ON the 75th anniversary of Hitler’s deputy Rudolf Hess bailing out over Scotland on a self-appointed peace mission – and the 70th anniversary of the start of the Nuremberg Trials – Kinbur Productions and the Gilded Balloon are reviving HESS, Michael Burrell’s award-winning, one-man play, for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Continue reading Hess resurrected for Festival Fringe
Police have released CCTV images of a man they wish to trace in connection with an assault and robbery of a woman in the city centre. During the incident, a 32-year-old woman sustained injuries to her face and her property was stolen.
The incident took place around 8.20 pm on Tuesday 12 July, on the pass between Rutland Square and Festival Square.
Officers believe that the man shown in the image may be able to assist them with their inquiries and would ask that anyone who recognises him or has other information about the incident to contact police.
Detective Constable Alison Wyllie of Police Scotland’s Violence Reduction Unit based at Edinburgh’s Gayfield police station said: “This was a violent attack that left the victim shaken and we’re conducting inquiries in order to trace the person responsible.” Continue reading Police seek man following city centre assault and robbery
Are you looking for a great show to see during the festival? Look no further!
As part of Year of the Dad, ‘Being a Dad’ is being shown as part of Just Festival on the 12, 13, 16, 17, 19 and 20 of August in St Johns Church, Edinburgh.
Written by Edinburgh based playwright Duncan Kidd and performed by Strange Town Theatre Company, ‘Being a Dad’ is a drama reflecting the lived experiences, hopes, fears and challenges faced by many fathers, especially disadvantaged young fathers, in Scotland today. Challenges that can be (and are) overcome with courage, knowledge and support. It celebrates the difference a great dad can make in the lives of their children, family and Scotland. Find out more here
To get your tickets – visit the Just Festival Box Office for tickets, or book online here
Edinburgh’s festivals boost Scottish economy by over £300 million
Independent research published today confirms the huge contribution that Edinburgh’s Festivals make to the quality of life, international reputation and economic vitality of Edinburgh and Scotland. Edinburgh’s festivals attracted combined audiences of more than 4.5 million in 2015, putting them on par with attendances at the FIFA World Cup and second only to the Olympic Games. Continue reading Fringe benefits!
With Scotland set to celebrate Recycle Week later this year Cabinet Secretary for the Environment Roseanna Cunningham is asking Edinburgh residents to get involved. Continue reading Pick up the recycling habit!
There’s a thrilling mystery to solve this summer as The Edinburgh Dungeon returns to the festival with its new evening show, Deadly Dungeon Murder Mystery. Continue reading Solve a murder at the Edinburgh Dungeon
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will give a major speech in Edinburgh this morning, one month on from the EU Referendum. Ms Sturgoen will outline her plans to protect Scotland’s relationship with the EU. Continue reading Sturgeon to ‘explore every avenue’ to safeguard Scotland’s interests in Europe
PUPPET STATE THEATRE COMPANY presents
JRR Tolkien’s Leaf by Niggle
At the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2016 and part of the Made in Scotland Showcase 2016
Scottish Storytelling Centre, Venue 30a
Aug 4 Preview 17:00; Aug 5-28 (not 10, 15, 22, 23) 17:00 (75mins)
Aug 17 17:00 BSL interpreted performance
Performed by Richard Medrington
Soundtrack composed by Karine Polwart and Michael John McCarthy
Directed by Andy Cannon; Lighting by Gerron Stewart; Design Support by Ailie Cohen; Movement support by Janice Parker; Stage Management by Elspeth Murray
Puppet State Theatre Company returns to the Scottish Storytelling Centre for this year’s Festival Fringe, as part of Made in Scotland, with its acclaimed new production of JRR Tolkien’s little-known short story, Leaf by Niggle.
“Exquisite … so beautifully told … completely seductive” ****The Scotsman
This solo storytelling show, created and performed by Richard Medrington, draws on Richard’s personal family history as an introduction to Tolkien’s original story. Surrounded by ladders, bicycles and heirlooms, Richard Medrington (Jean from The Man Who Planted Trees) recounts Tolkien’s miniature masterpiece with a beautiful soundtrack composed by Karine Polwart and Michael John McCarthy.
“Tolkien’s lord of small things…enchanting one-man show” ****The Guardian
Leaf by Niggle is considered by some to be Tolkien’s most autobiographical work, springing from his fear of not finishing The Lord of the Rings. In 1939, as war clouds were darkening, he woke up one morning with the story almost complete in his mind and wrote it down.
Niggle is a struggling artist who is trying to complete his magnum opus, a painting of a curious tree. He isn’t sure when he will need to set out on his journey, but he is worried that he won’t be able to finish the painting before it’s time to leave.
Leaf by Niggle is often seen as an allegory of Tolkien’s own creative process, and, to an extent, of his life. It is a tale of transformation, which examines the relationship between an artist, his creation and his community.
Richard Medrington is the artistic director of Puppet State Theatre Company and for the past nine years the company has been touring the world with its much lauded production of Jean Giono’s The Man Who Planted Trees.
This new adaptation of Leaf by Niggle is a reflection of Richard’s long held ambition to perform a staged version of the story. In 1993, Richard gave an acclaimed one-off storytelling performance of the piece at the Carberry Festival and has nurtured hopes of performing it to a wider audience ever since.
“a salve on the soul” **** The List
“As a result of appearing in the very first Made in Scotland showcase in 2009 with The Man Who Planted Trees, Puppet State’s international touring has included two tours to Australia and New Zealand. In 2013 we took part in the Sydney Opera House’s first live stream of a performance to multiple remote audiences, some over 700 miles away. I am looking forward to performing our new show, Leaf by Niggle, in this year’s Made in Scotland showcase and seeing where this unique opportunity will lead us.” Richard Medrington
“This is my first ever commission to compose for theatre and it’s a challenge and a joy to collaborate with such an accomplished creative posse. Niggle’s journey, and Richard Medrington’s beautifully personal and familial framing of it, feels quite close to the bone for me, and very relevant to our times. There are so many possible ways to receive it and get inside of it, as there are always with deep stories. But to me it’s about the fundamental human impulse to create and find meaning and beauty in life, and how duty, convention and the sheer necessity of toil can cut against this. The gap between the world as we imagine it and the world as it sometimes is – in all its reductive, mechanistic brutality – can be hard to hold in a single heart. But Niggle’s story feels hopeful nonetheless”. Karine Polwart
With thanks to the Tolkien Trust and the Festival Theatre, Edinburgh
Supported by Creative Scotland | Produced by Alice McGrath & Red Bridge Arts
Suitable for adults and young people aged 10 and over
LISTINGS:
Scottish Storytelling Centre Venue 30a
Aug 4 Preview 17:00 (75 mins) | £6
Aug 5-28 (not 10, 15, 22, 23) 17:00 (75 mins) | £10/£8 conc. /£32 Family (2 adults, 2 children)
Aug 17 17:00 (75 mins) BSL interpreted performance
Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www. scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk
Historic Environment Scotland have challenged a group of top travel bloggers to visit as many historic sites as possible in just two days with the History Hunters challenge. Continue reading History Hunters roam wild this weekend
Dear Editor
In living memory we saw before and during World War II how bad rampant nationalism can be.
Today the rise of nationalism is leading to more advocacy by the right wing of an ‘anti-everyone not a national from their country’, it is a form of racism and a tactic to divide people, instead of tackling the real problems working people face.
This is being seen in places like America, France, Germany and many other countries including the UK: this was particularly evident during the referendum, the result of which is already showing its affects on the economy and helping those using divisive talk and actions.
The danger signal is at red, we must not go down this road again: it solves nothing, and poses great danger.
A.Delahoy (by e-mail)
