Red and the Wolf: there’s still time to get involved …
Red and the Wolf: An exciting theatre opportunity for North Edinburgh’s young people – and it’s free
Red and the Wolf by Liminal Dance is an immersive theatre performance working with a locally-based community cast of young people aged 8-16 years, in partnership with North Edinburgh Arts.
Rehearsals on:
Rehearsal times: 10-5pm (except Saturday, 10-1pm)
Performance on Wednesday 5 August, 7pm
To book places and tickets: 0131 315 2151 / admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk
North Edinburgh Arts
15a Pennywell Court
EH4 4TZ
Local group make a song and dance about charity fundraising
Edinburgh-based theatre group Showcase, which has raised more than £220,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
They are staging three performances of their production ‘Showcase 25’ this weekend in the King’s Theatre when they hope to take the total raised to a show-stopping £250,000.
The group, which has performed in the Church Hill Theatre every year since 1990, with all profits going to Macmillan, boast a wide repertoire of songs and styles.
Director Andy Johnston said: “Showcase is an enormously talented group of singers and dancers – there is literally no musical style they can’t conquer. In the past they have tackled everything from Led Zeppelin to the Sound of Music, all performed in the trademark ‘big choral’ Showcase sound.”
Showcase President Susan Galloway added: “We like to think of ourselves as one big family. And we genuinely believe that every person that walks through the door of the theatre and buys a ticket to one of our shows is contributing – they’re helping make a difference to someone’s life. As far as we’re concerned, that’s the reason we exist.”
Macmillan’s Edinburgh Fundraising Manager Jayne Forbes said: “The support that Showcase has given Macmillan is nothing short of astounding. We are so grateful to them and everyone who goes along to their shows.
“We help people in many ways, from specialist nurses and doctors, to help and advice for people who have financial worries as a result of their cancer diagnosis, none of which would be possible without the support of people in Edinburgh. This is a really special anniversary for Showcase, and I’d urge local people to go along to a show. You are guaranteed an entertaining few hours, safe in the knowledge your ticket money is supporting a wonderful cause.”
Showcase 25 takes place on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 May (matinee and evening performance) in the King’s Theatre. Tickets are from £15 and available from www.edtheatres.com/showcase
Let’s Glow festival shines a light on Edinburgh College’s creative talent
Edinburgh College’s dazzling creative students are about to light up the city with a two-month celebration of their luminous talents.
The Let’s Glow festival gives Edinburgh the chance to enjoy performances and exhibitions from college students covering everything from music, theatre and dance to photography, film, art, animation, textiles and design. The programme of events will showcase the skills and talents of the students, demonstrating the work they have undertaken at Edinburgh College over the last year.
Let’s Glow runs from 4 May to 22 June, with events taking place at venues across the city – including the college’s campuses, Summerhall, The King’s Theatre, The Traverse Theatre, The Edinburgh Filmhouse and The Queen’s Hall. Photography students are also taking their work to exhibit at Brick Lane in London.
The festival will feature students from all the college’s creative industries study programmes: Art and Design; Broadcast Media and Photography; Computing; Music and Sound Production; and Performing Arts.
The programme includes large-scale end-of-year shows by music, arts, photography, film and animation students; the PASS Cross Currents dance event choreographed by college staff and performed by students; an exhibition of make-up artistry; a graphic design exhibition; performances of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale and contemporary Scottish play My Romantic History; the PASS Out showcase for final-year Acting and Performance students; a musical theatre revue; and the premier of an original musical about Scotland’s most revered and most controversial instrument – the bagpipes!
The festival launched last night with sneak peek performances at the city’s La Belle Angele.
Jon Buglass, head of the Centre for Creative Industries at Edinburgh College, said: “Following the success of the first Let’s Glow festival last year, we’re delighted to showcase the incredible talents of our current crop of students. The events at this year’s festival allow us to celebrate and share the remarkable work our students have been producing over the last year. We are constantly blown away by the quality of their work and the time, effort and dedication they put into its production.
“The diversity in the programme means there really is something for everyone on offer. So if you want to be inspired by the talents of our students, get along to one of our Let’s Glow events.”
The full programme of events – some of which are free – and details of where to buy tickets can be found at www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/letsglow.
Keep up to date with Let’s Glow events on Facebook and Twitter.
#letsglow15
May Day fundraiser for Theatre Project
North Edinburgh Theatre project presents:
Friday Night Café Cabaret: A Pop-Up Fundraising Event
Friday 1 May, 7.30pm
North Edinburgh Arts
Tickets: Minimum £2 donation
A series of short comedy scenes, juggling, readings of writing and poetry, human puppets, with dance and stage combat. There will be a raffle with exciting prizes.
Teas, coffees, wine and nibbles will be on sale on the evening too. All profits made on the night will go towards the North Edinburgh Theatre project.
Tickets: Call 0131 315 2151 or email admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk
North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Court, EH4 4TZ
One-off dance performance at Modern One tomorrow
Edinburgh College’s contemporary artist in residence has unveiled a new exhibition about choreography at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art – and the college’s dance students are preparing a one-off performance tomorrow (Thursday 9 April) to complete the installation.
Julie Duffy, a former HND Contemporary Art Practice student at the college, is displaying ‘Rhythmic Structure’, the culmination of her residency and an exploration of dance choreography. The exhibition is at the Pig Rock Bothy in the grounds of the Modern One gallery until 12 April.
The final phase of the work involves BA (Hons) Dance students from the college’s Performing Arts Studio Scotland, who will choreograph and perform an original dance piece in the Bothy in response to Julie’s installation on Thursday 9 April at 2pm. All are welcome to attend the performance.
Julie is one of several former college students who have been invited back to the college as artists in residence. During her five-month residency, she undertook the Rhythmic Structure project and has also been working with students to help their development.
Rhythmic Structure explores the formal qualities of dance, focusing on the collaborative work of choreographer Merce Cunningham, composer John Cage, and painters Jasper Johns and Robert Rauschenberg, alongside Oskar Schlemmer’s ‘Das Triadische Ballett’. The work includes a screen-printed floor, hanging drapes and delicate structures made from felt, card and expanding foam!
The Artist in Residence (AIR) programme at the college gives practicing artists who are also former students the opportunity to come back to the college, providing them with a dedicated studio space as well as access to specialist resources and facilities. It aims to give them an opportunity to develop their practice and gain experience in learning and teaching in further education.
Julie (above) said: “Working with the lecturers and students on the Contemporary Art Practice HND has been really stimulating. The AIR residency at Edinburgh College has been a wonderful opportunity to develop a new body of work in a creative and supportive environment. Showing my new work in such an internationally significant institution wouldn’t have been possible without the AIR programme.”
Alan Holligan, lecturer in Contemporary Art Practice and AIR programme coordinator, said: “Julie’s show at in the bothy is a mark of the quality of the artists graduating from the HND Contemporary Art Practice course who then return as artist in residence. Julie’s contribution to the course has been excellent and her influence on students is clear. I’d like to thank the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art for their support.”
Julie-Ann Delaney, curator at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, added: “The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is delighted to be working with Julie Duffy on the presentation of her ambitious new installation within Pig Rock Bothy at Modern One. Julie’s work has transformed the interior of the bothy, and the culmination of the project – which will see a newly choreographed dance work made by Edinburgh College students – will further this by bringing the space to life in a manner unlike ever before.”
Julie, the college’s eighth artist in residence, graduated from her HND in 2008 and went on to gain a 1st class BA Hons Degree in Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD).
Since graduating from DJCAD in 2011, Julie has developed new work and has exhibited regularly throughout Edinburgh including solo exhibitions at Summerhall and group shows at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop. As well as developing her solo practice in sculpture, Julie has more recently been developing collaborative practices with former college artist in residence and DJCAD graduate Hayley Mathers.
Edinburgh College is currently recruiting for courses starting in August, with a range of art and design courses available, including the HND Contemporary Art Practice. For more information about courses and to learn how to apply, go to the college website edinburghcollege.ac.uk
Edinburgh College dance students will present their annual showcase performance, Breaking Boundaries, at the Performing Arts Studio Scotland (PASS) Theatre tomorrow.
The work on show has been created by talented final-year BA (Hons) Dance students, and the performance includes routines by students from each year of the three-year programme.
The dancers will mainly present original contemporary dance pieces on the theme of ‘new work for the 21st century’. The students have conceived their own choreography with the help of dance lecturers and have been in rehearsals for Breaking Boundaries for eight weeks.
Dance lecturer Ethelinda Lashley said: “This is a great opportunity to see fantastic new work by the new and emerging talent from the dance courses at Edinburgh College.”
The performance will take place at PASS Theatre at the college’s Granton Campus on 1 April at 7pm. Tickets are £10 (concessions £8) and can be booked through Ethelinda Lashley at ethelinda.lashley@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.
PASS provides training for students who want to follow a career in the performing arts, with courses in dance offered alongside acting, technical theatre, theatre costume and make-up artistry.
The BA (Hons) Dance programme includes a two-year HND followed by a one-year course to bring students to BA honours level.
Applications are now open for these courses and more than 900 other courses across the curriculum offered by Edinburgh College and starting in August on its four campuses.
See www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk for more information on how to apply.
£100,000 funding has been awarded through Creative Scotland to support ten full time, year-long traineeships across the arts, screen and creative industries, it was announced today.
Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop in Hawthornvale will be one of the five capital-based organisations to offer traineeships.
The Traineeships Programme aims to support the employment prospects for people aged 20-30yrs interested in developing a career in arts and culture, by creating valuable work experience opportunities.
Traineeships will take place at Africa In Motion (AiM) Film Festival, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, Media Education, Starcatchers and Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS) in Edinburgh; GMAC Film and Barrowland Ballet in Glasgow; Ayr Gaiety Theatre in Ayrshire; The Pier Arts Centre in Orkney, and with Jewellery designer Eileen Gatt in the Highlands.
Leonie Bell, Director of Arts & Engagement, Creative Scotland said: “Creative Scotland is committed to supporting the creation of opportunities for young people to gain employment, work experience and vocational qualifications in the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland.
“These traineeships will offer young people the opportunity to develop the skills and professional experience needed to progress in their chosen profession by removing barriers to paid work experience.
“At the same time, organisations will benefit from fresh, innovative ideas and enthusiasm of the trainees.”
Traineeships will be offered across the following areas:
Visual Arts
Assistant Curator (Programme Team) – Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop
Gallery Programmes Trainee: Exhibitions, Learning & Digital (Curatorial and Education) – The Pier Arts Centre
Film
Shadow Curator – Africa In Motion (AiM) Film Festival
Online Film Content Developer – GMAC Film
Trainee Project Assistant / Member of Production Team – Media Education
Theatre and Dance
Starcatchers Trainee Associate Artist – Starcatchers Productions
Programme Officer (Programming Department) – Ayr Gaiety
Dance Participation Artist, Participation and Outreach Department – Barrowland Ballet
Craft
Eileen Gatt: Jewellery designer/maker
Literature
Digital and Language Resources Trainee – TRACS based at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
All Traineeships will be advertised on Creative Scotland’s Opportunities site.
Welcoming the announcement Irene Kernan, Director at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, said: “The Creative Scotland Traineeship will support Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop’s aims of developing talent and supporting young artists in their careers. Being able to employ a trainee for a full year provides a valuable opportunity for us to bring new approaches and skills to the staff team and further develop our public programme to connect with local audiences.”
That Man to Man, the world o’er,
Shall brothers (and sisters!) be for a’ that
A Burns Night is about many things. Good food, shared with friends, family or neighbours – and sometimes all three! Burns is about love, about comradeship and about community but if there’s just one word that captures the spirit of Scotland’s national Bard it’s ‘celebration’ – and all those elements were there in abundance at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre last night.
Yes, last night’s Community Celeidh celebrated the memory of Burns but it was more than that – it was a vibrant, living tribute to all the good things Burns work extolls: a warm, friendly gathering of friends and neighbours of all ages, interests and ethnicities joining together to have fun in each others’ company.
Organised by Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, Granton Community Gardeners and Pilton Community Health Project’s Living in Harmony group the evening built on last year’s event and proved to be a huge success.
Around 150 people – aged from three months up to … well, a good bit older! – enjoyed a traditional Burns Supper and were entertained by the excellent Homecoming String Band and a succession of local performers, all made poosible and supported by a team of enthusiastic volunteers who were always on hand to make sure the evening went smoothly.
Congratulations to the organisers, the band, the excellent team of volunteers and the local performers who entertained us so regally on the night: the poets, the musicians, the singers and the wee dancer – you were all brilliant!
And thanks, too, the the local community who came along to support the event and whose enthusiasm made the evening such a success.
Rabbie would be proud of you all – here’s to next year!
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