Venue: Bar 50, (Within Smart City Hostels) Venue 151 Dates: 2-4, 6-11, 15-18, 20-25 Time: 23:00 (50 min)

Eric Hutton wants to show you his favourite songs. He started doing stand-up in his home town of Australiaville at the age of 20 and has been on TV and radio and all that kind of business.

But now he is tired of talking so much. Over his time at festivals he has performed odes to and renditions of his favourite obscure musical outings from around the globe. Starting as a pressure release in late night rooms and showcases after weeks of relentless gigs, this odd practice struck a chord with malnourished and fatigued drunkards throughout the afterhour’s festival landscape. Now it has been streamlined, had some things welded to its sides and is ready to be viewed by other people.

This show ploughs through genres as diverse as ‘Nature Metal’, straight out of Denmark, to avian based slam poetry from the heart of New York City. It swoops from the airy buzz of ‘Ponce rock’ to the crushing, Deutsche technical precision of ‘Kybernetisches der menshen’.

Eric, who has been performing and writing music since he was 15, hopes to bring something unique to the world of musical comedy. No instrument, no loop pedals and, for the most part, no backing tracks; this raw homage to the strangeness of global music will keep giving it to you until you are literally begging it to please stop.

Venue: Pleasance Dome Venue 23. Dates: 31 Jul – 24 Aug (not 13) Time: 16.20 (ends 17.20) Tickets: £11 – £8 (previews 31 Jul, 1, 2 Aug £6)

Following the TV success of Mr Selfridge and The Paradise, quirky shops are big in 2013. This new show from the creators of Memoirs of a Biscuit Tin is told with humour, intimacy and charm using Maison Foo’s inventively charming visual blend of storytelling, puppetry and live music. A modern day fairy-tale for grownups inspired by ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’ and set in a high street store nestling somewhere between House of Fraser and Selfridges, a desperate darkly comic tale of necessity versus greed.

Maison Foo present Pendulums Bargain Emporium ‘the high street store that offers more than you bargained for’ new show from acclaimed ‘Memoirs of a Biscuit Tin’ hitmakers

Brought to you by the creators of Edinburgh 2010 sell out smash hit ‘Memoirs of a Biscuit Tin’, Maison Foo entices you to join them on a darkly comic and shameless shopping experience like no other.

Inspired by ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker’, Pendulums Bargain Emporium is set in a modern high street store located somewhere between House of Fraser and Selfridges. This desperate tale of necessity versus greed, touches on themes such as consumerism but is told with humour, intimacy and charm using Maison Foo’s trademark inventive blend of storytelling, puppetry and live music, raising the question ‘what lengths do we go to, to make ourselves happy?’

Maison Foo have created another highly engaging, innovative and thought-provoking piece of theatre, taking the audience on a memorable trip through the darker sides of the retail industry, via some wonderfully humorous satire. The story focuses on the greedy wife of an artisan shoemaker, who has built her empire out of the shoemaker’s desperate and desolate last piece of leather. But in an empire full of merchandise that claim to bring happiness, can the wife ever truly be happy herself?

Pendulums Bargain Emporium is where happiness and success are seemingly just one simple transaction away.

Maison Foo first came to national attention with their highly acclaimed sell out show Memoirs Of A Biscuit Tin at the 2010 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. They also took the show on an extensive UK tour through autumn 2011 and spring 2012 to further critical acclaim and sold out notices.

Maison Foo has been tickling audience’s imaginations since 2007 with their trademark mischievous new theatre incorporating an enchanting mix of visual/physical theatre, puppetry, object manipulation and clowning. This exciting East Midlands based company charmingly challenge audiences by devising intriguing and inventive high quality theatre.

Pendulums Bargain Emporium was commissioned by Derby Theatre, LOV and Déda and has been supported by Hatch and The Castle Wellingborough. The show is also supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. It is suitable for ages 12+

Venue: Hunt & Darton Cafe (Venue 172) Dates: 2-25 Aug (not 5, 12, 19) 19:30 (ends 20:30) Tickets: £5 (preview 2 Aug £2.50)

The hidden links between the fall of communism, contemporary art and an old Triumph Herald

Artist Chris Dobrowolski’s talent for storytelling has previously charmed audiences with Landscape, Seascape, Skyscape, Escape! aboard Dr Roberts’ Magic Bus and Poland 3 Iraq 2 with 30Bird.

‘All Roads Lead To Rome is the story of his beloved Triumph Herald, its restoration and Chris’ subsequent trip to Rome in the car to visit the place where it was designed.

All Roads Lead to Rome is inspired by his father’s experience as a Polish soldier in Italy in the final months of the Second World War. In the style of a performance lecture, it brings together story-telling, film, still images and sculpture to tell a story about his recent road trip, Cold War politics, the rise of consumerism, car mechanics, contemporary art and classical civilisation.

In 1959, Soviet President Khrushchev met US Vice President Nixon in a mock-up of a modern American kitchen. Presented with the latest modern kitchen gadgets, Khrushchev dismissed them as ‘gimmicks’. He announced that the communist system would channel resources into things that were more fundamental to life and produce a more egalitarian society. When communism collapsed and the Cold War ended, it was arguably partly because of this decision as people rejected a society that promised equality in favour of a culture that gave them gimmicks.

Artist Chris Dobowolski has spent a year repairing his ancient but beloved Triumph Herald. Inherited from his father and purchased just before he was born, the car is a testament to “make do and mend”, the antithesis of modern consumerism. Chris says ‘Growing up during the Cold War, my family’s ultimate consumer purchase was the first and only time my father bought a new car. It was a Triumph Herald; coincidentally designed in 1959.The car is of great personal significance because my father bought it when my mother found out she was pregnant with her second child – me. Quintessentially English, the car was actually designed by an Italian in Turin.

Chris’ background is as a sculptor but contemporary art maker would be a more accurate description of what he does. He has made several, very home made, “knocked up in the garden shed” vehicles from recycled materials, starting with a boat made from driftwood and culminating with an aeroplane made from tea chests and newspaper.

All Roads Lead To Rome has been selected for Escalator East To Edinburgh. Each year Escalator, East to Edinburgh helps artists and arts organisations to raise their profile and perform to new audiences as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Contributed article

Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe comes to the Fringe this August in a new play at Assembly .

’The Unremarkable Death of Marilyn Monroe’, written and directed by Elton Townend Jones, is the latest work from Dyad Productions, a company with a run of proven 5-star Fringe successes under its belt with ’Austen’s Women’ (2009), ’I, Elizabeth’ (2010), ’The Diaries of Adam and Eve’ (2011) and ’Female Gothic’ (2012) – all of which continue to tour both nationally and internationally.

This new production presents Monroe as we’ve never seen her before: alone in her bedroom, in dressing gown and slippers; no glitz, no glamour, no masks. Overdosed on pills, the woman behind the icon unravels her remarkable life and bares all, revealing a biting intelligence, a frustrated talent and an imperfect body.

This stark confessional (DiMaggio, Gable, Miller, Hyde, her mother – it’s all here) offers a radical interpretation of this iconic figure and leads its audience, in real time, to the very moment of her death.

It is performed by RSC actor Lizzie Wort and produced by Rebecca Vaughan, who will also appear in a limited run of Dyad’s inaugural success, ’Austen’s Women’, recreating 13 characters from the classic works of Jane Austen.

Edinburgh stalwarts Dyad, have gone from strength to strength since their inception in 2009 and founders Vaughan and Townend Jones have performed their work in places as diverse as Adelaide and Kansas City and continue to tour extensively, with all five Dyad productions taking to the road in 2014.

Both productions are playing at Assembly @ George Square (Three)-Box Office: 0131 623 3030

Submitted by Elton Townend Jones

Everyone loves an adventure. Be it a classic tale of good versus evil, or a fun-filled tale with morals – everyone loves to be drawn into an action-packed story. And all parents love to see their children excited and involved in these stories. Spotlites Theatre Productions offer just this: an adventure for all the family to enjoy. Spotlites return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013 with six interactive adventures for children of all ages.

Explore Egypt and uncover real ancient mysteries in ‘Indiana Jones’ style archaeological action in Curse of Pharaoh’s Tomb for 5-12 year olds. Join Professor Artemis “Artie” Flinders and his friends who are delving into the secrets of Ancient Egypt to uncover the truth behind Tutankhamen’s missing heart. The audience help to raid the tomb, crack the code, escape the traps and battle mummified soldiers with real whips.

Adventure into space in the light-speed, light-hearted, light-sabre wielding production Rapunzel – May the Force Be With You! for 4-10s. This ‘Star Wars’ style epic fairy-tale is both imaginative and fun; and like its classical counterpart, full of moral twists and turns. Help Rapunzel and Duke Skylord to escape the clutches of Dark Vadia, a cybernetic witch. Audience members are invited onstage throughout to defend Rapunzel’s tower with real lightsabres and master Jedi skills to save Trueflapper.

Get stuck to the gluey, gooey, gloopy goose in brand new play for 2-6s, The Golden Goose. The youngest brother is kind to the mystical old man who returns the favour by giving him a magical Golden Goose. But what can he do when the greedy townspeople try to steal a golden feather? Audiences and families sail away on the magic land-ship and chop down trees to rescue the Golden Goose!

Also for 2-6s are the family tales The Enormous Turnip and Magic Porridge Pot, where triumph is gained by teamwork, morals and acceptance.

Returning for their seventh year are Spotlites’ highly adventurous Drama Workshops for 5-12s. Drama fun and activities on a variety of themes including: Star Wars; Harry Potter; Horrible Histories; Avengers; Scooby Doo; Pirates of the Caribbean; and Roald Dahl.

Diary of a Madman, Venue 13, 3 to 24 August (except 14) 4pm, £8 (£6 concessions)

Murder, She Didn’t Write, Sweet Venues, 12 to 25 August (except 14 and 21) 6:15pm, £8

Murder She Didn’t Write is an improvised murder-mystery play, inspired by great detectives like Miss Marple, Poirot & Sherlock Holmes as well as that famous detective board-game, Cluedo. Each night will be a different dramatic tale created entirely from scratch, and one lucky member of the audience will get to pick whodunnit!

Not just another improv show but a real, live play, all the way to the dramatic denouement!

ATOS AND LIVINGSTON ROUND TABLE RAISE FUNDS FOR SKFF

TWO generous Livingston organisations have donated almost £6,500 to the Sick Kids Friends Foundation (SKFF) to help fund a new sensory room at NHS Lothian’s Sunndach Children’s Respite and Residential Home based in the town.

The funds raised are being used to upgrade the sensory room at Sunndach, which was originally funded by the Foundation ten years ago and provides therapeutic care to children with complex disabilities.

The new sensory room will allow babies, children and young adults to interact with staff at the centre on a one-to-one basis, providing them with a relaxing experience which is essential to their care.

International IT services company, Atos, donated an impressive £4,400 and Livingston Round Table stepped forward with a further £2,000 donation.

Will Guest, corporate fundraiser at the Sick Kids Friends Foundation, said: “We are extremely grateful to Livingston Round Table and Atos for their generous donations.

“The new sensory room will feature state of the art equipment, such as a movement-sensitive magic carpet and colour wash lighting which will allow the children to learn about cause and effect, stimulate their senses and provide them with a positive, relaxing experience.

“Corporate support is vital to SKFF and the tremendous support, provided by organisations, goes a long way to helping improve facilities and resources, such as those available at Sunndach.”

Gavin Thomson, Atos’ senior vice president in Scotland, said: “Our Business Technologists based in Livingston have been fundraising and looking after the garden for NHS Lothian’s Sunndach Respite and Residential Home since 2008.

“I am very proud of their dedication to fundraising for the next big project to provide a new sensory room for the children to enjoy.

“They have already raised £4,400, which highlights how dedicated our employees are to our corporate social responsibility and supporting the important work carried out by our corporate supported charities like the Sick Kids Friends Foundation.”

Simon Aston, chairman of the Livingston Round Table, said:-“When we received the request from the Sunndach Centre we were completely inspired by the hard work, dedication and passion shown in providing care for these amazing children.”

Over £11,000 has been raised for NHS Lothian’s Sunndach Children’s Respite Home from a range of corporate sponsors, kindhearted individuals and fundraising by dedicated staff.

Image is of Simon Aston, chairman of the Livingston Round table, presenting a cheque to Sunndach staff.

Voted the top UK Heritage Attraction for the past two years’ running, Edinburgh Castle has once again been short-listed by the British Travel Awards to receive this prestigious award.

The castle is Scotland’s number one paid-for visitor attraction and welcomes more than 1.2 million visitors from around the world. It is facing competition from the National Maritime Museum in Cornwall and the Titanic Belfast.

People are asked to vote for Edinburgh Castle by visiting the Historic Scotland website on www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk  and pressing the ‘Vote Now’ button.

Nick Finnigan, Executive Manager at Edinburgh Castle said:-  “I am delighted that Edinburgh Castle has been nominated again for this prestigious award.

“Edinburgh Castle is a global attraction and is recognised around the world as a Scottish icon.  It was a huge honour for the castle to be voted the top UK Heritage Attraction in 2011 and 2012 and we are hoping people will support us again so we can bring the trophy back to Scotland for the third year running.

“This is another exciting year with concerts this month featuring Jessie J, Paul Weller and Runrig with the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the internationally renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the fabulous fireworks during the Edinburgh International Festival.

“There is so much to see at the castle – the Scottish Crown Jewels, which are amongst the oldest regalia in Europe, the Stone of Destiny and St Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest building in Edinburgh, as well as our costumed performers who bring history to life, making it a must-see attraction.”

Traverse Theatre 1-25 August – times vary

She’s a hot-rod F16 fighter pilot. She’s pregnant. Her career in the sky is over. Now, she sits in an air-conditioned trailer in Las Vegas flying remote-controlled drones over Pakistan. She struggles through surreal 12 hour shifts far from the battlefield – hunting terrorists by day and being a wife and mother by night. Grounded is a gripping, compulsive new play that flies from the heights of lyricism to the shallows of workaday existence. This UK premiere, presented by the Gate Theatre, London, targets our assumptions about war, family, and what it is to be a woman.

Heroes at The Hive 15-17 Niddry Street, Wednesday-Sunday nights at 8:30pm (August 1-4, 7-11, 14-18, 21-25)

Antifolk Legend Lach Returns To Fringe

Songs, stories and comedy from Lach the legendary star of BBC Radio 4’s new series The Lach Chronicles.

Lach, founder of the burgeoning Antifolk music and performance scene, will be returning to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2013 with his new one-man show Anticdotes. It is free entry, though you may “Pay What You Want” on exit. For those that want to guarantee a seat (recommended!) one may book tickets in advance through edfringe.com. The show is age limited to 18+.

Lach’s previous Fringe shows of song, story and comedy resulted not only in rave reviews but a brand new four part weekly series, The Lach Chronicles, premiering on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday July 17th 2013. Such artists as Beck, Regina Spektor and Suzanne Vega have sited Lach as a major inspiration and his six albums have influenced a generation.

Anticdotes is Lach’s follow-up to the songs and stories that make up The Lach Chronicles. Anticdotes is chock-full of Lach’s hilarious true tales of testing acid for the mob, holding up fast food restaurants in Las Vegas, beating Joey Ramone in a moshing contest, being saluted by Kiss and loved by Dylan.

Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, Red Lecture Theatre: 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 14, 16 at 1pm (2pm) Anatomy Lecture Theatre: 20, 22 Aug at 3.30pm (4.30pm) Ticket prices: £10, £8 (conc), £7 (preview 2 & 4 Aug)

Fringe first winning theatre maker and long term Chris Goode collaborator Jamie Wood presents an energetic, entertaining and ridiculously competitive new solo show about rivalry and love, and how they can both better us and destroy us. With the help of his audience, amongst vivid and surprising images, he performs a cathartic ritual: recreating and reliving the last point of one fateful match until he is finally able to move on in his life.

Jamie Wood’s work ranges from the comic and darkly surreal plays of The Frequency D’Ici (Paperweight, Fringe First 2008, Director) to the striking physical and visual poetics of Petra’s Pulse(Aegean Fatigue, National Review of Live Art 2008, Co-director and Performer). He is an Associate Artist with Chris Goode & Company. As a long-term collaborator with Goode, Jamie devised and performed in Escapology (2004), the critically acclaimed Homemade (2005) and Longwave (2006), and co-directed Hey Matthew (2008) and 9 (2011). In 2009, he was short-listed for The Stage Acting Award (Best Ensemble) forIcarus 2.0, devised with Matt Ball.

Beating McEnroe is about being a younger brother and a bad loser, about beating ourselves up for failing to live up to our youthful aspirations. It is about the consuming desire to be like other people. It is about competition and control, vitriol and zen. It is funny, disconcerting and strangely beautiful.

Jamie Wood said of the performance: “I used to play tennis all the time from about the age of 6. My brother is 8 years older so he coached me. It struck me as I made the show that it was his way of teaching me how to be a man. My family loved Bjorn Borg. When McEnroe came along, he entered my dreams. I felt like that was prohibited. The show is about questioning the roles we have been handed and yet perhaps not chosen.

With a day job as a clown in a children’s hospital, this style of performance influences Jamie’s work.   He notes: “Clown is about openness and honesty. I invite an audience to laugh at my ridiculousness. In a culture that seems so obsessed with individuality I want to invite people to laugh at me, and at the absurdity of the importance I place on an event that is possibly insignificant to them, The Borg McEnroe final of 1980. I use audience interaction not in order to make people look silly but to show how beautiful people are when they are vulnerable. I want all my participants to enjoy being on stage. I want to create a theatrical experience which is uplifting, entertaining and thought provoking.”

Beating McEnroe was originally staged as part of Camden People’s Theatre’s Beyond The Joke Festival in January 2013, as a work-in-progress. Jamie has also directed Rachel Mars in her Edinburgh show: The Way You Tell Them. Both artists met through Camden People’s Theatre’s artist network and are obsessed with human relationships, families, laughter and immense sadness.

*PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRODUCTION IS NOT LISTED IN THE FRINGE BROCHURE*

Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, Red Lecture Theatre: 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15 Aug at 1pm (2pm) Anatomy Lecture Theatre: 19, 21, 23 Aug at 3.30pm (4.30pm) Ticket prices: £10, £8 (conc), £7 (preview 3 Aug)

A spotlight on why we joke from two collaborating performers straddling the line between theatre and stand-up, created and performed by Rachel Mars and directed by Jamie Wood

Theatre maker and joke obsessive Rachel Mars’ latest solo performance considers how and why we use and abuse comedy in everyday life. It is a funny, painful and intelligent show that fuses real life stories, the dissection of humour, and strong visual imagery.

Rachel has recently been commissioned by Fuel Theatre, and has performed across the UK at Spill Festival, The Barbican, BFI, Pulse Festival and The Southbank Centre. Jamie Wood’s work ranges from the comic and darkly surreal plays of The Frequency D’Ici (Paperweight, Scotsman Fringe First 2008, Director) and is an Associate Artist with Chris Goode & Company. As a long-term collaborator with Goode, Jamie devised and performed in Escapology (2004), the critically acclaimed Homemade (2005) and Longwave (2006), and co-directed Hey Matthew (2008) and 9 (2011). In 2009, he was short-listed for The Stage Acting Award (Best Ensemble) and the Total Theatre Award for Icarus 2.0, devised with Matt Ball.

Setting up and deconstructing the comedy performer, the performance uses theatre to examine the comic form. As research, she interviewed stand-ups, academics, humourists and critics, then toured the London comedy circuit performing a bizarre act in a wolf suit which in was greeted with huge laughs or total bewilderment depending on the night. The show is for anyone who has questioned why they are laughing or trying to make people laugh.

Rachel deconstructs stand-up, discusses the strange uses of comedy in her Jewish family, and tells jokes as she journeys through the difficult ethical terrain of comedy.  She asks where the buck stops, and what happens when you choose to go beyond the easy gag.

Rachel Mars said of the performance: “If you open Leo Rosten’s 256 page joke book The Book Of Laughter and read out the punchline of any joke, my brother and I can work backwards to tell you the beginning. When my father answers the phone, his first words are not “how are you”’ but “got any new ones?” My shows are often about human interaction and social behaviour – how we are towards each other and why; families, underdogs, and the lessons we can learn from Tootsie. And they always try to be funny. The idea for the show started when I tried to be serious at work for a whole day and my colleagues got genuinely worried, and it developed when I observed our society’s discomfort with anything too serious for too long. I both use and distance myself from my own self-protective, compulsively joking persona. I want to ask – Why do we joke all the time? What are we scared of? Where does the responsibility lie when seeking a laugh? How do our bodies, brains and emotions both protect and betray us when it comes to humour? It’s an analytical show. A sad show. A thinky show. And, after all, a funny show. I hope that it is both painful and joyous. A bit like life. But considerably shorter (See? There you go again, brain, always with the jokes. Can’t you cut it out for one minute?)”

The Way You Tell Them was originally staged as part of Camden People’s Theatre’s Beyond The Joke Festival in January 2013, and developed on CPT’s Starting Blocks 2012 scheme. The Way You Tell Themis directed by Jamie Wood, whose own show Beating McEnroe is also performing at Summerhall. Both artists met through Camden People’s Theatre’s artist network and are obsessed with human relationships, families, laughter and immense sadness. True collaborators, Jamie directed Rachel’s performance and offered up his skills in clowning and genuine liveness, while Rachel offered an objective eye on his show.

The Way You Tell Them was supported with a grant from the Arts Council England and was commissioned by the Basement, Brighton with additional support from CPT, London and the London Comedy Film Festival.

Greenside: 2-24 August at 8.50pm in Studio 1.

Manic Chord Theatre present their first major performance work, After What Comes Before. The company, founded by three Leeds University graduates in 2012, will perform their collectively devised performance, After What Comes Before, following the story of three scientists who set out to create a machine which can extract thoughts. The scientists become consumed by their machine and trapped within the world of the laboratory.

After What Comes Before explores the theme of conditioning within society, raising important questions regarding control, medication and self-expression. Through their competitive physicality Manic Chord Theatre submerge the audience in a farcical world of Quantum partying, flying cashew nuts and absurd game play.

The show has previously been performed at Temple.Works.Leeds and stage@leeds to full houses. The Culture Vulture said: ‘The shocks and giggles and pure honest belly laughs came thick and fast,’ and that the show is ‘completely fearless and with genuine heart.’

Manic Chord Theatre have collaboratively devised, written and produced After What Comes Before. One of the founders of the company, David Cartwright, says this is integral to the way the group works. David explains, “We all discuss and play with ideas together in the same space, with the designers and producers all involved in the generation of ideas and material”. David goes on to say, “The idea of the collective is extremely important for us as theatre makers – both ethically and artistically – and we hope it comes through in the work we make.”

Underbelly Cowgate – Iron Belly 1st-25th August 2013 21.25 No show 13th Aug

Written by Rachel Hirons, Directed by Kat Hoult, Produced by Joe Brown

Writer Rachel Hirons returns to the Underbelly with a brand new comedy following the huge success of When Women Wee and A Guide to Second Date Sex, both of which received critical acclaim followed by a sell-out run at the Soho Theatre, London. The film rights for When Women Wee have since been optioned by film producer Damian Jones and now entitled Powder Room is set for release this summer starring Bafta award winner Sheridan Smith, Jaime Winstone, Oona Chaplin and Kate Nash. Rachel is also currently developing original sitcoms with the BBC and Sky.

This year Rachel Hirons, “bordering on genius” (Cult of VHS) and director Kat Hoult“unlike anything else around” (Time Out), Artistic Director of the critically acclaimed Alley Kat Productions, join forces to bring us the rawest, most darkly comedic portrayal of how voyeuring through the dirty laundry of a colourful array of characters, one unassuming, working class woman finds herself at the epicentre of the juiciest, most disturbing scandal her small town has ever known. Proving madness is closer to genius than ever imagined; Dirty Laundry offers a thoroughly disturbing and twisted take on society’s obsession and over-exposure to trash mags and trash TV today.

The spectacular cast of three include Hayley Jayne Standing of Skins, Quick Cuts and New Tricks fame alongside the “wildly talented” (Independent) Matthew Floyd Jones best-known as one half of the acclaimed cabaret double act Frisky & Mannish, with whom he has played the West End, Shepherd’s Bush Empire, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Comedy Festival, and the New Zealand International Arts Festival. Matthew has also featured on BBC2′s The Culture Show and numerous appearances on BBC Radio 1. The cast of three is complemented by upcoming comedy sensation Lizzie Daykin of Toby fame.

Venue: Pleasance Courtyard | Pleasance Below, 31 July – 26 August (not 13th), 4.45pm (5.45pm) Tickets: Full price £7.50-£10 | Previews £6

After last year’s critically-acclaimed “impressive debut” (The List), sketch monsters BEASTS return with a brand new hour of inspired silliness.

BEASTS are in fact an Englishman, an Irishman and a Welshman: James McNicholas, Ciarán Dowd and Owen Roberts. In 2012 they made their Edinburgh bow at the Pleasance Courtyard, gathering a plethora of four star reviews and an in-depth knowledge of late-night Scottish cuisine in the process.

Between them, BEASTS have assembled a variety of acting credits. You may remember Ciarán Dowd as a charming hotel manager in ‘Shadowline’ (BBC). You may remember him as a grumpy barman in ‘Torchwood’ (BBC). You may not remember him.

Owen Roberts has been seen successfully upstaging and undermining a perfectly decent production of ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and exposing himself to complete strangers in the comedy ‘Nude’ at the Pleasance Courtyard in 2008.

James McNicholas has appeared in productions at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, Mernier Chocolate Factory and Old Vic Tunnels. He has appeared in other factories and tunnels too, primarily as a labourer. As a group, BEASTS have appeared on BBC Radio.

Police Scotland is appealing for witnesses following an armed robbery at an Edinburgh bookmaker. The incident happened around 6.35pm yesterday at the Ladbrokes store on Crichton Place.

A 23-year-old man was working in the property while four male customers placed bets and watched the TV screens. At this time two males entered the premises and made their way to the front of the shop.

One of the men placed a plastic bag on the counter while the other stood back holding a long object that was concealed within a black bag. The men then demanded the staff member hand over the store’s money.

A two-figure sum of cash was put into a bag and both suspects made off onto Iona Street, before heading towards Albert Street where they were lost to sight.

Police are now urging anyone who can assist with their enquiries to come forward.

The first suspect is described as white, 5ft 11ins tall with a heavy build He was wearing a dark blue hat, blue hooded top with white laces and zip, a dark-coloured body warmer with a light-grey hood, dark jeans, dark footwear and was carrying a white plastic bag. His face was covered with a maroon scarf.

The second suspect is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall with a slim build. He was wearing an olive green Ralph Lauren baseball cap, light-grey hooded top with small a small triangular emblem on the left side, blue jeans, dark footwear and carrying the long black bag. His face was covered with a striped scarf.

Detective Sergeant Lyle Shaw said: “Neither the member of staff, nor the customers inside the store, can confirm what was within the black bag. However, we believe the suspects wanted it to appear they had a firearm.

“We are conducting local enquiries in the area to identify these men and anyone who recognises their description is asked to contact police immediately.

“Similarly, anyone who was in or around Crichton Place yesterday evening and remembers seeing anything suspicious is also urged to get in touch.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

Police Scotland have confirmed that a 25-year-old man will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today  in connection with the murder of Mohammed Abdi  who was found seriously injured in the Willowbrae area of the city around 1.00am May 26, 2013.

Police initially believed they were responding to a traffic accident when they were called to Abercorn Avenue, but on their arrival, officers found Mr Abdi lying beside a VW people carrier which had crashed into a set of railings.

Enquiries subsequently established that Mr Abdi from Leith had been shot multiple times. He was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he later died.

An hour later, another man was found bleeding heavily on nearby Paisley Crescent.

To date  Cadil Huseen, 22, Ahmed Hussain Ahmed, 27, and Mohamud Mohamud, 29, have all previously appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court  charged with murder and were remanded in custody.

A week long initiative aimed at improving safety and awareness for vulnerable road users started at 7am today and runs until 7am on Friday 12 July.  The initiative is part of Police Scotland’s commitment to making Scotland’s roads safer.  Vulnerable road users include pedal cyclists, pedestrians, horse riders and motorcyclists.

During the summer months we see more people out using our roads, whether walking, on bikes or on horseback, making the most of the longer days and the better weather. It is imperative that we all work together to ensure the safety of everyone.

Key Reported Road Casualties Scotland 2012 show that car and pedestrian casualties have decreased whilst motorcycle and pedal cycle casualties have increased.  Pedestrian and pedal cycle fatalities have also increased.

All road users are asked to ensure that they are properly prepared and equipped for whatever activity they plan, including maintenance checks on vehicles and suitable hi-visibility clothing and helmets where appropriate.

To reinforce this message officers will be patrolling roads and carrying out road checks for the duration of the initiative.  They will be taking every opportunity to talk with road users to give advice and, where appropriate, enforce legislation with a particular emphasis on the dangers faced by more vulnerable road users.

Inspector Tracey Robinson, Divisional Road Policing Unit Edinburgh, said: “This campaign focuses on educating everyone about the vulnerability of such groups, but all road users have a responsibility to ensure they are doing everything possible to keep themselves safe.

“Pedestrians – take all necessary precautions when crossing a road and wherever possible use a designated crossing point.  On country roads where there are no footpaths, walk on the right so you can see oncoming traffic approaching, be extra careful at right hand bends.

“Drivers, remember some pedestrians need longer to cross the road, be patient and ensure they are safely across before moving off.  Children and the elderly may find it difficult to judge speed and distance so may attempt to cross the road when it is not safe to do so, we should drive with the safety of pedestrians in mind at a speed that is suitable for the conditions.

“Pedestrians are particularly vulnerable when under the influence of alcohol, as this impairs judgement and drivers must take this into account in relation to the night-time economy.

“There are a great many more people, especially in our towns and cities, now choosing to cycle rather than take the car.   We need to remind drivers to watch out for pedal cyclists and give them plenty of room when overtaking and only overtake when it is completely safe to do so.

“There are a minority of cyclists who flout the law and place themselves and others in danger.  Cyclists must obey all traffic signs, traffic light signals and must not cycle on pavements.  At night your bicycle must have the correct lights fitted and lit.  Whether motor cycle or pedal cycle, remember ‘Think Bike, Think Biker!

“When passing people out on horseback, slow down and always leave plenty of room.  Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard.

“Riders, before you take a horse on to a road you should ensure all tack fits well and is in good condition and make sure you can control the horse.  The message is clear to all – ‘Don’t Risk It’

“If you are unsure of the legislation which applies to your chosen activity suitable advice and guidance can be found in the Highway Code which is available online.

“I would ask anyone who has any information relating to the irresponsible use of vehicles on the roads to contact  Police Scotland on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111”

For more information on how you can improve your driver behaviour, visit the following websites:

http://Vulnerable Road User Initiative, Edinburgh

www.dontriskit.info <http://www.dontriskit.info/>

www.aroundthecorner.org.uk

Royal visit to Craigmillar – Honorary degrees at QMU – Cluedo – Wester Hailes Library today – Today at the Edinburgh International Magic Festival

While the Princess Royal was hosting a garden party in Queen Street yesterday evening accompanied by The Lord Provost, Her Majesty the Queen will be visiting another part of the city and a great charity this morning.

Scottish charity the Thistle Foundation will today welcome Her Majesty the Queen to mark the start of its 70^th anniversary year.

The charity’s first scheme set up to provide housing for disabled veterans was opened by the Queen Mother who compared the charity’s new settlement and its work to that of ‘pioneers’.

Seventy years later The Thistle Foundation is one of Scotland’s leading providers of support services for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.

The charity is delighted to receive Her Majesty, who is the charity’s Patron, to mark the start of its anniversary year, during Holyrood Week.

Through Supported Living and Health and Wellbeing services the charity works with over 300 people a year living with a long term health condition and helps more than a hundred disabled people to live the lives they choose in their own homes.

The visit from Her Majesty marks the start of the charity’s 70^th anniversary year, which will celebrate the charity’s work in supported Living and Health and Wellbeing programmes – and its original beginnings in 1944 as a pioneering community housing scheme where veterans could live with their families.

The settlement for disabled veterans and their families was officially opened in 1950 by the Queen Mother, who praised the Thistle Foundation, saying:

“It gives me great pleasure to be here today, to open the settlement which has been created here at Craigmillar by The Thistle Foundation. The very word settlement suggests the work of pioneers and it is fitting in this case that it should do so, for the Craigmillar scheme is entirely new and largely experimental. Here we can see, I think for the first time, the fusion of hospitals and homes into one complete and living community.”

Two of the original residents of Thistle’s Craigmillar settlement, Win Scullard (88) and Doreen Martin (87), will welcome Her Majesty to Wighton House today, along with representatives of other groups Thistle works with – including veterans, volunteers, disabled people supported by Thistle, those that have been supported to better manage long term health conditions and Thistle Friends who volunteer to help raise money for the charity.

Win was one of the first arrivals to the settlement in 1951. She lived here with her husband Peter, who had served with the Royal Corps of Signals in the war. “Peter would go to work, then come home and have physio treatment and other treatment for his leg at night. It gave us freedom.”

Chief Executive Diana Noel-Paton said, “As we mark our 70^th anniversary with this wonderful visit by Her Majesty the Queen, we start this anniversary year with renewed commitment to our goal – to ensure that everyone in Scotland can live the life they want regardless of their disability or long term health condition.”

“Win’s story was the reason Sir Francis Tudsbery and others set about building Thistle. He saw a gap in provision and moved heaven and earth to create something that didn’t exist.

“We’re doing the same thing here at Thistle today – coming up with solutions to fill gaps in services for people with disabilities long term health conditions and veterans.

She added: “Scotland’s health and social care services have changed dramatically over the years and are still changing. Thistle has been at the centre of some significant changes over the years, enabling people to live longer healthier lives at home.”

“In the early 1990s we made the then-radical move to supported living services that focussed on each individual and began to develop our successful lifestyle management courses – and are well placed to both continue this pioneering work and help share our approach more widely.”

***

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is delighted to honour two inspirational individuals at its graduation ceremony today – one a gastronomic pioneer who is responsible for bringing authentic Asian cooking to Scotland, and the other, a leading composer who has used his musical ability to heal divisions in war-torn communities.

Shaheen Unis, the entrepreneur and business woman behind Mrs Unis Spicy Foods Ltd, is responsible for introducing the Scottish palate to the finest range of handmade, halal Indian foods. Her name is synonymous with deliciously spiced pakoras, bhajis, samosas and oven baked nan breads produced at her Edinburgh manufacturing base in Peffermill. However, she is probably best known for her vegetarian haggis samosa, which was launched on Burns Night in 2002 under the ‘MacUnis’ range – the concept of which was developed by students at Queen Margaret University.

Shaheen Unis, who came to Britain in the 1960s from Pakistan, opened her first restaurant ‘Nadia’s’ in Dalry in 1980. By the end of the 90s, she had expanded into retail, wholesale and catering markets with her establishment of Mrs Unis Spicy Foods Ltd and by 2006, many of her well-known Asian delicacies became widely available in grocery outlets all over the country.

Aside from being a successful business woman, Mrs Unis is a leading member of Edinburgh’s social and cultural community. She is one of the founders of the multi-cultural festival, the Edinburgh Mela. In 1990, she also jointly established ‘Milan’, an organisation which supports older members of the South Asian community, who are experiencing isolation or challenges living in Edinburgh’s retirement homes.

Queen Margaret University is also delighted to honour Professor Nigel Osborne, a talented composer and former Reid Professor of Music at the University of Edinburgh (1990 – 2013).

Born in Manchester, Nigel Osborne was schooled in Glasgow, and studied music at Oxford with Egon Wellesz, a former pupil of Arnold Schoenberg. After graduating he went to Warsaw to attend the Chopin Academy. He travelled extensively in Eastern Europe and during his career as a young composer won many prizes in the Netherlands, Switzerland, the USA and elsewhere.

While continuing to compose, Nigel turned to academic music, becoming Reid Professor of Music at the University of Edinburgh. During his 22 years in post, he founded the ‘Institute of Music, Human and Social Development’. His keen interest in links between music and neurosciences is lifelong.

Professor Osborne also used his musical gift to help heal the divisions in Bosnian society. The 1992 Bosnian war was an important turning point in Nigel’s life and he made many dangerous trips to besieged Sarajevo. He set up the ‘Mostar Sinfonietta’, the first organisation in the city to draw members from among Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs. To house the orchestra, he built an arts centre using a generous donation from Luciano Pavarotti. He has also worked tirelessly for children traumatised by war – in Bosnia, then in Kosovo and later in other conflict-torn places. His tireless efforts in this area were recognised when he received the ‘Freedom Award of the International Peace Centre’ in Sarajevo.

Professor Petra Wend, Principal of Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, said: “Professor Osborne and Shaheen Unis have made a significant contribution to key sectors which QMU seeks to serve – creative industries and business. In addition, they exemplify aspects of Queen Margaret University’s mission of improving quality of life. We are also delighted that students at the graduation ceremony had the opportunity to hear about their lives and work. We hope that this inspires them to go into their new workplaces and their communities and continue QMU’s work of serving society and improving lives.”

Shaheen Unis, was presented with a Degree of Doctor of Business Administration, Honoris Causa by Queen Margaret University’s Deputy Principal, Professor Alan Gilloran. Professor Nigel Osborne was presented with a Degree of Doctor of Letters, Honoris Causa by Keir Bloomer, Queen Margaret University’s Chair of Court.

***

Edinburgh has landed Scotland’s very first regionalised CLUEDO board to be based on customised characters like ‘The Comedian’ and ‘First Minister’.

And the first regional UK board outside London could well see the First Minister wielding a Candlestick at Holyrood. Unthinkable? Well not now!

Edinburgh has bumped off a host of other UK cities – originally 10 in all, including Edinburgh – to land its own official board.

Last November the UK’s first regional CLUEDO board was unveiled – based on London – featuring modern day characters like Winnie White the Therapist replacing the likes of Miss Scarlett. The board was hailed as modern and hip: and the Edinburgh board is set for the same contemporary customised treatment say the board’s makers – all complete with an Edinburgh twist, flavor and feel.

It was announced last November that there would be a second edition produced for this year based on another British city. A shortlist of 10 was originally drawn up – and Edinburgh has come out top.

Ironically it was Edinburgh that in 1998 ended the monopoly on MONOPOLY when it landed the very first UK regional board outside of London and 15 years on the dice has landed a DOUBLE

And it’s also the very same company – Winning Moves UK – producing this board.

And as in 1998 they will be in the Scottish capital to officially announce on Thursday – as well as make a formal appeal to the Scottish public to suggest which characters should fill the board.

A one-week public email vote line is being set up from today. (details below)

Edinburgh CLUEDO will have characters like ‘The First Minister’, ‘The Comic’, ‘The Writer’, and ‘The Student’ and ‘The Tourist’ as playing counters.

“But it will be all down to the public,” says Mr Barnes.

“The characters will reflect the essence of Edinburgh. Potential murder settings could be The Castle or Holyrood. The board is a blank canvas at the moment. We would like to hear from the great Scottish public – and beyond bearing in mind its world renown – on how this board should look. We are extremely excited about – and honoured at – producing it. A big congratulations to Edinburgh for bumping off the opposition!”

Councillor Frank Ross – Edinburgh City Council’s Convener of the Economy Committee Cllr Frank Ross, Convener of the Economy Committee, said:-

“I am sure everyone with links with Edinburgh will have great fun choosing the new characters for CLUEDO as there is a wealth of material available.

“Edinburgh is a multi-award winning city which is steeped in culture and history. As well as being the seat of the Scottish Government and having world famous visitor attractions such as the Castle and the National Museum of Scotland, there are also many internationally renowned festivals and events held every year.

“The city’s strong financial sector could also spark some creativity for the game!

“This really is great news for Edinburgh as the buzz around choosing the characters and the launch of the game will be a welcome reminder to potential visitors everywhere that Edinburgh really is a world class tourist destination.

In all there will be six brand new characters and nine themed locations. The weapons will stay the same.

The board will include the following:- 

• SIX EDINBURGH THEMED CHARACTERS. In traditional CLUEDO the characters include Colonel Mustard (a yellow piece) and Miss Scarlett (red).

• NINE POTENTIAL MURDER SCENES In the traditional CLUEDO the rooms include the Study, Ballroom and Billiard Room.

• SIX MURDER WEAPONS: These stay the same from the original board: The candlestick, dagger, lead piping, revolver, rope and wrench.

In CLUEDO – the classic and ultimate murder mystery game – there is one murder victim (not the characters as outlined above). ALL six of the characters like Professor Plum and Colonel Mustard fall under suspicion, with each having equalling compelling murder motives. The room is where the murder takes place. The weapon is the means. The idea of the game is by skill and deduction to name in one fell swoop the character, weapon and room. There are 324 different combinations.

CLUEDO: Edinburgh Edition will be available from this October in time for Christmas at all good toy and book stores, as well as very extensively online including atamazon.co.uk. Stores stocking it include: amazon.co.uk, Blackwells, Jenners, The Works, Toys R Us, Waterstones and WH Smith.

Voting starts at 00.01am today  and ends next week at midnight on 11^th July 2013. Votes to: cluedo@winningmoves.co.uk

***

If you live in the Wester Hailes area then you can take your 8 to 12 year old along to the library this morning for them to take part in the creepy Mummy competition!

This is what their Facebook page says:-

That summer holiday boredom kicked in yet? Why not join us at 2.30 this Friday to see who can make the best Mummy (ages 8-12) or sort yourselves out a set of skeleton hands this Sunday afternoon at 2pm (ages 6-10)? Give us a ring on 529-5667 to find out more or drop us a message here!

While you are at the library you may like to know that one of our ‘auras’ is located there…..This is called Augmented Reality – We have been introducing you to our use of Aurasma over recent months. For those of you who have not read our earlier articles about this then here is what you need to know about our use of augmented reality

Download the Aurasma Lite app  which is available for iPhone or Android.

Follow The Edinburgh Reporter channel by using the search facility in the app.

Find our trigger images and use your phone to watch our added content automatically. And one of those is the opening hours sign at the front door of the library….

***

It appears that the final event at the Edinburgh International Magic Festival takes place tonight with the Four Nations Magic-Off

Fri 5 July 10.00pm

Voodoo rooms • £16/£14 conc

Duration: till late!

Over 18’s only

If you can’t stay up till then there are FREE Street Shows Summer

Street shows will be taking place throughout the Festival on the Royal Mile and surrounding areas subject to the unpredictable (even for magicians) Edinburgh weather! Check www.magicfest.co.uk for more information.

HOW TO BUY TICKETS

Online: www.magicfest.co.uk

Telephone: 0131 473 2000

In person: Hub Tickets (The Hub, Castlehill EH1 2NE)

Police have arrested and charged a man in connection with a fatal road collision that happened at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh last year.

Mary Dawson (81) died as a result of injuries she sustained in a collision with a Skoda Superb car outside the Anne Ferguson Building, around 4pm on December 4.

A 31-year-old man has been arrested and charged, and will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.

Police continue to appeal for anyone who was in the area at the time and witnessed the incident to contact Police Scotland on 101.

Police investigating the disappearance of the missing Russian student Yulia Solodyankina believe she may have travelled to the north or far west of Scotland following her last confirmed sighting.

The 22-year-old was last seen on CCTV at the concourse of Buchanan Street bus station in Glasgow around 4.55pm on Friday, June 7.

Officers believe that she boarded a bus following this sighting, with the most likely destinations being either Fort William or Inverness, where police have been carrying out local inquiries in order to trace her.

Inquiries have also been made in other areas she may have travelled to by bus, including Largs, Campbeltown, Ardrishaig and Oban.

Yulia, who speaks fluent English with a Russian accent, is described as being of medium build, with long dark brown hair.  She is around 5ft 6ins tall, and has a small mole on her left cheek.

When last seen on CCTV she was wearing a dark coat with belt, dark shoulder bag, a red and orange coloured scarf, grey trousers, and brown shoes with white laces.

Chief Inspector Mark Patterson, from Police Scotland, said: “Yulia was last seen on CCTV at Buchanan Street bus station, and from there we think she may have travelled either to the Highlands, or to Argyll and Bute.

“Our belief is based on previous visits that Yulia made to some of these areas, along with the destinations of buses that left from Buchanan Street station around the time she arrived there from Edinburgh on Friday, June 7.

“It is now almost a month since Yulia was last seen, and we remain keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or heard from her since she went missing.

“In particular we want to speak to anyone in the areas where Yulia may have travelled to by bus from Glasgow, who thinks that they may have seen her.”

Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or the charity Missing People, where information can be passed by calling, emailing, or sending a text to 116 000.  The service is free, 24 hour, and confidential.

Cyclists killed in Cornwall – Trams – Hyperlocals – Sandcastles at the Zoo – Knitting – 

Two men who worked with Aberdeen Asset Management in Edinburgh and Philadelphia have been killed while cycling in Cornwall, on a charity cycle ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats. The company has issued a statement:-

It is with great sadness that Aberdeen Asset Management confirms the passing of Andrew McMenigall and Toby Wallace, two much loved and valued colleagues who were yesterday involved in a fatal cycling accident in Cornwall.

They were on a charity bicycle ride from Land’s End to John o’Groats to raise funds for the Kirsten Scott Memorial Trust. Kirsten was a colleague at Aberdeen who lost her battle with cancer in October 2011. The aim of the Trust is to provide grants to young people under the age of 26 in order for them to fulfil ambitions, enhance their personal development, and make a positive contribution, either at home or overseas.

Andrew was married with two daughters. He joined Aberdeen in 1997 and was a senior investment manager in the global equity team based in Edinburgh. A keen tri-athlete, Andrew graduated as an Officer in the British Army from the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst before completing an MBA from the University of Edinburgh.

Toby was married and was a senior relationship manager in our Philadelphia office. He joined the company in 2000 as a graduate trainee from Jesus College, Cambridge. While at college Toby became a winning Blue in the 1998 and 1999 University Boat Race. In 2012, Toby again used his skills to great purpose as a member of an eight man crew which rowed across the Atlantic. The challenge also raised money for the Kirsten Scott Memorial Trust.

Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, said: “I knew both Andrew and Toby well. They were dedicated and popular members of our senior team. The fact that they died in such tragic circumstances while trying to help others less fortunate tells you much about their selflessness and humanity. This is a terrible time for the company. More importantly our thoughts are with the families of Andrew and Toby. We will be doing everything we can to support them.”

Please find below a link to Andrew and Toby’s Virgin Money Giving page for their bike ride if you would like to make a donation to the Kirsten Scott Trust.

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/mcmenigallwallace

Devon & Cornwall Police said:-“Two cyclists have died following a road traffic collision with a lorry in Newquay.

Police were called at 8.37am on Tuesday 2 July 2013 to the A30 eastbound, approximately one mile before the Fraddon exit.

Emergency services were called to the scene.

One man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released on police bail while investigations continue.”

***

The Scotsman have the evidence that trams will be running in Edinburgh by Christmas.  It is good news indeed that soon we will be able to take back the streets, get rid of all roadworks around the capital and enjoy our beautiful city again. Oh – and we will have a brand new way of getting to and from the airport. This is far short of the original vision for the tram to go to Leith and beyond, but who knows, even that may yet be possible in time?

Our photo today is of Shandwick Place when it was empty of roadworks…

***

Today The Edinburgh Reporter is away to university. Well sort of. We have been invited along to speak about Scottish hyperlocals of which there are relatively few, compared to England and Wales.

Will Perrin who started the King’s Cross blog some time ago has written this piece on Talk About Local where we get a mention…. and he will be speaking at the event.

Part of the discussion today has to be about how to fund these digital publications, and how to ensure that everyone who contributes gets paid for their work.

Oh and there is a hilarious video being shown at the Arts and Humanities Research Council event today which you can watch here:-

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Zz97KkzgbE]

***

Spades are at the ready as a whopping 90 tonnes of sand has arrived at Edinburgh Zoo for the construction of its first ever Sand Zoo!

Created as part of celebrations for the Zoo’s centenary and sponsored by holiday company Thomson, the Sand Zoo will feature a three-and-a-half metre high sand sculpture 100 that will be surrounded by life size key animals from the Zoo, including a panda, penguin, one-horned rhino, koala and monkey all interacting with the numbers.

The sculpture is being created by Sand in Your Eye, a team of expert sculptors who have created magical sand and ice sculptures across Europe. Creating the giant Sand Zoo is less complex than it sounds; it will take the team only eight days to complete their creation, included the time needed for the sand to be compacted before carving can begin.

Jaime Wardley, Artistic Director for Sand in Your Eye commented:-

“Sand sculptures are very versatile, allowing us to create a large sculpture in the space of a week that could easily take a year in another medium like stone. The relatively simple process of creating sand sculptures means can be constructed anywhere and allow passers-by to be able to view the entire creative process and enjoy the result for months afterwards.”

Along with the sculpture, Edinburgh Zoo will also feature a beach in the city that will measure 12 metres by 12 metres. The beach in a city will be made out of 30 tonnes of sand and there will be fun for the whole family with deck chairs and parasols for sunbathing, buckets and spades for making sand castles and ice creams for sale. The perfect mini-break, visitors can listen to the calls of the Zoo’s buff-cheeked gibbons or the roars of Jay the lion while they relax and enjoy these summer holidays.

Jo Paulson, Events Executive for Edinburgh Zoo comments:

“This is Edinburgh Zoo’s first ever Sand Zoo and we are all excited to see the finished result. At the moment there is a very large quantity of sand sitting on the lawn; it’s quite amazing to think that in a few days it will be transformed into a seven metre by three metre wide 60 tonne sculpture. The Sand Zoo is a great and interactive way for visitors to help us celebrate the Zoo’s 100^th birthday.”

Located on the main lawn outside of the Zoo’s Mansion House, the Sand Zoo will be open to the public from Friday 12 July and is free with zoo admission.

***

We asked on Twitter the other evening for all you knitters to come forward if you would like to have this book and maybe write a wee review for us…. So come on all you crafty folk!

This lovely book has arrived in the post. Would one of you knitters like to review it for us?? pic.twitter.com/LFsoMsgoQ8

— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) July 2, 2013

New signing Fraser Mullen started his Hibs’ career in style last night, scoring the opening goal in the club’s pre-season friendly win against a Gibraltar XI on the 4G surface at the Victoria Stadium.

Pat Fenlon selected a young side with an average age of just 22, including five teenagers; Mullen, Jordon Forster, Sam Stanton, Ross Caldwell and Danny Handling in the starting line-up and a further four, Brad Donaldson, Alex Harris, Dean Horribine and David Gold on the bench.

In fact, eleven of the squad who took part in the game graduated through the youth academy, including the captain, Paul Hanlon.

Sean Murdoch made a rare appearance in goal replacing Ben Williams, against an ever improving Gibraltar team who had beaten both Notts County and Portsmouth last summer.

It was the home side who almost took an early lead in the sunshine before Hibs took control, and Tom Taiwo went close with a well struck shot.

Murdoch made a good save at the other end, before Hibs took a deserved lead after being awarded a free-kick just outside the box, and Mullen marked his debut with a stunning right foot strike which sailed into the top corner leaving the Gibraltar keeper helpless.

Hibs continued to dominate and Caldwell went close after rounding the keeper, but the teenager was unable to put the ball into the net. Gibraltar continued to look dangerous on the break, and Murdoch did well to preserve Hibs lead.

Liam Craig replaced Kevin Thomson at half time but it was the home side who equalised just after the break when a low cross from the left was swept into the net at the back post. Hibs responded well and hit back with a well-worked goal from Handling following some great play from Alex Harris and Caldwell.

David Gold then came on as a substitute for his debut appearance in the first team, before Caldwell sealed the win in the 70^th minute with a well taken goal from close range.

Hibs next game is friendly against Nottingham Forest in Portugal on Saturday.

Pat Fenlon will have a better idea of the club’s opponents in the second qualifying round of the Europa League when Drogheda United face Malmo.

Hibs: Sean Murdoch, Fraser Mullen, Jordon Forster, Paul Hanlon, Lewis Stevenson, Tom Taiwo, Kevin Thomson, Paul Cairney, Sam Stanton, Danny Handling, Ross Caldwell

Subs: Ben Williams (unused), Ryan McGivern, David Gold, Dean Horribine, Owain Tudor Jones, Liam Craig, Alex Harris, Brad Donaldson

TheSpace on The Mile (V39), 19-24 August, 19:05 (50 mins) Full price £9, concessions £6.50.

Act One, the Cardiff University Drama Society, premiere ‘Faustus and the Snakes’ at this year’s Fringe. An original play inspired by the medieval Germanic legend of the Faustian pact, but unmistakably modern in its subject matter. The fevered delusions of addicts blur with the mysticism of the original story, and the religious warnings against pride are subverted in a Godless world powered by bravado, money and drive. This production explores the consequences of greed and ambition via the means of an explosive urban fairy-tale; conceived and performed entirely by students at Cardiff University.

As one of the largest student drama societies in the UK, Act One work across the calendar to open shows to the public in their native Cardiff. Their successes in Cardiff have financed an increased presence at the Fringe in recent years, ranging from beloved stories such as ‘King Lear’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’, to daring original writing like ‘Writer’s Block’ and ‘The Institute’.  This year, Act One presents ‘Faustus and the Snakes’ as an exhibition of young Cardiff talent in writing and performing new drama.

Dr. John Faustus, a former chemistry prodigy, returns to the squalid estate on which he grew up with a daring ‘get rich quick’ scheme, the production of a brand new hallucinogenic narcotic of his own creation; necromancine. When the distribution deal for the drug goes awry, John must learn that when dealing with the devil, more than life and death is at stake.

Pleasance That, Pleasance Courtyard; 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh. 31 July – 25 August 12.45-13.45pm. £7.50-£9.50

Our writers were given a simple task. Write a short play without specifying gender for any of the characters. One play. No gender. Endless possibilities. A rotating line-up of 16 plays by writers from all over the world means XY is different every night.

XY is the new short play event by acclaimed new writing company Papercut Theatre.

XY is an attempt to change the culture of how writers, approach constructing gender in their work and aims to promote equality between female and male writers.

XY is curated by Scottish writer/ director Melissa Dunne. Gaining a reputation as a director and programmer, she is regularly consulted by the national media on matters of gender in theatre and was recently interviewed on BBC’s Woman’s Hour alongside Phyllida Lloyd. She is on the literary Panel for the Royal National Theatre and has directed work in venues as diverse as Theatre503, Arcola Theatre, Tristan Bates and the Houses of Parliament.

New plays are important.  Creating them is important.  This is why we support new writers with a view to developing them as artists rather than expecting them to deliver a product. We are committed to enhancing and developing the process by which plays are created, directed and produced. We actively interrogate the writer/director relationship and value work at all stages of the creative process not just fully realised productions.

Writers: Sara Pascoe – A highly sought after comedian and writer, Sara is presently developing many of her own TV and radio projects  Alia Bano – Won the Charles Wintour award for most promising playwright at the Evening Standard Awards for her play SHADES as well as the Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for most promising playwright Gabriel Bisset-Smith – Was nominated for an Off West End most promising playwright award Rose Lewenstein – AIN’T NO LAW AGAINST FISH ‘N’ CHIPS, Royal Court Young Writer’s Festival Reading Stephen Sharkey – THE MAY QUEEN Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI Liverpool Playhouse/ Nottingham Playhouse Jessica Sian – KLIPPIES Hightide Festival 

Peter Cant * Lisa Carroll * Afsaneh Gray * Eve Leigh * German Munoz * Rebecca Walker * Tobias Wright * Kim Yaged * John Yates

Directors: Peter Cant ((Associate Artist, Barbican Theatre ‘Unleashed’/ Associate Director, Théâtre l’Odéon, Paris) Amanda Castro ~ Poppy Corbett ~ Melissa Dunne ~ Antonio Ferrara ~ Tom Mansfield~ Erica Miller Susannah Tresilian (Associate director for NEAT festival 2011 & 2014, Associate Director for the Ensemble Théâtral Européen and European Theatre Convention)

Having previously had sell-out runs at the acclaimed Theatre 503 – XY has two Edinburgh previews at the aforementioned venue before commencing their month long run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Police Scotland is appealing for assistance from a taxi driver, who may be able to assist with an on-going serious sexual assault investigation.

The incident was reported to detectives on Thursday 6th June, having occurred in the early hours of Saturday 1st June.

A 23-year-old woman had been drinking with a male at the Cav nightclub in Tollcross, Edinburgh, before the pair shared a black cab to East Lothian at around 3.20am.

After being dropped off at her home address in Ormiston, the woman then contacted police later that week to report having been assaulted during the journey.

Officers have since been carrying out various lines of enquiry to trace the taxi driver and are now issuing a public appeal for him to come forward. The victim was wearing a black and white polka dot dress.

Detective Inspector Carol Craig said: “We are keen to trace the driver of this vehicle as soon as possible to establish the full circumstances surrounding this incident.

“Any black cab drivers who believe they picked up a couple near the Cav nightclub on the Saturday 1st June, before travelling to East Lothian, are asked to contact police immediately.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

Air Canada rouge launched a new Edinburgh to Toronto route this morning.   The new leisure airline is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Canada and will fly three times a week to the company’s hub there.

There was a party atmosphere with Michael Bublé singing in the background. Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP, Dr Mike Cantlay Chair of VisitScotland and Gordon Dewar CEO of Edinburgh Airport were on hand to help Air Canada representatives cut the ribbon to mark the first westbound flight.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H17ULXXThU]

Gone are the days of taking chartered flights to visit relatives who had emigrated to a far flung corner of the Commonwealth some 12 hours away by plane. Now Air Canada rouge can whisk you to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport direct from the Scottish capital in just seven hours.

The Montreal routes are served from Italy and Greece, while Edinburgh is the only UK destination so far. Described as stylishly affordable, this is a holiday airline for passengers on both sides of the Atlantic, promising comfort and affordability. There are also links to the Caribbean through Toronto.

The crew who staff the rouge flights are dressed casually, and we are promised that they have all have graduated in customer service excellence training.

The airline is flying two types of aircraft, the Airbus A 319 and the  Boeing 767-300ER. Both aircraft types are sporting a sleek new white, red and burgundy livery. Interior modifications offer a range of comfortable customer seating, service choices and benefits.

The Boeing 767-300ER aircraft which arrived in Edinburgh today is fitted with 264 seats in a two-cabin configuration, featuring 246 rougeTM seats – including 14 rouge PlusTM seats with additional legroom – and 18 Premium rougeTM seats offering additional seating comfort, space and an enhanced meal and beverage service.

Customers seated in rougeTM and rouge PlusTM are served a complimentary hot meal with a selection of non-alcoholic beverages (alcoholic beverages are available for purchase). Premium rougeTM customers benefit from an enhanced complimentary meal service with carefully selected wines and non-alcoholic beverages on fine dish- and glass-ware as well as being provided with a hot towel and snack service.

“We are excited to launch this new route from Edinburgh to Toronto today, which marks one of our first three flights from Europe to Canada,” said Michael Friisdahl, President and CEO of Air Canada rouge from Toronto, the airline’s Canadian hub. “Customers will experience a new kind of leisure travel with outstanding customer service, uncompromised safety, a relaxed in-flight environment and a host of Air Canada benefits; all at competitive fares. With Air Canada rouge you can truly vacation ahead.”

Vijay Bathija, Vice President, Commercial at Air Canada rouge participated in the celebrations at Edinburgh Airport and was joined by Keith Brown MSP, Minister for Transport and Veterans; Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport and Dr Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the departure gate to inaugurate the new service.

Minister Keith Brown, who met with Air Canada rouge representatives earlier this year during Scotland Week, said:- “I know from my recent visit that over four million Canadians claim Scottish ancestry, so having more direct access means there’s arguably never been a better time to discover – or rediscover – what Scotland has to offer. For those planning ahead we have much to look forward to in 2014 when Scotland will play host to the Year of Homecoming, Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup and we are looking forward to putting on a spectacle we can all be proud of – we would encourage our Canadian friends to play their part in making it a success.

“We are determined to build on international air connections with countries such as Canada, which is such an important market for Scotland. We’ve seen a five-fold increase in terms of direct destinations available over the last decade, and we are working to improve that even further. Our Economic Strategy highlights the importance of ensuring Scotland is well connected with the rest of the world reflecting its importance to our global competitiveness and in helping to secure sustainable economic growth.”

Gordon Dewar said:- “We’re delighted to welcome Air Canada to Edinburgh Airport and are sure they’ll have a very successful summer with us. This new direct service from Edinburgh to Toronto is yet another example of how we listen to our customers and work hard to ensure they have the best choice of routes possible. Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s busiest airport and it’s where Scotland meets the world. It’s hugely exciting to now offer a direct service to Canada which I’m sure our Scottish and Canadian passengers will take full advantage of.”

Dr Mike Cantlay Chair of VisitScotland added: “The launch of this new direct route is an amazing moment for Edinburgh in what has been a long and important relationship between Canada and Scotland. Canadians have always had a strong affiliation with our country and, as we prepare to welcome the world with Homecoming, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup in 2014, the timing of this new service is perfect. We look forward to welcoming many more visitors from across the Atlantic over the summer.”

The Edinburgh-Toronto flight, AC1905, departs Edinburgh on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 10:15 a.m. and arrives in Toronto at 12:45 p.m. local time the same day. The return flight, AC1904, departs Toronto on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8:40 p.m. and arrives in Edinburgh at 8:30 a.m. the next day (all times local).

The aircraft features player, a next-generation wireless in-flight entertainment system that enables customers to stream films, TV programmes, music and destination information direct to their personal electronic devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones. player will be complimentary until 1 August 2013 and customers will pay $5 CDN (approximately £3.15) thereafter. Themed music playlists and destination information will continue to be streamed for free.

Air Canada rouge customers arriving at Toronto Pearson International Airport can connect with Air Canada flights to destinations across Canada, the United States and throughout the Americas. Customers are also eligible for Air Canada’s generous checked and carry-on baggage allowance as well as Aeroplan Miles and can earn Aeroplan non-status Miles on Tango bookings and Air Canada Status Miles on Tango Plus and Latitude fares.

Air Canada rouge launch new route direct to Toronto – UK Minister uses wrong figures on Bedroom Tax – Commonwealth War Graves – Around in a Grand – Advertising with The Edinburgh Reporter

Air Canada rouge have started flying from Edinburgh direct to Toronto. The first flight took off just after 11:00am complete with festive water cannon from the firefighters at Edinburgh Airport.

We will have video and more  photos for you soon.

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Mark Lazarowicz MP has attacked a Minister for seeking to minimise the impact the bedroom tax is having by quoting figures for the year before it started.

People whose housing benefit is cut because they are assessed as under-occupying their home under the new rules can apply for a discretionary housing payment from the council to cover the gap between their housing benefit and their rent.

However, once the limited funding in the pot from central government runs out this coming year people hit by the bedroom tax will be left to fend for themselves.

The Minister, LibDem Steve Webb MP, said that in the year ending this April councils in England, Scotland and Wales had returned unspent over £11 million in discretionary housing payments – but the bedroom tax only started this April. The figures for 2012/3 cannot therefore take account of the bedroom tax.

In Edinburgh alone, around 3,800 council tenants are believed to be affected by the bedroom tax putting £2.7 million in rental income at risk.

Mark said:-“I was angry when the Minister attempted to sidestep my question about how hard the bedroom tax has hit tenants and councils, by quoting statistics for the year ending this April when the bedroom tax had yet to start.

“Rental income is vital for councils to maintain, improve and build more affordable housing which is in desperately short supply.

“Their ability to do that will be severely stretched if the number of tenants in arrears increases and they also have to place people who can no longer afford their rent in short-term accommodation which is inevitably more expensive.”

The Minister was replying to questions from Mark Lazarowicz and from Willie Bain, Labour MP for Glasgow North East, on the effect of the bedroom tax on council finances as increasing number of tenants fall into arrears.

In addition to 3,800 council tenants in Edinburgh another 1,400 tenants of housing associations will be affected as well. However, at the end of June there were only 23 one-bedroom properties available in the city if people under-occupying tried to move.

Here is the full question and answer exchange between Mark and the Minister:

Mr William Bain (Glasgow North East) (Lab): The bedroom tax is causing councils enormous financial strain, as it is for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people across the country. On 11 June the pensions Minister told me that the Government are not making monthly checks on how much discretionary housing payment money councils are spending. What will happen to hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people when the money runs out?

Steve Webb: I am glad that the hon. Gentleman mentions the support we give to local authorities through discretionary housing payments. We constantly hear that it is not enough, so he may be startled to learn that in the year just ended, 2012-13, over 300 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales sent us back money totalling over £11 million because they could not spend it.

Mark Lazarowicz (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab/Co-op): The pensions Minister’s answer a couple of minutes ago on discretionary housing payments was quite frankly absurd, because he knows full well that the bedroom tax was not in operation in the last financial year.

To return to the question of impact, local authorities throughout the country, including my own, now find that arrears are going up because people cannot afford the bedroom tax that is being imposed on them. What does the Minister expect local authorities to do about this, because it is affecting their overall budgets as well?

Steve Webb: Just to be clear, when we made reductions in housing benefit for 2012-13 we were told that the support was not enough, but the hon. Gentleman’s local authority, Edinburgh, returned to us £162,000 of help that it could not spend. We have increased the support to Edinburgh council this year compared with last year.

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Queensferry Community High School is helping with a University of Edinburgh project to identify the 180 men who are buried in the South Queensferry cemetery Commonwealth War Graves section.

Local councillor Norman Work said:-“”It is fantastic that the pupils of QHS are getting involved in this type of study but even better that they are joining up with the local History group in Queensferry.”

The school’s website has these comments from the headteacher and the researcher in charge of the work:-

Gordon Hunter, Head of Social Subjects said: “This is a unique and incredibly valuable opportunity for our students to work with the Queensferry community and The University of Edinburgh. We are delighted to be helping to bring this important part of our history to life for the students and the community by learning about the men and women that fought the War from our very shores.”

Project leader Yvonne McEwen said: “We are pleased to embark on this ambitious project ahead of next year’s Centenary of the First World War. Although the names of the men in the cemetery are recorded, much of what they achieved and the stories behind their names are not. We believe the project is a fitting tribute to the fallen.”

There is also a great website here called Edinburgh’s War which seeks to tell the story of the First World War from the point of view of people from Edinburgh who took part. This has been a collaborative project among Edinburgh Libraries, University of Edinburgh and the National Library of Scotland.

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Two young men from Edinburgh are cycling around the world with only £1000 in their saddle bags…

Currently they are in Berlin. They have had some difficulties with bikes and so have had a couple of days rest. One of them, John Campbell, was formerly a skier of some note, and then studied at Durham University. He now does fitness training so we were intrigued by his Day Off routine…….Have a look here! We think this is a  mix of stretching and yoga….

They are cycling to raise money for The Big Issue Foundation and you can donate to give them some encouragement. They hope to get to Malaysia – all the way by bike….

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Advertising with us is very effective, and very reasonably priced. Our visitor numbers are increasing daily. In May 2013 the number of unique visitors to our site was 63,614 and there were more than 1 million pages viewed.

 For a mere £30 you could have 10 separate advertising slots in the middle of our daily article ‘Five things you need to know today’ giving you complete control over your advertising spend.

Read the rates below, but if you would like to try out an ad space then we will be happy to do that for you and then give you the exact statistics at the end of a trial period. Just tell us what you would like to do. We are very flexible, but we need the advertising revenue to keep the website going.

Our readers are in the main based in Edinburgh, so if that is your target audience then you could use us to reach your new customers.

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