Category: city centre

Is homophobia alive and well at The Fringe?

Flyering Fringe performer encounters homophobic abuse on the streets

Fringe performer Nick Cassenbaum has encountered some extreme reactions on the Edinburgh streets when promoting his show. 

Nick’s show is about his childhood hero, a TV personality loved by millions and once the highest paid man on British television. His name: Michael Barrymore.

Barrymore fell from grace 17 years ago, enduring tabloid fury after a tragic incident at his home left a young man dead and the star came out about his bisexuality.

The show, My Kind of Michael, chronicles Cassenbaum’s childhood infatuation with the Strike it Lucky presenter and how he was inspired by Barrymore to take to the stage himself.

But flyering the show around Edinburgh has proved eventful.

“After all this time I thought people may be prepared to accept him as a brilliant “working class boy made good” entertainer, but it’s become apparent that not only do some people hold strong views about him but that they are prepared to use blatantly homophobic language to make their point”, said Nick.

‘He’s as bent as a ten-bob note. He killed a man. He raped a man. He’s a pervert’
‘He raped a man and drowned him’
‘He’s alwight in the back hole’
‘Get that murdering pervert away from me’ (referring to a cardboard cutout of Barrymore)

Others have accused Barrymore of being known for preying on young boys.

“I have been flyering for this show for two weeks now and this type of language has shocked and surprised me. Especially at a ‘liberal’ arts festival that is known for controversial and cutting edge productions’ said Cassenbaum.

“Barrymore has had to put up with this for nearly 20 years now. I want to make it clear that he was never charged for anything, yet people treat him as if he is a perverted murderer and child molester, tarring him with the same brush as those convicted following Operation Yewtree. It seems that old fashioned homophobia and trial by tabloid is alive and well at the Edinburgh Fringe.”

But not everyone shares these views. Recent audience members have included comedian Mark Thomas (above) and TV actor and musical theatre star Claire Sweeney.

Leaving the show Thomas described Barrymore as a ‘comedic hero in fact the last great working class hero to strut the boards.’

Sweeney said: ‘I Loved the show, it was so lovely about Michael and I’m glad about that as he was brilliant and such a nice man, I really enjoyed it.’

You can judge for the show yourself. My Kind of Michael runs at Summerhall to 26th August at 7.30pm (no show 20th).

 

 

 

Brexit: People’s Vote campaign rally this Saturday

Fed Up hearing politicians on Brexit?

Then come along to Festival Square at 1.30pm on Saturday and hear what speakers from worlds as diverse as entertainment, medical science and education have to say on the question of whether, in a democracy, the people should be allowed the right to decide whether they have changed their mind.

The Peoples Vote campaign, working with the European Movement in Scotland are staging a rally in support of a Vote on the Deal with speeches from

  • Mitch Benn  –  Comedian/songwriter  (and compere)
  • Gavin Esler   –   TV journalist
  • Mary Ross Davie   –   Royal College of Midwives
  • Steve Richards   –   Political commentator
  • Vonnie Sandlan   –   Colleges Scotland
  • Liam MacCabe   –   NUS Scotland
  • Vanessa Glynn   –   Chair, European Movement in Scotland
  • Dr Malcolm MacLeod   –   Neurologist
  • Emma Currie   –   Actor
  • Professor Tanja Bueltmann  –  Founder “I am an Immigrant”
  • Femi Oluwole   –   Our Future Our Choice

There’s even a rumour about a chlorinated chicken and hormonally supercharged cow making an appearance.  But not a politician in sight!

So if you fancy something different on Saturday afternoon why not go along to Festival Square and wave a flag or a placard?  Or simply listen to some fantastic speakers say why we simply can’t leave this to the politicians.

Barbados’ star saxophonist Arturo Tappin brings carnival fever to Fringe

The Caribbean’s smoothest saxophonist comes to Edinburgh this summer bringing a taste of carnival across the pond from Barbados. Tappin will once again take guests on a musical journey of the Caribbean islands, playing the smoothest in Jazz and reggae, thrilling the crowds at multiple venues across the country. Continue reading Barbados’ star saxophonist Arturo Tappin brings carnival fever to Fringe

Transforming Edinburgh: putting people at the heart of city design

Daisy Narayanan, who is leading the City Centre Transformation project on behalf of the Council during a secondment from Sustrans Scotland, shares her vision for Edinburgh: Continue reading Transforming Edinburgh: putting people at the heart of city design

Surgeons Quarter forecasts record-breaking Festival

A historic city institution is set to host its biggest ever Edinburgh Festival Fringe as it celebrates a decade-long partnership with one of the festival’s leading production companies. Breaking its own record this year, Surgeons Quarter expects to see an estimated 80,000 visitors walk through its doors by the end of the month. Continue reading Surgeons Quarter forecasts record-breaking Festival

UK Government’s ‘hostile environment’ keep authors away from Book Festival, says Brock

Deidre Brock MP has slammed the UK government’s ‘hostile environment’ policy after a dozen authors who were planning to attend this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival have had their visas refused. Continue reading UK Government’s ‘hostile environment’ keep authors away from Book Festival, says Brock

Transforming the city centre: car-free streets?

City Centre view

A major public consultation planned to kick off next month will spark discussions all over the city about how people want the heart of Scotland’s Capital to look, feel and function.

If approved by the Transport and Environment Committee today, the eight-week consultation commencing in September will bring together three inter-related placemaking projects being led by the City of Edinburgh Council and supported by numerous partner organisations.

Responses and suggestions will be sought on: the Edinburgh City Centre Transformation, the City Mobility Plan (successor to the current Local Transport Strategy) and plans for Low Emission Zones in the Capital.

The consultation, entitled “Edinburgh: connecting our city, transforming our places”, centres on a prospectus which has been developed following extensive engagement with stakeholders between February and May 2018 – ideas and proposals contained within it have come directly from public feedback.

The prospectus sets out ideas to create a more active and connected city, a healthier environment, a transformed Edinburgh city centre, and improved neighbourhood streets. Among the ideas up for consideration are pedestrianised streets, restrictions on ‘through’ traffic, bus and freight ‘hubs’, widened pavements and improved public spaces. 

The Transport and Environment Committee report about the planned consultation also seeks members’ approval for regular vehicle-free days in the city centre and town centres across Edinburgh.

It also updates members on the award of £760,000 to the Council from the Scottish Government through Sustrans’ Community Links Programme to help deliver the Edinburgh City Centre Transformation project.

Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “This prospectus is a truly ambitious document which is bound to generate some lively debate right across the city about what kind of place we want Edinburgh to be. It’s a powerful opportunity to make some really transformational changes to our city centre and town centres for the benefit of everyone who lives and works in or visits them.

“Frankly, the status quo is just not an option anymore. As a Council we are serious about tackling poor air quality, reducing congestion and making it as easy as possible to get around Edinburgh, especially by walking, cycling and public transport.”

Transport Vice Convener Councillor Karen Doran said: “The ideas in this hugely significant consultation have come from a series of workshops held in the spring with a huge range of organisations and interest groups, including transport providers (public transport, freight, taxi, private hire and community transport), private sector companies, third sector bodies, Edinburgh Access Panel, community councils, neighbouring local authorities and school pupils.

“We’re very pleased to have been awarded more than three quarters of a million pounds from Sustrans to help us progress what is sure to be one of the most far-reaching revamps of the Capital’s city centre and town centres in many, many years.”

Sustrans Scotland Deputy Director Grace Martin said: “We are very encouraged by the proposals laid out in the Council’s City Centre Transformation report.

“It is fantastic to see our capital city developing solutions to make the city a better place for people to live, work and visit. We are particularly pleased to be able to support a vision of more walking and cycling with funding through our infrastructure and behaviour change programmes.

“By making it easier and safer to travel around on foot and bike, improving air quality and creating more attractive and dynamic public spaces, the proposals set out how Edinburgh can grow and prosper.

“We hope this ambition will inspire other towns and cities within Scotland to promote active, sustainable and healthy lifestyles.”

Richard Hall, Managing Director of Lothian (formerly Lothian Buses), said: “We are really pleased to have been working in conjunction with the City of Edinburgh Council on this ambitious project so far.

“Buses and other forms of public and active transport are the best solution to move people across and through our city. Their integration into future design and planning is critical to ensure seamless connectivity which in turn drives economic investment and growth. Innovative and brave approaches and solutions need to be taken and delivered collaboratively by the city and all public and active transport organisations.”