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Five things you need to know today

January 22, 2014 6:22 am

Rembrandt discovered in Gallery – Hippo Birthday – Marie Curie needs you! – War Horse opens tonight – Events in Edinburgh’s parks

The Scottish National Gallery has discovered a wee gem in its collection. Something that it thought was only a copy has turned out to be the real McCoy!

A unique Rembrandt etching has been rediscovered in the Print Room of the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh. The print, a portrait of the Amsterdam preacher Jan Cornelis Sylvius (1564-1638), was previously catalogued as a copy of a work by Rembrandt. However, recent research by Dr Tico Seifert, the Gallery’s Senior Curator for Northern European Art, has established that the etching is the work of the Dutch master himself. Dr Seifert’s research has also confirmed that this is the only known version of the image to have been printed in red ink. Portrait of Jan Cornelis Sylviuswill be on display to the public from today.

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Ellen the pygmy hippo is turning nine years old and to mark the special occasion keepers will be presenting her with a special birthday treat today! Three-month old daughter Adana is growing fast and will be by her mum’s side to help her enjoy her edible presents.

Lorna Hughes, Team Leader for Hoofstock and Primates, said:-“Ellen may be small, but she has made a big impression on many visitors and staff since her birth at Edinburgh Zoo in 2005. She has been a fantastic mum, so to be able to celebrate her 9^th birthday with her daughter is very special; I am sure she will really enjoy her tasty birthday surprise with her family.”

Edinburgh Zoo is part of an international conservation programme which aims to safeguard the pygmy hippo from extinction and has had much success in breeding this endangered species. Ellen is the third generation of pygmy hippos to be born at Edinburgh Zoo and since the arrival of male Otto in 2008, the pair have proved themselves to be great parents after raising three daughters Lieshan, Eve and Adana.

Half the size of their relative the common hippopotamus, and a quarter of the weight, pygmy hippos love to spend most of their time in the water, and Ellen can often be spotted splashing about in her heated pool. Their natural environment is the dense forests and lowlands of West Africa but this but it is being threatened by deforestation.

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Marie Curie Cancer Care is appealing for people in Edinburgh and Lothians to donate an hour of their time this March to collect for the charity’s annual Great Daffodil Appeal.

The appeal is Marie Curie’s biggest fundraiser needs volunteers to encourage people in the local community to give a donation and war a daffodil pin in March.

The money raised will help Marie Curie Nurses to provide more free care to local people with terminal illnesses both in their own homes and in the Marie Curie Hospice Edinburgh.

Fiona Beaton, Community Fundraiser for Marie Curie Cancer Care in Edinburgh and Lothians said: “We need over 500 people from Edinburgh and Lothians to help with our collections this February and March. Donating just one or two hours of your time to the appeal will allow Marie Curie Nurses to provide more free care to terminally ill people and their families at the time when they most need support, both through care in their own homes and in the Marie Curie Hospice Edinburgh.”

Di Shakspeare, Volunteer Collector from East Lothian said: “I was previously a Marie Curie Registered Nurse for twenty nine years so I know the difference that Marie Curie can make to local families, allowing them to rest knowing that their loved ones are in safe hands. On my retirement, I decided I wanted to help with the charity as a volunteer. In my experience, being a collector is a lot of fun and a great way to meet new folk, some with their stories to tell, while also raising funds and awareness for this wonderful cause.”

As well as local volunteer collectors, Marie Curie will be supported by the Lions Clubs of the British Isles and Ireland in March, with hundreds of collections being held by Lions Club members across the country on behalf of the charity.

To volunteer to collect for Marie Curie Cancer Care and support the Great Daffodil Appeal call 0131 470 2291 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil.

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War Horse opens at the Festival Theatre tonight – but it is sadly sold out and we were unable to get any press tickets either!

The National Theatre’s award-winning production of WAR HORSE is being staged in Edinburgh as part of its first major tour of the UK & Ireland.

The record-breaking tour of War Horse began in Plymouth in September 2013 and has since played to sell-out houses in Birmingham and Salford. The company is very much looking forward to bringing the show to the Edinburgh Festival Theatre for its Scottish premiere.

War Horse is the powerful story of a young boy called Albert and his beloved horse, Joey, who has been requisitioned to fight for the British in World War I. Caught in enemy crossfire, Joey ends up serving on both sides during the war before landing in No Man’s Land, while Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home. A remarkable tale of courage, loyalty and friendship, War Horse features ground-breaking puppetry work by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, which brings breathing and galloping horses to life on stage.

The War Horse company is comprised of: James Alper (Stewart/Heine/Ludwig), Lee Armstrong (Albert Narracott), Peter Ash (Billy Narracott/Klebb/Heine), Emily Aston (Paulette), Nisa Cole (Emilie), Joe Darke (Topthorn Heart), David Fleeshman (Arthur Narracott), Adam Foster (Bone/Fine), Bob Fox (Song Man), Jason Furnival (Carter/Strauss), Tom Gilbey (Joey Head), Oliver Grant (Topthorn Head), Finn Hanlon (Captain Nicholls/Schweyk), Karl Haynes (Greig/Vet Martin), Karen Henthorn (Rose Narracott), Steven Hillman (Ted Narracott), Michael Humphreys (Joey Heart), Linford Johnson (Topthorn Hind), Andrew Keay (Joey Hind), Rebecca Killick (Baby Joey/Annie Gilbert), Tom Larkin (Double Hind),John Leader (Double Heart), Helen Macfarlane (Baby Joey/Matron Callagher), Sean McKenzie (Priest/Thunder), Alex Moran (Baby Joey/David), Suzanne Nixon (Double Hind), Tom Norman (Double Heart), Joseph Richardson(Goose/Bugle/Schnabel), Paul Simpson (Klausen), Gavin Swift (Geordie), Simeon Truby (Allan/Manfred), Peter Twose(Double Head), Richard Vorster (Double Head) and Martin Wenner (Friedrich).

Based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse is adapted by Nick Stafford and presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company. Directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris, it is designed by Rae Smith, lighting is by Paule Constableand movement and horse choreography by Toby Sedgwick. The puppetry directors are Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler, with video design by 59 Productions Ltd, song-making by John Tams, music by Adrian Sutton and sound by Christopher Shutt. Alex Sims directs the tour with Katie Henry as associate director.

War Horse has been seen by over 4 million people worldwide since its premiere at the National Theatre in 2007 and continues its hugely successful run at the New London Theatre in the West End. A major tour of North America continues through 2013/14, and a new German language production entitled Gefährten opened in Berlin in October 2013.

War Horse is produced by the National Theatre – www.warhorseonstage.com

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The council want to get your views on what they allow to happen in the city’s parks. The Moon Walk is one of these events which took place in Leith Links last year as Inverleith Park was still waterlogged – more or less from the time of the previous year’s event!

Clearly there is a balancing act between using the parks to generate some income for the city and the views of locals who use them all year round.

So you have the chance to tell the council what you think.

Find out more and complete our survey