Tiernan Douieb transports his carefully-cultivated echo chamber to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, bringing with it a new hour of satirical gags and nonsense musings – if ignorance is bliss should we even know that? Can we learn to understand people we don’t agree with?

Should we even try if they are genuinely very annoying?

National identity, civilisation, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and the persuasive properties of raw tomatoes – comedian, writer, podcaster and prolific tweeter Tiernan continues his mission to complain about worldly political happenings in the friendliest and funniest manner possible.

Miserably Happy is Tiernan Douieb’s sixth solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe. His recent projects include: writing and producing his weekly podcast, Partly Political Broadcast, which combines jokes about the news with expert guest interviews; organising a series of shows in aid of Help Refugees with Jen Brister, featuring Sarah Millican, Dara O’Briain, Adam Hills, Shappi Khorsandi and many others at performances across the UK; supporting Frankie Boyle throughout his August 2016 run at the Soho Theatre; and co-running Comedy Club 4 Kids where he is resident MC, making small people laugh alongside comedians like Adam Buxton, Sofie Hagen, Nish Kumar and Josie Long.

Tiernan Douieb: Miserably Happy – 5 – 27 August
(not 15 or 19), 2.30pm, PBH Free Fringe, The Waverley Bar Upstairs Lounge

In the Grassmarket they are bringing back their ambassadors for the second year running. They will be able to guide the public and answer any questions on everything from transport to history. They will promote local markets and heritage trails and monitor any issues which need to be deal with such as litter or buskers who sing a bit too loud!

The scheme, funded jointly by the Council and Grassmarket BID, allows two ambassadors to afternoons and evenings from Thursday to Sunday throughout the festival period, from late July until mid-September.

Ambassadors will work alongside Police Scotland too, as part of a joint effort to support the balance between residential life and visitor attractions.

Last year residents reported that ambassadors helped deal with noise from buskers, and had a generally positive impact on the area.

Councillor Gavin Barrie, Convener of the Housing and Economy Committee, said: “We want to create a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone, whether they live here, work here or are visiting. Not only do the ambassadors offer a friendly, informative face in the busy Grassmarket, they help ensure the area is clean and welcoming throughout the summer months, when we welcome thousands of visitors to the capital.”

Fawns Reid, Greater Grassmarket Chair, added: “The Greater Grassmarket BID is really pleased this innovative collaboration with the City of Edinburgh Council is to continue for a second year. Everyone, our businesses, residents and visitors will all benefit from this extra help, at our busiest time of the year. Welcome back BID Ambassadors!”

Ambassadors, who will work between 2pm and 10pm, will be identifiable by blue fleeces marked ‘Grassmarket Ambassadors’. Their work will complement the ongoing Our Edinburgh campaign, which aims to discourage littering, fly-tipping and dog fouling amongst the public, as well as work between businesses and the community to improve the area for everyone.

I was listening to an old classic from Simon & Garfunkel this afternoon when my thoughts were drawn to the west end of Edinburgh. As the strains of ‘The Sound of Silence ‘ faded away, I couldn’t help but wonder what – if anything – was going on at Tynecastle.

It’s a sad when, after a busy morning, the first thing I did when I switched my phone on at lunchtime was to see if Hearts Head Coach Ian Cathro had left the club. He hadn’t. Despite another weekend of anguish for the followers of Heart of Midlothian there was no news of any sort emanating from Tynecastle. The sound of silence from the club is deafening…

Former Hearts captain Gary Mackay wasn’t slow to voice his opinion. The man with the record number of appearances in a maroon shirt told BBC Scotland that Hearts have made a mistake appointing Cathro and the club should admit it. However, Mackay’s former team-mate Craig Levein, now Director of Football at Tynecastle, has – so far – not complied.

The feel-good factor that Hearts have enjoyed for much of the last three years begun to evaporate at the beginning of 2017 and is in danger of disappearing altogether – something owner Ann Budge must be all too aware of. The fans group the Foundation of Hearts will take over the running of the club from Mrs Budge in due course and the majority of Hearts supporters have placed their faith in her. She rescued the club from extinction three years ago and her leadership has not only resulted in Hearts emerging from the Ladbrokes Championship to a top six place in the Premiership but the creation of a brand new main stand, due to be partially opened in less than six weeks.

However, there seems little doubt Hearts have hit the reverse gear in recent months. Robbie Neilson’s departure as Head Coach at the end of November last year appeared to have been triggered by the actions of some disgruntled supporters, some of whom hired a plane to fly over Tynecastle with a banner which displayed ‘No Style, No Bottle. Neilson Out’. Neilson’s replacement has hardly been top of the popularity stakes with the Hearts support – like Neilson, getting knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Hibernian meant his status was damaged irrevocably.

Cathro has been a coach at some top clubs, including Newcastle United. But it seems his credibility as Head Coach at Hearts is difficult to accept for some players and certainly much of the support. Last season ended in huge disappointment despite promise shown in victories over Motherwell and, in particular, Rangers who were hammered 4-1 by Cathro’s side in February. The cup defeat at Easter Road signalled the start of a malaise and Craig Levein admitted that bringing in so many foreign players on short-terms deal last term was a mistake.

The Director of Football owned up to that one – and now it’s time to fess up to another one. Hearts were distinctly average against League Two side Elgin City two weeks ago; not much better against East Fife; absolutely shocking in losing to League Two Peterhead last week and unable to deal with a Dunfermline Athletic team who outfought their hosts at Tynecastle on Saturday. Cathro’s decision to drop Jamie Walker for the Dunfermline game – if indeed it was his decision – backfired. Walker may not have been at the top of his game but he is always capable of scoring goals. If a point had to be made why not drop Walker to the substitute’s bench and bring him on if the team was in dire straits – as it patently was on Saturday?

Without the width Walker provides with his forward runs, Hearts resorted to long punts up the park to a bewildered Kyle Lafferty and an out-of-sorts Isma Goncalves, a player clearly lacking in confidence. Not that Cathro seemed to notice.

The decision to play John Souttar at the weekend was another decision which backfired. The young defender was at fault for both Dunfermline goals and it seems the former Dundee United man is some way from the fitness required.

Hearts, under Cathro, have become an embarrassment. A Betfred Cup section containing three part-time teams – two in the fourth tier of Scottish football – and a team from the Championship shouldn’t have been too problematic for a side in the Premiership. Not to finish top of the section is bad enough. To fail to finish second is humiliating. Can you imagine if this was Hibernian – how much mickey-taking would Hearts fans be doing right now?

What is adding fuel to a rapidly developing fire is the lack of reaction from the club to the crisis. Even a statement saying the Board were backing Ian Cathro, while not being popular, would at least be keeping the fans – who have parted with hard-earned cash not only for Betfred Cup ties and season tickets but also towards the Foundation of Hearts – informed and updated.

But, for now, the sound of silence from Tynecastle is worrying. With a trip to champions Celtic looming another part of the lyrics from that Simon & Garfunkel song may be more relevant on Saturday evening – hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again.

Or not…

At Stockbridge Church on Friday 4 August they will be recording BBC One’s Songs of Praise from 7pm to 10pm.

Admission is free and the music is to be part of a special programme to mark the 70th year of Edinburgh Festivals. Each year since 1947 the festival has opened with a service at St Giles Cathedral.

The Blind Boys of Alabama and comedy writer Paul Kerensa will also be featured in the programme.

Series Producer  Matthew Napier says: “This recording is a wonderful opportunity for local singers to come together for an evening of music-making for broadcast on BBC One. Songs of Praise has been championing Christian music for over 55 years and continues to be enormously popular due to recordings like these and we really hope you can come along.”

To apply, please send your name and the number of people taking part to SOPcongregations@avantimedia.tv or call 07704 202409. Please include ‘Edinburgh Recording’ in your subject header.

Stockbridge Church is at 7b Saxe Coburg Street, Edinburgh EH3 5BN

The 36 bus passes the end of the Saxe Coburg Street.  Buses 29, 42 and 24 stop nearby in Kerr Street and the 23 and 27 buses also stop nearby, at the bottom of Dundas Street which is about a 5 minute walk away.

A public art installation created by Edinburgh secondary school pupils is now open at Old College Quad

The Edinburgh International Festival unveiled Blueprint for the Future today. It is a free art installation which shows off both creative writing and visual art by some of Edinburgh’s young people.

It all sits within a specially made pavilion made by Old School Fabrications in the University of Edinburgh’s Old College Quad.

Inspired by imagined letters from their future selves, this exhibition of  prints conveys how the young people might advise, warn and inspire themselves, and shape the years to come.

The creative writing and visual art project asked teenagers from nine secondary schools across Edinburgh to consider how they might impact the future. The resultant installation charts the hopes and dreams of its artists, allowing visitors to explore how young people perceive their adult lives unfolding.

Young people aged 14 and 15 from high schools including Broughton, Firrhill, Castlebrae, Gracemount, Holyrood, Liberton, Royal High, St Thomas of Aquins and Tynecastle created the artworks on display, working with six professional artists based in Edinburgh to consider their present and future selves.

Combining the art of letter writing with cyanotype printing, an early form of blueprinting, pupils created their own letters and then used these as the inspiration behind the cyanotype prints on display. The final exhibition reveals the funny, secretive, ambitious, and self-conscious observations of the authors, providing a candid insight into the teenage psyche.  The exhibition is free to view and will be open to the public until 28 August.

The project was created by the International Festival’s Creative Learning team and is inspired by Letters Live, the much-loved celebration of written correspondence presented by Canongate Books which appears at the International Festival on Sunday 27 August. Each show features a range of performers giving live readings of letters from across the centuries and all around the globe, from Brontë to Bowie and Eisenhower to Elvis.

Sally Hobson, Head of Creative Learning at Edinburgh International Festival said: “The International Festival works with young people throughout the city on a year round programme of inspiring projects. Blueprint for the Future, based on aspirational ideas, has given young people in schools the opportunity to explore their perceptions of the world and their very personal hopes and fears for the future.  We are delighted to present these ideas and insights in the heart of the city, in the grounds of the University of Edinburgh’s Old College for the duration of August.”

This year’s International Festival opens this Friday 4 August and runs until 28 August. For more information, please visit eif.co.uk.

Hearts have announced that striker Bjorn Johnsen has left Tynecastle and has signed for Dutch Eredivisie side ADO Den Haag for a fee which has been described as ‘undisclosed’.

The Norwegian-American made 37 appearances for the Maroons, scoring six goals but despite early promise, never fulfilled the early potential shown.

A well-publicised spat with Hearts Head Coach Ian Cathro during a game against St Johnstone at the end of last season meant there was no way back for the big striker at Tynecastle.

Brigadier David Allfrey, The Chief Executive and Producer of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, welcomed the press to the Royal Gallery this morning. There was a threat of rain at any moment, but enough sunshine appeared for the photographers to make it look like a real summer’s day.

The Tattoo has a well-worn format, with dancers, music by a wide variety of military bands, projections on to the Castle and of course the fireworks at the end.

Brigadier Allfrey is just back from the Gulf States as his job is to sell the Tattoo around the world, and attract to it the world class talent it is renowned for.

We spoke to the Brigadier (who tweets as @TopTattoo) afterwards on the castle esplanade where the crowds flocking to the castle got a little preview of some of the acts taking part in the spectacle from Friday night onwards.

He said in typically descriptive fashion : “This is now the recreational time of year as all the ingredients are in place and our wonderful team at Cockburn Street, only 23 on the staff have done extraordinary things bringing everybody together. It is like television cooking now, all the ingredients are in a bowl and we are just about to make the dish!”

On the matter of the clans’ involvement this year Brigadier Allfrey is very enthusiastic. He said :”This year we are celebrating Scotland’s heritage and history so it was absolutely critical to involve the clans and the families. So we have been in conversation now for nearly two years with the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.

“57 clans will be represented and with an early offer on tickets many clans people are coming in from all over the world. Those who are joining us for the retinue as we are calling it will be parading with their chiefs from the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle where they will be welcomed by the Governor of this great castle.

“They are going to patrol down through the castle precincts guarded by our own house clan and then at the right moment after a great shout the doors will open and they are going to come out onto the esplanade.

“They will then take up position either side of the red carpet; the Salute Taker will arrive and be introduced to the chiefs of the evening. There will be two or three clans each evening. He will be given a presentation and becomes a chieftain for the evening and then takes the salute from the Royal Navy guard of honour and then he and the chiefs then make their way up to the Royal Gallery to enjoy the show. We are so thrilled to be hosting them these 3,000 clansmen and women.”

Brigadier David Allfrey speaking about the 2017 Tattoo from Phyllis Stephen on Vimeo.

Some of the highlights :

Paying tribute to HMS Queen Elizabeth the new aircraft carrier out on sea trials

The Massed Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines

The Queen’s Colour Squadron and the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment

The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland

Brigadier Allfrey had explained at the press conference some of what we can expect this year, and began by telling us that military contributions to the festivals began in 1947 and of course the Edinburgh Festivals are celebrating their 70th year. But the Tattoo isn’t!

The man responsible for the whole event told us why : “The Tattoo decided to go its own way in 1950 and so this is only the 68th season of the Tattoo, but I hope we will be in our 19th consecutive sell-out year. Ticket sales are remarkably at 98% this morning.”

This is big business. An audience of 220,000 will see the event across the next month which means around 8,800 people every night. Some 3,500 VIPs will get up to the Royal Gallery where the press event was held (with great bacon rolls from Contini!). That number includes the Salute Takers and in addition there are royal visits planned this year.

Allfrey continued : “We entertain senior guest from defence, from Foreign Affairs from the world of business trade and investment. Tourism is important as the Tattoo draws tourists into Scotland but also encourages people from our great islands to travel to those countries that have contributed.

“Our viewer numbers usually get to around 592 million when we reach the news channels in China. We are really proud of being a flag carrier for Scotland and Great Britain.

“We make an important contribution to the economy, and while numbers vary we believe that the impact is between £77 million and £100 million into the Scottish economy each year. We think we are an important reason for people to come to Scotland and enjoy our country.

“We are about  bringing people together. We live in a global village and we don’t get on all of the time, but it is our experience that if you know your neighbours better then you can resolve differences more easily.  Our strapline is ‘Arrive as Strangers and leave as friends’.”

Anyone who has been on the Castle Esplanade at the Tattoo will tell you that you meet people from all corners of the globe, some it has to be said more prepared for the likely weather up there than others.

ROYAL NAVY

The Brigadier said that this year it is the Royal Navy which is being brought to the fore. He carried on : “With the Royal Navy in the lead this year we have three Royal Marine bands, and of course the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth out in the North Sea on sea trials and HMS Prince of Wales across in Rosyth still in the course of being built.

Admiral Sir Philip Jones, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, said: “The Royal Navy is thrilled to be taking centre stage at this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Last month, the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth began her sea trials in the Firth of Forth, and this month steel was cut on the River Clyde for HMS Glasgow, the first of a new generation of fighting ships. This is a new chapter for Scottish industry and for the Royal Navy, and we are delighted to share our excitement with friends from around the world.

“Every day, Scottish-based sailors, submariners and Royal Marines are working at home and around the world to protect and promote the United Kingdom’s place in the world. They are some of the finest ambassadors our country could wish for and a wonderful programme of maritime pageantry and spectacle is in store.”

“And one of our aircraft is here! The £1 million model F35 which is an exact replica, is hoisted up under the stand at the entrance. It weighs 10 tonnes and  is a lovely way of making a statement about our partnership with the Royal Navy this year as everyone passes through the entrance.”

A big part of the show has to do with Scottish clans. Brigadier Allfrey explained their involvement : “We have 57 clans who will join us over the course of the run, that is 3,000 clansmen and women who are going to meet each evening in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle and then patrol down through the Castle precincts to greet our Salute Taker each night. They will then pronounce the Salute Taker a chieftain for the evening. That is going to be very special, as not only are they coming to the Tattoo itself but there is a whole range of family events planned around Scotland too.

“The clans will start the show each evening, although we rather coldly describe the start of the show as the preliminaries since it takes place before the show actually starts.

“They are going to to be hosted every night  in the Great Hall by the Governor and their own clan chiefs will join us. They will patrol down through the castle precincts with our own house clan guarding and caring for them as they do so.

“The audience will get a great shout as they assemble the other side of the drawbridge and they will play out onto the Esplanade behind their own pipers and standards to take the places either side of the red carpet to welcome the evening’s Salute Taker.

“It is tremendous to go through the histories of all these clans and this has been a journey for all of us.  You just have to look at the colour on the clan pages and their tartans to get a sense of their part in everything.

“I would like to focus on the international contribution. It feels an incredibly international year. We have Monaco for one night only on our opening night. The Orchestre des Carabiniers du Prince au Monaco will accompany guests from the Principality to give the audience a touch of Mediterranean sunshine and glamour against a backdrop of yachts and casinos on the Castle façade.

We are very thrilled that the principality is going to be involved. Japan who have never been to the Tattoo before are coming. For those who may not be aware of it military music in Japan was brought into being in the  1890s by a British director of music and we are thrilled that Japan will be represented this year with a singer who has the voice of an angel.

Other countries being represented include the USA, Malta, four pipes and drums from Australia, pipes and drums from Germany and dancers from Canada.

This year the proceedings will start with a fanfare as normal but this year it is a fanfare for the Oceans and it is a drummers’ fanfare. The Brigadier described it : “You will sense from the percussion the deep waves building in the ocean and then crashing on our shores as it runs up the gravel of the shoreline.”

And he warned against thinking that anything was random in the Tattoo : “When dancers dance through a military band it is not just a mere theatrical device, it is about showing and demonstrating what our military is representative of. And let me tell you that the members of the fFanfare Band of the 9th French Marine Infantry Brigade are not just musicians, they are some of the fittest individuals who run up and down Arthur’s Seat.” The band is travelling from Poitiers to be part of the Tattoo.

Shetland Fiddlers ‘Hjaltibonhoga’ have brought a longship ‘The Mirrie Dancer’ from Shetland with them, along with a Viking Jarl Squad for protection, to celebrate the invasions and settlement of their islands.

Brigadier Allfrey is all in favour of the violins : “The lovely thing about the fiddle of course is that it gives the music another layer. Music from military bands, from the brass bands is all fine and dandy, but you need the lovely softening that the string instruments give and I think it gives us something more creative to play with in the middle.”

As for the dancing there will be 50 Highland Dancers from the Tattoo Dance Company, drawn from talent across the world, who will perform to a colourful score written especially for Splash of Tartan by Scottish composer Finlay MacDonald.

The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland will bring their own wonderful style and music to a re-enactment of an ‘Ambush in the Glen’ – a light take on a dramatic moment during the Jacobite Risings.

Brigadier Allfrey said :”It would not be a Tattoo without some gentle warfare with the lightest touch in the performance. The band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland will help to tell the story of  the government troops being ambushed by Highlanders during the show.

The Castle Esplanade will be transformed into a Highland glen with illustrations from Scottish artist ‘Stref’ – best known for his cartoons in The Dandy, The Beano, The Broons and Oor Wullie – while The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland tell a tale of the Jacobites.

Activity aboard the new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will be depicted on the esplanade. First the band of the Royal Air Force regiment and the Queen’s Colour Squadron will demonstrate that the RAF will be playing a part in flying the F35 from the deck of the carrier.

Allfrey continued : “There are about 800 musicians involved, along with the choir from Erskine Stewart Melville school and a big stage band who will be situated on the new Moat Stage which is tucked away during the day but which emerges as the lights go down.

“And at the end barely visible up on the battlements the lone piper will bring the programme to a close with the lament.

“I am even more excited than normal this year and in particular about the music will I think surprise everybody.”

“What we are finding is that an increasing number of countries want to be represented here and they are often asking if they can be in the show, rather than us having to ask. We are booked already for several years to come!”

With a nod to the future we are told that there is a five to ten year innovation programme which is ongoing. The Moat Stage is now in place.

FREE WIFI

But this year there will be free wifi on the esplanade this year provided by the same company who provide EDI Free Wifi. And an app will be launched too  recognising that many people enjoy the spectacle by texting their friends while they are watching the show.

Brigadier Allfrey concluded : “We are on the threshold of August now and look forward to the month ahead and what is being presented.”

TICKETS

Some tickets for the 2017 Tattoo (4 – 26 August), priced £25 to £300, can still be purchased online at www.edintattoo.co.uk/tickets, or by telephone on +44 (0)131 225 1188, or in person from the Tattoo Ticket Sales Office at 1 Cockburn Street in Edinburgh.

The Scottish SPCA is appealing to animal lovers in Edinburgh to help animals in their care by donating prizes for their Scottish Animal Week open day raffle!

Scotland’s animal welfare charity is hosting open days at their centres throughout Scotland on 10 September to encourage the public to come along to meet the animals who are in their care.

Centre Manager Diane Aitchison is appealing for kind hearted locals to donate. Diane said, “We’re looking forward to the open day and we’re hoping it’ll encourage people to rehome an animal!

“We’ll be running different events on the day and would really appreciate any donations for the raffle.

“The money raised on the day will help the abused, abandoned and injured animals who are in the care of the centre.

“As an animal welfare charity we receive no government or lottery funding so we rely entirely on the support of the public.”

Donations can be handed into the centre in Balerno which is located on Mansfield Road.

For more information on Scottish SPCA fundraising events please email fundraising@scottishspca.org or call fundraising on 03000 999 999 (option 4).

Photo by Scottish SPCA

Edinburgh was an unlikely place for the largest arts festival in the world to begin, 70 years ago. Yet the project has proved an ever record-breaking  success, despite the rain and umbrella-tossing wind which blows in from the North Sea for much of the three weeks of fun.

This year, appropriately, the central theme of the official festival is “Europe”.  The Irish director Fergus Linehan has brought in operas and orchestras from Italy, Hungary and Norway and theatre and dance shows from 40 different countries.   On the huge Fringe, which now dwarfs the official festival, performers are trooping in from over 60 countries.

And yes, there will be one or two mentions of Brexit. How ironic it is that Britain should be leaving the European Union, just as the festival is celebrating 70 years since it began as a vehicle to bring Europe together after the Second World War.

As I say, dour, cold, windy Edinburgh was an unlikely place to start a festival. But it was one of the few major cities in Britain not to be heavily bombed in the war and it is blessed with a suitable physique – dramatic hills, a proper castle and palace, and a compact city centre that can be walked around in 15 minutes.

But it wasn’t only these physical qualities that caused the greatest show on earth. It was the inspiration of two men – again unlikely heroes. One wasn’t even born here. Rudolf Bing was an Austrian Jew who fled Nazi Germany before the war and became an impresario in London. He started the Glyndebourne Festival and then turned his attention to Edinburgh, simply because he liked the place.  His allay was John Falconer, a quiet Edinburgh lawyer who was Lord Provost at the time and managed to persuade every single member of the council that a festival was a good idea.

Rudolf brought the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and stars like Kathleen Ferrier and Alec Guinness to that first Edinburgh Festival. It proved a success.  He organised another festival the following year and so it has growed, like Topsy.

Sir Rudolf Bing himself went on to run the Metropolitan Opera in New York for more than 20 years and ended his life rather sadly suffering from Altzheimer’s disease.  At the age of 85, and after the death of his first wife, the Russian ballerina Nina Schelemskaja, he was hi-jacked into a second marriage by a mad 45 year old woman Carroll Douglass who took him off to live with her on an island in the Caribbean. A court later ruled that the marriage was null and void and friends took the poor old man back to New York where he died in 1997.

But his legacy lives on, in the music and the theatre and the dance. And, as usual, there is some edgy stuff this year. There’s a disturbing new play by Alan Ayckbourn  “The Divide” which looks into a future where romance is banned because of fear of passing on a fatal disease.  Eugene Ionesco’ play “Rhinoceros” is revived to remind us of the horrors of life under the Nazis. And then there is pop – with singers PJ Harvey, and Jarvis Cocker – and a couple of surrealist dance troops, one from the Netherlands and Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker’s Rosas company from Belgium.

The Festival Fringe began as just eight cheeky theatre companies nudging in, uninvited, to the first Edinburgh Festival. It’s now grown to 3,398 shows at 300 venues with a total of 53,000 performances.

There’s everything on the Fringe, from classical music, to children’s shows, musicals to gymnastics, Jane Austin to stand-up comedy.  35 per cent of the shows are now comedy. This year we have appearances from Ruby Wax, Sue Perkins, Clive Anderson. There are plenty of Brexit-inspired shows, like “Border Tales” and “Ballot Box” and a Brexit musical by Chris Bryant. Donald Trump is another star, with several shows devoted to bursting that particular balloon.

There is also an art festival and a book festival going on at the same time, and a military Tattoo on the castle esplanade. Edinburgh doubles in population during August, reaching close to the one million mark. Hotels, B&Bs, student halls, friend’s front rooms are all fully occupied. Restaurants and pubs are packed. The Royal Mile is crowded with people watching the street performers. This year the mile is interrupted by temporary bollards to guard against vehicle attacks by terrorists. It’s one of the fears haunting Europe after the attacks in Nice, Berlin and London.

The last time anyone calculated it (in 2015), the 12 festivals Edinburgh now stages through the year, Hogmany included, bring in £313m to the Scottish economy and create 6,000 jobs. It’s a huge business and a honey-pot of talent, and all in this apparently quiet Presbyterian city on the edge of Europe.

Welcome to a vibrational revolution of being, channelled by a goddess.
Part electro-ritual, part theremin-experiment, part light-fantastic.

Lucy Hopkins embodies the Fringe’s most relentlessly in-touch-with-herself
spirit guide – swinging raven hair, intense staring eyes, and physically retching
with the sheer effort of simply existing. Inspired by a retelling of human
history that takes in ancient Greek concepts of mythos and logos, the uncanny
wisdom of witches and the renaissance rejection of superstition, she is painfully
aware that our collective energies are dangerously unbalanced

Harmony can only be restored through the reunification of the sacred
feminine with the sacred masculine. The ritual required to enact this spiritual
reckoning demands physical contortions, symbolic acts, and the audience’s total
commitment to co-creating a new reality. Everything we do has meaning – if you
know how to read the signs.

Powerful Women Are About is ultra-conscious comedy by an award-winning, internationally-touring, terribly present clown. Come as you are. Leave transformed.

This is Lucy Hopkins’ second solo show. Her debut show Le Foulard (The Veil) won Best Theatre Performer Adelaide Fringe 2013, Prague Fringe Creative Award and Bedfringe Pick of the Fest culminating in a run at Soho Theatre.

Lucy performs with and directs companies and artists across Europe including:
Spymonkey (UK), Caroline Horton (UK), Compagnie Interface (Switzerland), Entre
Escombros (Spain), Babakas (UK). She is also known as Aunty Val in Spencer
Jones’s Christmas short (Sky TV) and Charlie Chuck’s assistant Mary.

Lucy is performing Powerful Women Are About as part of Heroes of Fringe.  Heroes of
Fringe champions creativity and financially sustainable practice for artists, and pioneered the Pay What You Want model at the Edinburgh Fringe. For more information on the Heroes Manifesto and their 66 show line up for 2017 go to:  www.heroesoffringe.com

 Edinburgh Fringe: 3 – 27 August (except 9 & 16), 5pm, Heroes @ The Hive (Venue 313)

Hibs’ fan Hugh Cockburn has completed his latest charity bike ride in memory of fellow St Patrick’s Branch member Shaun McKinley who sadly passed away after a brave fight with cancer on 31 Dec 2016.

Last week Hugh rode from his home in Sunderland to Berwick where he visited Shielfield Park, the home of Berwick Rangers as part of his campaign to visit every Scottish football stadium.

The trip took two days with 85 miles covered last Thursday and 109 miles covered on the return leg the following day.

Next month he intends to visit the stadiums of  Dunfermline, Cowdenbeath, Raith, East Fife, Alloa, Stirling Albion, Stenhousemuir and Falkirk.

Earlier this year, fittingly on the anniversary of Hibs’ Scottish Cup win, Hugh completed a charity bike ride of 152 miles, visiting 12 stadiums between Easter Road and Hampden Park raising over £1000 for Sarcoma cancer uk.

Hugh told the Edinburgh Reporter: ” When I heard Shaun had cancer I was devastated for him and his lovely family.

“I attended Shaun’s funeral and the turnout was amazing and I realised then that I wanted to do something to ‘honour’ him and the McKinley family.

“It has been in the back of my mind to attempt to cycle to all the senior Football grounds in Scotland but the logistics and ‘time away’ from family is a concern. I decided that it is possible to do in stages.

“I am hoping to do another stage sometime next month, which will include the Fife clubs. All stages will be in memory of Shaun, as the banner says, “Shaun McKinley, live forever”

Three years ago, Hugh took part in a charity bike ride from London to Edinburgh to raise funds for the St Patrick’s Branch of the Hibs’ Supporters Club’s campaign to purchase a fitting memorial to club legend Dan McMichael.

The 444 mile journey began at Tower Bridge on Friday 3 May 2013, and Hugh averaged well over 100 miles per day before arriving in the capital on the following Monday.

The cycle is a sponsored event in aid of cancer, so if you can, please give any contribution by visiting the St Patrick’s Branch donation page and mark your donation Hugh’s Shaun McKinley cancer appeal.

Donations can also be made on Shaun’s Just Giving page.

After years selling out shows in Australia’s biggest festivals, Sam Garlepp is probably still a comedian you haven’t heard of. Until now.

Edinburgh Renaissance Band’s Musical Migrants: shawm to serpent, cornett to crumhorn, rebec to recorder, this is the music of travelling composers and performers in Mediaeval and Renaissance Europe, brought to life by a dozen players and singers with period instruments of every imaginable kind.

Longest-running and pioneers, Edinburgh Renaissance Band has been delighting Fringe audiences since 1973 – not a year missed – with almost the same personnel, but a new programme for every Festival. We were also, we believe, the first group to present late-night shows, at an outrageous 10.30pm.

Between Festivals, we have performed in most parts of Scotland, elsewhere in the UK, and in France, Italy, Germany, Sweden and the Czech Republic.

A theme for our time.
Given current political events on both sides of the Atlantic, our Musical Migrants theme this year was irresistible. Throughout medieval and renaissance times, distinguished musicians – migrants – travelled or were head-hunted to courts, churches and palaces all over Europe, where they were welcomed for the prestige they brought to their new employers.

The huge variety of instruments.
Between us, we play instruments from every family: cornetts, sackbuts, (and a serpent has been sighted), viols, violins, rebecs, shawms, crumhorns, curtals, racketts, recorders, gemshorns, varied percussion (as far as we know, the only Nepalese nakers ever to appear on the Fringe.)

Family-friendly music.
Musical Migrants isn’t like most classical music concerts. Our audiences love director Murray Campbell’s good-humoured presentation – interesting, funny, and full of information. During intervals and after the show, the musicians are always around and happy to chat about music and instruments. For children and young people of all ages, this is the perfect introduction to early music.

The Band is also presenting an Early Dance Workshop in new St Cecilia’s Hall

Edinburgh Renaissance Band – Passion and Manners
This workshop is suitable for anyone looking for a fun afternoon of unfamiliar dances, while still providing challenges for experienced dancers. Led by early dance specialist Robin Benie (Regency Waltz, BBC4 with Lucy Worsley) and joined by Edinburgh Renaissance Band plus Polyhymnia dancers in costume. Based on published Italian 16th century choreographies (see where film and TV get it wrong) and guides to manners, e.g., how to behave if a princess should gatecrash your party. This is for everyone interested in the music, dance, theatre or history of the period.

Performance details.
Edinburgh Renaissance Band’s Musical Migrants
artSpace@St Marks (St Mark’s Unitarian Church, Castle Terrace, Edinburgh)
(Venue 125)
Wednesday 16th August, 16:30-17:30 and 20:30-21:30
Thursday 17th August, 16:30-17:30
Friday 18th August, 16:30-17:30
Ticket Prices £10, (Concessions £8) (Under 18s free of charge)

Edinburgh Renaissance Band: Passion and Manners
16th Century Dance Workshop led by Robin Benie
St Cecilia’s Hall, Niddry Street, Edinburgh (Venue 77)
Sunday 20th August, 13:00-17:00
Ticket Prices £25, (Concessions £20) (Under 18s free of charge)

Tickets here

Does the 2040 ban on new petrol and diesel cars mean the death of biofuels?

Raffaella Ocone, Heriot-Watt University

One question that arises from the announcement by the UK government that new diesel and petrol cars will be banned by 2040 is what it means for biofuels. If cars running on fossil fuels will be substituted by electric cars, it could imply that all liquid transport fuels will be eliminated.

Around 5% of the volume of the average British tank of petrol or diesel comes from biofuels at present. It is produced from various sources, including corn, wheat, sugar beet and waste ranging from rotten vegetables to used cooking oil.

Biofuels in the UK by feedstock type

The large-scale use of biofuels dates back to the 1970s, when they were first introduced in Brazil through government incentives to build vehicles that could run on 100% ethanol produced mainly from sugar cane. Brazil remains a leader in biofuels, despite ups and downs over the years. More than a quarter of petrol content must comprise ethanol – and most vehicles can run 100% ethanol if they choose to.

Elsewhere biofuels have enjoyed varying fortunes. They became a popular possible alternative in the 1990s as a consequence of the rise in the oil price. More recently, more than 60 countries across the world require some blend of biofuels at the fuel pumps as part of their commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and have also launched biofuel production programmes.

Yet progress has become very slow in many countries. Among the reasons are the period of low oil prices and the fact that it uses much more farmland to increase biofuel proportions in fuel tanks.

Biofuels RIP?

So will anyone bother to keep striving towards sustainable liquid fuels now that the end of petrol/diesel vehicles appears in sight? The answer has to be yes, for a couple of important reasons.

The first is hybrid vehicles, which have been far more successful than purely electric ones to date. These engines that run on a combination of liquid fuels and recharged batteries will play a major part in the transition towards complete electrification. If the UK is to move towards a complete ban on fossil fuels in transport, new hybrids are likely to increasingly depend on biofuels.

The second point is that the transport system is about far more than roads. Aviation, shipping and haulage are all significant and they have a much more limited scope for electrification. They will continue to rely heavily on liquid fuels – to which end the US navy recently launched its first biofuel-powered aircraft carrier, for example.

So if we’re still going to need biofuels, how do we make the most of them? I was a member of a working group of the Royal Academy of Engineering that recently produced a report about the sector commissioned by the UK’s departments for transport and energy.

The report, which involved a meta-study of a number of research papers about the sector, said biofuels would undoubtedly play an important role in meeting the UK`s commitments towards climate change. It called for a combination of incentives and careful regulation to avoid risks and unintended consequences, such as crops being diverted from food production.

It proposed incentives to encourage so-called second-generation biofuels – those which predominantly come from waste and have a far better emissions profile than biofuels from dedicated crops such as soya or corn. It proposed to incentivise growing biofuel crops on land that was unsuitable for food production, while generally capping crop-based biofuels to help prevent them from taking up space that could be for food crops. It also proposed that the minimum blend level in the UK be increased from its current 4.75% (more work is required to determine what might be realistic).

If the government approached biofuels in this way, there could be indirect benefits – giving farmers an extra incentive to plant more crops, for example, as well as improving crop yields and making farming processes more efficient. The amount of land dedicated to farming could also rise as a result.

My message is therefore that we will need biofuels for the foreseeable future despite the UK government’s 2040 ban. By prioritising the right kinds of biofuels through subsidies and caps, we can minimise their drawbacks and maximise their advantages over petroleum fuels. The 2040 ban, far from meaning the end of liquid biofuels, should be seen as an important opportunity for the sector.

Raffaella Ocone, Chair of Chemical Engineering, Heriot-Watt University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

HOT NEW SKETCH DUO SETS SAIL FOR EDINBURGH

SHIP’S DEBUT COMBINES CALAMITOUS CHARACTERS, HILARIOUS SONGS AND DELIGHTFUL SURPRISES IN THIS MUSICAL STORY TELLING SKETCH SHOW

EDINBURGH FRINGESouthsider Pub (Venue 148)3-7 West Richmond Street,Edinburgh, EH8 9EF5-26 August (not 14, 21)2:10pmRunning time: 50 min

Cathy Young trained at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, before joining the English National Opera as a Harewood Artist. Aside from her singing career, she is an experienced actress, writer and comedic improviser, having appeared both on stage and screen. She is a core member of the improv team Geraldyne, who will also be performing at this year’s fringe.

A 45-year-old man has been charged in connection with the death of a man in the capital and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today.

‎The incident happened at a house on Guardwell Glen, Edinburgh, just after 11pm on Saturday 29 July, when the 34-year-old was discovered with serious injuries.

Emergency services attended and the man was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, however he passed away a short time later.

The Debut Solo Show Neighbours’ Pinhead

Featuring real on-stage stunts – it’s totally bananas!

Nathan Lang (Pinhead from Neighbours) brings his debut solo show to the Edinburgh Fringe: The absurd tale of The Stuntman, told through clowning, characters, mime, sketches, physical comedy and real onstage stunts. It’s totally bananas!

MORE ABOUT NATHAN LANG

Nathan Lang (born Nathan Godkin in Melbourne) played Pinhead on Australian soap Neighbours (1998-2000), as well as guest parts on many Aussie TV shows, before relocating to the UK and marrying Scottish actor Shelley Lang (River City). In 2009 he reunited with Neighbours star Mark Little (Joe Mangel) in a London fringe theatre production of Cosi. In clowning he has trained with John Wright, Spymonkey, Doctor Brown and Nola Rae. He is also highly skilled in stand-up, sketch, improvisation and Shakespeare.

Nathan is the host of London’s beloved alternative comedy night Lost Cabaret, co-founder of international clown theatre company Farce Forward, and half of sketch comedy duo Jon & Nath (Jon & Nath Like To Party also at Edinburgh Fringe).

He will soon be seen in Yorgos Lanthimos’ (The Lobster) highly anticipated feature film The Favourite (2018) with Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone.

TITLE:        The Stuntman

DATES/TIMES:       16th to 27h August at 13:30 (50 mins)

VENUE/TICKETS:  The Free Sisters (Venue 272) – Maggie’s Front Room

39 Cowgate Edinburgh EH1 1JS – FREE!

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/stuntman

http://www.freefestival.co.uk/show.asp?ShowID=4977

Lots of people having fun in Holyrood Park earlier today when they took part in an untimed 5K when fun is all important.

Many raised money while doing so, wearing their charity vests and running across the finish line.

Police are appealing for information to help trace missing Marcin Rajkowski, aged 34, who was last seen on Mossgiel Walk, Edinburgh at 1am, Sunday 30 July.

Marcin is described as white, 5’6” tall, with blonde hair, wearing blue jeans, white t-shirt, black coat and grey trainers.

Marcin has links to the Livingston area.

Insp Trevis said: “We are conducting a number of enquiries in Edinburgh and Livingston as part of our efforts to trace Marcin and would urge anyone who may have seen him to contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number ‎0314 of 30 July.

It’s just another Sunday morning for the Easy Sister goddesses: ill-advised Jägerbombs, lost tampons and wanking mermaids are behind them. But little do they know, something catastrophic, world destroying and likely to be dressed in a crotch-hugging pant suit, is about to cause havoc. Something the Easy Sisters must defeat despite their hangovers. Never underestimate the power of social media, modern dating, political correctness – and disco biscuits.  Sounds like an intriguing hour at tea-time awaits!

Venue: Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22 George Street (Venue 6) ǀ 14-28 August 2017 ǀ 5.15pm (60 mins)

 Tickets here

Civil Service Strollers got their Scottish Lowland League campaign off to a winning start and picked up three points on the road on Saturday at Gretna 2008.

The game started with both teams playing some good football and creating chances. In the opening fifteen minutes, Gretna were on top, but Civil settled in the game and started to pass the ball around well.

Just as it looked like the teams would go in level at the interval David Churchill fired Strollers in front. He picked up on a loose ball on the edge of the box and his shot nestled in the back of the net.

Into the second half and Churchill was again in the thick of the action, but this time received a red card for an off the ball incident. This spurred Gretna on, and they created some good chances, but Stuart Burnside in in the Strollers goal was equal to them.

The best came from Tommy Whitehead when he was picked the ball up in the box, and his shot from point blank range was stopped by the keeper.

Moments later Burnside again had to react quickly when a Jamie Hope shot looked like it was going in the top corner.

The big keeper had other ideas and managed to get a fingertip on the ball and push it over for a corner.

Andy Mair sealed the victory in the dying stages when his tricky run caught out the defenders, and he fired the ball into the net from the edge of the box.

Strollers Manager, Alex Cunningham, was happy with three points.  He said: “Raydale is always a hard place to come but the boys played well and I am delighted with the three points.”

Civil will host local neighbours Spartans FC on Wednesday night in the Lowland League at Christie Gillies Park with kick off at 7.15pm.

Hibs will face Ayr United in the last 16 of the Betfred League Cup.

Neil Lennon’s men qualified after winning Group D with ten points from four games.

Comfortable victories over Montrose, Arbroath and Alloa Athletic plus a point away to  Ross County was enough to guarantee top spot although not sufficient to be one of the our seeded teams.

The draw was made earlier this afternoon following the Dundee derby.

The full draw is as follows :

St Johnstone v Partick Thistle

Hibs v Ayr United

Rangers v Dunfermline

Ross County v Motherwell

Falkirk v Livingston

Hamilton v Aberdeen

Celtic v Kilmarnock

Dundee v Dundee United

Games to be played August 8th and 9th

A police investigation is underway after the body of a 34-year-old man was discovered in Guardwell Glen at around 11pm on Saturday night.

Detectives believe that the incident appears to be isolated and officers will be on patrol to provide support to the public.

Witnesses are asked to contact the police.

Detective Inspector Bruce Coutts said: “Detectives from Edinburgh supported by the Major Inquiry Team are progressing all enquiries.

“We are appealing to anyone who saw anything in and around Guardwell Glen about 11pm on Saturday night to get in touch as soon as possible.”

Chief Inspector Mark Rennie said: “We are keen to reassure residents that, at this stage, the incident appears to be isolated.

“Officers will be carrying out enquiries and on patrol in the area over the next few days to provide support and information to residents.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101.

Hibs’ youngster Fraser Murray believes that winning group D of the Betfred Cup will give him and his team mates confidence ahead of the forthcoming league campaign.

The highly regarded teenager has been in great form, earning plaudits from the fans as well as Head Coach Neil Lennon and he didn’t do his chances of starting next Saturday any harm with a goal against Alloa Athletic in yesterday’s 3-0 victory.

Murray also praised the contribution of his namesake, Simon Murray who notched the two other goals, taking his tally to seven already.

Speaking after the game to Hibernian TV, Murray said: ” It was good to get another goal. we’ve been doing well this pre-season in the cup with a few quite convincing wins.

“We have been playing well so we have nothing to fear going into the season. in the top flight in Scotland.

“It was good to win the group ahead of Ross County and that will give us confidence. I’m looking forward to the next round of the Betfred Cup and don’t mind who we play next.

“It’s been good to play alongside Simon (Murray). He never stops running and never stops working and he is always on the move so it’s good to have him play in front of me. and it was good to see Paul (Hanlon) back as well. It’s been a long time.”

A police investigation is underway after four men wearing balaclavas forced the shutters of the Day Today shop in Boswall Parkway just before 3am on Saturday before stealing property from within.

The men made off in a grey or silver medium-sized hatchback car along Boswall Parkway towards Crewe Road North.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Grainger said: “The audible alarm was activated and their actions would’ve caused some noise at this time of the morning.

“We are looking to speak to anyone who heard anything or saw the incident or anything suspicious, or the car driving off.

“We believe that a black people carrier-type private taxi may have driven by as this incident happened. I would urge the driver or passengers to get in touch with us.”

TONY COWARDS: PUNDERDOG EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE 2017

Laughs aplenty from the king of one-liners.

Fresh from a hit debut run at Adelaide Fringe this spring, Tony Cowards returns to Edinburgh with his new show. Bursting at the seams with glorious gags, preposterous puns and witty one-liners, Punderdog is the follow-up to last year’s hilarious ‘Daft Pun’, jokes from which featured in the Top Jokes of the Fringe for The Scotsman, The Daily Mirror, The Evening Standard and The I newspaper.

Tony regularly contributes to a wide variety of national newspapers and international websites.  He supplies jokes for several greetings card manufacturers and his material has been used by major international brands such as Nestlé and Savanna Dry.   So, even if you’ve never heard of him, the chances are you’ve already laughed at one of his jokes.

Book a ticket, take a chance.  After all, everyone loves a punderdog.

TITLE:        Tony Cowards: Punderdog

DATES/TIMES:       3rd to 27h August (not 14th) at 20:05 (60 mins) | Previews 3rd/4th

VENUE/TICKETS:  Just The Tonic @ The Mash House (Venue 288)

37 Guthrie Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JG

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tony-cowards-punderdog

Tony is an award-winning, established act on the UK comedy circuit.  His likable ‘everyman’ character and wide-ranging humour (mostly clean) means he’s able to play any crowd, from raucous late night comedy nights, to nervous, infrequent comedy-goers.

As well as performing, Tony is also a prolific writer; his credits include material for BBC Radio’s comedy shows ‘The News Quiz’, ‘The Now Show’, ‘Ian D Montfort is: Unbelievable’ and ‘Newsjack’. He is also the principal gag writer for Bristol based commercial radio station Jack FM (for which he won a silver Sony Award in 2013).

His Twitter account, chock-full of one-liners, has over 19000 followers.

Read more at: http://www.tonycowards.co.uk |  Twitter: @tonycowards |  FB: /TonyCowardsComedian

THE KAGOOLS: TUTTI | EDINBURGH FRINGE 2017

UK physical comedy duo, The Kagools, return to Edinburgh Fringe with their multi award-winning show, ‘Tutti’.

Fresh from a three-month tour in Australia and Asia, The Kagools are delighted to be returning to their ‘home’ Fringe, Edinburgh, with their now multi award-winning show Tutti.

Tutti premiered at Buxton Fringe Festival in July 2016, immediately winning Best Comedy Show. From there, it made its Edinburgh debut and went on to play to packed houses at other festivals across the UK. In February, the show made its first international tour-stop, with a run at Adelaide Fringe where it won the weekly Award for Best Comedy Show.

Since then, the show has been performed in The Gold Coast, Melbourne & Sydney, with Time Out Sydney naming it one of the Must See Shows of Sydney Comedy Festival 2017.  Following Australia, it enjoyed further performances in Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia.

Discussing the show’s Edinburgh return, The Kagools said: “We’re so excited to be bringing Tutti back to Edinburgh. Over the past year, it’s developed almost beyond recognition and is a show of which we’re immensely proud.  It’s a nice thought that its journey will end where it began and we can’t wait to share the even bigger, better Tutti with Edinburgh audiences”

Directed by NZ comedian Javier Jarquin, Tutti is The Kagools second full-length tour show. It features the duo’s trademark combination of live action and interactive video, to create an anarchic, spontaneous experience that’s fun for everyone. An adult show, which children can also enjoy, Tutti has no language or age barriers, as the entire performance is wordless (though far from silent!).

TITLE:      The Kagools: Tutti

DATES/TIMES:     3rd to 26h August (not 14th) at 17:15 (55 mins)

VENUE:                Just The Tonic @ The Caves (Venue 88)

253-255, The Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1NN

TICKETS:     https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/kagools-tutti

Read more at: http://thekagools.com/  |  Twitter: @TheKagools  |  FB: /TheKagools

After six years of austerity is it possible for an artist to make enough money for life’s little luxuries – like bread?

This is a funny, inspirational show by multimedia artist Paula Varjack looking at how artists manage to support their creative dreams. Using a blend of documentary-style interviews with live performance, Varjack playfully lifts the lid on what artists do to make ends meet. In doing so, SHOW ME THE MONEY provides a painfully honest, yet ultimately optimistic portrait of life in contemporary Britain as government cuts bite.

The focus of SHOW ME THE MONEY is on artists but it also looks at how the dreams you have as a child are challenged by the realities of becoming an adult, how the current economic climate has made making a living harder for all of us.

Deftly blending personal monologues, vigorous dance routines, music, sound bites and video of interviews with other artists, Paula Varjack asks how artists can make a living from their art. Does their career involve more retail than Shakespeare? Are they still living with their parents?
Do rich partners support their creative existence? Why do they get public funding, and what is it actually for? How does our society value art?

The show adds to the current dialogue around artist’s payment. Most artists and performers are freelancers with little or no job or financial security. They often have to take on other unrelated work to make ends meet and are continually asked to work for free – because it would be good for their career! Concern about the impact of government austerity policies on the arts and artists further puts the livelihood of the artist in jeopardy. Paula Varjack addresses these issues in a confessional, frank, honest way that is refreshingly upbeat with a feel good vibe.

SHOW ME THE MONEY is the fourth solo show from writer, filmmaker and theatre maker Varjack. Her work explores identity, the unsaid, and making the invisible visible. She makes work across disciplines, performance, theatre, documentary and spoken word. Her debut collection of prose and poetry Letters I Never Sent to You is published by Burning Eye Books. She has performed at various arts festivals including Berlin International Literature Festival and
Glastonbury. In addition to performing, she facilitates workshops with a wide range of age groups, using writing prompts and drama games to unblock creativity.

Born in Washington D.C. to a Ghanaian mother and a British father, she considers London to be
“home”.

Written & Devised by Paula Varjack, Dramaturgy by Martin Bengtsson.

Bedlam Theatre, 2-13 Aug (not 5, 6) 15.30  (55
mins)

Tickets here

Show Me The Money – Trailer from paula varjack on Vimeo.

GARY TRO: SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIGARYTROCIOUS | EDINBURGH FRINGE 2017

Stand-up Gary Tro explores how to find happiness when you’re incapable of seeing anything through to completion.

“This is a show for everyone who feels a lack of fulfilment.  This is a show for anyone who struggles with perseverance.  This is a show about commitment…maybe”

As seen on BBC iPlayer and as heard on BBC Radio 4, stand-up Gary Tro brings his hilarious, joyously angry, debut show, back to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for the second consecutive year.

Discussing the show’s Edinburgh return, Gary said: “For centuries, philosophers have been teasing our intellects with questions such as, ‘If Tro does a show in Edinburgh and there’s no one there to see it, did it even happen at all?’   I had a great run last year, after 24 performances I left with a really slick show of which I was immensely proud.  And yet, I’d worked so hard on developing a great show, I had completely neglected the fact you have to promote it too (Who knew? Did I mention I had trouble seeing things through to completion?).  So, this year I’m determined to do SupercalifragilisticexpiGARYTROcious justice, by bringing it back with a better located venue, more marketing…and hopefully this time, an audience.”

If you’d like to help make Gary’s Edinburgh dreams come true this year by coming along to a show, he’d clearly be delighted.  Here are the full details:

TITLE:        Gary Tro: SupercalifragilisticexpiGARYTROcious

DATES/TIMES:       3rd to 27h August (not 14th) at 17:00 (55 mins)

VENUE/TICKETS:  Just The Tonic @ The Caves (Venue 88)

253-255, The Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1 1NN

https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/gary-tro-supercalifragilisticexpigarytrocious

Read more at: http://www.garytro.co.uk/  |  Twitter: @GTrizz  |  FB: /GaryTroComedy

Hearts 2 Dunfermline Athletic 2 (Dunfermline win bonus point after 3-1 win in penalty shoot-out)

Betfred Cup, Saturday 29^th July 2017 – Tynecastle 

The building of the new main stand at Tynecastle continues apace but the metaphorical roof fell in on Hearts in Gorgie on Saturday afternoon after another abject performance against lower league opposition. After the debacle of the loss to fourth tier side Peterhead on Tuesday evening, the Maroons salvaged a draw against Championship side Dunfermline Athletic before losing the subsequent penalty shoot-out. This mattered not a jot, however, as by the time Hearts managed to balloon a couple of penalties into the Roseburn Stand, they were already out of the Betfred Cup after finishing third in a section that contained two fourth tier clubs, a League One and a Championship side.  The humiliation was complete against a backdrop of angry Hearts supporters who made their feelings towards Hearts Head Coach Ian Cathro well and truly heard.

Cathro made three changes to the side embarrassed in the north-east on Tuesday. Arnaud Djoum and John Souttar returned while there was a surprise return for youngster Jamie Brandon. His inclusion was a result of Cathro’s decision to drop Jamie Walker from the squad altogether due to a ‘drop in performance and his focus’ according to the Head Coach. If Cathro was trying to prove a point it backfired in spectacular fashion.

The visitors started brightly and were determined to show they weren’t in awe of their higher league opponents. However, Hearts had the game’s first real chance in the second minute when Goncalves tried a long-range shot which was deflected wide.

The Pars were proving dangerous on the counter-attack and the impressive Cardle brought out a fine save from Hearts keeper Jack Hamilton.

In the 20^th minute the home side made the breakthrough. Kyle Lafferty found Don Cowie on the corner of the penalty box and the former Scotland man hit a diagonal shot which Pars keeper Murdoch couldn’t keep out and Hearts were a goal ahead.

If the Maroon Army thought they would settle back and enjoy a comfortable win they were sadly mistaken. Eight minutes later, Cardle was given far too much time and space to turn – John Souttar being the culprit – and the Pars man struck a fine shot past Hamilton to level the score.

Hearts almost went back in front soon after when Pars keeper Murdoch made amends for his earlier mistake to push a deflected header on to the crossbar.

Half-time Hearts 1 Dunfermline Athletic 1

The boos which followed Hearts up the temporary tunnel in the Wheatfield Stand at half-time intensified seven minutes into the second half when Dunfermline took the lead. Again, it was a defensive calamity and again it was John Souttar who was at fault. He allowed Smith to square the ball to McManus who fired past Hamilton to the joy of the travelling Dunfermline fans in the Roseburn Stand.

Thereafter, Hearts huffed and puffed. Don Cowie had a header saved by Murdoch before Goncalves invoked the wrath of the Hearts support when he had a great chance when through in the Dunfermline penalty box – but his effort on goal was pathetic to say the least.

With the news that Peterhead were 3-0 ahead at Elgin, Hearts were facing elimination. However, a lifeline was thrown with three minutes to go when Goncalves poked the ball over the line after Berra’s header to make it 2-2. But Hearts needed another goal to progress.

Incredibly, they almost got it when Carl Stockton had a glorious chance from three yards – but blasted the ball high and wide.

That was it. The game ended 2-2 and a meaningless penalty shoot-out followed which, inevitably, Hearts lost after woeful spot kicks from Cowie, Buaben and Martin.

Many Hearts fans had left Tynecastle long before the penalty shoot-out although some remained specifically to voice their understandable anger towards Ian Cathro. The Hearts Head Coach appeared to smile at the end of the game which didn’t help matters although he did speak of his anger and disappointment to the official Hearts website afterwards.

“We’re angry and disappointed, it’s just not good enough. To talk about the game, we scored when we were on top, they did well to come back into it. They started the second half better.

“At that point, we fell below our standards expected at a club like Hearts, and then John Souttar is involved in a mistake for the second goal. I will be taking responsibility for that. John probably should have come off at half-time, and that’s my error.

“The biggest thing that would get us back into the game was energy and urgency, and it could have been resolved, but across the piece it’s far from acceptable.”

It is an utter disgrace that Hearts have failed to qualify from this group. It is embarrassing and is the latest in a list of performances that, under Cathro, have been quite shameful.

Many Hearts fans have been against Cathro since the inept performances against Hibernian in last season’s Scottish Cup. It’s fair to say, though, that a fair number of continued to back the former Newcastle United assistant coach, citing that this season he would get his own players in and it would be a different Hearts team.

In the Betfred Cup it’s patently obvious Hearts are in reverse gear. A struggling performance against Elgin City, a less than convincing one against East Fife followed by two shocking performances against Peterhead and Dunfermline Athletic have led the majority of the Maroon Army to say ‘enough’s enough’.

Owner Ann Budge made some tough decisions when she took charge at Tynecastle just over three years ago. Another one needs to be made now. The Cathro experiment hasn’t worked. Time for change before the league season begins next Saturday. 

Hearts: Hamilton, M.Smith, Berra, Souttar (Nowak, 52′), McGhee, Brandon, Buaben (Stockton, 60′), Cowie, Djoum (Martin, 74′), Lafferty, Goncalves.

Dunfermline: Murdoch, Williamson, Martin, Morris, Ashcroft, Higginbotham, Wedderburn, McManus, Cardle, Paton, Smith (Lochead, 66′).

 Att: 8,404 

Referee: Craig Thomson 

Top Man: Jamie Brandon – at least the youngster looked like he cared.