Calling all potential actors, stagehands, costume makers and painters of scenery!
Cramond Drama Group, supported by the Cramond Association, is planning the forthcoming events for Christmas 2024 and for 2025 – including our next pantomime – and we need your help.
We have a small, strong team but still need a chair (and a person to sit in it) as well as lots of actors, helpers and friends to make it happen.
If It’s Drama You Want, Don’t Miss It !
The Homeless World Cup co-founder and social entrepreneur, Mel Young MBE, was officially presented with the coveted Edinburgh Award by the Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge.
The award was presented on Thursday evening (October 24) at a civic reception at the City Chambers.
Since 2007, the Edinburgh Award has celebrated individuals who have made a truly unique contribution to the city and brought the Capital to national and international attention.
Alongside family, friends and invited guests, Young received an engraved Loving Cup from the Lord Provost, an official award certificate, and a set of his handprints preserved in stone in the City Chambers quadrangle was unveiled.
The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, and Chair of the Edinburgh Award Panel, Robert Aldridge said: “It was a pleasure to present Mel Young with the Edinburgh Award yesterday evening. Mel’s handprints are now immortalised in stone at the City Chambers quadrangle, and he deservedly follows in the footsteps of some of the finest individuals associated with our great city.
“From The Homeless World Cup to The Big Issue in Scotland, his passion and dedication to changing lives and advocating for fairness is admirable and inspiring. Through his work he has represented the Capital with pride, dedication, and skill.
“I’d like to congratulate Mel on behalf of the city, and I’m sure he will continue to do great things, both here in Edinburgh and beyond.”
The Homeless World Cup co-founder, social entrepreneur and Recipient of the Edinburgh Award 2024, Mel Young MBE said: “I am honoured to receive the Edinburgh Award this year. Edinburgh is a stunning capital city, and I am proud to be one its citizens.
“The Homeless World Cup Foundation headquarters is in Edinburgh and our tournament connects people all over the globe. I would like to share this Award with the many hard-working people who have contributed to making the Homeless World Cup so impactful and successful.
“Also, this Award belongs to the real heroes of our work, the homeless people themselves who change their own lives through their involvement with our tournament and our operations across the world.”
A university in Edinburgh has formed a unique collaboration with an award-winning theatre company to co-produce two ambitious plays for Heart of Midlothian Football Club’s 150th anniversary celebrations this year.
The hugely popular and critically acclaimed shows, A War of Two Halves, and Sweet FA, will be revived in collaboration with BA (Hons) Acting & Performance and BA (Hons) Costume Design and Construction students at Queen Margaret University (QMU).
Taking place across November 2024, the shows will be performed at the renowned home of Heart of Midlothian FC, Tynecastle Park.
Sir Paul Grice, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of QMU, said: “It’s incredibly exciting that our students will get the opportunity to perform at such an iconic Edinburgh venue and help Hearts mark their special 150th anniversary – an experience that I’m sure will stay with them for years to come.
“As we celebrate 150 years of Queen Margaret University in 2025, we take pride in the many meaningful collaborations we’ve fostered over the years, each of which reflects our deep commitment to supporting our stakeholders and enriching the communities we serve. This new partnership, merging the vibrant worlds of theatre and sport, perfectly embodies QMU’s core values of creativity, innovation, and community engagement.”
Heart of Midlothian FC has welcomed productions at Tynecastle Park since 2018 and recognises their vital contribution to the heritage and cultural understanding of the club and its history.
Throughout this year of Hearts’ 150-year celebrations, the club has found a number of innovative ways to commemorate this important milestone.
Ann Park, Director of Communities and Partnerships at Hearts, said: “Both of these productions highlight important episodes from the club’s proud history, and we are thrilled that both plays make these accessible and captivating for football and non-football audiences alike.”
A War of Two Halves is a powerful story about the Heart of Midlothian players who, in 1915, showed tremendous courage and team spirit and volunteered en masse for McCrae’s Battalion. This promenade performance leads the audience on a moving journey through various locations around Tynecastle Park, including the home dressing room.
Sweet FA is a companion piece to A War of Two Halves. It is a play with music that tells the inspiring tale of an Edinburgh women’s factory team in 1915, united by their passion for football and their unwavering support and love for one another against the backdrop of the ban on Women’s Football. It will be performed in a purpose-built stage within the main concourse at Tynecastle Park.
The cast of Sweet FA will also be performing at half time of the Women’s Premier League Capital Cup game on 17th November.
Ann, continued: “A War of Two Halves performed to sell out audiences in 2018, 2019 and 2022. BBC Radio 4’s Front Row listed Sweet FA as one of the three must-see shows across 2021’s Fringe and International Festival.
“It is fitting that it is being revived on the 50th anniversary of the lifting of the ban on Women’s Football in 1974. Brilliant dialogue and powerful songs deliver a timely, no holds barred, take on Scottish culture during the Great War.”
Bruce Strachan, co-founder of Two Halves Productions and Lecturer in Acting and Performance at QMU, said: “This new collaboration between us, Hearts Heritage and Queen Margaret University, looks to build on the award-winning success of these two ambitious plays, rooted in the history of Edinburgh.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for two young casts, on the cusp of their launch into the professional world, to explore the importance of these stories and their impact on local history and contemporary Scottish theatre. Given current global events, both pieces serve as a timely reminder of the horrors and futility of world conflict.”
A War of Two Halves and Sweet FA will take place at Tynecastle Park from the 9th to the 21st November 2024 with varying performance times. To purchase your ticket, visit Heartsfc.co.uk.
A further five arrests have been made following disorder at the Hibernian versus Motherwell football game on Saturday, 5 October, 2024.
Incidents of violence and disorder were directed towards officers in the St Andrew Square area of Edinburgh after the conclusion of the game.
Five men aged, 32, 21, 20, 19 and 18 have been arrested and charged in connection with the incidents.
Chief Inspector Craig Rogerson said: “These arrests show that disorder is not acceptable. We want to create a safe environment for people before, during and after football matches. We will continue to work closely with both clubs and football authorities.
“The men will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal and are expected to appear at Court at a later date. Football banning orders will be sought, preventing them from attending any regulated football matches in Scotland.
“Further enquiries are ongoing.”
Tests on children’s Halloween costumes revealed that over 80% of costumes for under-sevens failed basic safety tests, including those for flammability and strangulation risks. RoSPA advises parents to take one simple but crucial step this Halloween: choose costumes from trusted sources that meet UK safety standards.
As Halloween approaches, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging families to take action following alarming news from the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS).
New Findings on Costume Safety
Tests conducted by OPSS on 128 costumes purchased from various online marketplaces found that more than 80% failed safety tests. Among these, 28 costumes did not meet flammability standards, and 59 were found to have dangerous cords or drawstrings that posed a strangulation hazard. Many costumes also lacked appropriate labelling, with 98 out of 128 failing to provide essential safety information.
Adrian Simpson, Head of Policy and Press for RoSPA said: “These results are deeply concerning. Parents and those responsible for children need to be extra cautious this Halloween. Always purchase costumes from reputable retailers and check for the UKCA or CE mark to ensure they comply with UK safety regulations.
“This is important as it shows that the product has been tested to meet UK safety standards, and indicates that the costume has passed essential safety tests, including those for flammability.
“With the recent findings from the OPSS, it’s clearer than ever that safety needs to come first. If you’re buying a Halloween costume for your child, checking for that the product meets labelling requirements should be a top priority. This simple check can prevent accidents and ensure a safer Halloween for everyone.”
ADDITIONAL SAFETY TIPS FOR HALLOWEEN
In addition to choosing costumes that meet flammability and safety standards, RoSPA advises families to follow these important guidelines:
Dispersal Zones for #OpCrackle have been set up across Edinburgh and will be enforceable from 1400 hours on 01/11/2024 to 0000 hours on 05/11/2024.
These will be in place within: Gorgie, Saughton, Oxgangs, Liberton, Gilmerton, Gracemount, Portobello, Niddrie, Moredun, Muirhouse, Craigentinny, Pilton and Edinburgh City Centre.
We use this power where we have reasonable grounds to believe that the presence or behaviour of a group of two or more people in any public place is causing, or likely to cause, alarm or distress to any members of the public.
An officer utilising Dispersal Zone powers may give:
1. A direction requiring persons in the group to disperse.
2. A direction requiring any of those persons whose place of residence is not within the relevant locality to leave the relevant locaility.
3. A direction prohibiting any of those persons whose place of residence is not within the relevant locality from returning to the relevant locality or any part of it during such period (not exceeding 24 hours) from giving of the direction as the constable may specify.
If you knowingly contravene a direction given by an officer within a Dispersal Zone under these powers, you can be subject to an arrest without warrant.
We are delighted to host a fruit tree pruning workshop with John Hancox from Scottish Fruit Trees.
On Friday 8 November, from 12-3 pm you will learn all about when and how to prune your fruit trees.
This event is free entry. Please let us know that you would like to attend by emailing grantongarden@gmail.com 
Workplace expert Acas is encouraging employers and their staff to create a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment at work ahead of a change in law this week.
The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023 comes into effect on 26 October 2024, introducing a legal duty for employers to proactively take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment.
Acas is suggesting employers create a culture where sexual harassment is understood to be unacceptable, including anyone in a position of authority.
This includes developing a policy on sexual harassment, training managers on their responsibilities, and creating an environment where people feel safe to report incidents of sexual harassment and situations where they felt unsafe.
According to a recent Acas survey, 14% of employers and 6% of employees said they had witnessed sexual harassment in their workplace.
Acas Head of Inclusive Workplaces Julie Dennis said: “Sexual harassment is unacceptable at work or anywhere else. We want everyone to understand this, and we are urging employers to take a proactive approach to stamping it out.
“Proper policies and training for managers can help eliminate the potential for sexual harassment to occur. They can also help foster environments where staff feel empowered to report any harassment and avoid it before it occurs.”
Sexual harassment is unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature.
Under the new law, employers must take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment.
They must not wait until something has happened before they take action.
This covers harassment from colleagues, whether at work or in settings connected to work, and also harassment from third parties such as customers, service users or members of the public.
In order to identify and address risks, employers need to:
For more information, please visit: https://www.acas.org.uk/sexual-harassment
Next week, guest storytellers from Berlin arrive in Edinburgh to share stories and films from their divided and reunified city to mark 35 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
This milestone coincides with the founding year of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, which runs until 31 October and takes place at the Storytelling Centre, and various venues in Edinburgh and across Scotland, thanks to support from Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund.
The Festival’s German strand kicks off with West-East-West – stories from a still divided Germany on Tuesday, 29 Oct, 8pm.
Supported by the Goethe-Institut, guest storytellersCarsta Zimmermann, Kristin Wardetzky, and Peter Hofmann will be sharing stories of their experiences in, and since, the early 1990s in Berlin.
Curated by Rachel Clarke who currently lives in Berlin and works in theatre, these guest storytellers include actress Carsta Zimmermann who moved to a squatted house in the newly reunified East Berlin in the 1990s where she and her brother, director Jan Zimmermann, built a theatre and performed Shakespeare in the summer and Grimm’s fairy tales by the fireside in winter; Kristin Wardetzky, a storyteller and professor of theatre in education, who moved from East to West Berlin and introduced a storytelling course to the University of the Arts; and Peter Hofmann, who went from being at home in the cosy independent music scene of 1980s West Berlin, to playing his part in the emerging club scene in the East of the city.
This event will be complemented by a screening of a documentary film by Horst Edler on Wednesday, 30 October, 5.30pm, illustrating the peaceful revolt that was witnessed during the fall of the Berlin Wall when people brought down the power of the Stasi using music, caricatures and satirical slogans.
The footage includes unknown stories told by eyewitnesses at the original locations, pictures of current actions, events, and posters to commemorate the Peaceful Revolution. Some of footage shown will also be from scenes at the Zion church or Zionskirche 35 years ago.
This patriotic landmark stands at the highest point in Berlin and was a meeting place for opposition groups in the mid-1980s, it was also where vigils were held for members arrested by the Stasi, and as a result, became the home of the civic movement that campaigned for the end of the GDR.
Daniel Abercrombie, Associate Director, Scottish International Storytelling Festival said: ““We are delighted to welcome our international guests from Berlin and the Storytelling Arena to take part in this year’s festival.
“Our theme this year is ‘Bridges Between’ and it feels even more fitting than ever that at a time where literal, figurative and societal walls continue to be constructed everywhere we try to look beyond these boundaries and continue to build bridges between us using the universal power of storytelling.”
Hanna Dede, Director of Goethe-Institut Glasgow said: “Storytelling is the ideal medium for exploring complex narratives from various perspectives.
“When we learned the Scottish International Storytelling Festival shares its founding year with the fall of the Berlin Wall 35 years ago, we felt it was the perfect opportunity for the Storytelling Festival and Goethe-Institut to team up in commemorating this event.
“We are excited to cooperate with our partners in bringing storytellers from Germany to Scotland to share their stories about this pivotal point in German history, which set off the process of unification – still ongoing and shaping the public debate to this day.
“Horst Edler and Storytelling Arena delve into the topic by including perspectives from East and West Germany, thus creating an atmosphere to listen and learn from each other – a prerequisite for anyone truly committed to building bridges.
“We hope the Storytelling Festival will continue with this remarkable work for many more years.”
Kate Deans, International Officer, Creative Scotland said: “As the Scottish International Storytelling Festival celebrates its 35th anniversary, it continues to connect local and global stories.
“Creative Scotland welcomes the Scottish Government’s Festivals Expo Fund, supporting new commissions and uniting storytellers and musicians from Scotland and abroad, covering regions as diverse as Andalucia, Siberia, the Celtic Isles, and India.
“This year marks an exciting moment as the festival hosts UNESCO City of Literature delegates from around the world. As Edinburgh celebrates 20 years of its UNESCO designation, these delegates will also be able to explore the festival’s rich programme of events during their time here.”
Other international guests performing this year include Jeeva Raghunath who will be sharing stories from the folk lands of India, and Irish guest storyteller and broadcaster Nuala Hayes who founded the Dublin Storytelling Festival who will be joined by Irish musician Aoife Granville for two events celebrating the life of storyteller, seanchaì and author Peig Sayers thanks to support from Culture Ireland.
For the full programme, visit sisf.org.uk
From the 5th to the 12th December the pioneering string ensemble will visit some of the country’s most atmospheric settings. Concerts by Candlelight will take place in Perth, Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and for the first time in Dunblane.
A staple of the Scottish festive calendar these concerts feature vibrant compositions illuminated by the warm glow of candlelight.
Jonathan Morton, Artistic Director of Scottish Ensemble, said: “Concerts by Candlelight have become a very popular moment in our musical calendar, both for audiences and musicians, and it’s heartwarming to see people return each year.
“We all look forward to meeting again in these spectacular buildings, and to experience together the magical combination of beautiful sounds within ancient spaces.”
Audiences can expect a rich selection of music that weaves between past and present, to create a beautiful sonic tapestry. Alongside compositions with seasonal resonances by JS Bach, Arvo Pärt and Pēteris Vasks, there will also be pieces that will take listeners to unexpected places including movements from Kaija Saariaho’s Sept Papillons and The Evergreen by Caroline Shaw.
The programme also includes a brand-new work, And At Pains to Temper the Light, by Hannah Kendall, commissioned by Scottish Ensemble, Staatsoper Stuttgart and Staatstheater Stuttgart.
Known for her attentive arrangements and immersive world-building, British composer Hannah Kendall’s music looks beyond the boundaries of composition. Just like Scottish Ensemble, her work bridges gaps between different musical cultures, both honouring and questioning the contemporary tradition while telling new stories through it.
Hannah Kendall said about her new work: “My grandfather and his family were from the Berbice region of Guyana, which has deeply rooted and routed, yet largely unforgotten or unknown, historical connections to Scotland.
“In And At Pains to Temper the Light, I seek to reimagine and refresh these ties, creating renewed spaces of connection that have the potential to inspire transformation through sound.
“I am indebted to Scottish Ensemble, a group of musicians I so deeply admire, for giving me the opportunity to explore this part of my heritage in a way that hopefully also speaks to shared experiences that transcend borders and time.”
Tickets range from £11 – £22 and are free for under 16s. Tickets are available from:
https://scottishensemble.co.uk/programme/2024-25/concerts-by-candlelight-5/
