Edinburgh Spy Week: Secrecy in the Modern World. A day of events following the diverse forms of secrecy that shape the modern world:
(1) 1-2pm: Secret Actors: The Stasi at the Theatre. Dr Laura Bradley uses new material from the Stasi files to explore the roles played by undercover informants in East Germany’s theatres. How much did the Stasi really know about East German theatre, and what could informants do if they no longer wished to play their parts?
(2) 2.15-3.30pm: Secrecy and Anonymity in the Digital Age. As more of our lives are lived online, Dr Kieron O’Hara asks whether anonymity is dead or whether technologies like Tor and Bitcoin can help us carve out territory free from observation. This talk will be followed by a panel discussion and Q & A on the uses of secrecy in finance, law and information technology, with Dr Paul Crosthwaite, Professor Lilian Edwards and Dr Kieron O’Hara.
(3) 4-5pm : Spy Fiction After the Cold War. Leading British espionage novelist Charles Cumming discusses writing spy fiction in the modern world with fellow best-selling author Daniel Pembrey.
All of today’s events will take place in the Project Room, 50 George Square, University of Edinburgh. All events are free but booking is required via eventbrite here (you can book for one or several sessions). Secrecy in the Modern World forms part of Edinburgh Spy Week, a unique public event organised by the University of Edinburgh’s Department of English Literature and focusing on espionage fiction and film and the ways in which secrecy and spying run through our history and culture.
Heather Luccesi: Art & Chat Afternoon. Local artist Heather has formed Light Bulb Arts, a social enterprise delivering accessible art workshops to schools and the wider community, including work with Alzheimer Scotland and Art in Healthcare: her exhibition includes both her own mixed media work and pieces from the workshops, together with information about the projects; this afternoon Heather will host an informal drop-in session when you can meet her and hear more about her work. 1.30-4.30pm, Charles Smith Room, Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road. The exhibition is open 10am-8pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am-5pm Thursday to Saturday (closed Sundays) until 30th May 2015.
Bookbug Week: to celebrate this annual event – for which this year’s theme is Bookbug’s Big Bedtime Story – there will be lots of special sessions today, all including fun, songs, rhymes and stories for children aged 0-4 years and their parents and carers. 10.30am at each of Colinton Library, Thorburn Road and Corstorphine Library, Kirk Loan, and 11.30am at Portobello Library, Rosefield Avenue.
RSPB Scotland’s Big Nature Festival: if you love the outdoors and are interested in wildlife, this festival can offer you everything from bushcraft and wildlife photography classes to science workshops, a farmers’ market and live music. Guided walks, expert talks – and you can get up close to some fascinating birds at the ringing demonstrations. Over one hundred exhibitors will showcase art, books, nature breaks and state-of-the-art optics. For children there will be forest schools, pond dipping, magical woodland walks, storytelling and more. 10am-5.30pm (with entertainment until 7pm), Leavenhall Links, Musselburgh. Tickets may be purchased online here; prices vary. There are free guided cycle rides to the site from The Meadows, free bike hire from Musselburgh Station, a shuttle bus from the station and free parking at the site. All proceeds will go to RSPB.
Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop: Richard Taylor. To mark the end of his Research Residency in Art Writing at Edinburgh College of Art and ESW, artist and writer Richard Taylor is holding an open reading; other authors have also been invited to read their work or to have it read by a nominated performer. All welcome to form part of the audience! 2-6pm, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, 21 Hawthornvale. No booking required – just come along.
Persevere: the Quintinshill Disaster 100 Years On. 22nd May 2015 is the 100th anniversary of the UK’s worst ever train disaster: it happened at Quintinshill (Gretna) and left over 200 men of the 1/7th Royal Scots dead. This ‘Leith Battalion’ had trained at the Drill Hall, which later became the focal point for families seeking information about what had happened. Now a group of community actors from Active Inquiry and Strange Town Young Theatre Company have researched and devised a piece of promenade theatre, Persevere, which guides the audience around the Drill Hall, enabling them to catch glimpses of stories of Leithers saying goodbye to sons and brothers, hearing news of the crash and coping with the aftermath. 6.30pm and 8.30pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Tickets cost £6 and may be purchased via eventbrite here (booking fee applies). Also at 6.30pm and 8.30pm on 20th June and 6.30pm on 12th and 13th August 2015.
St Bride’s Family Cinema: see your favourite films for free! Adventure, excitement, fun and laughs – it’s all here. Choc ices and juice are available to purchase during the interval for 50p. This week’s film is Mr Peabody and Sherman (U). Please note that all children under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult. 10.30am-12.30pm (including interval), St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace. All welcome: no booking required.
The New Story – Storytelling as a Pathway to Peace. Inger Lise Oelrich explores the background to her recently published book, which includes over thirty tales from around the world and easy to do exercises, giving a fresh and encouraging take on how to bring about understanding, compassion and transformation in different life situations. ‘The shortest distance between two human beings is a story’. 2.30pm, Storytelling Court, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Free and unticketed. Inger Lise Oelrich will also be running a related workshop prior to the launch: see the Storytelling Centre’s website for full details and ticket prices.
Lunchtime Concert: NOTEables Community Choir, Dunfermilne. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.
T-his/T-hat: Fuora Dance Project. An interactive performance in which children will play a very important role. The performance is divided into two sections; the first is the story of two little girls who have lost something during a journey, the second a creative workshop in which the children will be led to choose props using different tasks. The children will explore and learn some basic words in Italian – alphabet letters, numbers, colours, adjectives, common places and typical foods. For ages 2-7 years. 11am, Assembly Roxy, 2 Roxburgh Place. Tickets cost £5 and may be booked online here. Also at 2pm on Sunday 24th May 2015.
Morningside & Fairmilehead Parish Churches Christian Aid Fair: stalls, author readings, music, magic, exhibition by Morningside Heritage Association, refreshments and lots more. 10am-2pm, Morningside Parish Church Halls, Braid Road. Admission free: all very welcome!
Bohemia Art, Craft and Vintage Fair. 10.30am-4.30pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Free entry.
Balerno Village Screen: a community cinema run by volunteers, offering free admission and funded by donations. Today’s films are Paddington (PG) showing at 4pm and The Imitation Game (12A) showing at 7.30pm, both at St Joseph’s Hall, St Joseph’s Centre, Balerno. Although all screenings are free, the organisers ask that you register in advance to give them an idea of numbers – free tickets for each film may be reserved via eventbrite here or obtained from The Mill Cafe or Balerno Post Office.
Ratho Coffee and Crafts: a bijou craft fair to launch Ratho’s community bunting – if you would like to exhibit your work, please contact the library in advance. 10.30am-12.30pm, Ratho Library, School Wynd.
Scotland’s Open Gardens: Dr Neil’s Garden. Secluded, landscaped garden on the lower slopes of Arthur’s Seat, featuring conifers, alpines, physic garden, herbaceous borders and ponds. Also Thomson’s Tower with the Museum of Curling and beautiful views across Duddingston Loch. Refreshments available. 2-5pm, Dr Neil’s Garden Trust, Old Church Lane, Duddingston Village, EH15 3PX. Please park at the kirk car park on Duddingston Road West then follow signs. £3 per person, of which 40% goes to Dr Neil’s Garden Trust and the remainder to SG beneficiaries. Also at same times on Sunday 24th May.
Lee Miller and Picasso: Opening Lecture. The relationship between Lee Miller and Picasso began during the enchanted summer holiday they shared in the Cote D’Azur in 1937 and lasted until Picasso’s death in 1973. Picasso painted six portraits of Lee Miller, and she photographed him more than a thousand times. She was a frequent visitor to his home in post-war years, accompanying her husband Roland Penrose on his many research trips whilst he was writing the artist’s biography. Anthony Penrose, Director of the Lee Miller Archives and the Penrose Collection, tells the story using Lee Miller’s own photographs. 2-3pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be purchased in advance from the National Gallery’s Information Desk or by calling 0131 624 6560. (card payments).
Over the Rainbow: Filmhouse launches a brand new monthly screening strand for new and classic LGBTQIA films and events. This weekend’s film is Appropriate Behaviour (15). After a bad breakup with girlfriend Maxine, New York twentysomething hipster Shirin (Desiree Akhavan, who also writes and directs) is trying desperately to get her life back in order; the film ‘alternates moments of poignancy with inspired deadpan humour’. 3pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online here.
Hearing Dogs for the Deaf Ceilidh: with the Robert Fish Band. Doors open 7.30pm, dancing 8pm-12 midnight, St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace. Tickets cost £10 (under-12s £6) and may be purchased from St Bride’s on 0131 346 1405.
Edinburgh Society of Musicians: pianist John Willmett plays preludes by JS Bach, Debussy and Rachmaninov. 7.30pm (prompt), Edinburgh Society of Musicians, 3 Belford Road. The Edinburgh Society of Musicians was founded in 1887; it promotes practical music-making in the city and arranges chamber music recitals every Saturday from October to June. Admission is free.
Eurovision Party: a big screen showing with scorecards. Wear your lycra sparkles! This event is very popular so advance booking of tables is recommended. 8.30pm, Victoria Bar, 265 Leith Walk.
Hidden Door x Bongo: Song, By Toad. As part of this year’s Hidden Door, the trailblazing Edinburgh blog-turned-label presents Bat Bike and Younstrr Joey. 7-10pm, The Bongo Club, Cowgate. Tickets cost £5 on the door or £4 in advance here (free with Hidden Door combined tickets).
Eddie Argos (Art Brut): The Spoken Word Tour, or How To Form A Band and Become Famous. The world renowned singer and songwriter steps into the limelight to tell stories that happened along the way as Art Brut became the world-beating pop behemoth it is today. Heartwarming story or cautionary tale? You be the judge. Over 18s only. 7.30pm, Voodoo Rooms, West Register Street. Tickets cost £8 and may be purchased online here (transaction fee applies).
The Meadows Chamber Orchestra: Debussy Prelude to L’apres-midi d’un faune, Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No 2 in D Minor, Op 119, Debussy/Beamish Suite for cello and orchestra and Richard Michael Meadows Suite for jazz piano and orchestra. Conductor: Peter Evans; cello: Robin Michael; piano: Richard Michael. 7.45pm, St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, 5 Lothian Road. Tickets cost £11/£9/£5/£1 and may be purchased in advance from the Queen’s Hall Box Office on 0131 668 2019 or on the door (sta).
