Tag: St Bride’s Centre

Annual Showcase Event: The Forget Me Notes project

TUESDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER at ST BRIDE’S CENTRE

The Forget Me Notes project, an established Edinburgh based charity which offers a wide range  of musical entertainment, therapy and support to those who are living with, or who are affected by dementia, will be hosting its annual showcase event on Tuesday 2nd September at St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace.

The showcase will feature a number of drop-in events between 1045am and 2pm, enabling those in attendance to learn more about the activities of the charity, including an introduction to its volunteer project and an opportunity to meet the chief executive of Forget Me Notes along with one of the charity’s trustees.

Music is at the core of Forget Me Notes’ activities and this will be provided throughout the event by both Kenny Vass and his band along with a series of musical interludes from the various musicians and singers who perform for the charity on a regular basis at care homes, day centres, community centres and other venues, including a fortnightly concert at the Saughton Park bandstand.

Admission to the showcase is free and lunch will be provided.

Later in the day, starting at 6.30pm, there will be a live performance from Kenny’s band featuring music from the1950s and 1960s. Dressing up to reflect the fashions of that period is encouraged (although not essential).

The evening event is ticketed, with tickets available from eventbrite.com at a cost of £10 for adults and £5 for children.

Further details regarding the activities of the Forget Me Notes project and be found at www.forgetmenotes.org.uk

Edinburgh Days: Play Your Part!

HAVE YOU EVER FANCIED BEING IN A BIG MUSICAL?

Bob Tomson, the internationally acclaimed director of West End and touring musicals ‘BLOOD BROTHERS’, ‘GHOST THE MUSICAL’, ‘EVITA’, and ‘JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR’ has partnered up with Clermiston born Brian Spence to stage his new Scottish Musical ‘EDINBURGH DAYS’ at this year’s Fringe Festival.

The director and composer are giving their talents for free to this project, and are looking for actor/singers from our talented community to come and hopefully join them. The musical is set in the 19th century ‘auld toon’ and is a twisted romance of possession and betrayal.

Would any actor/singers, who’ve always fancied being in an epic musical, be interested in trying out for the specially created Community Theatre Company – ‘Belt Of Celt’?  

Or, if you’d prefer to use your talents ‘backstage’, then this World Premiere production is also offering opportunities for associate directors, talented stage managers and wardrobe crew to join the team.  

The friendly workshop auditions and meetings will be held at St Bride’s Centre, 10 Orwell Terrace, Dalry, EH11 2DZ each evening from 6.45pm – 8.45pm Monday 3rd March, Tuesday March 4th, and Wednesday March 5th.  

This will be a lively and enjoyable chance to meet and work creatively with this West End and Broadway director, and experience more of the composer’s original and powerful music.

Here’s a little bit about the two creatives:  

Bob is a BAFTA, OLIVIER and TONY Award nominee, his productions have been regular visitors to Edinburgh and you may perhaps have seen some.  BLOOD BROTHERS (2024) ‘outstanding – an unforgettable experience’ (*****Scottish Field); ‘Live Theatre just doesn’t get any better than this!’ (*****Daily Record); ‘Tomson ensures that every emotional beat lands…This production with its stellar performances packs a powerful punch’ (*****Theatres Scotland).

GHOST THE MUSICAL (2024) ‘One of the best musicals I’ve seen in years, if I could give this show six stars, I would’ (*****Musical Theatre Review); ‘even more spectacular than the original film’ (*****Glasgow Times); ‘extremely impressive…utterly magical’ (*****Glasgow World); ‘This feels like the real deal… A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining night out’ (****AllEdinburghTheatre.com)

Brian, the Clermiston-born composer, has collaborated with Bob on three other musicals – Jeannie Skye, recently work-shopped by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Picnic at Hanging Rock which played at the Chichester Festival Theatre, and finally StreetDreams performed by the Guildford School of Acting. 

He has written many original songs for such diverse singing talent as Michael Ball, Rosetta Stone, The Pet Shop Boys, Dusty Springfield and Ben Forster (winner of ITV’s ‘Superstar’ competition). 

Just contact them on info@edinburghdays.co.uk for all the details to make your big musical dreams come true! 

Local dementia charity to host showcase event

THE Forget Me Notes Project, an Edinburgh based charity which offers support to dementia sufferers throughout the capital via the medium of music, is hosting a showcase event next month to highlight and illustrate the wide range of activities it undertakes.

The charity was founded in 2018 by Alan Midwinter and Paul Barfoot and it focusses on utilising music as a means of helping alleviate the symptoms of those who live with dementia.

Activities include weekly performances by a 40 strong choir, regular music based attendances at care homes, community centres, parks and day centres as well as home visits for people living withThey also embrace modern technology by broadcasting their activities via ZOOM to people’s living rooms.

All in all Forget Me Notes undertakes in excess of 30 musical activities every month with a view to improving the lives of both those affected by dementia and their families.

The showcase event will take place on Tuesday 13th August at St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace, Edinburgh EH11 2DZ at 2pm.

Between 2pm and 5.30 it will feature a series of drop-in sessions, film and audio presentations as well as musical interludes, all designed to raise awareness of the charity’s aims.

The event will close at 5.30 followed by a ceilidh hosted by local musician Kenny Vass and his band.

Admission is free but those wishing to attend the ceilidh must book tickets (also free of charge) in advance. Full details of the event, along with a link to order tickets for the ceilidh, can be found on :-

http://www.forgetmenotes.org.uk/new-events-1/2024/8/13/forget-me-notes-showcase

Alan Midwinter, who is co-chief executive, said “You are  welcome to join us at St Brides to sample just what music can do both for our wellbeing and all round health. We are in for an inspiring day!”