020s. There’s a feminist retelling of the Pygmalion and Galatea myth in Malion by Tired Horses Theatre, which explores themes of identity and socialisation in a thought-provoking narrative.
Buckle up and brace yourself for a twisted ride through OCD, breakups, breakdowns, and self-discovery in the shockingly funny solo show Driver’s Seat: Obsessive Compulsive Disaster by Ellie Brelis.
Enter a world where nursery politics collide with Shakespearean subplots in Get Thee to a Nursery by Exi Attica, a whimsical exploration of childhood imagination.
Music & Musicals
There are new musicals aplenty in theSpaceUK’s lineup for 2024. Set in 1960s Georgia, USA, The Gardening Club: A New Musical by Wright and McRitchie is a new musical that follows six girls who start an illegal drug ring to distribute birth control pills, using their gardening club as a cover-up.
There’s an exploration into the complexities, love, and ambition of the enigmatic Wallis Simpson in the brand new musical, Wallis by BramwellBrand Productions.
Join six eccentric middle-schoolers as they compete in the hilariously quirky The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee by C&C Productions. Enter the mysteriously spooky world of the Addams Family in the kooky musical, The Addams Family by The Talentz.
Packed with show-stoppers and chart-toppers depicting a day at Cambridge University, Cadenza is a whirlwind journey through smooth jazz, angelic choirs, and beloved pop hits. Embark on a creative musical journey through the rich tapestry of Celtic melodies that connect us to our roots and the places we call home in Celtic Roots by Kevin Littlejohn and Right Here Productions.
Finally, don’t miss the intimate acoustic show by 22-year-old singer-songwriter Sean Lomas. With heartfelt lyrics and acoustic undertones, Sean shares the stories behind his songs, promising an evening of genuine emotion and raw talent.
Comedy
Join Andrei Palchyk for a solo stand-up show filled with Instagram-approved jokes that delve into the immigrant experience and the resilience required to survive dictatorship in The Ultimate Collection of Reels.
Brace yourself for a candid and at times unsettling glimpse into the life of a doctor in Keith Mendes: Medical Negligence by Keith Mendes. From unspeakable acts of medical negligence to encounters with ghosts and demons, Keith shares stories from his career and personal life that are sure to leave audiences both intrigued and entertained.
Love / Less of a Man by Isabella Pip and Jess Elgene is a double bill offering a contrasting exploration of love and self-discovery.
Isabella Pip brings her disdain for love to the forefront, while Jess Elgene shares her journey of transition and empowerment. Join two Plebs as they hilariously recount the tale of Macbeth armed with nothing but their wits, wigs, and willies in MacPlebs by The Raymondos. Despite not having read the play, these surviving cast members give their unique interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic.
Dance Physical Theatre and Circus
Unconventional introvert Thomas typically fiddles and fumbles through his conventional office job until he’s dragged on a journey of discovery by a mischievous briefcase in A Brief Case of Crazy by Skedaddle Theatre Company.
Experience the beauty and mystery of traditional Korean artistry as various pictures are painted on stage using the traditional Korean hat called sangmo in Korean Painter by Contemporary Yunhee.
Pushing the genre of Argentine tango to its limits, there’s super-charged stage tango dancing, acting, video projection, and sensory, sensual immersion in Auto-Erotic Tango by Tango Fantasy, which explores the tension created between a traditional heteronormative tango couple and their unusual, real, and hidden desires.
Cabaret and Variety
Dive into a dazzling night of song, story, and sensuality as Ryan Patrick Welsh and The K*ntz! boldly explore sex, sexuality, and sex work in “Sex, Camp, Rock’n’Roll” by Ryan Patrick Welsh – 8th Best Legs Productions. Step into the world of LA actress Nina Rose Carlin as she navigates the highs and lows of seeking representation in Hollywood in Nina Rose Carlin: Seeking Representation.
Rising star Angus Baskerville combines mind-reading and trickery in an exploration of autism and magic in Naughty or Neurodiverse – Magic from Another Planet. Join scientist and jazz singer Malcolm Windsor as he explores the chemistry between couples through story and song in Love, Loss, and Chemistry by The Swells.
Plenty of shows to pore over and ponder for the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe!
The Foreign Secretary will travel to Washington DC to urge US partners to unlock additional funding for Ukraine
David Cameron visits Washington DC to reaffirm the joint UK-US commitment to support Ukraine, which remains vital for US and European security.
In discussions with Republican and Democratic Congressional leaders, he will call for urgent further support for Ukraine.
He will meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other senior US Government figures, reinforcing our steadfast partnership to defend freedom and democracy around the world as NATO allies.
The Foreign Secretary will travel to Washington DC today (Tuesday 9th April) to urge US partners to unlock additional funding for Ukraine, giving them the tools they need to win its war with Russia.
He will hold talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the UK’s continued support for Ukraine against Russian aggression which aims to redraw European borders by force. He will engage with key figures across Congress to call for them to change the narrative on Ukraine this year and provide the extra $60bn (over £47.5bn) in supplementary funding that’s going through Congress.
Over $184bn (over £145bn) has already been committed to Ukraine by European nations including over $15bn (nearly £12bn) from the UK, in addition to the nearly $74bn (nearly £59bn) already committed by the US – which is making a huge difference on the battlefields of Ukraine and the waters of the Black Sea. Ukraine has proven time and time again that with the right tools it can succeed.
The Foreign Secretary will reassert the importance of stepping up economic pressure on Russia now and continuing to give Ukraine the military and humanitarian support it needs to hold the line this year and go on the offensive in 2025.
David Cameron will highlight how Europe and the US are united in their support for Ukraine, with European countries providing more than half of the total support. He will emphasise that nothing can match the pace and scale of US support which remains “the key stone in the arch” in the fight for freedom, democracy and the right of free countries to choose their own future.
The Foreign Secretary, David Cameron said: “Success for Ukraine and failure for Putin are vital for American and European security.
“This will show that borders matter, that aggression doesn’t pay and that countries like Ukraine are free to choose their own future.
“The alternative would only encourage Putin in further attempts to re-draw European borders by force, and would be heard clearly in Beijing, Tehran and North Korea.
“US support for Ukraine has massively degraded the military capacity of a common adversary, Russia has lost half of its pre-invasion land combat power, and a quarter of its original Black Sea fleet, while creating jobs at home and strengthening the Western alliance and NATO.”
Two years on from Russia’s illegal invasion, it’s more important than ever that as NATO allies, the UK and US continue to defend its shared values, including by upholding Euro-Atlantic security. The visit will build on the strong ties between the US and the UK and our shared commitment to defending freedom and democracy around the world.
While Ukraine continues to make gains against Russia, they are increasingly being overmatched by Russian artillery on the battlefield, underlining the importance of agreeing further US support.
Talks will also focus on the Middle East, including the path to a sustainable ceasefire and the delivery of greater quantities of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Six months on from the 7 October attacks, the UK and US have stood united in their support for Israel who suffered the worst terror attack in its history at the hands of Hamas and have been clear in Israel’s right to self-defence in accordance with international law.
The Foreign Secretary will continue to push for a full, urgent, and transparent investigation into the terrible events in Gaza last week, which saw three British aid workers lose their lives.
He will underline that the deaths of World Central Kitchen humanitarian workers are completely unacceptable and that major changes need to be made to ensure the safety of aid workers on the ground.
Alongside the US, the UK and other partners recently announced plans for the opening of a maritime route, which will see aid delivered by sea to a new temporary US military pier in Gaza, through a maritime corridor from Cyprus. Partners including the United Nations, Cyprus, European Commission, the UAE, Qatar, Germany, Greece, Italy and The Netherlands, have joined the UK and the US in the creation of the route.
The Foreign Secretary also will reinforce UK support for the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti by announcing a £5m contribution to its deployment.
The MSS, working with the Haitian National Police, will help to tackle gang-related violence which is destabilising the country, worsening the humanitarian situation and causing daily pain and suffering to the people of Haiti.
He will emphasise that a Haitian-led political solution is the only way to tackle this insecurity head on and long-term.
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