If the school holidays have you struggling to entertain your offspring, read on… We’ve found over 30 events for children – none costs over £10 and many are free. And if you’re not quite a child any more, there’s still plenty for you to do in the city this week – how about cosmology? Ceilidh-ing? Beach cleaning? Sunday is Dug Day too – even your canine companion can keep busy this weekend! So come sun, come rain, have a lovely week – but please remember to check details of all events before setting out.
MONDAY 28TH MARCH 2016
Step Into Spring: An Easter Adventure. Spring has sprung so come and enjoy the fun with an active and creative workshop from Step It Up Dance. Along the way you may bump into the Easter Bunny, newly hatched chicks, or a lamb or two. For children aged 18 months to 6 years and grown ups to enjoy the Easter adventure together. 11.45am (10.30am session already sold out), Storytelling Court, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £6 per child and may be booked in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here; please remember also to select a free adult ticket for yourself.
WHALE Arts Free Easter Holiday Programme. Today Easter Arts; get creative with eggs, paint and glitter! For all ages. 10am-12 noon (drop-in), WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove. No booking required.
Picturehouses Toddler Time: exclusive short screenings for pre-school children and their parents and carers. Today: Messy Goes to Okido (U) – lovable monster Messy magically transports us to the land of Okido, where he finds the answers to such questions as 
‘Why do things fall down and not up?’ ‘Where do echoes comes from?’ and ‘Why does my stomach rumble?’ The aim of the series is to bring science to life using stories, comedy and adventure; Messy’s questions range from nature and biology to technology, atoms, outer space and everything in between. 11am, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets cost £3 per child, accompanying adult free.
Grassmarket Community Cinema – Family Films: Song of the Sea (PG). Saoirse is a child who is the last of the selkies, women in Irish and Scottish legends who transform from seals into people. She escapes from her grandmother’s home to journey to the sea and free fairy creatures trapped in the modern world. 11am, Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. All welcome, free admission: donations very welcome. The café will also be open – please support it!
Easter Fun Day: come along to the beautiful gardens at Lauriston Castle for a fun Easter event. Hunt for treats the Easter Bunny has hidden around the grounds, enjoy an egg and spoon race, Easter stories and lots more including a special craft activity. Try some Easter sweet treats too! 10am-1pm, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. Tickets cost £5 per person 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 these events are intended for families to enjoy together; children must be accompanied by at least one paying adult at all times.
For Crying Out Loud: screenings for parents and carers and their babies under the age of 12 months. (Maximum of two adults per baby). Babychanging, bottle-warming and buggy parking facilities are available. Today’s film is Cría Cuervos (12A) (In Spanish with English subtitles). How can a child fully grasp the notion of the loss of her parents? Carlos Saura’s 1976 film brings us into the world of eight-year-old Ana, still reeling from the loss of her mother, only to find the body of her dead father soon after. Believing happily that she has poisoned the man whom she blames for her mother’s miserable existence and death, Ana goes about her days officially in the care of her aunt Paulina and the housemaid Rosa, with the added supervision of the spirit of her deceased mother, who frequently visits her to offer comfort and support. 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4.50/£3.50 per adult.
March at The Merlin: monthly open mic events in Edinburgh hosted by Rose Fraser Ritchie and Mary Mcleod on behalf of the Federation of Writers (Scotland). Poets, performers, readers, storytellers, musicians, singers and dancers are invited to sign up for 5 minute slots. with preference for early slots given to people travelling from outside Edinburgh. Tonight Jennifer Robertson, author of Wojtek – War Hero Bear, will talk about this incredible true story. Please note that under 18s must leave by 9pm. 7.30-10.30pm, The Merlin, 168 Morningside Road. For further information or to book a slot please email rosefraserritchie@yahoo.co.uk.
Grassmarket Community Cinema: Mississippi Burning (18). Made 27 years ago, a quarter of a century after the sensational murders of three civil rights workers in a small Deep South township by Ku Klux Klan members that it recreates, Mississippi Burning is arguably the finest of Alan Parker’s films, a vivid, passionate political thriller combining melodrama and semi-documentary realism to powerful effect. A visceral experience, immersing the audience in the vicious anger of the local racists and the heat from the flaming crosses of the Klan, by sticking to a single rural area of the south the film deliberately avoids the larger context, first of the civil rights movement in the north, then of the role of the Justice Department under attorney general Robert Kennedy in forcing the hand of the FBI’s director, J Edgar Hoover. 7pm, Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. All welcome, free admission: donations very welcome! The Grassmarket Community Project is a charity providing mentoring, training and education to participants, many of whom are amongst the most vulnerable of Edinburgh’s citizens, in a nurturing environment. It operates a community cafe, woodwork and tartan social enterprises, and a range of social integration and educational activities for members, aimed at enhancing life skills and developing confidence. To read about The Edinburgh Reporter’s afternoon at the Project, click here.
TUESDAY 29TH MARCH 2016
Easter Coffee Morning and Egg Hunt: come along and enjoy some home baking! A fundraiser for the centre’s Christmas pantomime. 10.30am-1pm, Fort Community Centre, North Fort Street. All welcome.
Spanish Bookbug: ‘Hola chicos, como estais?! preparados para disfrutar de las canciones en espanol? Yo si!!! os espero con mucha ilusion el proximo martes dia 29 de marzo en la Biblioteca Publica de Portobello. Todos sois bienvenidos’. (‘Hi guys, how are you? Are you ready to enjoy the next Spanish Bookbug Session? I am!!! I look forward to seeing you at the Portobello Public Library’). Everyone is welcome, why not take the opportunity to introduce another language to your baby? If you want your child to be bilingual (or even multilingual), you could begin by joining Spanish Bookbug. 10.30am, Portobello Library, Rosefield Avenue.
Song of the Sea: from the creators of the Academy Award-nominated The Secret of Kells comes a breathtakingly gorgeous, hand-drawn masterpiece. Based on the Irish legend of the Selkies, Song of the Sea tells the story of the last sealchild, Saoirse, and her brother Ben, who go on an epic journey to save their world of magic and discover the secrets of their past. Pursued by the owl-witch Macha and a host of ancient and mythical creatures, Saoirse and Ben race against time to awaken Saoirse’s powers and keep the spirit world from disappearing forever. Song of the Sea received an Oscar nomination in 2015 for best animated feature film and has won over fifteen awards at leading film festivals around the world. 10.30am-12 noon, WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove. Tickets cost £5/WH residents £2/children £2.50; to book please call WHALE Arts on 0131 458 3267 – cash payments only please. Part of Puppet Animation Festival 2016.
North Edinburgh Arts Easter Activities! NEA has lots of activities to keep you busy in the Easter holidays. Today: Eco Easter Egg Box Building and Hunt, Children’s Film Club, and Play Rangers at Linear Park. For more information and to book any activity, please drop into NEA, call 0131 315 2151 or email admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk.
Jack and the Lost Harps: Story-walk and Come & Try Harp Sessions. Join Heather Yule, spellbinding storyteller and harper, on a story-walk around the Scottish Storytelling Centre. Through story, riddles and rhymes, follow Jack as he seeks his fortune and unlocks the mystery of the kingdom that has no music – solve the puzzles to find the lost magical harps and help Jack bring music back to the land. The story-walk ends with a come-and-try session where you will have the chance to try the harps and learn a simple tune; an event full of fun and entertainment! 
10am (for children aged 3-7) or 2pm (for children aged 8-12), Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £9 per child and may be booked in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here; please remember also to select a free adult ticket for yourself. Also at same times on Wednesday 30th March. Part of Edinburgh International Harp Festival, which begins on 1st April: receive 20% discount on child beginner courses at the Festival when you purchase a ticket for this event.
Cameo Silver Screen: if you are 60+ join the Silver Screen club and qualify for discounted tickets costing just £5.50 – plus free tea, coffee & biscuits – at these special weekly screenings. Today’s films are Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (12A) at 11.15am and 2.25pm, Disorder (15) at 3.45pm, High Rise (15) at 12.50pm and 3.30pm and Hail Caesar (12A) at 1.20pm. Cameo, Home Street. Non-members are welcome but pay standard ticket prices.
Printmaking with Wilhelmina Barns-Graham: artist, inventor and author Dr Carol Robertson from Graal Press will describe the innovative working methods and specialist art materials used in producing the suite of Wilhelmina Barns-Graham’s prints on display as part of the Modern Scottish Women exhibition. Robertson will explain how she used both her deep knowledge of printmaking and neuro-linguistic programming techniques to realise her ideas. The lecture will also reflect on the deep friendships that developed between herself, Barns-Graham, Rowan James and Robert Adam in this period of the artist’s life that has been described as an ‘Indian Summer.’ 12.45-1.30pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre. Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed. Image: Summer (Yellow), Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, 1999 − © The Barns-Graham Charitable Trust.
Picturehouse Discover Tuesdays: The Here After (15). A critical favourite from Cannes 2015, Magnus von Horn’s strange, unsettling Swedish thriller centres on John (Ulrik Munther), a teenager returning to society after serving prison time for the murder of a love rival. Facing hostility from unforgiving classmates at school, fear from the wider community and a family who are not quite sure how to welcome back the prodigal son, John struggles to maintain his sanity in a world that seems unready for his reintegration. 6pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets are available from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online.
The Ceilidh Club @ Assembly Roxy: during the Science Festival the beloved Summerhall institution The Ceilidh Club moves to Assembly Roxy for two weeks only! The Edinburgh Ceilidh Club bring you some of Edinburgh’s best regular ceilidhs every Tuesday evening, with the cream of Scottish ceilidh bands; a caller will teach the dances, so the event is great for everyone from complete beginners to experienced ceilidhers. Come and experience Scottish dance the way it’s meant to be! For ages 14+. 8pm, Assembly Roxy, 2 Roxburgh Place. Tickets cost £7.95 and are available from the Summerhall Box Office on 0131 560 1580 or online here. Please note that very early booking is advised.
Ragged University: Terence Sawyers presents About Film; Vertigo (1958). This is the first About Film – a free monthly film night followed by a group discussion. We will start at the very beginning by asking what Film Theory is, looking at different definitions of Film Theory and what use, if any, they have for audiences. Key to this will be a comparison between Theory and Criticism, are these terms synonymous or do they describe fundamentally different approaches for us to follow? Everyone is invited to participate and no prior knowledge is required. Hitchcock’s Vertigo was not well received when released but is now considered an important work of cinema. James Stewart plays Scottie, a vertigo suffering ex-policeman, and Kim Novak plays the woman (women?) he falls in love with. Many Hitchcock tropes are here; procedural investigation, steely blondes and thrilling climaxes. 
Frequent Hitchcock collaborator Bernard Hermann provides the score and successfully underlines the eerie ghost story element of the film. San Francisco provides the location of this visual treat. We will be watching the 1996 restoration by Harris and Katz, from a DVD projected onto a screen. Popcorn provided, snacks and sandwiches available to purchase from the bar, or you may bring your own (no hot food please). 6.30pm, Brass Monkey, 14 Drummond Street. Free and open to all, but please indicate your intention to attend on the event’s page here.
Screening Europe: a new season curated by Film Studies at the University of Edinburgh, introducing a varied selection of past and contemporary European films to celebrate and interrogate the history and aesthetics of cinema in Europe. Both members of the public and students are invited to an exciting series of introduced screenings that will chart the development of film across Europe. Tonight’s closing film is Northern Soul (15), an exuberant and unashamedly nostalgic look at the Northern youth club scene of the 1970s galvanised by American soul music and amphetamines. Featuring Steve Coogan and Ricky Tomlinson in supporting roles, the film was extremely and unexpectedly successful during its short release in 2014. Northern Soul is an example of contemporary independent European filmmaking and marketing which raises questions about the future of both Europe and film. The screening will be introduced by Dr David Sorfa, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies (University of Edinburgh). 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online.
International Music Exchange: Downtown Dance Conservatory. a free performance of classic and contemporary dance by students from Gadsden, Alabama. 1-2pm, Greyfriar’s Kirk, Greyfriar’s Place. Free: all welcome.
Leith Folk Club: Brian ÓhEadhra & Fiona Mackenzie. Highland based Brian ÓhEadhra and Fiona Mackenzie perform songs from the Scottish and Irish traditions (in Gaelic and English) as well as their own material inspired from numerous genres of music. Both are acclaimed singers/songwriters who have been performing professionally at home and abroad for the past 25 years – you can be sure that this will be a night of beautiful music and song. With support: The Coaltown Daisies. 7.30pm, Victoria Park House Hotel, 221 Ferry Road. Tickets cost £8 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.
WEDNESDAY 30TH MARCH 2016
Puppetcraft: Monkey! Inspired by the ancient Chinese folk story, enjoy the adventures of a fantastical, comical superhero. Watch Monkey as he learns magic, makes mayhem, flies on a cloud, plays tricks, defeats a dragon, dodges death, and eats lots and lots of peaches – all in search of a Great Secret! For ages 4+. 2-3pm, The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh. Tickets cost £7.50 or £28 for a family of four; to book please contact The Brunton Box Office on 0131 665 2240 or visit Hub Tickets here (transaction fees apply); please note family tickets are only available direct from The Brunton. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival 2016.
Grassmarket Community Cinema – Family Films: Bridge to Terabithia (PG). Jesse Aarons trained all summer to become the fastest runner in school, so he’s very upset when newcomer Leslie Burke outruns him and everyone else. Despite this and other differences, the two become fast friends; together they create Terabithia, 
a land of monsters, trolls, ogres and giants and rule as king and queen. When tragedy strikes the friendship helps Jesse cope, as he realises what Leslie has taught him. 11am, Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. All welcome, free admission: donations very welcome. The café will also be open – please support it!
The Fisherman and the Seal: Based on the myths and legends of the Scottish Selkie, Yugen Puppet Company tells the comic tale of a lonely fisherman falling in love with a seal, and how, in matters of love, things don’t always go according to plan. Using hand crafted puppets and striking shadow silhouettes, with music from the past, Yugen Puppet Company puts its own twist on this Scottish fairy tale. For ages 5+. 10am, WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove. Tickets cost £5/WH residents £2/children £2.50; to book please call WHALE Arts on 0131 458 3267 – cash payments only please. Part of Puppet Animation Festival 2016.
North Edinburgh Arts Easter Activities! NEA has lots of activities to keep you busy in the Easter holidays – today Mini Zoomers* (see separate listing), Children’s Film Club, and Play Rangers at West Pilton Park and Linear Park. For more information and to book any activity, please drop into NEA, call 0131 315 2151 or email admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk.
The Zoom Club: Mini Zoomers! Come hail, rain or sun, Mini Zoomers invites you and your little one on a sensory adventure through the seasons. Together we will create a relaxed, fascinating and engaging pop-up, open-ended play environment for you to explore together and discover hidden magic in everyday things. For children aged 0-5 and their parents and carers. 11am, North Edinburgh Arts, Pennywell Court. Tickets cost £2/£1/£0.50 (family £4); to book please contact NEA on 0131 315 2151. Part of Puppet Animation Festival 2016.
The Travelling Gallery: Kennardphillipps and Scott Lang – Here Comes Everybody. This highly collaborative project uses a combination of media and materials such as photomontage, digital print, collage and stencils to address important social concerns, from local to global. The exhibition opened at Stills Gallery during the Edinburgh Art Festival in August 2015, and the concept of the exhibition hinges on participation by local audiences. With a direct and immediate approach, Here Comes Everybody includes contrasting billboard imagery of London’s slick financial landscape in Canary Wharf against the rough medium of spray paint and stencils reflecting street art and gang tag practice. The exhibition is presented in association Stills. 10am-4pm, Craigmillar Community Arts, 58 Newcraighall Drive. Free: all welcome.
Morningside Justice & Peace Group: The UN-Designated 48 Least Developed Countries: who are they, where are they and how are they defined as such? A talk by former health and development worker and group member Dr Patricia Robson. The Morningside Justice & Peace Group exists to promote informed opinion on matters of concern to the community at large. Meetings are held every Wednesday during the autumn and spring months; they are open to all and provide a view on a topic of national, international or local concern, followed by questions and discussion. 10.30-11.30am, The Open Door, 420 Morningside Road. A contribution of £1 per meeting is requested to cover costs. For more information please contact the Co-ordinator at b.darcy20@gmail.com.
Lunchtime Concert: The Hvitfeldtska Chamber Choir from Gothenburg. One of the leading young choirs in Sweden, singing everything from classical to jazz, pop/soul and folk music. 12.15pm, St Giles Cathedral, High Street.
A Charmed Life: a lucky charm drop-in session for families. Come and make a wish – 
or fight off your fears – at this family charm-making workshop. Wrap your thoughts in gorgeous materials, and bind them with silks and ribbon. Pop your charm on a pin or wear it around your neck to ward off the worst, or bring out the best, that life might throw at you. Bring your big person… they may be more scared than they pretend! 10.30am-12 noon, National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free, no booking required.
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Beak Mask Making! Come and make a paper plague mask. The beak doctors of the 14th century thought that an airborne miasma, an evil smell, caused the Black Death – the beaks on the doctors’ masks were filled with spices and dried flowers to ward off the bad air. How were herbal remedies and crystal charms used to keep the plague away? 2.30pm (for ages 8-12) or 4.30pm (for ages 13-16), National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge. Free but registration is required and may be made by calling 0131 623 3734 or via eventbrite here.
Screening Irish History: 1916 and its Legacy. The 1916 Rising was one of the most significant and transformative events in modern Irish history and this year marks the centenary of the week-long rebellion in Dublin. Screening Irish History, now in its third year, explores the conflicts and consequences of 1916 in imaginative and provocative ways. Today’s film is Shake Hands with the Devil (12A), an Irish-American co-production shot in Dublin and Wicklow. Irish-American Kerry O’Shea (Don Murray) is a student at the College of Surgeons in Dublin. Despite his apolitical and non-violent worldview (having served in World War I), he finds himself living in a city in the grip of guerilla warfare. Upon discovering that one of his professors, Sean Lenihan (James Cagney), is a high-ranking Republican leader, 
Kerry suddenly and unwittingly becomes involved in the conflict between the IRA and the British ‘Black and Tans’. 5.45pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online. Each of the four films in this series will be followed by a Q&A with filmmakers, critics and experts. The series is jointly organized with the University of Edinburgh’s School of History, Classics and Archaeology and the Irish Consulate, Scotland. The next film will be ’71 (15), screening on 13th April.
Artist’s Talk: Rory Middleton. Rory is working at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop on a residency supported by the EVAAC Awards. During this time he will be experimenting with material, form and spatial sound while exploring echo and motion through the flight of a butterfly. Rory will give a talk exploring his previous work and new findings. The talk will be held within the exploratory landscape of the Creative Labs amongst the fragments of architectural form sculpture, projection and live butterflies. 6.30pm, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, Hawthornvale.
Brunton Big Screen: Spectre (12A). Still reeling from the devastating events of Skyfall, James Bond (Daniel Craig) investigates a cryptic message and begins to uncover layer upon layer of deception and global conspiracy, leading to the sinister SPECTRE organisation. As M battles political pressures on MI6, the shadow of Bond’s past looms large as he confronts a formidable and familiar enemy… Directed by Sam Mendes. 7.30pm, The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh. Tickets cost £7.50/£6.50; to book please contact The Brunton Box Office on 0131 665 2240 or visit Hub Tickets here (transaction fees apply).
THURSDAY 31ST MARCH 2016
WHALE Arts Free Easter Holiday Programme. Today there are two activities: Mini Gardens – make a tiny fairy garden or a dinosaur land, and a Family Gardening Session – help plant WHALE’s garden with Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust. For all ages. Both sessions run 10am-12 noon (drop-in), WHALE Arts, 30 Westburn Grove. No booking required.
Modern Scottish Families! Easter Special. Explore Modern Scottish Women this Easter with creative activities for all the family – try your hand at using household items to create stunning photograms
, work together to make a rug or become the model for a family masterpiece. You can also contribute to a collective poem, inspired by the exhibition. 2-4pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art TWO, Belford Road. Free exhibition entry for participating families; no booking required, Also at same times on Friday 1st April.
Reading Together: join the Botanics’ weekly shared reading session. Poems, short stories and novels read aloud, with a chance to share your thoughts. For ages 14+. 10.30am-12 noon today and every Thursday, meet at John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. No booking required, just come along. Led by Open Book.
North Edinburgh Arts Easter Activities! NEA has lots of activities to keep you busy in the Easter holidays – today Pot Upcycling & Planting, Children’s Film Club, and Play Rangers at Linear Park. For more information and to book any activity, please drop into NEA, call 0131 315 2151 or email admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk.
Picturehouses Big Scream: exclusively for babies under the age of twelve months and their parents and carers. Today’s film is Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (12A). Building on 2013’s Man Of Steel, director Zack Snyder has Batman (Ben Affleck) watching Superman’s (Henry Cavill) sudden arrival in Metropolis with alarm. Fearing the actions of a godlike superhero with unchecked powers, Batman determines to take on the boy from Krypton. But as the two most powerful crime fighters on the planet go at it hammer and tongs, a new threat arises – and the powers of both might be needed to finally defeat it. Could Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) have anything to do with it? And where does Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) fit in? 10.30am, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets are at usual matinée prices: babies admitted free.
Children’s Easter Events at the Water of Leith Visitor Centre: MUD! Wear your wellies – it’s gonna be squelchy, as we explore mud – and yes that means pies and faces. 2-3.30pm, 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. The next Easter Event will be on Tuesday 5th April, when you can learn new skills from the Centre’s ‘wild’ leaders. There will also be a family River Clean-Up on Sunday 3rd April (see separate listing).
The Travelling Gallery: Kennardphillipps and Scott Lang – Here Comes Everybody. This highly collaborative project uses a combination of media and materials such as photomontage, digital print, collage and stencils to address important social concerns, from local to global. The exhibition opened at Stills Gallery during the Edinburgh Art Festival in August 2015, and the concept of the exhibition hinges on participation by local audiences. With a direct and immediate approach, Here Comes Everybody includes contrasting billboard imagery of London’s slick financial landscape in Canary Wharf against the rough medium of spray paint and stencils reflecting street art and gang tag practice. The exhibition is presented in association Stills. 11am-5pm, outside Collective Gallery, City Observatory & City Dome, Calton Hill. Free: all welcome.
Mayfield Salisbury Thursday Club: a weekly programme of music, visual presentations, films, talks and demonstrations. Although mainly for retired people, visitors of any age are always welcome. This week Debbie Hathorn will talk about Flower arranging ‘Ikebana’. 2-4pm, Upper Hall, Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church, 1a Mayfield Road. Annual membership costs £4 per year and 50p a week is charged for tea; new members are most welcome, but you don’t have to be a member to come along. For more information please contact Florence Smith on 0131 663 1234.
Poetry Speaking Workshop: poet, trained actor and former finalist in the BP Speak A Poem competition, Andrew Sclater facilitates this series of workshops for anyone interested in the spoken interpretation of poetry. Participants will receive a ‘set’ anthologised poem (or poems) in advance. At the workshop, the poem will be read aloud by all present; the group will then discuss each reading, sharing responses and feedback. The general aim is to explore how spoken performance can engage with the complexities of poetry and best convey them to an audience. Workshops will provide a supportive environment for anyone, beginner or experienced, to develop the craft of speaking poetry. Book for individual workshops or, better still, the series. 5.30-6.30pm, The Space, Scottish Poetry Library, Crichton’s Close. Tickets cost £3/£2 and may be booked via eventbrite here. When you book your ticket, please email Andrew Sclater on poreawo@gmail.com for further information and for the copies of the poems which you will need for the workshop. The next workshop will take place on 28th April.
History of Art Research Seminar Series 2015-2016 – Dr Terri Geis: Archipelagos: International Women Surrealists and the Ocean. Terri is Curator of Academic Programs at the Pomona College Museum of Art, California, USA. Her research focuses on post-revolutionary Mexico and intersections between Surrealism and the Americas; recent projects and publications include the exhibition, In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States at Los Angeles County Museum of Art and an essay in Surrealism in Latin America: Vivísimo Muerto. Terri received her doctorate from the University of Essex; her thesis examined the career of the Mexican painter María Izquierdo. 5.15pm, Lecture Theatre, Hunter Building, Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place. All welcome.
Live Music Now: Kilda. The latest band to emerge onto the Scottish Music scene is Kilda; Scott Wood and Mhairi Marwick – both BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year Finalists – will create a lively and energetic set with a pipe and fiddle duo linking Scottish folk tunes to portraits of Royalty. 6-6.30pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed.
The Last Laugh: why should you never date a comedian? This hit Fringe 2015 show mixes stand-up, theatre and storytelling in a tale about two people discovering whether being funny is as important as being happy. Written by Keir McAllister, winner of Best Comedy Writer – Scottish Comedy Awards 2015. 
Recommended for over 16s only (owing to use of strong language). 8pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £10/£8 and may be booked in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. The performance will be followed by a Q & A session.
The Hvitfeldtska Chamber Choir from Gothenburg. One of the leading young choirs in Sweden, singing everything from classical to jazz, pop/soul and folk music. They will perform both Swedish and British songs, from Evert Taube to Robert Burns, plus pop hits and drinking songs. 7pm, Akva, 129 Fountainbridge.
Edinburgh College Arts Festival: a programme of great live music followed by a DJ. Bands performing include Cameron Adam, Mayor Stubbs, Fin Le Marinel, Slow Gear and No Quarter. 
All proceeds from this event will go to Macmillan Cancer Support. Over 18s only. 6pm-1am (DJ 11pm-1am), The Voodoo Rooms, West Register Street. Tickets cost £5 and may be purchased from the bands, at Edinburgh College Sighthill Campus (Music Box), Bankhead Avenue or on the door (sta).
Spark Organ Trio: the classic organ/guitar/drums jazz trio format, but with a contemporary outlook, from Glasgow-based Joe Williamson (guitar, as with award-winning combo Square One), Paul Harrison (Hammond Organ, as with Breach and Sugarworks) and drummer Stephen Henderson (Square One, Fergus McCreadie Trio). They’ll be performing standards old and new, plus a few original compositions, and with this format the organist has a dual role, his left hand constantly providing the bass lines. 9pm (entry from 8pm), The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. Admission £5/£4 on the door: please note this venue is strictly cash only.
CRIME: Hong Kong Style – an explosive new season of crime films. From noir-tinged thrillers, to tales of hardnosed gangsters, to entertainingly comic capers, CRIME: Hong Kong Style offers stone cold classics, cult movies, forgotten gems and the latest releases from some of the world’s most revered and stylish directors. Today’s film is Police Story/Ging chat goo see (15) (in Cantonese with English subtitles): following his disappointment with the US produced The Protector (1985), Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan wrote and directed this crime story vehicle to showcase his wide variety of skills in front of and behind the camera. The result is a hugely influential blend of action, comedy and crime and remains perhaps one of the greatest films ever made. 8.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0131 228 2688 or online. The final film in this series will be Infernal Affairs/Mou gaan dou (15) showing at 8.45pm on 7th April.
FRIDAY 1ST APRIL 2016
Moonbeam On A Cat’s Ear. In the middle of the night Rosie, Toby Toby, the cat and the mouse sneak out to play in the shadow of the apple tree. When Toby Toby steals the moon from the sky they go on an adventure across the stars and the sea. But is it all just a dream? Based on the book by author and illustrator Marie-Louise Gay (Voyage au Clair de Lune), Jabuti Theatre‘s adaptation is a visual journey into an exciting world of dreams and imagination, with Gaelic and English words throughout. For children aged 3-5. 11am or 2pm, Netherbow Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £8/£6 or £24 for a family of 4 and may be booked in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here. Produced by Vision Mechanics. Part of the Puppet Animation Festival 2016.
North Edinburgh Arts Easter Activities! NEA has lots of activities to keep you busy in the Easter holidays – today Da Poetry Slam, Eco Kidz Workshop – Make Your Own Easter Hat, and Play Rangers at West Pilton Park. For more information and to book any activity, please drop into NEA, call 0131 315 2151 or email admin@northedinburgharts.co.uk.
Zoomasaurus: At the dawn of animation there was shadow… and then there was light… Join the Zoom Club (Lens on Legs) on its hunt for incredible stories and unbelievable creatures as we bring animation’s deep, dark past to life. Through storytelling and immersive, hands-on animation challenges explore the earliest forms of moving image, from shadow puppetry and the zoetrope right up to modern-day computerised techniques, in this time-travelling adventure. Roll up your sleeves, grab a torch and don’t forget to pack your imagination! For ages 7+. 2pm, The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh. Tickets cost £4; to book please contact The Brunton Box Office on 0131 665 2240 or visit Hub Tickets here (transaction fees apply). Part of Puppet Animation Festival 2016.
Garden Social for Dementia: a monthly workshop for people affected by dementia, with a chance to socialise and take part in sensory activities. 10.30am-12.30pm, (meet at) John Hope Gateway reception, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Free but please book by calling 0131 248 2981.
Collective Hush: Keep meaning to put some time aside for reading and writing poetry each week? Bring your lunch if you like and join this silent drop-in group, reading/writing/making time every Friday in The Space. Sharing the silence, everyone can work together to achieve their artistic and poetic goals. 12 noon-2pm, Scottish Poetry Library, Crichton’s Close. No booking required, just drop in. Free: donations welcome.
Lunchtime Concert: In Spiritu Chamber Choir, Swansea. 12.15pm, St Giles Cathedral, High Street. Free.
Daily Garden Walks: celebrate the seasons and join the Botanics’ expert Garden Guides on a tour of the Garden. Discover seasonal highlights, hidden treasures and tales of the intrepid adventurers behind the plants on display. For ages 14+. 11am-2pm today and every day until 31st October, (meet at) John Hope Gateway reception, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. £6 per person – no booking required, pay on arrival.
The Image Collective: The Space. The launch of a new space……photography by The Image Collective and collaborators, live band Indigo Velvet plus DJs & the amazing Blue Bar!…. 6-9pm, The Image Collective, First Floor, Ocean Terminal Level One, Ocean Drive.
Holly Antrum: Catalogue. An exhibition of artist and filmmaker Holly Antrum’s film work Catalogue made with artist Jennifer Pike. Catalogue is a 16mm film transferred to digital that evolved through time spent in the company of Jennifer Pike. The work constructs the unscripted narrative between the two artists into a multi-layered film incorporating the pace, sound and character of the camera itself. Holly worked with Jennifer, aged 93 at the time, in both the private space of her home and studio. 
Jennifer Pike is an artist who worked across various media; in addition to abstract imagery – in painting, photographic and digital formats, as well as performance – she was closely involved with concrete, visual and sound poetry, along with her late husband and oft-collaborator Bob Cobbing. Catalogue is shown for the first time in Scotland, beginning the series of exhibitions On an otherwise ordinary evening curated by Peter Amoore. 
In the subsequent exhibitions, art history is retold and relocated by poet and critic Raphael Rubinstein and objects speak after being given voice by artist and comedian Siân Robinson Davies. Preview tonight 6-8pm, then 11am-5pm Monday to Saturday, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, Hawthornvale. Ends 12th May 2016. Image: Holly Antrum, Catalogue, film still, 2012-14 (image courtesy of the artist).
Astronomical Society of Edinburgh: Weaving the Cosmic Web. Dr Peter Edwards is a member of the Centre for Extragalactic Astronomy and of the Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology at Durham University. He is also Director of Science Outreach and Science and Society officer in the Department of Physics at Durham. His talk looks at how cosmologists use modelling techniques to understand dark matter and the evolution of the large scale structure of the universe. 
8pm, Church Centre, Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. Non-members are welcome at meetings; if you would like to join the Society (currently £25/£12 per annum) please speak to the President or one of the other Officers at a meeting. Anyone interested in astronomy is eligible for membership, there are no entry requirements and ASE tries to have some of its meetings suitable for beginners to astronomy. For more information please contact secretary@astronomyedinburgh.org.
The Shiverin Sheiks: high-energy, dancefloor-filling Glasgow 4-piece with guitars, double bass and drums plus 3-part vocals, delivering pumping 50s/60s RnB, Rockabilly, Gospel and Doo Wop – with a touch of Gypsy Swing. Plus Funk DJ. 12 midnight (entry from 11.30pm, band 12.45am)-3am, The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street. Admission £5/£4 on the door: please note this venue is strictly cash only.
Artist Talk: Robert Powell. Robert Powell will talk about the inspiration for his new solo exhibition Species of Space, and his wider artistic practice. Species of Space will be a meditation on the city as an idea and as a physical artefact, its construction and its conservation; it is about the universal city and about Edinburgh in particular and it is about their citizens, the lives and stories of those who live within them. 6.30-7.30pm (followed by a preview of the exhibition), Edinburgh Printmakers, Union Street. Free but tickets are required and may be obtained via eventbrite here. Species of Space will open with a preview tonight 7-30-9pm, then 10am-6pm Tuesday-Saturday, Edinburgh Printmakers, Union Street. Ends 16th July 2016.
SATURDAY 2ND APRIL 2016
Tiger Tales: stories and fun for children aged 4-7 years. 11.15-11.45am today and the first Saturday of every month, Colinton Library, Thorburn Road. Free.
Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society Spring Flower Show: come and enjoy the beauty of plants and discover more about the science of planting, growing and exhibiting flowers. Try your hand at becoming a daffodil judge for the day at The Caley Spring Flower Show and get involved in free seed planting activities at the Children’s Spring Flower Show. 
12 noon-5pm, main show: Fletcher Building, Children’s Spring Flower Show: Real Life Science Studio, John Hope Gateway, Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, Inverleith Row. Admission: main show £3, children, students and RCHS members free. Children’ Spring Flower Show free. Part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival. Also open at same times on Sunday 3rd April. Image: Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society.
Grassmarket Community Cinema – Family Films: Inside Out (U). Riley is a happy, hockey-loving 11-year-old Midwestern girl, but her world turns upside-down when she and her parents move to San Francisco. Riley’s emotions – led by Joy – try to guide her through this difficult, life-changing event. However, the stress of the move brings Sadness to the forefront. When Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept into the far reaches of Riley’s mind, the only emotions left in Headquarters are Anger, Fear and Disgust. 11am, Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row. All welcome, free admission: donations very welcome. The café will also be open – please support it!
Surfers Against Sewage Big Spring Beach Clean. The Big Spring Beach Clean is the biggest single community beach clean effort in the UK, uniting 7,000 grassroots volunteers to tackle the marine litter crisis in over 200 locations across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – and you’re invited to take part! Marine litter is now one of the biggest threats to the health and sustainability of our marine ecosystem. All are welcome, just come dressed for the weather and beach clean kit will be provided. 2-4pm, Portobello Beach – meet outside the Swim Centre, 57 The Promenade. For more information please email Emilie at edevenport@hotmail.co.uk or visit Surfers Against Sewage here.
Art In Healthcare: Art Materials Jumble Sale. A wide range of paints, paper, brushes and other arts and crafts materials will be on sale, with artists’ demos running throughout the day. All proceeds will go towards supporting the great work of Art in Healthcare, who provide art and creativity to people in healthcare environments. If you would like to donate art materials to the jumble sale, you can do so at Art in Healthcare’s office at Out of the Blue or at one of the other donation points around Edinburgh. More information including a list of suitable donations can be found on Art in Healthcare’s website. 10am-4pm, Out of The Blue, 36 Dalmeny Street.
Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre: Make Paper Origami Cranes and learn more about Hiroshima. This project aims to make 140,000 paper cranes to communicate the devastating effect of one atomic bomb. The paper cranes are folded in memory of the children killed by the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs; Sadako, a Japanese girl who was just two years old and living in Hiroshima when the atom bomb was dropped, later developed leukemia and while in hospital heard the legend that anyone who folded 1000 paper cranes would have their wish granted. Sadako set out to fold 1000 cranes before she died. There is a statue of Sadako holding a golden crane in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park; at the foot of the statue is a plaque that reads: ‘This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.‘ The atomic bomb dropped in Hiroshima killed 140,000 citizens by the end of the year. Currently each nuclear warhead held by the UK is considered eight times more powerful than the one dropped in Hiroshima. 2-4pm, Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre, 5 Upper Bow. All welcome.
LGBT Swimming: exclusive swimming for the LGBT community is back! Enjoy the use of Warrender Swim Centre’s fantastic 25 metre pool, sauna and gym. Join friendly staff from both LGBT Health and the Swim Centre and meet other LGBT people in a safe and supportive environment. 5-7pm, Warrender Swim Centre, 55 Thirlestane Road. If you would like to attend, please register online here or contact Jules Stapleton Barnes on 0131 523 1104/email jules@lgbthealth.org.uk. Free but a donation of £3 per session is suggested.
Species of Space: The Amazing Visible City. In partnership with Edinburgh Science Festival, for one week only, exhibiting artist Robert Powell will take up residency in Gallery 2 of Edinburgh Printmakers during opening hours for a durational laser cutting demonstration. The second gallery space will be converted into a temporary artist’s studio where Powell will work to complete his most recent artwork Species of Space, which shares the title of his exhibition. Throughout this event, the artist will be on hand to demonstrate and discuss laser-cutting techniques, and answer any questions about the exhibition and his practice. Come along for a personal insight into this fantastic machinery and to find out more about the themes presented in the exhibition. 
10am-6pm today and 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th April, Edinburgh Printmakers, Union Street. Free.
The Torrance Gallery Spring Exhibition: over 60 gallery artists, plus jewellery by Sheana Stephen. 11am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10.30am-4pm Saturdays, The Torrance Gallery, 36 Dundas Street. Ends 7th May 2016. Image: Sheana Stephen jewellery – photography Antonia Reeve.
Scotland’s Stories at the Scottish Parliament: travel through the award-winning Parliament building and along a time line from the 9th to the 21st century! Your guide will tell legends, stories and facts specially selected from 1100 years of Scotland’s fascinating history. Inspired by the Parliament building, its location and objects on display, learn about the legend of the Saltire, the lives of kings and queens, the outcome of battles and more, all woven together on this one-hour tour. No prior knowledge of Scottish history is required to join. Recommended for visitors aged 10+. 12 noon, Scottish Parliament, Holyrood. Free but advance booking is essential; please call 0131 348 5200 or email visit@scottish.parliament.co.uk. Image: Andrew Cowan/Scottish Parliament.
British Art Show 8 Tours: free discussion-led tours of the British Art Show. Focus and content will change weekly. 2-2.30pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE (meet at the main entrance), Belford Road. No booking required.
Orchard Song: an interactive, musical storytelling journey for springtime with Amanda Edmiston and Louise Cairns. Learn new songs and rhythms and create simple instruments from recycled objects as Amanda and Louise lead you on a magical journey through a flourishing orchard. You will also plant seeds and take them home to nurture and grow! This event will be held in the garden, weather permitting. For children aged 3-10. 
2pm, Garden or Storytelling Court, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £6 per child and may be booked in person, by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579 or online here; please remember also to select a free adult ticket for yourself.
If Walls Could Talk: A Victorian Factory – The Final Chapter. After a working life of 120 years the end is in sight for a Victorian factory in Falkland, Fife as the demolition teams prepare to move in. Originally built to manufacture linen, it later produced linoleum before being taken over by Smith Anderson to produce paper bags for the food industry; production came to an end in 2013 as the company moved to new premises and the site was earmarked for redevelopment. Edinburgh photographer Jim Mackintosh was granted unrestricted access to the factory during the final months of production and has created a documentary capturing the story of the people and buildings. As working lives and industry change this is an important record of Scotland’s social and industrial heritage and a celebration of the workers, past and present. Preview tonight 7pm, then 10am-6pm daily, Gallery 2, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road. Ends 17th April 2016.
Modern Scottish Women Drop-in 4: inspired by an artwork from the exhibition, and led by artist Katharine Aarrestad, enjoy drawing in the gallery space. 2-4pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art TWO, Belford Road. No booking required; exhibition tickets purchased from 1st March will allow re-entry to this session if shown to staff.
Matthew Peacock: Studio Work. Featuring a personal selection of interesting prints, paper works and sculptures by a local artist with autism. Edinburgh Palette is delighted to be presenting this show with kind support from Artlink. Preview tonight 7pm, then 10am-6pm daily, Gallery 3, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road. Ends 17th April 2016.
Lauriston Castle Guided Tours: the summer timetable for tours of the castle, which was originally built in c 1593 and extended in the 1820s and the 1870s, starts today. The Castle was beautifully decorated by the last owner, Mr W R Reid, between 1902 and 1919. See his stunning collections of Blue John, a fluorspar mineral, found only in Derbyshire; sumptuous Eastern carpets and rugs; intricate line engravings and mezzotints; Crossley wool mosaics, mass-produced tapestry-like pictures; and southern Italian furniture. The collections were put together with great care to create a most elegant and comfortable home. The Castle is set within an historic garden (free to visit) laid out by William Henry Playfair in the 1840s. 
Overlooking the Firth of Forth and Cramond Island, the views from the garden are magnificent. The recent award winning Japanese Friendship Garden, gifted by the prefecture of Kyoto, is a tranquil place for contemplation. 2pm today and every Saturday, Sunday and Thursday until October, Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South. £5/£3 per person (family ticket £12.50); no advance booking is required.
Naked Aye Art: Creep Me Oot. Come and indulge in eerie visions & the glory of our reclaimed shadows. Creep Us Oot. Naked Aye returns this April for a special group showcase of artworks by around 20 artists that unsettle us in delicious ways. Preview tonight 7pm, (with After Party from 10pm at Woodland Creatures, Leith Walk) then 10am-6pm daily, Gallery 1, St Margaret’s House, 151 London Road. Ends 4pm, Saturday 16th April 2016.
Portrait Gallery Thematic Tours: Portraits of Children. Themed tours of the Portrait Gallery’s collection. This month, art historian Ola Wojtkiewicz examines the transformation in attitudes towards children over the centuries while considering the ‘child portrait’ as a distinct genre in British art. 2-2.45pm or 3-3.45pm, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free and unticketed. Image: Robert, Lord Bruce, later 2nd Earl of Elgin and 1st Earl of Ailesbury (1626 – 1685), Cornelius Johnson, (1633).
American Wrestling: W3L and SSW. Live American Wrestling Action presented by the stars of W3L and SSW. Body-slamming action in a night of flying clotheslines and elbow drops that will keep the entire family on the edge of their seats, featuring Heavyweight stars such as Nathan Reynolds and Mike Musso, 
plus action from the Ladies’ Championship and high-flying action from the popular masked sensation El Technico. 2pm, Howden Park Centre, Howden Park, Livingston. Tickets cost £13/£11 and may be obtained here (transaction fees apply). For further information please contact the Box Office in person or by calling 01506 777 666.
The Scottish Gallery: New Exhibitions. (1) Calum McClure Nocturnes and Botanics. Focusing on different qualities of light, realised through painting, monotypes and etching, Calum has been developing the idea of a ‘between image’; snapshots of the outside world taken from a moving train, stills from music videos, pictures ripped from books and magazines, photos taken whilst walking. These works are rich with movement, energy and interest; (2) Stephanie Dees Revisited: in this new body of work Stephanie Dees has looked again at the city of Edinburgh. Her works capture the quiet elegance and character of her adopted city, where she has focused on New and Old Town scenes. Also included in the show will be several sensitive landscapes of East Lothian; (3) Cleo Mussi Boody Ware: an installation of life size figurative elements re-formed from ceramic discard. Cleo Mussi has drawn influences from genetics, economics and sustainable organisations and the resulting exhibition is a story – in the traditional sense of Folk Art – reflecting the world that we live in whilst connecting to bygone days; a mysterious mosaic world; (4) Heather McDermott Shoreline: a showcase from jeweller Heather McDermott, who takes inspiration from the Isle of Skye where she lives and works. 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm Saturdays, The Scottish Gallery, 16 Dundas Street. All exhibitions end 30th April 2016.
Scots Music Group Ceilidh with The Thunderdog Ceilidh Band: John Todd (bass), Phil Craig (guitar) Fiona Farris (fiddle) Iain E MacLachlan (5 string banjo) and caller Colin MacLennan will lead you through the Gay Gordons to Strip the Willow… Licensed bar; please note – only alcohol purchased from the bar may be consumed on the premises but water is available free of charge. 7.30-11.30pm (dancing from 8pm), St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace, Dalry. Tickets cost £9/£7 in advance from SMG on 0131 555 7668 or online here; £10 on the door (no concessions), subject to availability – advance booking recommended.
The Great Chocoplot: come to the Children’s Department and meet author Chris Callaghan. Chris will be reading from and signing copies of his new book The Great Chocoplot. Imagine if all the world’s chocolate ran out – catastrophe! 2-3pm, Waterstones West End, 128 Princes Street.
The Midnight Hour: the Funk & Soul night returns with a brand new selection of live performances and DJ sets. Tonight Calum Russell (Stacks) will be DJing Funk, Deep Soul & Rhythm & Blues, plus a live set by The Candidates, focusing on Northern Soul, Tamla Motown and Crossover perfection of the late 70’s. Over 18s only. 8pm, The Voodoo Rooms, West Register Street. Admission £6.
SUNDAY 3RD APRIL 2016
Sofi’s Dug Day: yes it’s here again – a great way to socialise your dug while in the comforts of a warm bar. Meet up with other dugs and their owners, and introduce your dug to pub life! 1pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street.
Filmhouse Junior: films for a younger audience. This week’s film is Capture The Flag (PG): Mike Goldwing – a plucky, determined 12-year old – is the son and grandson of NASA astronauts. His grandfather Frank, once revered, lives his days isolated from his family after missing out on his big chance to fly to the moon on the Apollo XI mission. When an eccentric billionaire plans to steal the moon’s vast mineral resources and destroy the US flag planted on it, Mike – accompanied by his grandfather, best friends and a clever chameleon – embarks on a magnificent adventure as a stowaway on the space shuttle. 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 per person, big or small.
Picturehouses Vintage Sundays: classic films back on the big screen. Today’s film is Vertigo (12A): Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece is a typically idiosyncratic take on film noir (it takes place almost entirely in bright, Technicolor daylight). The film skilfully manipulates us into seeing the world through the eyes of reliable ex-cop Scottie (James Stewart) as he pursues the apparently possessed Madeleine (Kim Novak)
, then steadily unravels everything we thought we knew. Part thriller, part ghost story, part Freudian nightmare – Vertigo is a multi-layered portrait of obsession and a haunting visual treat. 1pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office in person, by calling 0871 902 5723 or online.
Leithers Don’t Litter: Clean Up At The Shore. Short, one-hour litterpicks on the first Sunday of each month from April to September. Please bring your litterpicker with you. The organisers will bring bin bags. Meet at The Shore at Sandport Place Bridge, Leith. For more information email leithersdontlitter@gmail.com or see the group’s Facebook page here
Water of Leith Conservation Trust River Clean Up. Join the volunteer team for this river clean up morning as the Trust launches the Water of Leith’s Spring Clean. Wear old clothes. Meet at 10.30am, Water of Leith Visitor Centre, 24 Lanark Road. Free; all welcome.
Art Maker – April: join the Art Maker Club and make your own masterpieces with artists Tessa Asquith-Lamb and Louise Fraser. For ages 4-12. 2-4pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed. Supported by the Friends of NGS.
Kirsten Adamson, Noah Noa, 100 Fables + Richy Neill & The Replacements. Classically trained in voice from a young age, Kirsten Adamson has grown to become a wonderfully diverse singer songwriter and her forthcoming album encompasses her eccentricities with class and originality. Electro-pop quartet Noah Noah was formed in 2015 by former Victorian Trout Conspiracy frontman Fraser Fulton, Matt Dunn, Rowan Wood and Neil Reynolds. Led by the inimitable Lyndsey Liora, 100 Fables were born from a shared love of the new wave movement and their passion for the mid 70s CBGBs scene and the post punk 80’s electro sound. For over 18s only. 7.30pm, The Voodoo Rooms, West Register Street. Tickets cost £6 in advance here (booking fee applies) or £8 on the door (sta).
St Giles At Six: Organ Recital. Iris Rieg (Cologne) plays JS Bach Fantasia and Fugue in G minor, Vierne Impromptu, Franck Choral No 3 in A minor and Latry Salve Regina. 6pm, St Giles Cathedral, High Street. Free; retiring collection.
Nitekirk: one evening each month, Nitekirk provides a creative, drop-in experience of church. 
This ministry, rooted in Greyfriars Kirk and supported by its local ecumenical partners, seeks to create a welcoming sacred space for all. The church will be lit with candles, the atmosphere contemplative. There will be a time of reflection, gentle music and, throughout the sanctuary, places of activity – pictures to consider, Scripture, prayers and poems to read, something to feel with your hands, art supplies to focus your creativity. People come and go as they like, joining in songs and quiet conversations or sitting in silence and enjoying the space. ‘A place of welcome, a space for stillness, a pause on your journey, an open door’. 5-8pm (drop-in), Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. For more information please contact nitekirkedinburgh@yahoo.co.uk
