Creating A Portrait Head: considering Alexander Stoddart’s Making History exhibition as a reference point, sculptor Deidre Nicholls will talk about the creation of a portrait head, covering techniques and also the creative process. 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free: no booking required.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Doug Johnstone and Helen Fitzgerald. Glasgow-based Helen Fitzgerald is the best-selling author of Dead Lovely and nine other adult and young adult thrillers: her latest novel is The Exit. Edinburgh-based Doug Johnstone is the author of five novels including the acclaimed Gone Again, and is also a freelance journalist, musician, songwriter and has a PhD in nuclear physics: his latest novel is The Dead Beat. 6.30-8pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets can be obtained from the shop’s front desk, or by calling 0131 622 8218 or emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.
Wiff Waff Wednesday: a monthly ping pong night for all ages, with music, drink and great food available at the Drill Hall Arts Cafe. ‘Friendship first, competition second’. 6-10pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Free entry: all welcome!
Beyond The Rage: Scottish author and poet  Michael J Malone launches his compelling new crime thriller in conversation with Lin Anderson. Kenny O’Neill is on a dual mission to hunt down his girl’s attacker and find out the truth about his Dad…instead he unravels disturbing family secrets and finds that revenge is not always sweet. 6.30pm, Looking Glass Books, 36 Simpson’s Loan, Quartermile.  Free but please email laura@saraband.net to book your place, or book via eventbrite.
Kirill Sokolov Documentary and Lecture. The premiere of Benjamin Sadd’s documentary about the life and work of the major contemporary Russian artist Kirill Sokolov (1930-2004), looking at his work in depth, from his early life in Russia to his emigration to Berwick-On-Tweed and then Durham in the 1970s. The film will be accompanied by a lecture on The Concept of Tragedy in Russian Silver Age Thought by Professor Avril Pyman. A leading translator of Russian poetry and a biographer of Aleksandr Blok and Pavel Florensky, Professor Pyman has also written the major text on the Russian symbolist movement and is a Fellow of the British Academy. 6.30-8.30pm, Project Room, 50 George Square, University of Edinburgh. Free but booking is essential: please email Dashkova.Centre@ed.ac.uk. This event is presented by the Dashkova Centre in partnership with The Sutton Gallery.
2015 Iranian Film Festival: a season of classic and contemporary films from Iran, including a number of Scottish premieres, shown as part of the Edinburgh Iranian Festival. Today: A Few Kilos of Dates for a Funeral (15) 8.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets can be booked online here or by calling the box office on 0131 228 2688. Prices vary: there are deals for purchasing multiple tickets for this season. The 2015 Iranian Film Festival is curated by Dr Nacim Pak-Shiraz and sponsored by The Sutton Gallery, Arts & Business Scotland, the School of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies of the University of Edinburgh, and the Filmhouse.
LGBT: Just for Men. A relaxed social opportunity for men who want to meet other gay, bisexual or transgender men in one of Edinburgh’s newest LGBT- friendly bars. For ages 18+. Â 6.30-8.30pm, Woodland Creatures, 260-262 Leith Walk. For more information contact LGBT Health & Wellbeing at admin@lgbthealth.org.uk.
Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp, Dominic Waxing Lyrical and Howie Reeve: featuring Wilf Plum on drums, this 7-piece group from Geneva also manage to squeeze a marimba, a double bass, a violin, a trombone and an electric guitar onto the stage at Henry’s. Tropical post-punk/afro-avant pop/mediaeval prog/bass.With support from Edinburgh’s own Dominic Waxing Lyrical and Howie Reeve from Glasgow. 7.30-11.30pm, Henry’s Cellar Bar, Morrison Street. £6
Edinburgh Iranian Festival: Xerxes Cabinet of Curiosities – exotic animals and royal authority in Achaemenid Iran. The Achaemenid dynasty (559-331 BC) ruled the largest empire the ancient world had ever seen. By examining a variety of sources – iconographic and literary, Greek, Indian and Iranian –Â Dr Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones (University of Edinburgh) will explore the rich variety of exotic wildlife imported into Persia to satisfy the monarch’s pleasure and his public image, wildlife that included Asiatic lions, Bactrian camels, zebu, wild asses, Arabian horses, parrots, peacocks and wild jungle fowl. How were these animals perceived by their Persian viewers, how were they displayed, and what do we know about their treatment? Dr Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones specialises in Achaemenid Iran and ancient Greek socio-cultural history, and in the reception of antiquity in popular culture. 5-6pm, Lecture Theatre F.21, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square. Free.
Colinton Library presents an afternoon concert with the pupils of Merchiston Castle School. A range of classical and easy listening tunes for all to enjoy. 2.30-3pm, Colinton Library, Thorburn Road. All welcome.
Independence and Interdependence: The Dynamics of Scottish Self-Government. Professor Nicola McEwen, Professor of Territorial Politics, University of Edinburgh, delivers her inaugural lecture. The Scottish Independence Referendum may have resulted in a No vote, but it has reignited debates over Scottish self-government: Nicola McEwen’s lecture will put these debates into context. 5.15-6.15pm, Business School Auditorium, University of Edinburgh Business School, 29 Buccleuch Place.
Queer History: An Introduction. Dr Carole Jones (University of Edinburgh) will construct a brief history of the evolution of the discipline of queer theory – the ‘why’ of queer theory. She will then go on to look at definitions, some attempts to pin down what is meant – the ‘what’ of queer theory. Along the way she will explore examples of the work of one or two landmark queer theorists – the ‘who’ of queer theory, and will finish off by looking at the emergence of trans* theory and its implications for thinking about identity. 6pm, Lecture Theatre 1, Appleton Tower, Crichton Street. Free and open to all.
The Old Edinburgh Club. Jamie Pearce: Healthy Places? Environmental conditions and public health in Edinburgh over the last 100 years. 7pm, Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. £5/members free.
