Monday 30th May 2011

Evita at The Playhouse Edinburgh tonight at 7:30pm

Featuring some of the most famous and inspiring stage music ever written, including the classic songs Don’t Cry For Me ArgentinaOn This Night of a Thousand StarsOh What A CircusYou Must Love Me and Another Suitcase in Another Hall, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s extraordinary musical Evita embarks on a spectacular national tour.

Bringing to life the dynamic, larger-than-life persona of Eva Peron, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Peron, Evitatells the story from her young and ambitious beginnings to the enormous wealth and power she gained and her ultimate rise to sainthood.

With more than 20 major awards to its credit, including the Oscar winning film version starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas and featuring one of the most coveted roles in musical theatre, this brand new production of the smash hit show truly promises to be the theatrical event of the year.
Who do you think you are?
Mon 30 May – Fri 3 June
10am – 5pm
Free entry

A collection of  artwork created by Young Adults from Edinburgh and Midlothian. It is the product of a 10 week Creative Art Therapy Group  Project exploring issues of identity, self worth, personality and perception. The group included 8 men and women aged 16 – 25 years old who are supported by the Young Persons Team which is part of Link Housing Association.  At the Out of the Blue Drill Hall.

Tuesday 31st May 2011

The Future Power of Scotland

  • What will it take to meet the 100% renewables target?
  • How can variability be managed without continued dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear?
  • How can we ensure that renewable developments bring benefits for the local community, and are used to deliver real carbon reductions?

Friends of the Earth Scotland invites you to an early evening of presentations and panel discussion to address these questions, and more.

Date: Tuesday 31 May, 5:30pm – 7:30pm
Location: MacDonald Hotel (Holyrood suite)
81 Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AU

Speakers include:

  • Paul Gardner, Garrad Hassan (world’s largest renewable energy consultants)
  • Expert researchers from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
  • Community representatives from Leith, Ayrshire and Udny living next to proposed and existing energy developments in Scotland.

Expect wine, food, and lively discussion.

Places limited so please email bstratford@foe-scotland.org.uk to reserve your place

The Edinburgh Bookshop Book Swap

Back by popular demand

Henderson’s, 94 Hanover Street, Edinburgh

7:30pm-9:00pm

“Bought a book from us (or from anywhere else for that matter) and loved it so much that you want to tell other people about it? Want to find your next book in a more serendipitious manner? Fancy spending an evening hanging out with other booklovers and listening to a couple of special guests talking about the books they’ve brought along and what they love to read?

Then you probably want to come along to The Edinburgh Bookshop’s bookswap which is being hosted by the lovely people at Henderson’s on Hanover Street. Tickets are £5, which includes a glass of wine and homemade nibbles and if you fancy a quick bite before or a late supper after the bookswap, show your ticket at the till and get 20% off your bill – told you the people at Henderson’s were lovely.”

Degree Shows 2011 Edinburgh Napier University at The Filmhouse at 6:00pm

This compilation of short films is the work of final year Edinburgh Napier undergraduate students. In the Honours Year, they have specialised in the roles of scriptwriter, producer, director, cinematographer and sound designer. They now face the challenge of pursuing their chosen careers in a fast-changing and highly competitive media world. They will need to show both a determination, and a flexibility, to succeed. Their skills and abilities are on display here for all to enjoy.

Wednesday 1st June 2011

Hebrides Ensemble – Kafka Fragmente

1 June 2011 at 7:30pm
at The Queen’s Hall

Alexander Janiczek, violin
Elizabeth Watts, soprano

Schumann: Liederkreis Op. 39 movement 7 ‘Auf einer Burg’ [1840] (transcribed for cello and piano)
Janáček: The Kreutzer Sonata [1923] (arr. for piano trio by Till A. Koerber)
Kurtág: Kafka Fragments [1985-87] (for solo violin and soprano)

Composed in the late 80s during the fall of the Iron Curtain and a transition to democracy in the composers home country of Hungary, Kurtag’s Kafka Fragmente is a work of incredible boldness, based on tiny fragments from Franz Kafka’s diaries and letters, some less than a minute in length.

This colossal contemporary masterpiece pushes both audience and musicians in its intensity and agility. Vivid, emotionally powerful and yet fantastically fragile and lyrical at times, this is a piece of music which will completely engulf you.

True to Hebrides Ensemble programming ethics, the first half brings the programme full circle with works by Schumann and Janáček completing this literally theme and the link between song and words as well as Kurtag’s own homage to their works.

Thursday 2nd June 2011

At theTraverse Theatre Tron Theatre Company CRAZY GARY’S MOBILE DISCO by Gary Owen at 8pm

Not if Crazy Gary has his way though. Legendary bully from his school days, he makes sure he gets what he wants – like the perfect chick in view. For her, he’ll do whatever it takes.

Matthew D Melody, deluded cabaret singer and soon to be karaoke champion, doesn’t have Gary’s knack of making things go right. From upsetting Job Centre Lady to killing his neighbour’s cat, his best intentions make for the worst disasters. A prayer to the Dear Lord God can always clean the slate though.

And then there’s Russell Markham, playing with his unpleasantly creamy mash and watching life pass him by.

They have to get out!

Gary Owen’s play bristles with the desperately ordinary, the truly extraordinary and the just plain mad.

Tickets and information: 0131 228 1404

Friday 3rd June 2011

Rick Wakeman at The Queen’s Hall this evening.

A welcome return to Rick Wakeman with his one man show where he will perform solo on the piano and tell his ridiculous and funny anecdotes.

Mention the name Rick Wakeman for 50 different people and ask them what he does and you are likely to get 50 different answers! Thanks to 50 million record sales around the world, which have included more than 150 record releases, more than 50 DVDs, soundtracks for more than 25 films, numerous high profile television appearances including those on Countdown, Top Gear and Grumpy Old Men, and more than 4,000 world-wide concert performances of one sort or another, Rick has endeared himself to all genres and all ages, a rare accomplishment in this day and age!

His one-man show follows a simple recipe:
1. Take a large concert grand piano and seat Rick Wakeman in front of the keys.
2. After the first piece sprinkle in a ludicrous and funny anecdote.
3. Repeat 1 & 2 for approximately 2 hours.

Saturday 4th June 2011

The Meadows Festival is on this weekend. Completely free to attend and run entirely by volunteers.

JGHS School Council are running a Car Boot Fair Sale from 10am-2pm at James Gillespie’s High School Lauderdale St. Edinburgh EH9 1DD

Sunday 5th June 2011

Meadows Festival

The first Meadows Festival was in 1974 and since then the Festival has been an annual feature of the calender (excepting a break 2006-7). The Festival Committee work hard throughout the year to put on the event, usually held on the first weekend in June, including…

  • Two live music stages, with something to suit every musical taste!
  • a popular kids tent with activities to keep younger visitors entertained – including face painting, story telling and much more
  • stalls selling everything from antiques, clothing, fair trade products etc
  • information stalls of various types – local associations, campaigns, charities etc
  • food stalls to suit every taste and appetite
  • the art tent with a selection of artwork from students at the Edinburgh College of Art
  • Taylors funfair are situated to the west of the Festival site
  • Primary school football competition in which various local primary schools compete



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