These Dangerous Women: Scottish premiere of Clapham Film Unit’s new production, telling the story of Chrystal MacMillan and the women who attended the first International Women’s Peace Conference in The Hague in 1914, and the relationship between the women’s involvement in the suffrage movement and their desire for a negotiated settlement in place of war. The screening will be preceded by the opportunity to view WILPF’s photographic exhibition of its hundred-year history, and followed by a Q & A session with the film’s director Charlotte Bill, and light refreshments. 7pm, Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. Free tickets are available via eventbrite here. Read about Helen Kay’s recent talk on the ‘dangerous women’, and the making of the film, in The Edinburgh Reporter’s article here.
The Real Goldilocks Tale: a modern, bilingual, Gaelic take on this traditional story in an active and fun adventure, suitable for young Gaelic speakers and those with no Gaelic at all. Gaelic storyteller Sine Sgeulaiche asks whatever happened to the lesser known Purplilocks? And why does no-one hear about Goldilocks’ other brothers and sisters, who accompanied her on that fateful trip to the Three Bears’ house? For ages 4-8 years. 2pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £6 per child and may be booked online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579. Please remember to book a free adult ticket as well as one for your child.
Leith Central Community Council AGM: local historian Andrew Grant will give a talk about the Gretna Disaster, whose 100th anniversary falls this week. 7pm, Pilrig St Paul’s Church (please note new venue), 1B Pilrig Street. All welcome.
Centipede Project Outdoor Games Day: the launch of a new temporary natural outdoor play space and a community garden in Muirhouse. A day of traditional outdoor games and some gardening activities; a light lunch will be served and the whole event is free and open to everyone. 1-3pm, brownfield sites at Pennywell Gardens (these will be signposted from North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Gardens, from which they are just a 2 minute walk).
Write Shoot Cut (15): Screen Education Edinburgh in association with Filmhouse presents five short films made by or featuring Scottish-based talent – everything from surreal comedy to political documentary and post apocalyptic Edinburgh. Today’s films are The Lost Purse by Colin Ross-Smith, Hexagon by Justin Chenn, Yes Gran, No Gran by Fergus Cruickshank, Boat by David Lumsden and Last Exit to Ricklesburgh by Russell Miller and Chris Miller. Each film will be followed by a Q & A session with the filmmakers involved. ‘An excellent opportunity for filmmakers and anyone with an interest in Scottish film to connect with the local scene, watch some great films, network afterwards in the bar and meet potential collaborators’. 6.15pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £6/£5 and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online here.
Sighthill Library Adult Colouring Group: come and try the new stress reliever and anti-depressant! 6.30-7.30pm today and every Monday, Sighthill Library, 55 Sighthill Road.
For Crying Out Loud: special screenings for carers and their babies under 12 months (maximum of two adults per baby). Babychanging, bottle-warming and buggy parking facilities are available. Today’s film is Far From the Madding Crowd (12A). 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4.50/£3.50 (babies free) and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 228 2688.
Open Eye Gallery: New Exhibitions. (1) Brent Millar Best in Show: the Edinburgh-based artist shows ambitious and accomplished works – paintings, prints, works on paper and new ventures into ceramics – that delve deep into his admiration of life and visual stimulus, perfectly balancing abstraction and figuration to create imagery that shows the effect of colour when handled with true skill and admiration; (2) Catharine Davison Homeland: winner of the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2014, Davison is renowned for her distinctive Scottish landscapes. Here she shows a series of urban landscapes in both oils and watercolour, depicting a range of locations across the city of Edinburgh and its suburbs. 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm Saturdays, Open Eye Gallery, Abercromby Place. Both exhibitions end 3rd June 2015.
LGBT: In the Frame – informing inclusive publicity for older people’s services. LGBT people really want to see more diverse images on publicity and information, but professionals are sometimes unsure how to achieve this – so they are hoping to create a resource to help everyone make LGBT people feel more visibly welcome. Becky Duncan (social enterprise Open Aye), who runs community photographic projects, will facilitate this session to find out what makes you feel included and welcome. She will lead a creative discussion on what sort of images you like and don’t like and how you’d like to be represented; you don’t need any experience of design or photography, just your own thoughts and opinions. Lunch will be provided. 10am-1.30pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. If you’re interested in getting involved,or would like more information and/or to book into the session, please contact Katherine on 0131 652 3284 or at katherine@lgbthealth.org.uk.
Torrance Gallery: Davy Brown. A new exhibition featuring work by the Kilmarnock-born artist, whose paintings show the changing seasons and constant variation of light effects in South-West Scotland. 11am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10.30am-4pm Saturdays, The Torrance Gallery, 36 Dundas Street. Ends 30th May 2015.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Children’s Book Group: if you are aged 8-11 years and have a love of books and biscuits, join this monthly group to enjoy a friendly hour of fiction. Currently reading Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl. 6-7pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. If you would like to join the group (it’s free), please email your details to childrens.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.
Cameo Culture Shock – dedicated to bringing you the best in cult and genre films. This week’s film is My Own Private Idaho (15) – River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves star in Gus Van Sant’s haunting tale of two young street hustlers, Mike, a sensitive narcoleptic who dreams of the mother who abandoned him, and Scott, the wayward son of the Mayor of Portland and the object of Mike’s desire. ‘A stirring look at unrequited love and life at the margins of society’. 9pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Adult Book Group: lively, friendly book chatter – no previous experience required! The group discusses a wide range – fiction and non-fiction, classic and contemporary, prizewinners, cult heroes and anything else you fancy! Currently reading Sir Terry Pratchett’s Small Gods. (June’s book will be William Boyd’s The Blue Afternoon). 6-8pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. If you would like to join the group (it’s free), please email your details to events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.
Golden Hare Books and Mariscat Press Present Domestic Relations: poets Diana Hendry, Kate Hendry and Hamish Whyte in an evening of poetry about family and family members in all their various guises and relationships. 7pm, Golden Hare Books, St Stephen Street. Free tickets may be booked via eventbrite here.
Graham Greene Spy Stories on Screen: as part of Edinburgh Spy Week, this mini-season presents three fascinating examples of Greene’s politically acute and psychologically probing spy fictions. Today’s film is Ministry of Fear (PG): Fritz Lang’s adaptation of Greene’s angst-ridden 1943 novel portrays a film noir version of wartime London and places more emphasis on love and shoot-outs than Greene’s rumination on guilt and pity. The screening will be introduced by Dr David Sorfa (University of Edinburgh), editor-in-chief of the journal Film-Philosophy. 8.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. 
Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688. The next film in this series is The Quiet American on Tuesday 19th May. Edinburgh Spy Week is organised by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with Filmhouse, National Library of Scotland and Blackwell’s.
Sofi’s Cult Movie Nights: popular classics on the silver screen in the cosy darkened back room – with free poporn. This week’s film is Wall-E (U) 8-10pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street. Free.
