What’s on in Edinburgh This Week? 14th February 2011

14th February 2011

If you are at a loose end this morning then The Filmhouse are showing Toy Story 3 at 11am as part of Weans World, when they allow young children to make a lot of noise during the films… Tickets are only £2.50.

A Slice of Life From Sat 12th February – Sunday  20th February 2011 at Hawthornden Court part of The National Museum Scotland
11:00 – 13:00
14:00 – 16:00
Entry is Free (drop-in)
Step back in time and encounter everyday characters from Scottish history – all with a story to tell! Who will you meet today?

12.00 at The Scottish Storytelling Centre Watch Alan Breck’s Prestonpans Volunteer Regiment storm into Edinburgh via the Netherbow Gate to take over the Scottish Storytelling Centre, with displays and demonstrations of costume, stories and weaponry. Free event. More details here.

Valentine’s Day screening of A Beautiful Thing in aid of Waverley Care at The Filmhouse at 20.30. Booking details here.

FOOTLOOSE

The Edinburgh Playhouse, Mon 14-Sat 19 Feb, times vary.

FOOTLOOSE explodes onto the stage with classic ‘80s anthems including Holding Out For A Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear It For The Boy, and of course the title track, Footloose.

More information and tickets available here.

And Sir Elton John and David Furnish have just collaborated on a new Disney film called Gnomeo and Juliet. You can see it at The Dominion – but here’s the trailer:-

15th February 2011

Marvellous Maps Tuesday 15 – Wednesday 16 February
At Hawthornden Court part of National Museum Scotland 12:00 – 16:00 Free (drop-in)
Old sea maps are full of beautiful illustrations of lighthouses, ships, mermaids, whirlpools and sea monsters! Come and make your own antique-style treasure map to guide you safely home through troubled waters.

A PLAY, A PIE AND A PINT

Traverse Theatre: Tues 15 – Sat 19 Feb, 1.00pm

The Traverse are delighted to once again be hosting a season of plays from Òran Mór’s lunchtime theatre programme. As always, a pie and drink from their bar are included in the ticket price. Bon appetit!

This week: The Company will overlook a Moment of Madness

By Rodolfo Santana (Venezuela)
Adapted by Morna Pearson
Directed by Tessa Walker

After a violent incident in the factory in which he has worked for most his life, Orlando is sent to the company’s psychologist for evaluation. It is in the hands of the psychologist his responsibility to his fellow workers is questioned, his loyalty to the Company reinvigorated and his fate sealed.

More information and tickets available here.

16th February 2011

At The Scottish Storytelling Centre at 7.00pm. Part of the City of Literature’s ‘Let’s Get Lyrical’ campaign. Scottish history through song ‘n’ story. Kenspeckle (Weel kennt folky John Greig and storyteller/writer Stuart McHardy) present ‘Jacobite Songs & Stories’. From 1689 to the 1750s the Jacobites plotted and schemed, fought and struggled to get the Stewarts back on the throne. Since then their actions have continued to inspire Scotland’s poets and songwriters, singers and storytellers. Age 14+ Booking details here.

The next meeting of the Eteaket Book Club will be on Wednesday 16th February between 7-8.30ish at eteaket. This month the club were reading any Lionel Shriver book except the famous one (We Need to Talk about Kevin). For more details go to their website.

17th February 2011

Story Space at The Scottish Storytelling Centre at 11.00am A lively session of storytelling, games and song for wee ones aged 2–5 to enjoy, engage with and build confidence. £6 per child, accompanying adult free! Please see St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations for Story Space in March.

Also at The Storytelling Centre at 7.00pm, Jacobite Talk and Discussion: The Role of story in changing perspectives on the Jacobites & The Real Bonnie Prince Charlie.

The Role of story in changing perspectives on the Jacobites | History is always written to an agenda. Story survives because it finds an audience. In the case of the Jacobites that audience was the people of Scotland. Through finding stories from the time after Culloden, Stuart McHardy has discovered that what we have been given as the history of the period is less than half the story! Stuart McHardy is a storyteller and prolific writer who lectures on history and folklore for Edinburgh University’s Office of Lifelong Learning. | The Real Bonnie Prince Charlie | Charles Edward Stuart was not just a charming adventurer: he was the military and political leader of an uprising which nearly brought down the British government of 1745. How did he achieve so much, and how much of it was down to him alone? Arran Johnston, author of a new biography of the Prince, considers the man behind the legend, his skills and abilities, and the reasons for his ultimate failure. More details here.

Gordon Brown (remember him?) will talk about his new book Beyond the Crash at a Blackwells event in George Square Theatre on 17th February 2011. Tel 0131 622 8222 for more details.

Lighthouse DIY Thursday 17 – Friday 18 February
At Hawthornden Court part of National Museum Scotland From 12:00 – 16:00 Free (drop-in)
Back by popular demand! Come and make your own plastic bottle lighthouse, inspired by their Shining Lights exhibition. All materials provided but please BYOB if you can!

At The Filmhouse a ‘one night only’ in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, Madame Curie is showing on the big screen at 17.45. 2011 is the International Year of Chemistry and this is the 100th anniversary of the award of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Marie Curie. The 1943 film starring Greer Garson,  will be followed by an informal audience discussion, ‘Women in Science – On Screen and Off’, led by a panel including Eleanor Campbell and Carole Morrison, School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, and Sarah Artt, School of Arts and Creative Industries, Edinburgh Napier.

18th February 2011

The Age of Arousal  is the new production at The Lyceum starting tonight. Determined to make women rich, ex-militant suffragette Mary Barfoot and her devoted protégé and lover, Rhoda, enlist female students to master the new invention that will gain them freedom – the typewriter. Three spinster sisters are invited into the school to rescue them from poverty, setting in motion an odyssey of alcoholism, cross dressing and sexual revolution.

Enter Everard Barfoot, Mary’s cousin, an ex-doctor in his 30s about to embark on a life of leisure, and suddenly all the characters in this lavish sexy ensemble piece are erupting with discoveries, contradictions and epiphanies. Genre busting, rule-bending and ambitiously original. Recommended for an audience over 16. Booking details here.

At The Scottish Storytelling Centre at 11.00am Free drop in stories and fun related to the Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry with Tim Porteus and The Pans Tellers. All ages welcome. More details here.

19th February 2011

St Cecilia’s Hall in Niddry Street hosts a musical evening of French and Italian baroque music exploring the vexed relationship between the two composers and the so-called ‘battle of the styles’ they represented. Featuring pieces by Corelli, Muffat, Lully, Rebel and Couperin.

20th February 2011

New Looks – Creative Writing On Sunday 20th February 2011 at 13:30 (3hrs) For young people aged 14-18 Entry is Free
What would a lighthouse say if it could speak? Take inspiration from the story of Scotland’s lighthouses and those who lived in them. Have fun playing around with words and create a poem, tall tale or short story. Book now on 0300 123 6789 (limited spaces)

A wedding exhibition in Valentine’s week. Best Western Capital Hotel Wedding Exhibition takes place on Saturday afternoon. More information here.