Category: North Edinburgh News

Fringe 2022: theSpaceUK Supported Artists Programme

A brand new scheme to support artists at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

theSpaceuk Supported Artists Programme is a brand new scheme to support new companies and new work at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The programme provides artists with the space and skills needed to turn their creative new ideas into a reality. theSpaceUK looks to support work for all audiences across a spectrum of arts representing the vibrant and diverse community that is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Supported Artists Programme provides bespoke support for artists/companies based on their individual needs to cultivate, catalyse and develop innovative new productions. This year, theSpaceUK offered a programme of support for three artists, all at early stages of their careers.

Each artist was given tailored support – and each brought their work to the festival to develop audiences and work on their show.

There was emotional drama from Helena Fox and Ella Pound, an exploration of love and sex spun out in slam from Sarah Richardson and a dark comedy musical experience from Slap ‘N’ Tickle Theatre Company.

Blue & Pip

Blue is sick. The doctors aren’t listening. And the sea is making the illness worse.

1.5 million people in the UK suffer from endometriosis, a long-term and potentially debilitating womb condition. It takes sufferers on average 8 years to be diagnosed, with misdiagnosis common and testimonies often dismissed by medical professionals. Blue & Pip brings these experiences, so rarely depicted or discussed, to the fore.

A new piece from writer, performer, and drag artist Helena Fox, the creator and co-writer of five-star, award winning Edinburgh Fringe musical Rust, which was shortlisted for Best Musical at the Edinburgh Fringe 2019 by Broadway World and Musical Theatre Review.

Ella Pound, part of the team behind Edinburgh Fringe musical On Your Bike, which won the Musical Theatre Review’s Best Musical Award 2021, and Penn Balint, who successfully directed new-writing piece Attrition at the National Student Drama Festival in 2022.

Previous praise for Helena Fox
★★★★★
‘Close to flawless’
Musical Theatre Review

GirlPlay

GirlPlay is an exploration of love and sex spun out in slam.

After sold-out previews in both Dublin and London and an international tour as an audio play, award-winning playwright and performer Sarah Richardson makes her Fringe debut with GirlPlay. We follow the story of one woman’s ever-changing relationship with her body and sex.

This contemporary piece of theatre was created in response to the historic Repeal-the-8th referendum in Ireland, premiering as part of Dublin Fringe Festival, 2019. Richardson’s debut full-length play was adapted into an audio play and toured to digital festivals in 2020 and 2021 including Stockholm Fringe Festival, Online@theSpaceUK and Galway Theatre Festival. GirlPlay had sold-out in-person previews at Camden People’s Theatre in October 2021.

★★★★
‘Littered with firsts – and thirst’
The Stage (audio version)

Spit Me Out

A saucy, song-filled, slapstick evening but looks can be deceiving …

Spit Me Out weaves original songs, movement and slapstick comedy through naturalistic scenes. Spit Me Out, looks at the boundaries between sex and violence and how they have influenced the female sexual experience. It addresses the crisis of sexual violence against women and challenges why it happens.

Slap ‘N’ Tickle is an award-winning theatre company formed in 2020 by East 15 Acting School alumni. The company has a vision to empower and explore the female narrative.

★★★★
‘The cast of ‘Spit Me Out’ have created something timely, important and quite special’
Voice Magazine

WINNERS
‘Spirit of The Space UK’s Online Fringe Award 2021’

Charles Pamment, Artistic Director of theSpaceUK, said ““Since 2015 we have supported new writing by making it possible for work to come to the festival that would not have been affordable otherwise.

“When the festival was cancelled in 2020 and we received some art council funding we immediately ring fenced funds to assist in bringing supported work to the live platform as soon as it was possible.

“The whole existence of EdFringe relies on participation, performers are the oxygen and crucial is that we embrace any opportunity to make it easier and more affordable for creatives to bring their work.

“We are proud to be pioneer this level of support for artists”.

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Bridge the Gap!

Charities appeal to First Minister to double Scottish Child Payment bridging payments NOW

We can turn compassion and justice into action to support children in low-income households.

120 charities and community organisations are calling on the Scottish Government @scotgov to continue to do the right thing by doubling Scottish Child Payment bridging payments.

See the letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (below):

Letter-to-First-Minister-doubling-of-bridging-payments-_0Download

#BridgeTheGap

https://bit.ly/3JWCIGJ

Fringe 2022: Granhøj Dans announces schedule changes

Granhøj Dans has announced some changes to its schedule of shows as part of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe. An Eve And An Adam will now run at Dance Base until August 21 at the new time of 20.30.

This timeslot was formerly where the production of This is Not Swan Lake had run but this show has finished its run early and was taken down from August 10, due to travel problems with one of the artists.

Members of the public who have tickets for This is Not Swan Lake will be contacted by the box office and offered a full refund or tickets for an alternative show. 

STONE – FACE – BOOK 

This solo performance with award-winning dancer Mikolaj Karczewski is a personal portrait made in collaboration with the obstruction master Palle Granhøj. Drawing on his father’s background as a miner, Mikolaj uses whimsical choreography to breathe life into the stones, finding music in them and from that music, dance arises. Stone – Face – Book is produced in close collaboration with PlatformaFestival in Klaipeda.  

“An outstanding stage fantasy with the incredible high-flying acrobatic dancer Mikolaj Karczewskialone on stage among the collection of gray stones of memories.” Danstidningen  

Age suitability 14+  

Dance Base Studio Three  

Aug 5-7 15:20 (1h) £18.00 (£16.00/£10.00) 

https://www.dancebase.co.uk/festival-shows/stone-face-book-granhj-dans-5-7-august-2164

An Eve And An Adam 

A beautiful, profoundly naked performance presented as nature intended. This is a performance celebrating the pure, authentic, original beauty of nudity – as a contrast to the versions given to us by social media. Increasingly we see uncovered bodies readily exposed all over social media. All kinds of pornography are easily available and widely consumed. Modesty no longer exists when it comes to the naked body in virtual culture, yet young people feel shamed by natural nudity.  In this provocative show, Palle Granhøj asks: ‘what has happened to our relationship to our natural nudity?’ 

Age suitability 16+ 

Dance Base Studio One



Aug 9-11 20:30 (1h) £16.00 (£14.00/£10.00)


Aug 12-21 20:30 (1h) £18.00 (£16.00/£10.00) 

https://www.dancebase.co.uk/festival-shows/an-eve-and-an-adam-granhj-dans-9-14-august-2195

BOLERO – EXTENDED 

An intense and high energy experience featuring 8 musicians and 9 dancers, on stage live at the beautiful Dance Base 

Boléro was written in 1928 as ballet music and the work is one of Ravel’s last and most famous. PalleGranhøj has transferred the music’s intensifying signature to a deconstructed version – and finally in its full length. The intensity of the melody and dancers increases throughout BOLERO – EXTENDED, giving it a powerful, uplifting, trance-like quality in a unique and iconic performance with nine dancers and eight cellists live onstage.  

★★★★★ “A captivating performance that leaves the audience euphoric” Cphculture   

“a dizzying experience” Danstidningen   

Age suitability 12+  

Dance Base Studio One  

Aug 23-25 19:00 (1h) £16.00 (£14.00/£10.00)  Aug 26-28 19:00 (1h) £18.00 (£16.00/£10.00) 

https://www.dancebase.co.uk/festival-shows/bolero-extended-granhj-dans-23-28-august-2189

The Granhøj works are part of the #DANISH showcase at Edinburgh Fringe 2022 presented by The Danish Arts Foundation and produced by WILDTOPIA. The showcase is supported by The Embassy of Denmark in the UK. 

Heart of Newhaven: We’re OPEN!

The Heart of Newhaven Community (HoNC) has finally received the keys to the front door! 

The charity, formed four years ago to purchase Newhaven’s old Victoria Primary School for use as a community hub, has faced a long battle to get all the legal documentation with the City of Edinburgh Council signed, sealed and delivered but has finally been given legal possession of the site.

The original Steering Group was set up after public consultation and eventually converted into a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO), registered with OSCR the charity overseer in 2020.

They won the right to purchase the site under the Community Asset Transfer scheme in July 2020 and secured funding for the purchase from the Scottish Land Fund in June 2021.

The school pupils and teachers moved out of what was then the oldest working primary school in the city in December 2021, but delays originally caused by Covid 19 and last minute legal hurdles meant that the final transfer could not take place until this week.

Current HoNC Chair Judy Crabb and former, and very first Chair, Rodney Matthews led the way in and now it’s all systems go, with volunteers tidying and cleaning and potential users and tenants queuing up to move in and get started.

First though, there are some necessary health and safety measures to install, IT equipment and communications must be set up and the most urgent repairs to the structure need to be completed.

Once open to the public, the community hub will be offering spaces for intergenerational activities of all kinds, including space for such as theatre groups, choirs and performances, rooms for rent for meetings or parties, artists’ studios and small business rooms for rent, a Heritage Suite including the Victorian Schoolroom run by the History of Education Centre, much needed early years’ provision in the modern Anchor Building, rooms for the Men’s Shed to carry on their activities in the Creel Building and of course a community cafe.

Current Chair, Judy Crabb has been involved since even before the first public consultations and is now celebrating with the rest of the Board.

“It’s a well known phrase ‘ If it is worth having, it is worth waiting for’ and how true that is as of today,” she says. “Finally, we are thrilled to announce that HoNC now owns the former Victoria Primary School that from now on will be known as ‘The Heart’.

“A huge thank you to everybody who has helped over the years to bring about this day, volunteers, supporters, members of the community, our funders, trustees and consultants. Every contribution, big and small, has made a difference.

“Over the next few months we will begin to open up the buildings to all the services and activities that support our themes of culture and heritage, learning and enterprise  and improvement in well being. 

“Watch this space as we offer opportunities for people of all ages, from all walks of life and interests, to come together in an accessible and welcoming environment and The Heart comes to life.”

Cara Gillespie, Chair of the Scottish Land Fund, said: “The Scottish Land Fund is committed to helping urban and rural communities across the country to unlock assets on their doorstep and to put them to work for local people, so we are delighted that Heart of Newhaven Community has now taken ownership of Victoria Primary School.

“We wish them every success with their plans to turn the school into a thriving community hub.”

Making a drama out of a comedy: Pleasance, Sadowitz and free speech

WAS THE PLEASANCE RIGHT TO CANCEL SECOND SADOWICZ SHOW?

THE ROW over the cancellation of Jerry Sadowwitz’s show at the EICC shows no sign of abating.

The Pleasance axed the controversial comedian’s second show at the venue following ‘an unprecedented number of complaints’. Pleasance chose not to go into further detail about the nature of the complaints following the cancellation of Saturday’s show.

However in a further statement yesterday, The Pleasance said: “We became immediately aware of content that was considered, among other things, extreme in its racism, sexism, homophobia and misogyny.

“We will not associate with content which attacks people’s dignity and the language used on stage was, in our view, completely unacceptable.

“We received an unprecedented number of complaints that could not be ignored and we had a duty to respond.”

Late last night Sadowicz, a veteran of the Edinburgh Fringe, tweeted:

It seems incredible that any Scottish venue would be unaware of the controversial nature of Jerry Sadowitz’s humour – it’s not as if he’s some unknown new kid on the block!

If Jerry Sadowitz’s brand of humour ‘does not align with the Pleasance values’ why book him in the first place?

Tonight: Stories and Scran at Edinburgh International Book Festival

Returning for its third year, Stories and Scran celebrates the dynamic and thought-provoking work created by participants in Citizen, EIBF’s long-term creative programme offering local people a platform to explore identity and place.

Enjoy a snack and a diverse showcase of readings, stories and short films from communities in North Edinburgh and Musselburgh.

I’m delighted to be reading a short story at tonight’s Citizen event. Big question for tonight is: wellies or flip-flops with the dinner jacket?

Find out more about EIBF’s Communities Programme: ontheroad.edbookfest.co.uk.

I’ll also be reading LOST, my contribution to the Scotland’s Stories Now project, tonight at 5pm in the On This Day slot:

Scotland’s Stories Now: On This Day

This year, EIBF asked people across Scotland – of any age, background or ability – to submit their own stories responding to the prompt ‘On This Day’, to build a fascinating portrait of Scotland today.

Every day at 17:00 different storytellers from around the country share their work. Join us to hear their illuminating stories and have a go at writing your own.

Supported by EventScotland as part of the Year of Stories 2022.

Hourglass: Time’s running out

Millions of older people at risk of abuse unless Helpline receives urgent funding

Millions of older people could be at risk of abuse unless urgent funding is found for the UK’s only helpline dedicated to helping those affected by abuse.

Hourglass, the only charity in the UK dedicated to ending the abuse of older people, has a free 24/7 helpline available to anyone concerned about an older person at harm from abuse, whether that’s at home or within the care industry.

Hourglass is calling on the UK Government to help underpin the helpline and help appoint more Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) who specialise in the abuse of older people.

Shortly before she died, the charity’s founder Baroness Greengross wrote to Prime Minister Boris Johnson urging the Government to give adequate financial support so the Hourglass helpline can survive.

There has been no response from the Prime Minister, the Home Office or anyone else in Government, despite calls from various MPs and Peers across the political spectrum for them to do so.

The Hourglass helpline currently receives more than 12,000 calls every year, but the charity will have to start significantly reducing its services to society’s most vulnerable older people, unless the Government approves funding by September. The charity predicts that by October this life changing service will need to downsize dramatically.

A report published by Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) recently found that 67% of directors are seeing the number of domestic abuse and safeguarding cases rising. This is further evidence that abuse of older people is a growing problem and further funding and support is vital to ensure older people age safely.

Every year, a million more new older people experience abuse and the charity’s services provide a vital lifeline for those in need.

To survive, the charity needs £1.2 million a year to continue. Unfortunately, current UK Government funding only covers the helpline from 5pm to 9am. To enable the helpline to be available 24/7, Hourglass has been forced to run on its reserves.

Richard Robinson, CEO of Hourglass, said: “Every single year, around 2.5 million older people are effected by abuse. This could be physical, emotional, financial or sexual abuse or neglect and discrimination in the UK.

“The services we provide are a real lifeline to those in need, but without urgent funding, it will be impossible to carry on at our current levels.

“The consequences of leaving vulnerable elderly people to fend for themselves are usually too terrifying to contemplate. However, this is becoming a tragic reality as we battle to keep providing the helpline so many of them will come to rely on.

“Out of respect to Baroness Greengross, who championed the rights of older people for so many years, and to the millions of older people at risk of abuse, the government now need to take action and provide adequate funding for this service.”

The charity is urging those keen to support the charity to make a donation by visiting www.wearehourglass.org.uk/donate or Text SAFER to 70460 to donate £10. Texts cost £10 plus one standard rate message and you’ll be opting in to hear more about our work and fundraising via telephone and SMS.

If you would like to give £10 but do not wish to receive marketing communications, text SAFERNOINFO to 70460.

Scotland’s winter vaccination programme gets underway

Latest step in fight against COVID-19

People aged 65 and over as well as frontline health and social care staff will be first in line for a winter booster jab to protect the most vulnerable from COVID-19 and ease the pressure on hospitals.

Letters with appointment times for those aged 65 and over will begin landing on doormats this week so the NHS can get ahead of any potential surge in infections.

The booster jabs will be given at the same time as the flu vaccine to those eligible where possible – evidence shows that administration of both vaccines together is a safe and efficient way to deliver maximum protection over the winter months.

From 22 August the online portal will be available for health and social care workers to book their appointments. Staff should book on the portal or follow advice from their boards on any local arrangements.

Appointments for all other priority groups will be made available as the programme progresses – people in those groups should wait until they are contacted or called forward.

The programme follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI) which recommended vaccinating people as soon as possible to have the best chance of mitigating the impact of COVID-19 over the winter.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “As was the case in previous rounds of the vaccination programme, spring/summer boosters have enjoyed very high uptake among eligible groups with 86% of older adult care home residents and 93% of those aged 75 and over gaining an important additional layer of protection at a time when Covid cases rose sharply.

“I’d like to thank all those who have worked so hard to ensure that Scotland still has the highest overall uptake of first, second and third doses in the UK.

“Following the JCVI’s recommendations, we will roll out the winter booster programme getting jabs in arms from early September to ensure those most at risk are protected over winter.

“Vaccination remains the best way to protect your health and those around you – I strongly encourage everyone to take up the offer of a booster jab when they get the call up.”

Eat When You’re Hungry!

Eating when you’re hungry is better for your psychological and physical health, new research comparing eating styles indicates

People who eat when they are hungry tend to be more satisfied with their body and generally have higher self-esteem, a new international study suggests.

Published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, the study indicates that, contrary to popular ideas that it is important to ‘control’ hunger, paying attention to hunger and fullness cues appears to be linked to maintaining a lower weight.

In contrast, those who rely on food as a source of comfort or avoid certain types or amounts of food are less satisfied with their bodies and have lower self-esteem, says the research which involved more than 6,000 young adults in eight countries.

Lead researcher Dr Charlotte Markey, professor of psychology at Rutgers University (NJ, USA), said: “Cultural messages constantly suggest that it’s important to ignore our bodies’ hunger and satiety cues, but trusting our bodies and eating when we feel hunger – in other words, eating intuitively — seems to be better for both our psychological and physical health.”

Researchers examined three types of eating style and related factors rarely studied together: intuitive eating, emotional eating (eating in response to internal emotional signals, for example in response to feeling stressed) and restrained eating (also known as dietary restraint, where consumption is rigidly restricted with the aim of losing or maintaining weight).

A total of 6,272 young adults with an average age of about 21 completed the study survey. They were based in Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Italy, Japan, Spain and the United States.

Young adults were chosen because they experience social and psychological transitions and research shows they appear to be at risk of being dissatisfied with their bodies. In addition, this development period is linked with an increase in weight as well as changes in lifestyle habits. However, the findings are consistent with some research that suggests they are likely to be true of all adults.

The study found that the more people ate intuitively, the happier they tended to be with their body. They also had higher self-esteem and lower weight.

However higher levels of restrained and emotional eating were generally associated with lower body satisfaction and self-esteem, and being heavier.

The researchers conclude that the results suggest that eating styles are likely to be associated with how people feel about their bodies and how they feel in general.

In addition, ‘we can deduce that these eating styles may affect individual’s actual consumption, given the association sometimes found with weight status’, the study says.

Dr Markey suggests: “This research is in sync with evidence that dieting is ineffective for both weight loss and body satisfaction – and often counterproductive. We should aim to be more in tune with our own physiology than the latest trendy diet or eating plan.”

Some cultural differences between countries was noticed, the authors state, and this would be worthy of further examination.

Become a superhero with Mary’s Meals

Children in Edinburgh are encouraged to find their inner superhero with an amazing free activity pack from school feeding charity Mary’s Meals.

Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals in 20 of the world’s poorest countries, many of which are impacted by conflict and natural disasters. The promise of a nutritious meal attracts hungry children into the classroom where, instead of working or looking for food, they can gain an education and hope for the future. The charity feeds 2,279,941 children every school day. 

The Mary’s Meals Superheroes pack is full of activities designed to teach children about life in the countries where Mary’s Meals works, such as Kenya, Zimbabwe and Yemen.  

The pack was inspired by a young girl named Upile, 13, who eats Mary’s Meals at her school in Malawi. She says: “When I grow up and finish my school, I want to be a nurse. I want to help people.” 

The activity pack includes a film featuring Upile – as well as a colouring sheet, a word search and materials for little ones to design their own superhero mask. 

Dan McNally, head of grassroots engagement at Mary’s Meals, says: “This fantastic pack is full of activities that will keep kids entertained. Visit our website to download your free copy today!”