Olympic athlete and animal lover Andrew Butchart got the second annual Scottish SPCA Pound for Paws event off to a flying start by taking to the track against one of his four-legged competitors.

The track and field athlete, who has trained alongside Mo Farrah and captained Team GB at the recent World Championships in London, is lending his support and is asking people to walk, jog, run or pedal a distance of their choice throughout the month of September to raise much needed funds for the animals in the Edinburgh and Lothian area.

Edinburgh Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre Manager Diane Aitchison said, “We are delighted to have Andrew’s support.

“It’s a great opportunity for all ages and abilities to get out and about in their local communities, all while raising vital funds.

“This event is unique – there’s no minimum sponsorship or specific distance, all we ask is that anyone involved raises as much as they can and has fun while taking part! There’s only a £5 registration fee which covers the cost of a fundraising pack and t-shirt.

“We don’t receive any government or lottery funding which means we rely on the public to be able to continue our work rescuing and rehoming animals in desperate need of our help.

“Anyone who sets themselves the challenge of taking part in this event really will be helping save lives. And as an added bonus – by the end of the month you’ll be feeling fitter!”

Participants can choose to walk, jog, run or pedal a distance of their choice throughout the month of September to raise much needed funds for the abused, abandoned and injured animals across Scotland.

For more information on Pound for Paws and to receive your fundraising pack please visit email fundraising@scottishspca.org or call fundraising on 03000 999 999 (option 4).

In 2016 Graeme Macrae Burnet’s novel His Bloody Project was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. On Saturday he was in the new Spark Theatre at Edinburgh International Book Festival, talking to Roland Gulliver (EIBF Associate Director) about his more recent book The Accident on the A35, a sequel to The Disappearance of Adele Bedeau (2013). So why, asks Gulliver, when His Bloody Project was such a huge hit (a bestseller as well as a success with the literati), did he not write a sequel to that? The answer is that he’d already written the first draft of The Accident before he got the call from Booker. And he’s very glad he had;

‘Otherwise I might have felt pressurised to write another story of persecution and murder in 19^th century Scotland.’

For although there are aspects of mystery to all his books, what really interests Macrae Burnet is how events affect people’s lives, how they react to something unexpected and unplanned for. In The Accident on the A35 a man is killed in a car crash. The mystery centres on where he had been on the night of his death, and why, but what concerns Macrae Burnet is the impact the accident has on the victim’s teenage son Raymond and Chief Inspector Georges Gorski, who is convinced that the accident was not as straightforward as it first appears.

The story is set in St Louis, an unremarkable small town near the French-German border. Macrae Burnet has loved St Louis ever since he visited it while writing The Disappearance of Adele Bedeau, and one of the reasons he loves it is that it always stays the same;

‘I went back twelve years later and had the same lunch in the same café with the same tables.’

Change, he says, is something some people want – Raymond, as an angst-ridden teenager, can’t wait to get away from St Louis (‘I couldn’t wait to get out of Kilmarnock’) – and some people don’t; Gorski may have had his eyes on Marseille or Paris in the past, but now he’s content with his life as it is (or as it was before his wife left him.)

The small details of people’s lives are important to Macrae Burnet; Gorski shaving in the en suite bathroom as an act of rebellion against his absent wife; Raymond getting off a train and back on again to get away from another passenger, then realising she’ll notice when they arrive at their destination – the little things that we all do but rarely admit to. He tells an hilarious story about buying sandwiches in Sainsbury’s en route for his daily visit to Glasgow’s Mitchell Library. It’s a story in which nothing really happens, but it’s one with which few could fail to identify – and that’s one of the great strengths of Macrae Burnet’s writing.

He’s also fascinated by ‘hyper self-consciousness’ or overthinking – something he assumed everyone did, but now realises they perhaps don’t (they don’t?) Gorski and Raymond both play out scenes in their heads, always imagining what other people are thinking about them, creating entire fictive narratives. So Gorski is sure that his staff will place a certain interpretation on the position of the door to his office (open/closed? ajar?); he performs an elaborate charade to persuade people that he hasn’t planned to go into a bar, even though he’s been thinking about little else all morning. Of course no-one else notices or cares – but what if they do?

The foreword to The Accident on the A35 tells us that the manuscript was written by one Raymond Brunet (also the ‘author’ of The Disappearance of Adele Bedeau), and that it was sent to the publisher by his executor after his death. There’s a clear suggestion that the book is autobiographical – though in the narrative Raymond’s surname is Barthelme – but Macrae Burnet is quick to point out that he doesn’t say that, and that the Jean Paul Sartre quote at the beginning of the narrative is part of Brunet’s manuscript, not his;

‘What I have written is false. True. Neither true nor false.’ (Words 1963)

He’s very interested in concepts of truth, of multiple possibilities, and in the ‘Translator’s afterword’ he speculates on how much of the book is ‘true’, and on whether it matters. At least half of the readers of His Bloody Project thought it was non-fiction (‘that’s OK but I get no credit’….). What matters to Macrae Burnet, however, is whether a story feels true;

‘It has, however, to ring true, to be psychologically plausible; that’s the truth fiction is striving for.’

He cites Patrick Hamilton’s Hangover Square as an influence, and refers to a scene in that book where a waiter takes an order holding a tray in a certain way;

‘That tiny details brings it to life, regardless of whether it’s ‘true’ or whether that person really exists.’

The reader needs to be immersed; the story must seem real.

One of the 2018 Book Festival’s key themes is ‘Freedom’, and many writers have been asked to contribute their interpretations of the word to a series of ‘Freedom Papers’. Macrae Burnet originally thought he’d need to write something profound (‘I’d been reading Simone de Beauvoir…’) but the more he pondered the considerable freedom he, as a white middle class man, enjoys, the more he wondered what he had to say (‘There’s people with deep and meaningful things to say, and then there’s me.’) It was, in fact, his fascination with the minutiae of everyday life that eventually gave him his story, which concerns the way in which we place constraints on our own freedom, the need we have to stick to our routines, to cling to our comfort zones.

Macrae Burnet’s story is A Minor Incident in Amsterdam, which he reads aloud in his wonderfully restrained Ayrshire tones. It’s about a visit to a bar. And as ever with this witty, sophisticated author, there’s a very clever sting in the tail. If you want to know what it is, get along to the EIBF Bookshop and buy your copy before they sell out.

The Accident on the A35, The Disappearance of Adele Bedeau and His Bloody Project are all published by Saraband.

Graeme Macrae Burnet’s next appearances will be at Bloody Scotland in Stirling on 21 and 23 September, where he will be discussing European Crime Fiction and The Art of Crime Fiction. His website can be found here.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival is on until 27 August 2018.

The Bonham Hotel in Edinburgh’s West End held a special afternoon tea for the local dementia group.

The four star Bonham invited members and staff from the North Edinburgh Dementia Care group for a luxury afternoon of tea, cakes, and scones served with cream and preserves.

The group provides nurturing services, activities and support for people with dementia, as well as their carers.

Lee Walker, Duty Manager of The Bonham Hotel, said: “After meeting the group last year and hearing about their need for local trips for members, we knew we wanted to host a special afternoon tea.

“We had a wonderful afternoon and it gave the members a chance to relax, chat and enjoy cakes and scones prepared by our head chef.”

Susan Cull, Manager of North Edinburgh Dementia Care, said: “We want to say a huge thank you to The Bonham for their invitation to afternoon tea for our members and staff. Our members thoroughly enjoyed the treats and fabulous service from the friendly hotel staff who went out of their way to accommodate all of our needs.

“Our members benefited greatly from the fun-filled day and it gave everyone the opportunity to socialise in a different environment and enjoy a relaxing afternoon while taking in the beauty of the hotel. The delicious scones and cakes were the cherry on top of a lovely day out.”

The Bonham recently had a multi-million pound refurbishment, and unveiled its 49 individually styled and refurbished guest rooms and suites only a few weeks ago.

You can find out more about The Bonham at thebonham.com

A new art show will open later this month on 24th August 2018 at the Water of Leith Café in Canonmills.

Abstract Mythology, is an exhibition of small format highly textured and
vibrantly coloured acrylic paintings by Edinburgh blind artist Alan McIntyre.
They explore the play and expressions of the media. These abstract expressions
also allude to the magical and cultural beliefs, practices and traditions of
institutions of mankind.

Alan has had a lifelong passion for art until he was diagnosed with a degenerative eye condition. He is now registered blind andchallenges to maintain his passion to produce art by constantly being both constrained and liberated by his altered experience of the world.

He said : “I am driven to keep exploring and adapting my art while my sight changes.”

Alan hopes to show his work as just another perspective of the World but from the less acknowledged or known about area of blindness and sight loss.  He continued : “It is okay to touch these works. So I hope that these paintings can be enjoyed by both sighted and those with sight loss.

alnmcintyre.wixsite.com/alanmcintyre-artist

alanmcintyrevisualartist@outlook.com

Abstract Mythology.

Paintings by Alan McIntyre.

Fri 24th August – Fri 28th September
2018.

Water of
Leith Cafe Bistro,

1 Howard
Street. EH3 5JP.

Open
Hours –

Tues to Sat.
– 09:30 – 17:00.

Sunday –
10:00 – 16:00.

Phone
Number: 0131 556 6887.

http://thewaterofleithcafebistro.com/

Last night at the McEwan Hall Underbelly held a second Big Brain Tumour Benefit. All the ticket income will go to the Brain Tumour Charity and will be matched pound for pound by the entertainment company which this year has 199 shows at the Fringe.

It was a sad discovery when in September 2016, Underbelly Director Ed Bartlam’s son Alfie, then age 4, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour. The road to recovery has been anything but smooth and despite extensive treatment two more tumours were found in his brain and spine in December last year.

Ed explained that Alfie still powers on with boundless energy and optimism but his fight is far from over, and throughout the experience he has been made all too aware of how underfunded brain tumour research is in the UK.

The magnificent 900-seater McEwan Hall was this year’s venue. The line-up included Susan Calman in her only Fringe appearance this year, joined by Joel Dommett, Nish Kumar, Zoe Lyons, David O’Doherty and Rhys Nicholson.

The event sold out and all ticket income (£15,000) is going directly to the Brain Tumour Charity.

Underbelly announced that it will match every penny of the box office income from the event, bringing the total raised to over £30,000.

There will be bucket shakers across Underbelly sites throughout the Fringe and there is now a Just Giving page where you can make a donation www.justgiving.com/underbellyedinburgh. Already people have generously given over £1,000 since the page opened when all tickets had sold out.

The Brain Tumour Charity is an incredibly worthwhile cause to support. Underbelly is proud to have raised over £30,000 tonight and will continue to spread the word and raise as much as possible towards this under-funded and important work.

The company and its employees want to make a big difference to brain tumour research in the UK.

Northcare Manor one of the newest care homes in Edinburgh has created a street full of memories for its residents. They have Binns’, Lillywhites, Rankin’s grocers and Duncan’s sweetshop along with a 1950s car and petrol pump, cinema and cocktail bar. This is all aimed at making the residents feel more welcome.

The company which owns the home was assisted in the development by a £7.73 million funding package from Royal Bank of Scotland.

Margaret and William Sawers are the mother and son behind the new care home. They  want a gold star commendation from the Dementia Services Development Centre at the University of Stirling for their 74 bedroom luxury care home. The family run firm has five other homes and have created 75 jobs in Edinburgh in their second development here.

William Sawers, director at Northcare, said: “We went to great lengths to research some of the features we wanted to create here at Northcare Manor to ensure they were suitable for the home, but more importantly, they would be suitable and welcoming for our residents. Some of the residents we’ve welcomed so far remember the shops we’ve recreated, and you can see the positive effect it has as they reminisce. We have been Royal Bank of Scotland customers for 25 years, and they have been instrumental not only in what we have created here in Edinburgh, but throughout the history of our business.”

Charles Robertson, Relationship Director at the Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “With nearly 30 years’ experience, Margaret and William have created a truly unique care environment, focusing on the highest standards of care coupled with five-star facilities and characteristics. Royal Bank of Scotland is proud to support Northcare in the next stage of its growth and we wish the team every success.”

Hibs have apologised to fans following ticket issues at the recent Molde FK match and the upcoming Betfred League Cup match against Ross County.

A statement on the club website read:”The club is aware of several ticketing issues faced by supporters in recent matches and we have been working to identify and address the causes of the issues.

“A large number of supporters had difficulty entering the game on Thursday night against Molde FK through no fault of their own.

“The cause has been identified as an error on our side. We apologise to those who suffered delays in entering the game and thank the majority who were patient and understanding while we rectified the issues on the day.

“The high volume and quick turnaround of cup games in recent weeks has caused a high level of work for club staff in general to manage.  That being the case, standards have been below what supporters expect – we recognise that and are making efforts to make sure this does not continue.”

The club also responded to a proposed move by the singing section, who have been based in the Famous Five Upper, to the middle section of the Famous Five Lower as an experiment.

“We were made aware late on Monday night of plans by the singing section to move to the Famous Five Lower for Sunday’s match with Ross County.

“The Famous Five Lower is our designated family section – it has been for a number of years and we have no plans to change.

“For league matches the whole lower section is almost completely sold out with season ticket members. Ticket holders should only be family groups, and we normally have ticket rules in place both online and at the Ticket Office to ensure that anyone buying individual match tickets are part of a family group.   Mistakenly, these rules were not implemented for Sunday’s match, which resulted in a small number of adult tickets being purchased for that section. We have paused ticket sales in this section and refunded supporters who have purchased non-family tickets in this section.

“We have worked well with the singing section on several projects since their mutually agreed move to the Famous Five in 2017. The atmosphere around the whole ground has been positive over the past few seasons, and we want to make sure that continues.

“The suggested move for Sunday’s game was made without any consultation with the club despite the fact that it is well established that the Famous Five Lower is a Family Section. To avoid doubt, we have no plans to change the use of this section of the ground.  It is heavily populated with season ticket holders and we want to put a focus on our matchday experience for families and the next generation of supporters.

“We remain committed to engaging with all of our supporters, including the singing section and through our Safety Officer we have made a number of attempts in the last few weeks to communicate with this group.”

Four events are being held across Scotland aiming to inspire, celebrate and connect women at all stages of their careers

In a landmark year celebrating 100 years since some women were granted the vote, Royal Bank of Scotland is bringing together Edinburgh’s most inspiring, like-minded and motivated women to encourage businesswomen to connect, support one another and thrive together.

Hosted by author of Ctrl, Alt; Delete and The Multi-Hyphen Method podcaster Emma Gannon, the 100 Women event series will travel to Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Glasgow to celebrate and connect women at all stages of their careers.

Emma Gannon will be joined in Edinburgh by an expert panel of local female business leaders including Kylie Reid, founder of the Edinburgh Gossip Girls and Susan Doherty, founder of Hula Juice Bar and owner of concept store Life Story, to offer a unique experience and guidance through a live panel discussion and Q&A with the audience.

The 100 Women event series is free to attend and will take place at:

·         The Principal Edinburgh George Street, Edinburgh (5 September)

·         The Chester Hotel, Aberdeen (21 August)

·         The Malmaison, Dundee (4 September)

·         Barras Arts and Design, Glasgow (6 September).

The events come on the back of a report commissioned by Royal Bank of Scotland and YouGov, which  revealed that a third (33%) of the female microbusiness owners surveyed suffer from ‘imposter syndrome’ in regards to their microbusiness, a psychological pattern in which people doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a ‘fraud’.

Although they run their own successful companies, this high percentage of microbusiness owners have developed imposter syndrome and feelings of anxiety, nervousness and discomfort – a mental roadblock experienced by Emma Gannon and many other female business women across Scotland.

Amongst several key findings, the report has identified a rising generation of female microbusiness owners who are forward-thinking, socially savvy and use the online world to achieve success.

·         A third (33%) of female microbusiness owners surveyed are aged between 35-44.

·         46% of microbusinesses owned by women were set up in the past five years.

·         63% of female respondents believe innovation to be important for the future of their business (in comparison to 54% of male respondents).

·         Female-led microbusinesses would go to the online community when seeking advice, with 46% using online forums and 35% using social media.

·         Cybersecurity is one of the community’s top priorities – 76% of female microbusiness owners regard it as important to their business (compared with 60% men).

Yvonne Greeves, Women in Business Manager, Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “At the Royal Bank of Scotland, we are passionate about supporting microbusinesses and doing our part to help microbusiness owners develop their own networks and meet their ambitions to thrive and succeed.

“Our research has shown that Scotland is a nation of hardworking, multitasking microbusiness owners who need more support, so these events will act as a stepping stone in the right direction for female business owners across the country.

“Our 100 Women events seek to inspire women in business and bring them together to give them the opportunity to discuss the ways in which they can support one another and thrive together.”

Emma Gannon, Author and Podcast host, said: “I’m extremely passionate about women of all ages finding increased freedom, motivation and autonomy at work. The Internet has made it easier to launch brilliant businesses in new ways, but building an in-real-life community has never been so important. These communities help build confidence and knowledge, whether you’re in a company, side-hustling or starting your own new business. It’s an exciting time to be an entrepreneur and to be surrounded by other inspirational female business owners.”

For more information on the events or to book your place, please visit the link below:

·         Aberdeen

·         Dundee

·         Edinburgh

·         Glasgow

A historic city institution is set to host its biggest ever Edinburgh Festival Fringe as it celebrates a decade-long partnership with one of the festival’s leading production companies.

Breaking its own record this year, Surgeons’ Quarter expects to welcome an estimated 80,000 visitors walk through its doors by the end of the month.

Surgeons’ Quarter, the commercial arm of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), will be playing host to a total of seven ‘theSpaceUK’ theatres across three of its different venues.

With 150 different productions taking place over the 23-day festival, theSpaceUK is working alongside Surgeons’ Quarter for the tenth year in a row, as their partnership has gone from strength to strength.

The multi-genre programme of shows across the College’s traditional buildings makes it one of the biggest Fringe spots, creating a platform for a wide range of performers.

Charles Pamment, Director of theSpaceUK said: “It’s certainly going to be a big year for us and it’s fantastic to be able to say this is our tenth one working with Surgeons’ Quarter.

“Our different expertise have worked so well in tandem that we’ve created one of the most desirable destination venues for audiences at the festival.

“It’s always been an extremely positive relationship. Surgeons’ Quarter has embraced everything we do, and has given us the freedom to make use of the range of spaces to showcase our hugely diverse performances.

“From orchestra, to cabaret, to comedy and kids’ productions, there really is a show for everyone – and in that way we stay true to what the festival is all about.

“It’s thanks to its impressive buildings, social spaces and great location that Surgeons’ Quarter has become one of the big players in the city when it comes to Fringe venues.”

Situated just a minute’s walk from the Royal Mile, theSpaceUK at Surgeons Quarter is ideally placed for soaking up the festival atmosphere and is well catered for by a 200-seat courtyard bar.

Scott Mitchell, Commercial Director at Surgeons’ Quarter, said: “Through our work with theSpaceUK, we have successfully positioned Surgeons’ Quarter as one of the best venues in the city.

“Key to this success is that, unlike many Fringe spaces in Edinburgh, Surgeons’ Quarter is established and defined as an events venue, designed to cater to the thousands of visitors that walk through our doors.

“With the professionalism and expertise of theSpaceUK, and with our hard-working and experienced team on hand, we can provide an authentic and comfortable atmosphere for audiences, to give them the best possible festival experience.”

Surgeons’ Quarter promotes, sells and manages all commercial activities held within the RCSEd Campus, which includes the Playfair Building. All profits support the charitable aims of the College which are education, assessment and advancement in surgery.

The RCSEd is one of the most illustrious institutions in Scotland. It provides education and assessment for medical students, surgical trainees and consultants and supports research to advance standards of care for the future.

Surgeons trained and assessed through the College take their life-saving and life-changing skills all over the world.

Popular Levantine inspired restaurant BABA has launched its brand-new summer inspired menu for locals and visitors of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to indulge in this August.

BABA situated at the west end of Edinburgh’s George Street boasts mezze style dining
in a unique intimate setting that invites guests to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. With its new summer menu, BABA is set to treat all food lovers in the capital to a host of new flavour combinations.

BABA’s expert team have curated a light, unique menu using fresh, local and seasonal
ingredients. Paired with the vast range of new and refined summer drinks and cocktails, customers will be treated to the beautiful summer flavours of the Levantine when dining at the city centre restaurant.

The menu is continuously inspired by the eastern Mediterranean and the new, seasonal dishes will join a host of flavoursome BABA favourites such as the ever-popular haggis and harissa kibbeh as well as the classic cauliflower fritters with zhug and crème fraîche. New dishes on the ever-popular mezze menu include the Beiruti Burrata (£7.00) which can be enjoyed with BABA’s signature home-baked pitta.

From the grill, new additions include the succulent monkfish with jalapeño yoghurt, grilled potato and olive (£13.00), hand-dived scallops, chermoula, tzatziki and preserved lemon (£14.00) and Iberico pork neck, tomato and cinnamon bamia, saffron, feta and cashew nut (£10.00). For those looking for something sweet, the new menu offers a refreshing frozen raspberry soufflé, preserved lemon granita (£6.00) and fresh and an enticing date sorbet, hibiscus granita, cardamon biscuit (£4.50).

The ornate and beautiful BABA interiors create an intimate yet relaxed ambiance
within the restaurant. The communal, mezze style dining has been a hit amongst Edinburgh locals for a leisurely dinner with friends. A specially-commissioned mural of the ‘host’, Mr Baba, a fictitious character based on a vintage photograph found in a souk in Turkey, provides the backdrop to the bar counter.

Tim Spence, Food and Beverage Manager, said: “At BABA, we are passionate about constantly evolving with new and unique food trends and the change in seasons. With the glorious weather we’ve been enjoying in Edinburgh, our team has created a menu offering guests a lighter, summer-inspired selection of dishes that perfectly compliment the BABA favourites still on offer. We hope to welcome a whole host of locals and tourists into BABA over the exciting Edinburgh fringe period – where they can also enjoy a BABA
cocktail in the afternoon sun at our brand new outdoor seating area.”

The bar interior has been designed by award-winning designers at Goddard Littlefair,
and the PRINCIPAL hotel design team. The bar itself, refurbished with a re-finished, dark-stained, timber bar front and re-used zinc bar top, is replete with the signs of ageing and character from its previous life. The bar ceiling is painted in a rich teal tone, with multiple antique framed mirrors attached to it, reflecting the activity beneath.

The interconnecting spaces within the restaurant pay homage to period elements of the buildings such as the Georgian-era tiling designs infused with Levantine influences such as a vibrant colour scheme, industrial ‘distressed’ design finishes, rugs hanging on the walls, vintage travel posters, and lots of mirrors to refract interesting views.

After a few misfires early on, there was a bit more action today on the grey carpet. Despite a bit of rain, a fair number of attending writers made the long walk ‘down the back’. And much appreciated they were, too.

 REBUS: LONG SHADOWS by Ian Rankin

Adapted by Rona Munro

King’s Theatre Edinburgh
Monday 8 to Saturday 13 October 2018

This new story exploding on to a home territory stage features crock ‘n roll Oxford Bar-fly shamus, John Rebus, played by Charles Lawson with Cathy Tyson as Siobhan and John Stahl as Big Ger Cafferty. Rebus would often agree with The Stones that ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want,’ but canny Director, Roxana Silbert, driving playwright Rona Munro’s can of worms script, leaves no stone unturned in delivering a crackling case Rebus could serious do with out.

Rebus is retired but the shadows of his former life stalk him through the streets of Edinburgh. Single-malt self-medication once helped but now he’s denying himself that anaesthetic pleasure. Now the daughter of a murder victim has appeared outside his flat – he’s back on the case and off the wagon. 

Rebus will need help from his ex-colleagues but one of them is already looking for him. DI Siobhan Clarke was Rebus’ greatest ally on the force but is worried that his past actions may stop them finally convicting a dangerous killer. Soon Rebus is caught between two cases and can only turn to one person to help him – the man he spent his career trying to arrest.

http://capitaltheatres.com/rebus

Abandoman
Underbelly
2130 hrs

IRISH comedy rapper Abandoman played to a packed audience at the Assembly Underbelly in George Square.

The audience was absolutely up for this act and played their part in creating a great atmosphere however it was the skill and talent of Abandoman who made this a success.

The act in short is one man being given random subjects by the audience and rapping about it. But that feels like a massive oversimplification.

From the b of the bang, the audience was engaged and loved being involved as they threw out suggestions for song themes.

Never in a month of Sundays did you think you would hear a rap about traffic merging onto the new Queensferry Crossing but we did.

In many ways, Abandoman has rebranded audience participation. He also looks like he enjoys his work and enjoys being close up with his audience.

The finale was fantastic. It involved a man called Todd and an inflated condom. The audience left the theatre shouting “Go Todd Go”

You get the feeling that Abandoman could well be massive. His act has stadium potential. We look forward to following his future.

Toast the end of Edinburgh’s festival season in seafaring style and soak up the magnificent Fireworks Concert display with a difference – as Maid of the Forth has announced its exclusive Festival Fireworks Cruise on 27 August.

This 3.5-hour evening cruise will sail downriver from South Queensferry to view the Virgin Money Fireworks display from the water. Passengers can enjoy a welcome glass of fizz upon arrival, live jazz music from resident band, Maid of the Forth Stompers and a BBQ Rib-eye steak supper, as the sun sets against the iconic backdrop of Edinburgh and Fife. Then, the evening culminates in watching the outstanding fireworks display which will light up the sky and waters below.

Duncan Macrae commented on the new cruise: “They are the dazzling finale to Edinburgh’s festival season and the magnificent Fireworks Concert display can be seen from all corners of the city. However, for a unique difference nothing beats taking to the Firth of Forth for an uninterrupted view.

“The fireworks are just stunning to watch from the water and, coupled with our live jazz music, it’s a truly memorable occasion.”

Maid’s fully stocked bar will sell a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to keep the celebrations going whilst vegetarian options are available at the BBQ.

Tickets for the Maid of the Forth Festival Fireworks Cruise on 27 August cost £35 per person and are expected to sell out fast. They can be booked online at www.maidoftheforth.co.uk or by calling 0131 331 5000.

Thousands of students across the country are getting ready to start university this summer and planning for Freshers’ Week is well underway and Police Scotland are offering their advice for what will be a busy time.

Chief Superintendent McKenzie from Police Scotland’s Safer Communities Department said: “It’s an exciting time for people starting university and college courses.

“Everyone who’s gone to university will remember the stress of sorting out accommodation and going to their first Freshers’ Week.

“Police Scotland has been working with universities and partners to help and offer advice – and hopefully make it as stress free as possible.”

For those looking for accommodation, the advice is research any potential property. Try and visit the property first with someone you know. Criminals take advantage of this busy period, targeting students with accommodation fraud. You don’t want to find out once you arrive that you’ve actually got nowhere to live.

It’s also recommended you check that any emails or phone calls relating to student loans and finance are genuine.

If you’re concerned about your property, immobilise.com is a website that lets you register your property, making it easier to return if it’s stolen.

The advice being offered is not only relevant for first time students but for returning and existing students too.

Police officers will be at various Fresher stalls across Scotland.

Chief Superintendent McKenzie said, “One of the best aspects of university and college is the social life. It’s an opportunity to meet different people and gain new experiences, but I’d like to remind people to be aware of certain things.

“Simple things like not leaving your drink unattended and not accepting a drink from a stranger are important for your safety. Look after your friends and take care of each other. Don’t go off on your own and only use registered taxis.

“If you’re offered drugs, you have no idea what they contain or how your body will react to taking them. Our advice is simple – There is no safe way to take drugs. If you see someone who has taken a substance and they are unwell you must seek medical attention immediately.”

More information can be found on the Police Scotland website and social media accounts.

He came. He saw. He got the tram back home.

Unfortunately, the weather, having been fantastic for ages, decided that enough was enough and brought Edinburgh’s various Festivals a bit of damp, miserable – and some would say ‘typical’ – Edinburgh grey-ness.

With few, if any, of the listed authors – quite rightly – due to be ushered out to the, famed, grey carpet, it was decided by our intrepid photographer that, having already captured the National Youth Orchestra of Canada ‘doing their thing’, it was best to cut his losses and try again another day. Maybe tomorrow. Shame really, as one of the regular photographers attending the EIBF had managed to ‘persuade’ the construction crew to arrange the photography area much more… sympathetically. Stand up and take a bow Gary Doak.

All the planned events and talks will still go on as they, and the queueing areas, are all under cover. They thought of everything. Almost….

For the series of concerts at the Ross Bandstand, Summer Sessions, featuring big names such as Sir Tom Jones, Paloma Faith, Brian Wilson and Rag ‘n Bone Man who appears there tomorrow night, organisers put up black hoardings on the railings.

The sole purpose, it appears, was to stop people from seeing the concert without paying.The sound system means that anyone in the area can hear the music of course, but organisers did not want anyone to enjoy the view without buying a ticket.

Then the council leader Adam McVey stepped in. With one single tweet published yesterday, he hopes that he has changed everything, although it appears that discussions will be held with council officers today.

This is public space & these are public views. Ticketed events cannot put up barriers which are to the detriment of the city.
I’ve asked officers to remove ASAP & for a guarantee that these won’t be erected for any future events. pic.twitter.com/fAY6NmBCnr

— Cllr Adam McVey (@adamrmcvey) August 12, 2018

The Council Leader told The Edinburgh Reporter this morning : “These are the highest barriers I can remember seeing and the first time I recall our skyline being blocked out in this way. I’m confident we’ll find a solution with organisers to avoid seriously affecting the character of Princes Street while ensuring public safety.”

There are of course two sides to this. If you have bought a ticket for any of the concerts at over £50 a time, then you may think it unfair that someone passing on Princes Street could effectively watch the whole concert for free. Any viewers would be at a distance, but nonetheless it could be a free concert if these boards are removed.

Boards like these have been used in the past to keep people out of the gardens when they had not paid to get in to an event. I think I am correct in believing that there were boards up during Sleep in the Park and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. So why has this only become something to complain about now?

It may have started with this tweet from @fountainbridge who drew everyone’s attention to the narrowed pavement on Princes Street as well as the barriers at the end of last week :

Welcome to #Edinburgh. Please enjoy these spectacular views of @edinburghcastle from behind these 10 foot high barriers. We’ve also closed off 1/3 of the busy pavement for your safety #edinburghfringe #edinburghfestival @LivingStreetsEd @thecockburn @theSpurtle @sto_paul pic.twitter.com/LejCRJoW2P

— Fountain Bridge (@fountainbridge) August 9, 2018

Locals reacted to this series of photos with rage, particularly as the memorial benches have also been cordoned off. Cllr Lewis Ritchie said he had written to the council to ask that any decision to allow these barriers was revisited.

The Cockburn Association, the architectural conservation organisation, say that they raised the matter as one for concern with the council. On their Facebook page they praise Councillor McVey’s speedy action on the removal of the barriers. We have not been able to find any planning applications on the council’s website.

The New Town Flaneur, the unidentified New Town resident who tweets about red trousers  and life in the area to the north of Princes Street, tweeted the photo of the hoardings yesterday

This Anti-Proletariat Protection Rampart is essential to the security of the New Town.#Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/kBMTupiBMV

— New Town Flâneur (@NewTownFlaneur) August 12, 2018

Andy Wightman MSP who is a self-appointed guardian of the capital’s ‘common good’ land, also applauded the council leader’s initiative.

The matter of common good status will be one hurdle for the Ross Development Trust (RDT) to get across when they develop the new bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens. That along with planning permission, funding and a scheme for management of the development.

You can read and listen to our interview with David Ellis the RDT Managing Director here.

What do you think? Do you have a ticket for the concerts? Does it bother you that others might watch for free?

We asked the organisers of Summer Sessions for a comment which at the time of publication they had not given us. We will add it here if they come back to us.

Edinburgh’s City Youth Cafe hosts Canada’s National Youth Orchestra

A number of members of Canada’s NYO performed an extract earlier today from their upcoming Usher Hall concert at the 6VT Edinburgh City Youth Cafe in The Vennel.

Credited with showing energy, conviction, and breathtaking freshness, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada brings together the finest musicians aged 16 to 28 from across the vast country to form one of the world’s most accomplished youth ensembles.

Throughout its half-century history, NYO Canada has toured the US, China, Europe and Japan to huge acclaim, its performances lauded for their commitment, focus and sheer exuberance.

NYO Canada spans the Atlantic with music from North America and Britain: the radiant tunefulness of Copland’s optimistic Appalachian Spring, capturing the spirit of pioneer America; Vaughan Williams’s achingly beautiful Third Symphony, nostalgic and deeply lyrical; and the first UK performance of a new work titled “Moontides” from celebrated Canadian composer John Estacio.

British conductor Jonathan Darlington, Music Director of Vancouver Opera, directs the concert.

The full NYO Canada will appear at The Usher Hall tomorrow night (14th August).

Tickets and further information can be found at https://www.eif.co.uk/whats-on/2018/nyocanada

It is very easy in life to be dismissive of those who don’t speak your language, but it would be very hard to dismiss Kenyan, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. He is a storyteller who envelopes you in his stories, which is exactly what he did with great charm in Charlotte Square Gardens. He is frequently believed to be a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature.  Reduced to a one word answer for the final question (when time was up), he was asked about keeping going and what makes him do that. His answer? “Fight!”

It has been a life of having to stand up for his beliefs and fighting his own corner. Now he believes that ‘multilingualism is the oxygen of culture’.

He has written in Kikuyu, (or Gikuyu) his native African language, and the session was chaired by Professor Thomas Molony, Director of the Centre for African Studies at the University of Edinburgh. But one of the interesting declarations Ngũgĩ offered was that many of those learning about or researching Africa have not read, or perhaps more importantly written, an academic paper in an African language.

Ngũgĩ’s article in the most recent issue of Gutter magazine has been translated by Edinburgh Makar, Christine de Luca into Shetlandic, and Nick Barley said to the audience that he wants this piece translated into more languages than any other. Quite a challenge.

Ngũgĩ’s life is an important story, both in and out of his native land. He is back at the Book Festival after 12 years, and given that Festival Director Nick Barley introduced him (and shared with us just how excited he was about this session) this was something special.

The author was imprisoned for a time simply as a result of his writing, making him the perfect guest in this year when the theme of the festival is Freedom. All of the authors in Charlotte Square Gardens are asked to consider freedom, democracy and capitalism and the question marks hanging over all of them.

This year 52 authors have been asked to write essays on the subject of freedom and the result, the Freedom Papers examine many aspects of modern life with poetry, fiction and illustrations. The publication of the Freedom Papers as a supplement to Gutter Magazine offers much to think about.

Ngũgĩ explained that colonisation added to the superiority of the English language, but that while there is a hierarchy of languages which we are used to thinking about, we must fight against that elevation of some over others.

He admitted that English is the language of power, but pointed out that each language has its own musicality and there is nothing wrong with any language.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival receives funding from Creative Scotland and The City of Edinburgh Council and this year welcomes over 900 participants from 55 different countries to its tented village in the heart of Edinburgh and runs from Saturday 11 to Monday 27 August 2018.

Entrance to the Gardens is FREE and the gardens, cafes, bookshops and all venues are fully accessible.

Full details of the programme can be found at www.edbookfest.co.uk. Tickets to all events go on sale at 8.30am on Tuesday 26 June 2018, online at www.edbookfest.co.uk, by phone on 0345 373 5888 or in person at The Hub, Castlehill.

A 49-year-old man was today sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh to nine-years in prison for a number of serious sexual offences committed against teenagers in Edinburgh and Midlothian.

Scott Forbes had previously been convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl at a property in the Gilmerton area and the serious sexual assault of another 14-year-old girl at an address in the Firrhill area, as well as possession of indecent images of children.

He was further convicted of filming a teenager as she undressed without her consent at her home in Midlothian, and pled guilty to taking indecent images of children.

The offences all took place between November 2009 and May 2017, and detectives were alerted to Forbes after the victims bravely reported their attacks to the police.

He was also ordered to be registered indefinitely as a sex offender.

Detective Sergeant Jonny Wright, of Edinburgh’s Public Protection Unit, said: “Scott Forbes is a devious individual who took advantage of each of the victims’ trust.

“I want to commend their bravery in coming forward, which has led to Forbes’ conviction.

“I would also like to reassure any victims of sexual crime that there is no time limit to reporting offences and we will always investigate.”

Anyone with information about sexual offences can contact Police Scotland on 101, or report this anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Killymuck

1825 hrs

HOW many plays in the Edinburgh Fringe look at working class life? Not enough say some but that is an argument for another day.

Killymuck reflect on life in a Northern Ireland housing estate in the nineties. The narrative is interspersed with short didactic pieces that implore you to look at the problems inherent in working class life. It seems so apposite today when you feel that social mobility is more restrictive than ever.

Aoife Lennon’s performance is a tour-de-force as she draws you in to her character’s life and draws the picture around her. As this is drawn from the writer Kat Wood’s life, some of the information you receive is harrowing especially around alcoholism and suicide.

Sometimes a play like this can be drawn into mawkish stereotypes that ends no better than Mrs Brown’s Boys meets Bread but not Killymuck. This paints pictures of real people and real testimonies whether it be her father or neighbour, whether it be the best friends or bitter enemies.

There can be a tendency at the Edinburgh Fringe for the middle class to testify to the middle classes. That is not necessarily a criticism just an observation. We would implore anyone to take a chance on Killymuck where deep in the heart of Bristo Square, where the walls have the names of scientists, a post mortem takes place on working class life in Northern Ireland.

Police have released CCTV images of a man they are looking to trace in order to assist with their ongoing enquiries into an attempted robbery which took place in Dundee Street around 2.20am on 5th July 2018.

Two men were approached and threatened, with a demand made for money and an attempt made to strike one of the pair.

Detectives are now releasing images of a man who may be able to assist police with their enquiries.

He is described as white, tall, of slim build, with a prominent nose and dark hair which was shaved at the sides and back and longer on the top.

He is pictured wearing wraparound-style sunglasses, a dark-coloured jumper, jeans and dark-coloured Adidas trainers with white detail.

Detective Constable Joyce Gunderson of Corstorphine CID said: “The two men were just trying to make their way home when this incident took place and, as part of our enquiries, we’re urging anyone who may recognise the man pictured to contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 1236 of 5th July, or report this anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

East Lothian Foodbank, part of a UK network dedicated to alleviating food poverty and hunger in the local communities, has been named as official charity to the Scottish Senior Open.

The tournament will be played at Craigielaw Golf Club, East Lothian, from September 14-16 and admission is free on all three days but car parking will be charged at £5 for a solo driver and £10 per car with two or more occupants with all proceeds going to East Lothian Foodbank, part of the Trussell Trust’s network of 428 foodbanks across the U.K.

The first 36 holes of the £250,000 tournament, which began in 1993 and has been played every subsequent year, will be contested in the Alliance Pro-Am format (amateur players paired with a professional). The final round on Sunday, September 16 will be for pros only, with the winner taking home a cheque for £37,500.

This will be the fourth consecutive year that the Scottish Senior Open has been contested in East Lothian, home to many of the country’s top golf courses.

The event was won at Renaissance Club in 2017 by England’s Paul Broadhurst, who also triumphed at Archerfield Links in 2015, with fellow Englishman Paul Eales taking the title at Archerfield in 2016.

Tranent-based East Lothian Foodbank, was set up in direct response to local need and opened in October 2012. Based in the Old Library in Tranent, East Lothian Foodbank fed a total of 4409 people in the East Lothian area during the 12 months from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018.

In one month recently, 176 three-day emergency food parcels were distributed – a total of 3428kg of food – feeding 346 people of whom one-third were children.

Peter Dicker, manager of the East Lothian Foodbank, said: “Our objective is the relief of poverty in the East Lothian Community and every pound collected is precious in our mission to help people experiencing severe hunger.

“The Foodbank was by former East Lothian MP, Fiona O’Donnell, as a direct response to local need. There was, and still is, a growing number of people experiencing severe food poverty and we aim to alleviate this challenge through dependable emergency supplies accessible to people on their own, single parents and schoolchildren to persons released from custody requiring assistance.”

A total of 13,000,000 people live below the poverty line and in the last year the Trussell Trust gave 1,332,952 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis.

Councillor John McMillan, East Lothian Council spokesperson for Economic Development and Tourism, said: “It is fantastic that a charity like East Lothian Foodbank will be the benefactor of the event, meaning spectators can turn up to enjoy some great golf in a wonderful setting, knowing they’re helping some of the most vulnerable in our society.”

Former Hibs’ star John McGinn produced a five star performance to help Aston Villa to their second successive victory in the English Championship on Saturday.

McGinn signed for Villa last Wednesday and was immediately selected for the home game against Wigan.

He had a dream start and created the opening goal from James Chester with a superb free kick and earned the appreciation of the fans by chasing lost causes and blocking Wigan from playing out from the back.

The Scotland international later played a part in Villa’s other two goals as they came from behind to win 3-2 and supporters took to social media to praise his contribution.

His set pieces throughout were impressive and he demonstrated his strength in the tackle and endless energy.

After the game Steve Bruce said: “I’d hve loved to have signed John McGinn six weeks ago but couldn’t.

“It’s a smashing debut – he’s going to be a crowd favourite.

“You can understand why. He’s got that bit of something about him when he tackles, it means something to him.

“He’s strong, powerfully built, a fierce competitor and we’re delighted we’ve been able to get him over the line.

“He produced a free-kick, it’s what he’s got in the locker. He gives us a nice balance, he lets Grealish go and do what he has to do.”

The Scottish SPCA is appealing to people in Edinburgh and the Lothians to help raise funds for abused, abandoned and injured animals by volunteering in their community.

Scotland’s animal welfare charity is urging locals to get involved this Scottish Animal Week, which runs from 3 – 9 September, by raising funds in their local area.

Diane Aitchison, manager of the charity’s animal rescue and rehoming centre in Balerno, said, “Last year our centre cared for 987 animals and this year we have already cared for 735 animals so we really need the support of the public more than ever.

“As an animal welfare charity, we receive no government or lottery funding and rely on the generosity of animal lovers to continue our vital work.

“During Scottish Animal Week we have opportunities to fundraise throughout Edinburgh and the Lothians and we’d be really grateful if locals can get behind our appeal and help.

“Door-to-door fundraising can be carried out between Monday and Friday, while people can hold street collections on the Saturday.

“We encourage people to have a bit of fun and some of our past volunteers have dressed up in costumes or taken a canine friend along with them.

“Even if someone can only spare an hour or two to collect vital funds, their time and efforts would be hugely appreciated.”

To stay up to date on Scottish Animal Week you can follow #InYourLocalCommunity and #ScottishAnimalWeek18 on social media.

Anyone who would like to help fundraise for the Scottish SPCA can contact the fundraising team on 03000 999 999 or email fundraising@scottishspca.org

The award-winning, sell-out hit by writer Peter Arnott and director Cora Bissett returns.  Angie Darcy’s Joplin, backed by a live band, is electric.

I was really pleased to see that Janis Joplin Full Tilt was returning for this year’s Fringe.  I saw this biographical play by writing/directing team Peter Arnott and Cora Bissett in 2014 and I was immediately tempted to see it again.  There’s a reason the play is back and that Angie Darcy‘s tour de force performance has won so much praise, they are both great.  The way Joplin’s life is covered is well-handled, although from what I know her last day doesn’t quite match what’s in the play.  However, it fits the tone and content of the piece as a whole so that doesn’t matter.

What does matter is how it presents how fragile and racked with confidence issues Joplin’s life was, despite her being one of the greatest performers of the Sixties and a highly talented musician and singer.  Joplin had troubles and, no matter how hard she tried to shake them, they followed her round throughout her life.  Between Darcy’s performance and the writing something miraculous happens – you feel sorry for a rock star.  No doubt she was a pain in the hoop a lot of the time but what we see on stage is somebody who desperately needs a friend and somebody you want to hug and comfort.

Effectively this is a one person play.  While the band give Darcy the musical backing and Harry Ward as John Till (founder of the Full Tillt Boogie Band) interacts with her in a couple of scenes, the play is mostly monologues.  That doesn’t mean it’s self-indulgent or dull, far from it, but this is about Joplin and her devastating loneliness, which Till implies is partially self-inflicted.  As the play says, there are touches of every woman’s blues in Joplin’s music and you can’t help but feel for her.  Was she a pain in the arse?  Hell yes but you get the feeling from this that she was hard not to love and forgive.  How true that is I don’t know but as a fan I hope it’s true.

There were times when you can’t quite make out what Darcy is saying when the band is playing.  However, that’s a minor complaint as I imagine the sound engineer has their hands full coping with the change from quiet dialogue up to full on musical howls.  Darcy combines being a singer working with Joplin’s depth, range and screaming, an actor, an impersonator and a boogie shaker.  I’m still impressed by how she manages to bring all that together in this performance but Darcy does and runs full pelt with it.  You are enthralled throughout the play and, judging from the audience, that doesn’t just apply to ageing male rockers.  If you haven’t seen this yet then get going before the run ends.

Louise Nichol who owns The Dragonfly Gifts on Broughton Street is a multitasker, although she just calls herself busy. She owns and runs the lovely gift shop, and also works for RBS as a Supply Chain Manager.

She looks after the shop’s admin at weekends, and when she’s not doing that she hangs out with her two cats, Pushkin and Poe, her horse Honey and a very understanding husband, Brian. Oh and to keep herself from wearying she also makes candles, cushions, jewellery, stained glass and up-cycles when she can too.

Louise explained why she started the business in  August 2011. She said : “I wanted a business that I could leave the corporate world that I live in and I wanted something that I could really ‘create’, something that reflected me and who I am. Even though I bought a going concern, I’ve spent a lot of time and effort making The Dragonfly a true reflection of my vision, and something that would grow with me as I moved away from the corporate work and my day-job at a blue chip company. I always loved shops of this kind, and thought about owning one myself. I used to spend weekends with my husband watching footfall into shops in various areas of Edinburgh.

“We used to sit in bus shelters or hang out in cafés getting a feel for the vibe in the area. This shop came onto the market and we loved the Bohemian feel of Broughton Street, where we had been, so I knew this was the one I liked the look of. The lady who owned it before had baby wear and cards, but we have extended the home range and we have more individual artists, perhaps our things are a little bit more unique.

“We probably have about half traditional suppliers and half independent suppliers. Some of the things we sell, people make themselves.

“I make candles too, so I understand smaller suppliers who fit us really well.”

She explained that the suppliers are independent and individual and I suggested that was probably a bit like Louise herself. She then explained she is also a mentor and helps with ESpark which mentors small businesses starting out. So occasionally if a supplier comes in with a new product which is perhaps not well packaged, but is a lovely product. She is able to help them with that, as well as selling their products for them.

There are a few trade shows that she goes to each year across the UK, but sometimes she gets emails from potential suppliers with new products to add to the already burgeoning range of gifts that The Dragonfly stocks. She is pretty discerning though.

Louise continued : “We have to see the quality, as it is the quality that is most important. If it is worthwhile then perhaps the producer can do something slightly different with it and I can make suggestions about that.”

The stockroom under the shop is packed with more lovely things, but there is usually one of everything on display.

Customers can buy online but the shop is also open seven days a week. The shop is packed with lovely things and Louise is keen that customers have a nice time when they are there.

“For me, it’s all about the customer and their experience. Our lovely customers are so important to us. A simple smile and hello, thank you and goodbye costs us nothing, but isn’t it always the simple things that work best?

“We want them to feel welcomed and relaxed when they come in to see us. We can leave them in their own world to mooch around, or help if they’ve got that challenging individual they need to buy the perfect gift for. Sometimes, we can offer a little inspiration and our suggestions often hit the spot perfectly.

“We work hard to maintain a mixed variety of stock, from traditional suppliers to small, independent artists. We want our customers to be happy with their purchases and to trust us so quality is vital. But that doesn’t have to come at a cost so we look around for affordable quality.”

The Dragonfly team consists of Sophie and Elfreda who do a split shift through the week, Marie (yes that’s Louise’s Mum) who helps cover holidays and joins her when she goes to trade fairs. With background help from Diego the technical expert, Jack the wages man and Louise’s husband, Brian who doubles up as the handy man…and Louise of course!

In Livewire Theatre’s Twelfth Night or The Ship of Fools, a shipwreck becomes a plane crash, a countess wields a hammer, and a duke’s palace is a funfair – though it’s not always very fun.

Shakespeare wrote Twelfth Night as an entertainment for the end of the Christmas season. It’s a comedy based on mistaken identity and anarchic uproar; Mary Tate’s production retains the play’s far-fetched plot but adds Gothic elements and some darker undercurrents.

When Viola thinks she’s the sole survivor of holiday flight 1212, she’s out of her sundress and into androgynous clothing in no time, and is soon employed as Duke Orsino’s manservant. The duke has convinced himself he’s in love with Countess Olivia, but she’s too busy grieving for her dead father and brother to countenance any romance. Instead she appears to be building a giant heart with the aid of a range of power tools. Yes, I think this could be a metaphor…

The count’s palace is occupied by a group of party people, who rush on and off the stage and all round the room causing mayhem. In Shakespeare’s original, Fabian and the clown Feste are Olivia’s servants; here they are joined by ‘The Fools’ Chorus’ of Lord Carrion, Lady Flyblown, Crowbait and Scavenger, macabre symbols of the decadence and decay that blights Illyria. As Lady Flyblown, Ottilie Whitwell brings to mind Helena Bonham Carter in her maddest Bellatrix Lestrange phase, all black lace and scary nails – and her steampunky friends are pretty frightening too. You certainly wouldn’t want to meet them in the Ghost Train, one of the rides set up in the palace theme park. James Hall, meanwhile, is a convincing Fabian, reincarnated as a wheeler dealer of the kind you might expect to meet in your local market – except this one’s dealing in body parts.

Sir Toby Belch, Olivia’s waster uncle, and his comrade-in-arms Sir Andrew Aguecheek, may hang about in the same bars, but in this production their characters are quite different. While Aguecheek is a rich buffoon, Belch is a sharp card, a black sheep who just can’t be bothered to fit in with his niece’s family. Giff Hogge brings real depth to this character; he may slob about in a tacky shell suit, have slightly-too-long-for-his-age hair and look permanently hungover, but he can flip from joker to psycho in moments. He’s a manipulating schemer, and when he threatens Malvolio, Olivia’s steward, (‘You. Ain’t. Nothing. But. A. Hound. Dog’) he is quietly terrifying.

There were a few hiccups in this, the first show in a seven day run, but all of them were well recovered. Props are good, in particular the parasol that morphs into a merry-go-round with the aid of some horse glove-puppets. The scene in which Belch and co spy on poor Malvolio from the Punch & Judy booth is clever, but whilst some of the dance numbers are amusing, I felt that there were a few too many 80s pop songs. Send in the Clowns, sung with deep irony, is very effective, but at times the inclusion of so many other tunes felt superfluous and slightly irritating. There’s also quite a lot of shouting, especially towards the end of the play; a little less might perhaps be more powerful.

Fabia Tate’s Viola is occasionally slightly wet, but her ‘Make me a willow cabin’ speech is beautifully delivered, and well complemented by the delicate music that accompanies it.

If Giff Hogge is one star of this show, the other is Henry Weston Davies as Malvolio. Pompous, foppish and camp, when Davies rushes on stage in a fur-edged dressing gown and red turban to chase the fools away he is more Coward than Noel himself. At other times he brings to mind Kenneth Branagh’s Gilderoy Lockhart or even Giles Brandreth (who has actually played Malvolio in a musical version of the play). His increasingly manic reading aloud of the letter he thinks Olivia has written to him is hilarious, but there’s more to Malvolio than that, and when he realises he is the victim of a cruel practical joke, Weston Davies shows us real pain and bitterness. Locked up (in the Punch and Judy booth) and tormented by his captors he cries;

‘This house is as dark as ignorance…………will no soul take pity on me?’

And even Belch realises he has gone too far.

The play relies, of course, on the fact that Viola and her (presumed drowned) brother Sebastian are identical twins.  In order to differentiate between the characters, Tate has Sebastian dressed in a hoodie and shades, which does make one wonder how anyone could ever mistake him for Viola/Cesario. But Twelfth Night is a comedy and we’re meant to suspend disbelief and go with the flow; after all, how else can we believe that Sebastian can’t recognise his own sister, or that Count Orsino, who’s been obsessed with Olivia, is suddenly completely OK with marrying Viola instead? The play’s original title is Twelfth Night, or What You Will; when almost everyone has been successfully paired off the cast sings;

‘But that’s all one, our play is done…’

Because Twelfth Night is just that, a play, an entertainment. Make of it what you will.

One last point; the noise from the show on the floor above this room was annoying, intrusive and very unfair on the cast (all of whom managed, to their credit, to remain audible). C Venues need to re-examine their programming, and I hope they are able to rearrange things to give Livewire the venue they deserve.

Twelfth Night or The Ship of Fools is at C Venues – C 2+, Chambers Street (Venue 34) at 1.35pm every day until Saturday 18 August. Tickets are available from Fringe Box Offices or online here.

Hidden Door is a name well known to those interested in arts or music in Edinburgh. In recent years they have grown from an experiment to an established festival in Scotland, moving from one careworn building to another in the process.

In the first year they began life in the Waverley Arches which are now thriving shops, and another year they took over empty spaces in King’s Stables Road.

There are about ten organisers throughout the year and the crew rises to about forty nearer the time of the festival itself. They want to register as a charity and the fundraising will help with that.

But the challenges of doing all of this with volunteers and unreliable funding has taken its toll. Organisers now want to put the festival on a more secure financial footing and are seeking fundraising of around £80,000 to ensure the future of one of Scotland’s most exciting arts events.

We spoke to Hidden Door’s David Martin about the crowdfunder which is now live on their website.

There is a range of packages available all offering some benefit in return for a donation, including invitations to exclusive events and VIP experiences, discounted tickets and behind the scenes access.

[tweet_box design=”default”]Become a Hidden Door Supporter, Member, Patron, Ambassador or Saviour in their new fundraising campaign which begins today. Visit www.savehiddendoor.com to help and donate. #SaveHiddenDoor [/tweet_box]

Last year the festival took up residence at Leith Theatre building bars with pallets and bringing the arts venue back to life.

Irvine Welsh, author and Patron of Leith Theatre, said: “The contribution that Hidden Door made when they worked with us to open up Leith Theatre last year and showcase its potential made an absolutely massive difference to the Trust’s progress. It’s important to support grassroot arts organisations who give space and a platform to emerging artists. I really hope they succeed in raising enough money to keep contributing to Edinburgh’s edgier and inclusive scene.”

Vic Galloway, DJ and presenter, BBC Scotland, said: “Hidden Door Festival is one of the most exciting and innovative events happening across Edinburgh’s vibrant arts calendar. I see its future and reputation growing in stature as it progresses forward, and I wholeheartedly support its vision. Scotland and Edinburgh especially needs this event to flourish and succeed!”

Jack Hunter, Chair of Leith Theatre Trust, said: “Hidden Door has been instrumental in our campaign to save the theatre, and generous in its time and support. We very much hope that it will succeed in its bid to raise funds and remain an exciting and passionate voice in Edinburgh and Scotland’s cultural scene.”

Visit www.savehiddendoor.com to find out more and donate.

Hidden Door is an arts organisation which aims to open up urban spaces as a platform for new and emerging artists, musicians, theatre makers, performers, film makers and poets. Through organising temporary events Hidden Door works to showcase new work and create engaging environments for the public to experience, explore and discover.

Website: http://www.savehiddendoor.com

Hashtag: #SaveHiddenDoor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hiddendoorarts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiddendoor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiddendoorarts