Lauriston Castle has launched its events programme for 2018. Over 85 events including atmospheric film screenings, ghost stories, murder mysteries, sketching workshops, lectures, picnics and theatre offer locals many opportunities to enjoy the Edwardian manor and gardens. Continue reading Lauriston Castle sets out exciting events programme
A dementia friendly ‘forget-me-not garden’ is to be planted in the grounds of a castle by the sea in North West Edinburgh. Continue reading Forget Me Not: dementia friendly garden for Lauriston Castle
The Scottish SPCA was alerted yesterday morning when an octopus was spotted stranded on the sand at Cramond Beach. Continue reading Stranded octopus saved at Cramond
The rollout of 20mph speed limits across the capital continues with phase three of the scheme being introduced in North West and West Edinburgh tomorrow (see map). Continue reading “Going to be great for us all”: latest 20mph zones go live tomorrow
A new museum display in Cramond has used forensic techniques to put a face to ‘Cramond Murderer’ John Howison for the first time. The life-like profile of the 19th Century killer is exhibited next to a replica of his skull in a free display now open at Cramond’s Maltings Interpretation Centre.
A talented young performer from Cramond is currently making his professional debut in a popular musical at the world’s largest arts festival.
Alistair Robertson has secured a role in a new production of The Great American Trailer Park Musical at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The 21-year-old recently graduated with a diploma in Musical Theatre from The MGA Academy of Performing Arts in Edinburgh and will spend his summer taking to the stage as part of the fun show, which will run at the city’s C Too venue throughout August.
The hilarious off-Broadway musical, which explores the relationships between the quirky tenants of the Armadillo Acres Trailer Park in Florida, has been given a new lease of life from Beyond Broadway Productions and the team behind 2015’s standout Fringe hit Zanna, Don’t!
Alistair, a former pupil of Stewart’s Melville College, explained: “The Great American Trailer Park Musical is a very high-octane show featuring lots of country-style music. I am playing a character called Duke who is a young anarchist who is chasing after his ex-girlfriend who has gone on the run. He is the villain of the show and playing him has been great fun.”
Alistair (above) has spent the past four years honing his craft at the renowned Edinburgh institution, which earlier this year became the first full-time professional training academy in Scotland to be awarded accreditation by CDET, the UK’s quality assurance and membership body for the professional dance, drama and musical theatre industries.
He said: “I have had so many great opportunities whilst training at The MGA Academy. I have learnt so much and gained lots of practical experience which I think will help me when it comes to moving to London and auditioning for more professional jobs. Ideally, I’d like to gain employment as a performer in the musical theatre industry but I’d also eventually like to work as a director.”
Andrew Gowland, Director of The Great American Trailer Park and Managing Director of The MGA Academy, said: “Everyone at The MGA Academy is very proud of Alistair and all he has achieved since he started training with us. We are confident that the training he has received here will ensure he goes on to be a great success in the future and we look forward to supporting him during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.”
He continued: “We are currently accepting applications for places on our full-time diploma courses. Our next set of auditions will take place on Sunday 13 August in central Edinburgh and we would welcome applications from anyone with similar aspirations to Alistair. Application forms can be downloaded from our website.”
Recent graduates of The MGA Academy include Disney film star Thomas Doherty (The Lodge, Descendents 2) and West End star Fergal McGoff (Matilda, Mamma Mia and The Bodyguard).
The Great American Trailer Park Musical runs daily as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from Tuesday 3 August to Monday 28 August, 8.40-10.15pm at C Too (St Columba’s by the Castle, Johnston Terrace). Tickets, priced £13.50/£11.50, can be purchased via edfringe.com or via 0131 226 0000.
Neighbourhood Partnership meetings are taking place in August
With the ongoing rollout of new Localities community planning structures across the city, the future of Neighbourhood Partnerships has been in some doubt but they are back for now – at least until a suitable replacement can be agreed.
Neighbourhood Partnership meetings are open to the public, so take the opportunity to hear discussions and decisions about Local Community Grant Fund applications, North West Locality Improvement Planning, participate in the popular ‘question time’ session and more.
There are four Neighbourhood Partnerships within the new North West Locality and each of these will meet in August. Dates are:
Forth Neighbourhood Partnership
Tuesday 15 August at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, 6.30-8.30pm
Inverleith Neighbourhood Partnership
Monday 21 August at Stockbridge Library, 6.30-8.30pm.
Almond Neighbourhood Partnership
Wed 23 August at Rosebery Hall, South Queensferry, 6.30-8.30pm.
Western Neighbourhood Partnership
Thursday 31 August Drumbrae Hub, 6.30-8.30pm.
Full agendas for all meetings will be available here
A new set of emoji stickers has been launched to help people in the workplace articulate how they are truly feeling as they move through the ‘January blues’. Continue reading Feeling blue: MHScot launches ‘shades of blue’ emojis
At dusk this Sunday, the people of North Edinburgh will light a beacon at The Boardwalk Beachclub, Silverknowes to bring hope to the besieged people of Aleppo.
Revd Dr Harriet Harris, the Chaplain of the University of Edinburgh who started the appeal, said: “Every day, the people of Aleppo have less food, fewer medical supplies, and aid is not getting through. We want them to know they are they are not forgotten: the people of the world are watching.
