In two weeks’ time What’s On will be changing. We will no longer be preparing our exhaustive lists of events – but look out for new mini-lists, one-off features and plenty of tips to help you fill your days (and nights).
If you are organising an event that you would like us to mention, please submit it via our Submit Your Story and we shall do our best to help.
You may also like to consider advertising your event with us and our media pack is here. If you do not find exactly what you are looking for then do get in touch.
In the meantime, enjoy everything our capital city has to offer this week – but please check details with the organisers before setting out.
MONDAY 12TH OCTOBER 2015
Cameo Toddler Time: short screenings exclusively for pre-school children and their parents and carers. Today’s film is Messy Goes To Okido (U). Messy magically transports us from the real world to the land of Okido, where he finds the answers to his questions. Why do things fall down and not up? Where do echos comes from? Why does my stomach rumble? The aim of the series is to bring science to life visually, using stories, comedy and adventure. 11am, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets cost £3 per child (accompanying adults free) and may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online here.
Centipede’s Community Harvest Banquet: to celebrate local produce whilst highlighting food poverty. Lunch, children’s art workshops, apple pressing, live pancake station! 1-3pm, Old Kirk and Muirhouse Church, 42 Pennywell Gardens. Free but tickets are required (there will be no admission without one) and must be collected in advance from North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court or Muirhouse Community Shop, 57 Pennywell Road. 
The Project has had generous contributions of fruit and veg from local growing groups. Centipede Project started in 2012, with a vision to bring the community of North Edinburgh together through engaging, creative events; if you would like to volunteer with them, there is a contact form on their website here.
An Illustrated History of Scottish Allotments: Jenny Mollison explores the rich tradition of Scotland’s allotments. As relevant today as 100 years ago, allotments have sustained communities through two World Wars and the Depression. Jenny Mollison is co-author of Raising spirits: Allotments, well-being and community, secretary of the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society, and writes a regular column in The Scotsman. 2pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required; please call 0131 623 3734 or book online here.
SMHAFF: The Silence of the Flies/El Silencio De Las Moscas (15) (in Spanish with English subtitles). Since the 1990s, a mysterious suicide epidemic has been spreading in rural communities across the Venezuelan Andes. Having lost their daughters to suicide, Marcelina and Mercedes are two women who share a tragic fate with many others in the region. Elizier Arias’s poignant documentary presents an idyllic landscape, permeated with stillness and violence. The screening will be followed by a discussion. 7pm, Red Lecture Theatre, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £5/£3 and may be purchased by calling the Box Office on 0131 560 1580 or online here. Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival 2015.
For Crying Out Loud: exclusive screenings for parents/carers (maximum of two adults per baby) and their babies under 12 months old. Baby changing, bottle-warming and buggy parking facilities are available. Today’s film is Bill (PG): much scholarly speculation has been made about William Shakespeare’s ‘lost years’ – the period between his obscure beginnings in Stratford-upon-Avon and eventual acclaim as a playwright in London. In Bill, the performers from the BBC Horrible Histories series provide some of their own ideas… With multi-role performances from the six lead actors and enjoyable cameos throughout, we follow “hopeless young lute player” Bill Shakespeare as he leaves his home and family to follow his dreams. 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4.50/£3.50 (babies admitted free) and may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person or by calling 0131 228 2688.
Grassmarket Community Cinema: Do The Right Thing (18). Spike Lee delivers in splendid form with a pacy, punchy ensemble piece set in Brooklyn during one stiflingly hot 24 hours. 7pm, Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. All welcome; free – donations to the Project also very welcome. The cafe will be open – please use it!
The Demarco European Art Foundation: Romanian Artists. The legendary curator Richard Demarco, who launched the Western careers of legions of extraordinary Eastern European artists, opens the vaults of his inestimable collection housed at Summerhall for a vivid initiation into modern Romanian visual culture. The showcase represents influential and internationally acclaimed artists such as Paul Neagu, Horia Bernea, Ion Bițan, Ovidiu Maitec, Sultana Maitec, Vladimir Șetran, Pavel Ilie, Sorin Dumitrescu, Peter Jacobi and many more. 11am-6pm daily, Laboratory Gallery, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Free. Ends 30th October 2015. Part of Romanian Cultural Days in Edinburgh, a week-long foray into some of the most spectacular facets of contemporary Romanian culture through a programme of classical & electronic music, film, theatre, literature, traditional culture, food & wine. The project is organised by the Romanian Cultural Institute in London.
The First World War In Cinema: Nurse Edith Cavell (PG) (in English and German with English subtitles). In an Oscar-nominated film based on the true WWI heroism of the title character, Anna Neagle plays English nurse Edith Cavell – the matron in a small private hospital in German-occupied Brussels. When the son of a recently deceased patient escapes from a German prisoner-of-war camp, Cavell aids him to reach Holland and safety. This leads to Cavell and a small group of supporters forming an organization to help Belgian, French, English and other soldiers escape as well. Eventually the Germans become aware of what’s happening and take action…. This special screening marks 100 years since Edith Cavell was court-martialled and found guilty of treason by Germany, for which she was executed by firing squad. 8.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online here: prices vary.
Word Power Books Presents Eve Rickert and Franklin Veaux: More Than Two – A Practical Guide to Ethical Polyamory and The Game Changer: A memoir of disruptive love. Rickert and Veaux’s More Than Two is a comprehensive guide to the polyamorous lifestyle, challenging the notion of what society considers a healthy and successful relationship. In The Game Changer, Veaux shares a true story of a relationship that changed not only his own life, but the face of the modern polyamory movement. 
In both books, the authors underscore the importance of engaging in ethical polyamory and encourage readers to work consistently and conscientiously on both their relationships and themselves. 6.30pm, Word Power Books, West Nicolson Street. All welcome; free – donations also welcome!
Sofi’s Cult Movies: popular classics on the silver screen in the cosy, darkened back room. Free popcorn! Tonight’s film is Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands (PG) starring Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder. 8pm, Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street. Free.
Romanian Gala Concert: Remus Azoiței (violin) and Eduard Stan (piano), experts in George Enescu’s chamber work and authors of an award-winning collection of the great composer’s evocative later compositions, perform Gabriel Fauré Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major op. 13 and George Enescu Violin Sonata No. 3 in A minor op. 25 ‘dans le caractere populaire roumain’. The concert will be held in the presence of HE Mr Mihnea Motoc, the Romanian Ambassador to the Court of St James’s. 7pm, Playfair Library, Old College, University of Edinburgh, South Bridge. Free but booking is essential and may be made by emailing edinburgh@icr-london.co.uk. This is the opening event of Romanian Cultural Days in Edinburgh (see above).
New Town and Broughton Community Council: 7.30pm, Drummond Room, Broughton St Mary’s Church, Bellevue Crescent. All local residents welcome. If you wish to raise an issue at the meeting please use the form on the community council’s website here to communicate the details beforehand.
Scotland Loves Anime: the UK’s top film festival for Japanese animation returns for its sixth edition, which will include five EU premieres, nine UK premieres and two Scottish premieres – from the multi-million dollar box office hit Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ to the Annency award winning Miss Hokusai. This year’s Festival’s Education Day for students and recent graduates in animation and related fields will take place at Edinburgh College of Art on 16th October. The Festival opens today with Attack on Titan: Crimson Bow and Arrow (15); the screening will be introduced by Festival Director Andrew Partridge. For full listings and booking details see the Festival’s website here or its Facebook page here. Films will be screened at Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online: prices vary. Ends 18th October 2015.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Lawrence Whalley: Understanding Brain Aging and Dementia. Why do some people remain alert and vigorous at an age when others are declining mentally and physically? Does their apparent advantage have a biological basis, and, if so, could this success be transferred to others predisposed to age more quickly? If this is achievable, does brain aging then become the last obstacle to an extension of our useful life span? Reexamining older scientific studies, Professor Whalley is able to show that though much of what we take for granted about the mental processes of the older person is not simple, we may indeed be able to alleviate the effects of mental deterioration–if not now, then in the future. Understanding Brain Aging and Dementia presents a major new synthesis of the science behind dementia, identifying the genetic factors that contribute to the pace of aging and showing how behaviours starting in childhood can influence how we age. Lawrence Whalley is a Professor of Mental Health at the University of Aberdeen, specialising in the study of Alzheimer’s disease. 6.30pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets may be obtained from the shop’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8229, emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or via eventbrite here.
The Old Chain Pier Folk Music Jam Night: 7.30pm, The Old Chain Pier, Trinity Crescent.
Cameo Culture Shock: the best in cult and genre films. Tonight: A Clockwork Orange (18), Stanley Kubrick’s future-shook vision of Anthony Burgess’s novel, starring Malcolm McDowell. 9pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online here; prices vary.
TUESDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2015
Collection 4: The Photographers’ Collective. The Photographers’ Collective was established in 2011 to promote and nurture the talent of photographers working in Edinburgh and further afield. Collection 4 is its fourth annual exhibition of new photography, and features founding members Albie Clark, Jon Lee, Susie Lowe and Susan Young, plus Collective members Kevin McCollum, Ronnie Baxter and Paul T Cowan. Continuing its efforts in representing new photographic work from Scottish-based artists, The Collective is proud to introduce three new Showcase members: Raymond Keith, Gregor Schmatz and Kevin Gilchrist. Representing a broad range of subject matter, artistic approaches and methodologies, Collection 4 acts as both a barometer of modern Scottish photography and an insight into how the medium continues to inspire, educate and innovate. Opens today, then 12 noon-6pm daily, Upper Hope Park Church Gallery, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Free. Ends 25th October 2015.
Holiday Activities with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust: Winter Wilderness Survival Skills. Water, food, shelter and fire are the keys to surviving in winter; come and learn new skills from the ‘wild women’! 2pm, Water of Leith Visitor Centre, 24 Lanark Road. £4 per child (accompanying adult free); booking is essential and may be made by calling 0131 455 7367 or emailing admin@waterofleith.org.uk.
Susan Tomes Lecture Recital: following a fascinating lecture recital earlier this year, pianist Susan Tomes now introduces Beethoven’s wonderful E major sonata opus 109, with examples played and explained before she gives a complete performance of the work. The concert opens with three of Beethoven’s sparkling Bagatelles. Escape the hustle and bustle and join Susan in the relaxed setting of Venue 2. Catch up with friends over an optional soup and sandwich lunch in the upstairs bar from noon, followed by an hour of classical music from 1pm. 12 noon (lunch), 1pm (concert), The Brunton Theatre, Ladywell Way, Musselburgh. Tickets cost £7 (concert only) or £13 (includes lunch) if bought in advance. Lunch bookings close the day before the event; concert only tickets may be purchased on the day (subject to availability) at the higher price of £8. To book please call the Box Office on 0131 665 2240 or, for concert tickets only, visit Hub Tickets here (transaction fee applies).
Cameo Silver Screen: if you are over 60, join the Silver Screen Club (it’s free to join – ask at the Box Office) and get tickets for just £5, plus free tea, coffee and biscuits, at these special weekly screenings. Today’s films are Sicario (15) showing at 12.50pm and 3.30pm, Macbeth (15) showing at 1.30pm and 4pm, Everest 2D (12A) showing at 3.20pm, and 45 years (15) showing at 1.10pm. Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online. Non-members are also welcome at these screenings but will be charged standard ticket prices.
Lunchtime Concert: students from the Reid School of Music (University of Edinburgh). 1.10pm, City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, 25 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh. Free.
Dan Lungu and James Meek: Creating and Re-Creating Reality. Dan Lungu, acclaimed Romanian contemporary writer and visionary creator of FILIT, Romania’s most successful international literary festival, joins writer, journalist, and winner of the 2015 Orwell Prize for political writing James Meek for a conversation about chronicling the complicated passage of a society: from the abyss of the dictatorial decades to the uncertainties of today. Chaired by Peggy Hughes. 7pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. Part of Romanian Cultural Days in Edinburgh (see Monday’s listings).
The Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Library: Folklore and Fairy Tales. Violinist and journalist Rosenna East and guests explore how folklore and fairy tales inspired Jean Sibelius’ only opera, The Maiden in the Tower. Through live music and discussion, the event examines the themes that influenced Sibelius, along with the effect of Finnish culture on contemporary composer Lotta Wennäkoski. 6pm, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required; please call 0131 623 3734 or book online here.The Scottish Chamber Orchestra will perform works by Sibelius, Nielsen and Wennäkoski at Queens Hall, Edinburgh, on 29 October.
Colinton Community Council: the agenda for this meeting (which includes items on Colinton CC’s position re the Boundary Commission Consultation and the application for the Garden District) and the draft minutes of the previous one may be found here. 7pm, Colinton Bowling Club, 49a Redford Road.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock: Women In Science -The Challenge. ‘Our society’, says space scientist and science communicator Dr Aderin-Pocock, ‘doesn’t encourage children to dream’. She wants to change that. Maggie Aderin-Pocock studied at Imperial College London, where she obtained a degree in Physics and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, and has spent her career making novel, bespoke instrumentation in both the industrial and academic environments, ranging from hand-held land mine detectors to subsystems for space telescopes. To further share her passion for science, Maggie runs her own company, Science Innovation Ltd, through which she conducts public engagement activities; this has enabled her to present her science ideas to diverse audiences, from school children to politicians, and to date she has given presentations to over 200,000 people around the world. Maggie is also co-host of The Sky at Night, the world’s longest running science television series; she recently published a book on stargazing, in which she shares her enthusiasm for all the joys of the night sky. 
6pm, Riady Theatre, Craiglockhart Campus, Edinburgh Napier University, Glenlockhart Road. Free but please register your attendance by emailing lectures@napier.ac.uk.
Luminate Festival: A Calendar of Memories. Stories, songs, music, laughter and reminiscence in the relaxed setting of the Storytelling Court. Hosted by the Life Stories Project, who specialise in sharing stories with older people to help rekindle imagination, trigger memories and increase communication. 2pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £3 and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. Part of Luminate, Scotland’s creative ageing festival.
Filmosophy: Regeneration. The fifth season of Filmosophy is offered in association with the MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, a world-leading research centre studying stem cells, disease and tissue repair to advance human health. The films screened will allow an opportunity to discuss the Centre’s groundbreaking research and will seek to distinguish between science fiction and science fact, and to gain an invaluable insight into the lives of those touched by the diseases and injuries that regenerative medicine aims to treat. The screenings will be introduced by James Mooney, Short Courses lecturer and course organiser at the University of Edinburgh. Today’s film is the documentary I Am Breathing (15): when Neil Platt is diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease at the age of 33, he makes the unusual decision to document his final months, not just in a blog but by inviting a film crew into the home he shares with his tireless wife Louise and toddler son Oscar. The result is a heartbreaking, funny and tender portrayal of incredible fortitude and love. The screening will be followed by a discussion with James Mooney, Sonja Henrici (Scottish Documentary Institute), Louise Oswald (Neil Platt’s former wife) and Sir Ian Wilmut (Centre for Regenerative Medicine). 5.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online here: prices vary. The next film in this series will be The Fountain on 10th November 2015.
Our Changing World: The Obesity Pandemic – Winners and Losers in Adapting to Affluence. Not all obese people develop disease and not everyone in an ‘obesogenic environment’ is equally susceptible to weight gain; Brian Walker, Professor of Endocrinology and Head of the University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, will consider how individuals vary in their capacity to adapt to changes in energy balance and the implications for society’s response to the obesity pandemic. 6.30-8pm (doors open 6.15pm), University of Edinburgh, George Square Lecture Theatre, George Square. Free and open to all, but please register via eventbrite here.
Leith Folk Club: Julie Felix + support Martin Lennon.What began for Julie Felix as simple home entertainment, as her father and his friends played Mariachi (Mexican folk) music into the small hours of the morning, has become this legendary woman’s profession for nearly 50 years. 7.30pm, Victoria Park House Hotel, 221 Ferry Road. Tickets cost £9 and may be reserved by completing the online form here or texting the club’s dedicated booking line on 07502 024 852. Reserved tickets must be collected by 7.30pm on the night.
Cameo Discover Tuesdays: a chance to see something different, from cult classics to art-house gems and riveting documentaries. Tonight’s film is Horse Money (12A) (in Creole and Portuguese with English subtitles): invoking the photography of Jacob Riis (1849 – 1914), the famous American photographer, journalist, and advocate for poverty reform, Pedro Costa’s new film is a powerful indictment of social and racial injustice. 6pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online here.
WEDNESDAY 14TH OCTOBER 2015
National Library of Scotland Lifting The Lid Exhibition Tour: Manuscripts Curator Olive Geddes leads an hour-long tour of Lifting the lid: 400 years of food and drink in Scotland, in which Scotland’s changing relationship with food and drink is explored using the Library’s rich collections, and the diversity of Scotland’s larder is contrasted against some of the myths and traditions of the Scots diet. 11am-12 noon, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but booking is required and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or online here. Also at same times on Wednesdays 21st and 28th October 2015.
Morningside Justice and Peace: Occupy and Democracy – a talk by Richard Gunn, recently retired lecturer in Political Theory (University of Edinburgh). 10.30-11.30am, The Open Door, 420 Morningside Road. A contribution of £1 per meeting is requested. The Morningside Justice and Peace Group exists to promote informed opinion on matters of concern to the community at large; meetings are open to all and provide a view on a topic of national, international or local concern followed by questions and discussion. For more information please contact the co-ordinator at b.darcy20@gmail.com.
My Life in Poetry: Edinburgh’s Makar, Christine de Luca, shares the story of her life through the lens of her favourite poems, in conversation with Scottish Poetry Library director Robyn Marsack. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Tickets cost £3/£2 and may be purchased by calling 0131 623 3734 or via eventbrite here.
Edinburgh Quartet Rush Hour Concert: a creative collaboration with Ron Butlin, prize-winning novelist and Edinburgh Makar/Poet Laureate 2008-14. The concert will feature Janáček’s String Quartet No 2 Intimate Letters and readings of extracts from the composer’s correspondence with Kamila Stosslova, who inspired the piece. It is part of the Edinburgh Quartet’s performance project Intimate Voices; many of the greatest composers chose to write for the string quartet because of the medium’s capability for intimate expression, and as a backbone of the new season the Edinburgh Quartet has chosen to focus on works which have intimate expression at their very core. 5.30-6.30pm, St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. Tickets cost £10 (£9 for Friends of Edinburgh Quartet; students and children admitted free) and are available from Ticket Source here.
Romanian Film Season: acclaimed director and author Mark Cousins curates a series of Romanian film, revisiting 100 years of cinematic haunting eeriness, delicious sarcasm and groundbreaking miserabilism, which have amassed some of the highest distinctions of the seventh art. Tonight’s film is Aferim! (in Romanian, Turkish and Romany with English subtitles) a Silver Bear winner for Best Director at Berlinale 2015; in the dawn of 19th Century Wallachia a state tax collector, accompanied by his son, searches for a fugitive gypsy slave. The screening will be followed by a Skype Q and A session with the director, Radu Jude. 8.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online here; prices vary. The season will continue throughout November and December. Part of Romanian Cultural Days in Edinburgh, a week-long foray into some of the most spectacular facets of contemporary Romanian culture through a programme of classical & electronic music, film, theatre, literature, traditional culture, food & wine. The project is organised by the Romanian Cultural Institute in London.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Peter V Brett: The Demon Cycle. The international bestselling author of The Painted Man and The Desert Spear talks about The Skull Throne, the latest instalment in the Demon Cycle series.’In the grand tradition of George R R Martin and Robert Jordan’. 6.30pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets may be obtained from the shop’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8229, emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or via eventbrite here.
Boda Quiz: with topical questions, hilarious true or false rounds and the promise of a not so fantastic prize! For teams of 4 people. 8pm, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk. Please book at the bar, by calling 0131 553 5900 or by emailing boda@bodabar.com.
THURSDAY 15TH OCTOBER 2015
Mac’s Munchkins: hands-on sessions for preschoolers with Ali of Lighter Parenting. A mixture of stories, craft, animal encounters and other farm treats! For ages 2+. 10-11am today and every Thursday, Gorgie City Farm (meet at the Red Tractor), 51 Gorgie Road. Suggested donation £2 per child.
Autumn Music and Reflection: George Gershwin. Music and Reflection returns for four weeks this autumn, with the theme of Composers’ Lives and Music. Enjoy music performed by talented Edinburgh music graduates and learn a little of the composer’s life in a short talk. Today Rachael Liddell (mezzo soprano) will perform songs by Gershwin, accompanied by Chris Harding (piano). Speaker: Ian Gilmour. 1-1.30pm, Sanctuary, St Andrew’s and St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. Free.
Cameo Big Scream: screenings exclusively for parents/carers and their babies under the age of one year. Today: Monty Python and The Holy Grail (re: 2015) (12A): the 40th anniversary of this hilarious romp, starring Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin, Eric Idle and John Cleese. 10.30am, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online here.
Mayfield-Salisbury Thursday Club: Chris Short talks about Scottish Women’s Hospitals in World War One. 2pm, Upper Hall, Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church, 18 West Mayfield. The club meets weekly from October to May, with an attractive programme of music, slides, talks and demonstrations. New members warmly welcomed; annual membership costs £4 and there is a 50p charge for tea at each meeting. For more information please contact Florence Smith on 0131 663 1234.
Lunchtime Concert: students from the Reid School of Music, University of Edinburgh. 12-12.45pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Free.
Holiday Activities with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust: Rotten! Delve in to the decomposing worlds of fungus, compost and poo. A ‘rotten’ event which promises to leave you mucky. 2pm, Water of Leith Visitor Centre, 24 Lanark Road. £4 per child (accompanying adult free); booking is essential and may be made by calling 0131 455 7367 or emailing admin@waterofleith.org.uk.
Art On A Plate with Lauren Wayland: take inspiration from the Museum’s ceramic collection and design and decorate your own piece of ceramic art (plate provided). 2.30-4pm, Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate. Tickets cost £4 and must be booked in advance via the Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here. Please note that these sessions are intended for families working together: at least one paying adult must accompany your child, and no child should be booked into a session alone.
SMHAFF: Cafe Voices. Storytellers Kate Craik and Michael Williams lead an evening of stories in the relaxed surroundings of the Storytelling Court. They are joined by Playback Edinburgh, who invite participants and audiences to share moments and stories from their lives. 7pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £5 and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival 2015.
Romanian Film Season: acclaimed director and author Mark Cousins curates a series of Romanian film, revisiting 100 years of cinematic haunting eeriness, delicious sarcasm and groundbreaking miserabilism, which have amassed some of the highest distinctions of the seventh art. Tonight’s film is a cult classic of Romanian cinema, Stone Wedding/Nunta de piatra (U), comprised of two separate stories of different tone set in the same small town in the Apuseni mountains, both with a wedding as a central story point and the timeless quality of old folktales. The screening will be followed by a Q & A session via skype with one of the films directors, Dan Pita. 7pm, Red Lecture Theatre, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be purchased by calling the Box Office on 0131 560 1580 or online here. The season will continue throughout November and December. Part of Romanian Cultural Days in Edinburgh, a week-long foray into some of the most spectacular facets of contemporary Romanian culture through a programme of classical & electronic music, film, theatre, literature, traditional culture, food & wine. The project is organised by the Romanian Cultural Institute in London.
Harvest Concert with the Castle Chorus: an evening of autumnal music from Scotland and around the world, plus brand new original songs performed with local songwriters, and featuring sets from Dog On A Swing and Matt Norris and The Moon. Castle Chorus is a new Edinburgh mixed-voice unaccompanied choir, led by Caro Overy and singing a range of beautiful traditional and contemporary music. 7.30pm, Victoria Bar, 265 Leith Walk. Entry by donation.
Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Margaret Skea: A House Divided. The award-winning author launches the sequel to her debut novel Turn of the Tide. A House Divided is a sweeping tale of compassion and cruelty, treachery and sacrifice, set against the backdrop of feuding clans, the French Wars of Religion, and the Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1597. This event will be chaired by Professor Ian Campbell (University of Edinburgh). 6.30pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets may be obtained from the shop’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8229, emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk or via eventbrite here.
Play Poland Film Festival: the largest mobile film event in the UK, presenting and promoting contemporary Polish cinema: today’s film is A Grain of Truth/Ziarno Prawdy (in Polish with English subtitles), the highly anticipated thriller adapted from the bestselling Polish novel by Zygmunt Miloszewski. A crime is committed in the picturesque town of Sandomierz. The body of a woman is found naked in a public place. Local law enforcement officers, under the command of a newly arrived metropolitan prosecutor (Robert Wieckiewicz), will have to solve a crime that has all the hallmarks of a ritual killing. This screening will be followed by a Q and A session with director Borys Lankosz. 5.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online here; prices vary.
Miracle Glass Company: the psychedelic indie rock trio return with a headline show in their home city, blending their soaring three-part harmonies with ‘foot-stomping rock’n’roll, beautifully crafted songs and the odd psychedelic freak-out!’ This date will feature guest DJ Dr. Awkward,‘curing all your ills with his psychedelic thrills’. For over 18s only. 7pm, The Voodoo Rooms, West Register Street. Tickets cost £6 and may be purchased via eventbrite here.
FRIDAY 16TH OCTOBER 2015
Freeze Frame Film Club: The Wizard of Oz (PG). The enchanting, exciting classic film; reacquaint yourself with some of the best loved characters in cinema history – the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and of course, Dorothy. The Drill Hall Cafe will also be celebrating this technicolour marvel with fantastical food inspired by the film, so jump in your balloon, grab a flying monkey or just hop, skip and jump down the yellow brick road to the Drill Hall! 7pm (screening will begin around 8.30pm), Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. £3 for the film only, £15 for a pre-show 3-course meal prepared by special guest chef Anna Hamilton of Alright Treacle. Meals must be booked in advance; please call the Drill Hall Cafe on 0131 555 7100 to reserve a table.
Scottish Association of Painting Craft Teachers 60th Anniversary. The only surviving founder member of the SAPCT, Ken Gummerson, will perform the opening ceremony at this celebratory event; Ken is a retired lecturer who taught in the college, (formerly Telford College), and he and other senior members will be demonstrating some of the finer skills of painting and decorating, along with Mark Nevin, a former Edinburgh College student and winner of a Gold Medal in the World Skills Competition. A range of activities will be held over the two days, with demonstrations of a wide variety of decorating skills such as Graining, Marbling, Signwork, Gilding and Stencilling, by Painting Craft Teachers from as far north as Inverurie to as far south as Bolton. All painters, decorators and members of the public, are welcome to come along. There will be a exhibition of members’ work, providing an excellent display for those with a keen interest in high class decoration, and everyone is encouraged to see the exhibition, view the live demonstrations and also to try their hand at some of the skills on the HAVAGO stands, which will be set up and manned be members in the Edinburgh College Hub. The culmination of this two day event will be a celebratory dinner in the Village Urban Resort Hotel; after the meal, members past and present will be able to sit and have a ‘dram and a chat’ over times gone by. Non-Members will be most welcome to come along (booking details may be obtained from geobro246@gmail.com). The full timetable of events can be downloaded here. 8.45am-4.30pm, Edinburgh College, Granton Campus, 350 West Granton Road. Also 9am-2pm on Saturday 17th October 2015. For more information please contact George Brown on 07543 556 646 or email brown@dundeeandangus.ac.uk. All daytime events are free, but donations are invited.
Printing Nature with Lauren Wayland: use leaves, pine cones, twigs and other natural objects to make some stunning prints inspired by autumn. You’ll have the chance to mount your favourite print, so you can either hang it on your wall or give it as a gift. 2.30-4pm, Museum of Edinburgh, Huntly House, 142 Canongate. Tickets cost £4 and must be booked in advance via the Usher Hall Box Office, Lothian Road, in person, by calling 0131 228 1155 or online here. 
Please note that these sessions are intended for families working together: at least one paying adult must accompany your child, and no child should be booked into a session alone.
Thomas The Tank Engine and Friends Activity Day: a day of fun with Thomas and friends. Colouring, stickers, balloons, with story time at 11am and 3pm. 10am-4pm, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street. For more information please call 0131 226 2666.
SMHAFF: Dancing Sunwise. Explore how to walk ‘sunwise’ around the wellspring of your own creativity in this participatory workshop. Lea Taylor and Mairi Campbell bring an ancient tradition observed at Beltane into a modern context with storytelling, creative movement and traditional music. 7pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £8/£6 and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival 2015.
Charity Concert in aid of Bethany Christian Trust. The award-winning London International Gospel Choir (formerly the London Youth Gospel Choir) will perform a programme of secular and non-secular music in a gospel style, a repertoire ranging from gospel classics to jazz, pop, spirituals and the roots of it all: African Song. 7.30pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: donations welcome.
University of Edinburgh Concert Series: organist John Kitchen plays Roberday Fugue and Caprice in F, Michel Corrette Magnificat en a mila 3#, Durufle Méditation and Widor Three movements from Symphony No. 4. 1.10pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Free.
Stories on the Way: an evening of stories from apprentice storytellers on the theme of Stories without Borders, ahead of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. Scotland has a vibrant group of new storytellers, honing their skills, developing their craft and forging new storytelling paths; come show your support and join the apprentices for a spellbinding evening, with host Janis Mackay. 7.30pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £6/£4 and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here.
Vampirology: An Evening With Teeth. A quest for immortality in a thematic extravaganza of music, dance and palatal discoveries, inspired by the famous nocturnal Transylvanian entertainment. Fake teeth and flaunting capes welcomed. Featuring DJs brought to you by Balkanarama Kolektiv, plus samples of Romanian food and wine. Come dance the night away dressed in your best vampire outfit! For over 18s only. 8pm-1am, Dissection Room, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £5 and may be purchased by calling the Box Office on 0131 560 1580 or online here. Part of Romanian Cultural Days in Edinburgh, a week-long foray into some of the most spectacular facets of contemporary Romanian culture through a programme of classical & electronic music, film, theatre, literature, traditional culture, food & wine. The project is organised by the Romanian Cultural Institute in London.
Jazz Live At Canalside: Lorna Reid Quintet. Since launching her debut album to a packed house at Pizza Express Jazz Club London in 2008, Lorna Reid has become one of Scotland’s most sought after jazz artists. Twice nominated ‘Best Jazz Vocalist’ Scottish Jazz Awards (2011 and 2013) she has been a radio presenter on BBC Radio Scotland and featured as an opening act for the Edinburgh International Jazz and Blues Festival. 7.30pm (music starts 8.15pm), Canalside Cafe-Bar, Boroughmuir Rugby & Community Sports Club, Meggetland Wynd. Tickets cost £10 and may be purchased from the Canalside Cafe-Bar in person, by calling 07557 680 995 or online here.
SATURDAY 17TH OCTOBER 2015
The Wonderful World of Lapin: a show by Tania Czajka and Alasdair Satchel. Tania has arrived from Paris for a very special occasion: the World’s Tastiest Carrot Competition! In her trunk, she carries her very own garden, from which a whole world of Tania’s animal friends is revealed…. Developed by part of the team who created Cloudman and with the support of Creative Scotland; a fun bilingual show accessible to all non-French speakers with a tasty ending guaranteed! For families with children aged 3-5. 10.30am or 2pm (45 minute shows), Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £6/£4 (family ticket £16) and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here.
Room On The Broom Activities and Storytime: 11am-3pm, Waterstones Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive. For more information please call 0131 554 7732.
Storytime with BB and Hardy: 11am, The Book Bothy, Far From The Madding Crowd, 20 High Street, Linlithgow. Free.
Meet Mark Millar: the Kick Ass and Kingsman: The Secret Service writer will be signing copies of Chrononauts, a collaboration with artist Sean Gordon. 12.30pm, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street. For more information please call 0131 226 2666.
Zoo Arts Extra Beach Day: food, fire, sea, sky, sand and art. Lunch beside a fire, hot chocolate, marshmallows, crafts – such as photography, stop motion animation, drawing, sculptures and designs in the sand, play activities and lots of fun! ZAE will provide snacks & hot drinks, fire, extra waterproofs, gloves etc, plus creative materials & activities. For a full packed lunch a deposit of £2 is required. For all ages; children under 9 must be accompanied by a responsible adult and permission slips must be completed for unaccompanied children. Meet at 12 noon at North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court to walk to the beach, return approximately 4pm. Free but donations very welcome! Booking is required: please drop in to NEA, call 0131 315 2151 or email zooarts.nea@gmail.com.
St Bride’s Family Cinema: see your favourite films for free! Juice and choc ices available in the interval for 50p. Today’s film is The Black Cauldron (U). Please note: all children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Subtitles are available on request. 10.30am-12.30pm, St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace, Dalry. Next week’s film will be Paddington (PG). All welcome.
In The Sky I Am Walking Tour 2015. Soprano Rebecca Hardwick and tenor George Chambers visit Edinburgh as part of their In The Sky I Am Walking tour, to perform extraordinary 20th and 21st-century works for two solo voices by Stockhausen, Cardew and a world premiere by Daniel-Lewis Fardon. They are joined by Simon Smith who performs Stockhausen’s Piano Piece XII in the first half. 7.30pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Tickets cost £10 (students £5) and are available online here or at the door (sta). There will be a pre-concert talk with the performers 6–6.45pm.
National Theatre of Bucharest: 20 Years in Siberia – A Woman for All Seasons. Based on Anita Nandriș’s memoirs of her forced deportation to Siberia during World War II, this emotionally charged monologue follows one of the most admired women in Romanian contemporary history, from her courageous involvement in the anti-communist resistance movement to her exile in the infamous Soviet Gulag and subsequent repatriation, after years of struggle and hope. Performed by Amalia Ciolan, directed by Sorin Misiriantu. In Romanian with English surtitles. 7pm, Pleasance One, 60 Pleasance. Tickets cost £10/£5 and may be purchased online here. Part of Romanian Cultural Days in Edinburgh and The Trial of Communism Through Theatre programme.
SMHAFF: Living With… The LGBT community take centre stage in this evening of spoken word, poetry and music, to explore and celebrate the resilience of people managing long term conditions that affect their mental wellbeing. For ages 13+. 5.30pm, Storytelling Court, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £4/£2 and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. Part of Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival 2015. For further information please call 0131 652 3283 or email alison@lgbthealth.org.
Edinburgh Society of Musicians: ‘Memories of Childhood’. Lesley-Ann Hastie (soprano) and Colin Dundas (piano) perform compositions by Musgrave, Bernstein, Quilter and Babbitt. 7.30pm, Edinburgh Society of Musicians, 3 Belford Road. Free. The Edinburgh Society of Musicians has been promoting practical music-making in Edinburgh since 1887; chamber music recitals are given every Saturday evening from early October until the end of June. The Society attracts a variety of performers, from students in search of experience to accomplished amateurs and professionals, well known Scottish or international musicians; if you would like to perform, please contact John Bryden at jobryd2@aol.com and include your telephone number.
Gilchrist – Live: new tunes and some oldies from the Edinburgh-based seven-piece funk/rock band. Dancing shoes encouraged. For over 18s only. 7-10pm, The Bongo Club, 66 Cowgate. Tickets cost £6 in advance from the club – click here (transaction fee applies) – or £7 on the door (sta).
The Domestics: 9pm, Dalriada, 77 The Promenade, Portobello. (Image (c) Caroline Pearson.)
SUNDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2015
Filmhouse Junior: screenings for a younger audience. Today’s film is Happy Feet (U): Emperor penguins have lived for centuries with one simple goal: to find their soulmates through their own unique song. But young Mumble despairs that he might be the worst singer in the world. Fortunately, he just happens to be a brilliant tap dancer. George Miller drapes his story about a young penguin’s struggles with being ‘different’ in striking visuals, invigorating songs and lively characterisations, laced with a serious subtext about the damage being done to the icy wastes of Antarctica by mankind. 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 per person, big or small, and may be purchased from the Filmhouse box office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online here.
Worst Witch Activities: 12 noon-3pm, Waterstones Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive. For more information please call 0131 554 7732.
Gaelic Service: 12.30-1.30pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. All welcome.
St Giles’ at Six: The Stamford Singers – An Evening Interlude. Music for choir and organ by Byrd, Vivaldi, Bruckner, Elgar, Rutter, MacMillan and Buxtehude. Musical director: Paul White. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free; retiring collection.
The Too Much Fun Club Annual Exhibition: The TMFC is a visual art & illustration collective based in Edinburgh, with connections worldwide. TMFC works as a creative network & design agency. Members come from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines with a huge diversity of skills & styles, including murals, illustration, live art, installations & exhibitions, design, festival decor, fine art, photography, animation, projection mapping, digital art, branding & concept art, live visuals, doodles and signwriting. Launch event tonight from 7pm, The Outhouse, 12a Broughton Street Lane.
Sofi’s Still Life Drawing Session: hosted by Laura, who will be on hand to direct and help with any advice. Please BYO preferred drawing utensils and drawing pad. 7.30-9.30pm, Back Room, Sofi’s, 65 Henderson Street.
