WICKED, the West End and Broadway musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, has released new production photography by Matt Crockett of Amy Ross as Elphaba, Helen Woolf as Glinda and Aaron Sidwell as Fiyero, who lead the castof the spectacular, critically acclaimed and multi record-breaking UK & Ireland Tour when it returns to Edinburgh Playhouse for its only Scottish dates from 8 May to 9 June 2018.
Disneyland Paris’ 25th Anniversary festivities have been shining brightly over the past few months with a dazzling array of new experiences. They will draw to a close with a spectacular finale befitting a truly sparkling celebration. Experience two new, dazzling seasons with the Princesses & Pirates Festival at Disneyland Park in spring 2018, then the Marvel Super Heroes will make a spectacular arrival during the Marvel Summer of Super Heroes at Walt Disney Studios Park. Continue reading Disneyland Paris 25th Anniversary Spectacular Finale
Rarely seen drawings from the architect responsible for shaping Edinburgh’s celebrated cityscape have gone on display in a new exhibition at the City Art Centre.
Around 50 drawings from William Henry Playfair’s practice, including plans for some of Edinburgh’s most famous landmarks complemented by images made by 19thCentury painters showing some of his most well-regarded buildings have been gathered from the University of Edinburgh’s Department of Architectural History and its Centre for Research Collections, Historic Environment Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council’s permanent collection to create this exhibition.
Playfair (1790 – 1857) is considered one of Scotland’s most prolific Georgian architects. His contribution to the architecture of early 19th century Edinburgh is found in many of the city’s most famous buildings, including Old College and New College, Donaldson’s School, George Heriots, the Scott Monument, Surgeon’s Hall, the Royal Scottish Academy and the City’s Observatory on Calton Hill.
Through his career Playfair addressed some of the key ideas around aesthetics, classics, society and politics, and their relationship with architecture and the urban realm.
His move from neo-Classical to neo-Gothic buildings demonstrates how Playfair and his architectural practice were engaged in shaping Edinburgh as a developing, working city as it entered the rapidly industrialised Victorian age, signifying his vision and ambition for Edinburgh as a place of significance within the British Isles.
The show is curated by Dr Kirsten Carter McKee and John Lowrey from the University of Edinburgh’s Department of Architectural History. It runs from 11 November to 25 February 2018 and entrance is free.
Councillor Donald Wilson, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “Almost anywhere you turn in Edinburgh, look up and you are likely to see Playfair’s magnificent monuments, domes, spires and structures scattering the skyline. “Drawing on his designs and the artwork in the Council and University archives, this free exhibition maps Playfair’s built and unbuilt ideas and the impact he had on Edinburgh.
“It is thanks to his vision that Edinburgh earned its ‘Athens of the North’ title, with his breath-taking City Observatory one of his earliest projects. See the architectural drawings at the City Art Centre, as we work with the Collective to return the building to Playfair’s original design.”
The exhibition coincides with the ongoing restoration of one of Playfair’s most iconic designs, the City Observatory on Calton Hill. This exciting project, undertaken by Collective Gallery in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council, will see the building restored to Playfair’s original design, the creation of a new contemporary gallery space, and a restaurant overlooking the city.
Dr Kirsten Carter McKee, Curator of Playfair and the City and Research and Teaching Fellow in Architectural History at University of Edinburgh said: “It is through Playfair’s understanding of the broader context of the city landscape that the true mastery of his skill becomes apparent.
“Playfair and the City explores this through the layout of Edinburgh’s Third New Town to the north of the city, which includes the urban parkland of Calton Hill. This vision and ambition in both Playfair’s architecture and his exploitation of the city landscape aimed to place Edinburgh as a city of style and significance within the British Isles. Playfair’s role as an architect of significance in the 19th century therefore extends outside of Edinburgh, and places him within the realm of the British architectural greats of the late Georgian period.”
David Patterson, Curatorial and Conservation Manager with Museums and Galleries Edinburgh commented: “This is a unique opportunity to see the work of one of Scotland’s most influential architects. Without doubt William Playfair left his mark on the appearance of Edinburgh in a way which no other single architect had done previously or has done since.”
There’s a lot going on at New Lanark this festive season, from festive lunches and dinners, to disco party nights, Christmas Carols and special visits from Santa Claus to help light up the eyes of every adult, boy and girl.Continue reading New Lanark has Christmas all wrapped up!
The firing of the Edinburgh Castle gun signalled the start of the Armistice Day Service in Edinburgh yesterday. A two-minute silence followed before the Rev Dr Karen K Campbell conducted the service in the Garden of Remembrance.Continue reading Edinburgh falls silent for Armistice Day Service
Edinburgh College receives Living Wage accreditation
The Scottish Living Wage Accreditation Initiative has granted Living Wage employer status to Edinburgh College. Edinburgh College already paid staff the real Living Wage but receiving formal accreditation for this strengthens its commitment to fair pay for all staff.Continue reading Edinburgh College is Living Wage employer
As well as the annual iMatter survey, this year NHSScotland staff experience will also be measured using a new short survey called the Dignity at Work Survey, which is running from 6 November until 27 November. It is designed to measure how staff feel they are treated at work, and will provide important feedback to help shape our workforce strategies and build improvements based on what staff tell us matters to them.Continue reading NHS Lothian staff: what matters to you?
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has appointed a new senior officer for the East of Scotland. Alasdair Perry has been a firefighter for more than 20 years and has spearheaded the drive to transform the SFRS to respond to new threats such as weather-related flooding, and Alasdair has vowed to protect communities from modern risks.Continue reading SFRS appoints new Deputy Assistant Chief Officer for the East of Scotland
Vast majority of Britons don’t know how many military personnel have died in conflict
· 84% of Scots don’t know that more than 7,000 of our Armed Forces have died in conflict (both combat and peacekeeping missions) since WWII
· Over a third (35%) of Scots are unaware of any of the conflicts which the British Armed Forces are currently involved in
· 61% of Scots think that schools should teach pupils more about conflicts that the British Armed Forces have been involved in since WWII
92% of British public doesn’t know how many members of the British Armed Forces have died in wars and conflicts (both combat and peacekeeping missions) since the start of WWI
85% of Brits are not aware of over half of the conflicts which the British Armed Forces have been involved in since WWII
More than a third (37%) are unaware of any of the conflicts which the British Armed Forces are currently involved in
59% of Brits think that schools should teach pupils more about conflicts that the British Armed Forces have been involved in since WWII
As the nation gets set to remember the efforts of our armed forces, new research released by the Forces Network highlights the lack of knowledge of many Brits, when asked about the conflicts we have been involved in since the First World War. How can we remember if we don’t know?
The research has been conducted to mark the launch of the Forces Network’s Remembrance map www.forces.net/remembrance, which has been created in partnership with Ian Beckett, Professor of History from the University of Kent. The map identifies and commemorates all the conflicts (both combat and peacekeeping missions) which the British Armed Forces have been involved in since WWI, to enable a greater understanding of the commitments made by our service personnel.
The statistics show that 85% of Brits don’t know that more than 7,000 of our armed forces have died in conflict (both combat and peacekeeping missions) since WWII.Additionally, from the start of WWI to the end of WWII one million British personnel lost their lives but when asked 1 in 5 (23%) people thought that fewer than 5000 service personnel made the ultimate sacrifice.
The statistics also show that more than half of Brits think that we have been involved in 30 or fewer conflicts (both combat and peacekeeping missions), since WWII – when we have actually been involved in more than 60. Only a third (35%) of people were aware of the British involvement in the fight against so-called Islamic State.
37% of respondents were unaware of any of the conflicts the British Armed Forces are currently involved in, including Operation TOSCA (UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus) (77%) and our participation in United Nations peacekeeping mission in Somalia (70%). The figures also indicated that 63% of those asked, think that the number of conflicts we are currently involved in is high.
The research also reveals that, as a nation, we have an interest in learning more about our military. Over half (56%) of 18 to 24 year olds are not aware that Britain’s Armed Forces were involved in the WWII, 52% of that age range said they would like schools to teach more about the role of our forces.
Ian Beckett, Honorary Professor of Military History, of the University of Kent said: “There is understandable emphasis upon the commemoration of the two world wars with the ongoing centenary of the Great War and of the 75th anniversary of the Second World War. The public is also aware of recent conflicts such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The significance and value of the Remembrance Campaign is that it reminds us of those many other occasions since 1914 on which servicemen and women have made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of this country.”
Lord Richards of Herstmonceux GCB CBE DSO, former Chief of the Defence Staff,said:“It is very disappointing that the public does not know more about the Armed Forces’ role in defending our country and our allies.
“It is always important, especially at this Remembrance time of year, to think about those thousands of people who have given their lives for our country since the end of World War 2. I would urge the government to make the history of modern conflicts a compulsory subject in our schools to help youngsters better understand and respect the freedoms and lives they enjoy today. In truth, we don’t know where the next conflict will be but our armed forces stand ready for any eventuality.”
Border Force officers have seized fake poppy branded jewellery, key rings and scarves estimated to be worth approximately £150,000. The goods, some of which were also branded with the words ‘Lest we Forget’, were later confirmed to have infringed the Royal British Legion’s ‘two-petal poppy’ copyright.Continue reading Fake Remembrance merchandise seized
