Please remember to check details with the organisers before setting off to any event.

MONDAY 18TH MAY 2015

These Dangerous Women: Scottish premiere of Clapham Film Unit’s new production, telling the story of Chrystal MacMillan and the women who attended the first International Women’s Peace Conference in The Hague in 1914, and the relationship between the women’s involvement in the suffrage movement and their desire for a negotiated settlement in place of war. The screening will be preceded by the opportunity to view WILPF’s photographic exhibition of its hundred-year history, and followed by a Q & A session with the film’s director Charlotte Bill, and light refreshments. 7pm, Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. Free tickets are available via eventbrite here. Read about Helen Kay’s recent talk on the ‘dangerous women’, and the making of the film, in The Edinburgh Reporter’s article here.

aeriel killickThe Real Goldilocks Tale: a modern, bilingual, Gaelic take on this traditional story in an active and fun adventure, suitable for young Gaelic speakers and those with no Gaelic at all. Gaelic storyteller Sine Sgeulaiche asks whatever happened to the lesser known Purplilocks? And why does no-one hear about Goldilocks’ other brothers and sisters, who accompanied her on that fateful trip to the Three Bears’ house? For ages 4-8 years. 2pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Tickets cost £6 per child and may be booked online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579. Please remember to book a free adult ticket as well as one for your child.

leith central cc logoLeith Central Community Council AGM: local historian Andrew Grant will give a talk about the Gretna Disaster, whose 100th anniversary falls this week. 7pm, Pilrig St Paul’s Church (please note new venue), 1B Pilrig Street. All welcome.

centipede outdoor games day posterCentipede Project Outdoor Games Day: the launch of a new temporary natural outdoor play space and a community garden in Muirhouse. A day of traditional outdoor games and some gardening activities; a light lunch will be served and the whole event is free and open to everyone. 1-3pm, brownfield sites at Pennywell Gardens (these will be signposted from North Edinburgh Arts, 15a Pennywell Gardens, from which they are just a 2 minute walk).

Boat: David Lumsden
Boat: David Lumsden

Write Shoot Cut (15): Screen Education Edinburgh in association with Filmhouse presents five short films made by or featuring Scottish-based talent – everything from surreal comedy to political documentary and post apocalyptic Edinburgh. Today’s films are The Lost Purse by Colin Ross-Smith, Hexagon by Justin Chenn, Yes Gran, No Gran by Fergus Cruickshank, Boat by David Lumsden and Last Exit to Ricklesburgh by Russell Miller and Chris Miller. Each film will be followed by a Q & A session with the filmmakers involved. ‘An excellent opportunity for filmmakers and anyone with an interest in Scottish film to connect with the local scene, watch some great films, network afterwards in the bar and meet potential collaborators’. 6.15pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £6/£5 and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online here.

sighthill colouring groupSighthill Library Adult Colouring Group: come and try the new stress reliever and anti-depressant! 6.30-7.30pm today and every Monday, Sighthill Library, 55 Sighthill Road.far-from-madding-crowd-2015

For Crying Out Loud: special screenings for carers and their babies under 12 months (maximum of two adults per baby). Babychanging, bottle-warming and buggy parking facilities are available. Today’s film is Far From the Madding Crowd (12A). 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4.50/£3.50 (babies free) and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 228 2688.

Open Eye Gallery: New Exhibitions. (1) Brent Millar Best in Show: the Edinburgh-based artist shows ambitious and accomplished works – paintings, prints, works on paper and new ventures into ceramics –  that delve deep into his admiration of life and visual stimulus, perfectly balancing abstraction and figuration to create imagery that shows the effect of colour when handled with true skill and admiration; (2) Catharine Davison Homeland: winner of the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2014, Davison is renowned for her distinctive Scottish landscapes. Here she shows a series of urban landscapes in both oils and watercolour, depicting a range of locations across the city of Edinburgh and its suburbs. 10am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm Saturdays, Open Eye Gallery, Abercromby Place. Both exhibitions end 3rd June 2015.

in the frame poster lgbtLGBT: In the Frame – informing inclusive publicity for older people’s services. LGBT people really want to see more diverse images on publicity and information, but professionals are sometimes unsure how to achieve this – so they are hoping to create a resource to help everyone make LGBT people feel more visibly welcome. Becky Duncan (social enterprise Open Aye), who runs community photographic projects, will facilitate this session to find out what makes you feel included and welcome. She will lead a creative discussion on what sort of images you like and don’t like and how you’d like to be represented; you don’t need any experience of design or photography, just your own thoughts and opinions. Lunch will be provided. 10am-1.30pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. If you’re interested in getting involved,or would like more information and/or to book into the session, please contact Katherine on 0131 652 3284 or at katherine@lgbthealth.org.uk.

Torrance Gallery: Davy Brown. A new exhibition featuring work by the Kilmarnock-born artist, whose paintings show the changing seasons and constant variation of light effects in South-West Scotland. 11am-6pm Monday to Friday, 10.30am-4pm Saturdays, The Torrance Gallery, 36 Dundas Street. Ends 30th May 2015.

children's book club 2Blackwell’s Edinburgh Children’s Book Group: if you are aged 8-11 years and have a love of books and biscuits, join this monthly group to enjoy a friendly hour of fiction. Currently reading Eoin Colfer’s Artemis Fowl. 6-7pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. If you would like to join the group (it’s free), please email your details to childrens.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.

my own private idahoCameo Culture Shock – dedicated to bringing you the best in cult and genre films. This week’s film is My Own Private Idaho (15)River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves star in Gus Van Sant’s haunting tale of two young street hustlers, Mike, a sensitive narcoleptic who dreams of the mother who abandoned him, and Scott, the wayward son of the Mayor of Portland and the object of Mike’s desire. ‘A stirring look at unrequited love and life at the margins of society’. 9pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.

blackwell'sBlackwell’s Edinburgh Adult Book Group: lively, friendly book chatter – no previous experience required! The group discusses a wide range – fiction and non-fiction, classic and contemporary, prizewinners, cult heroes and anything else you fancy! Currently reading Sir Terry Pratchett’s Small Gods. (June’s book will be William Boyd’s The Blue Afternoon). 6-8pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. If you would like to join the group (it’s free), please email your details to events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.

domestic relations at golden hare

Golden Hare Books and Mariscat Press Present Domestic Relations: poets Diana Hendry, Kate Hendry and Hamish Whyte in an evening of poetry about family and family members in all their various guises and relationships. 7pm, Golden Hare Books, St Stephen Street. Free tickets may be booked via eventbrite here.

ministry of fearGraham Greene Spy Stories on Screen: as part of Edinburgh Spy Week, this mini-season presents three fascinating examples of Greene’s politically acute and psychologically probing spy fictions. Today’s film is Ministry of Fear (PG): Fritz Lang’s adaptation of Greene’s angst-ridden 1943 novel portrays a film noir version of wartime London and places more emphasis on love and shoot-outs than Greene’s rumination on guilt and pity. The screening will be introduced by Dr David Sorfa (University of Edinburgh), editor-in-chief of the journal Film-Philosophy. 8.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. wall-eTickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688. The next film in this series is The Quiet American on Tuesday 19th May. Edinburgh Spy Week is organised by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with Filmhouse, National Library of Scotland and Blackwell’s.

Sofi’s Cult Movie Nights: popular classics on the silver screen in the cosy darkened back room – with free poporn. This week’s film is Wall-E (U) 8-10pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street. Free.

TUESDAY 19TH MAY 2015

bookbug 3Bookbug Week: to celebrate this annual event – for which this year’s theme is Bookbug’s Big Bedtime Story – there will be lots of special sessions today, all including fun, songs, rhymes and stories for children aged 0-4 years and their parents and carers. 10.30am at Morningside Library, Morningside Road, Leith Library, 28 Ferry Road, Corstorphine Library, Kirk Loan and Ratho Library, School Wynd; 11am at Wester Hailes Library, Westside Plaza, 11.30am at Morningside Library (second session) and 2.15pm at Colinton Library, Thorburn Road.

reid concert hallReid School of Music Final Year BMus Student Recitals. Today: 3pm Jessica Hailstone (violin), 4pm Jessica Kelly (piano), 5.30pm Katy Cavanagh (oboe), 6.30pm Svetoslav Todorov (piano) and 8pm Beatrice Langford-Powell (violin), all at Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh, Bristo Square. All recitals are free and open to the public; recitals continue on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st May 2015.

bookbug rhymetime imageBookbug: songs, rhymes and stories for pre-school children and their parents and carers. 10.30am today and every Tuesday (and Friday), Muirhouse Library, Pennywell Court. All welcome: free.

John_Knox_statue,_New_College_EdinburghJohn Knox: Professor Jane Dawson will give an illustrated presentation to mark the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Knox. There will also be psalm-singing in the four part harmonisations first used in Scottish churches after the Reformation, and Professor David Fergusson will offer some brief reflections on the current profile of reformed theology and its enduring value in an ecumenical context. 4pm, General Assembly Hall, The Mound. Free admission.

the practice of english language teachingBlackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Jeremy Harmer: The Practice of English Language Teaching. One of the leading authors on the subject of English language teaching, Jeremy will discuss recent developments in the subject, how they are affecting the way that English is now taught, and what this means for the future of the profession, giving examples from his research for the fifth edition of his classic text. 6.30-8pm, Blackwell’s, South Bridge. Free tickets may be obtained from the store’s front desk, by calling 0131 622 8218 or by emailing events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk.

st andrew's and st george's west churchRushford Hymns Tour. A group of 37 Americans are travelling through the UK on a ‘Hymns Tour’; tonight one of their guests will be Dr Ian Bradley (University of St Andrews). If you enjoy congregational singing, and especially the singing of classic hymns, come along and join in! 7-9pm, Sanctuary, St Andrew’s & St George’s West Church, 13 George Street. Free: all welcome.

the quiet americanGraham Greene Spy Stories on Screen: as part of Edinburgh Spy Week, this mini-season presents three fascinating examples of Greene’s politically acute and psychologically probing spy fictions. Today’s film is The Quiet American (PG) (1958): Thomas Fowler is a 50-something world-weary English journalist competing with Aiden Pyle, the young, idealistic ‘quiet American’ (and ?CIA agent) for possession of the most inscrutable secret in book and film, as nations and ideologies vie for Vietnam. Greene’s novel caused outrage in the USA for its critique of CIA involvement in the French War in Vietnam, and Joseph Mankiewicz’s adaptation provoked equal controversy for its revision of the plot to stress American political idealism. This screening will be introduced by Dr Simon Cooke (University of Edinburgh). 8.30pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688. The next film in this series is Our Man in Havana on Wednesday 20th May. Edinburgh Spy Week is organised by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with Filmhouse, National Library of Scotland and Blackwell’s.

lambert and stampPicturehouse Documentaries:  Lambert and Stamp (15). Aspiring filmmakers Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp were studio assistants at Shepperton in the 1960s; inspired by the burgeoning youth culture they hoped to make a truthful and authentic documentary about a rock band – except they didn’t have a rock band. Then they found The Who, a proto-Mod foursome of creative misfits, and persuaded the group to let them become their managers. ‘An expertly crafted and hugely entertaining socio-musical documentary’. 6pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.

Fisher_Lassies_29x29mm_300dpi_show_infoLeith Folk Club: Fisher Lassies with support Alasdair Morrison. An a cappella group with a well-established reputation in the Borders, the Fisher Lassies’ songs are drawn mainly from traditional sources, including many with local connections. 7.30pm, Leith Folk Club, Victoria Park House Hotel, 221 Ferry Road. Tickets cost £7 and may be purchased online here or via the club’s text booking line on 07502 024 852.

writer - clipartEdinburgh All Comers Writers’ Club: local writers get together to share/read their work, get positive feedback and constructive advice. 7.30pm tonight and every Tuesday, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk. All welcome.

merchiston tennis club club houseMerchiston Community Council: 7pm, Merchiston Tennis and Bowling Club, Polwarth Terrace. All residents welcome.

Common Weal Edinburgh North and Leith: Positive Money. Positive Money is the name of a group who want to work towards solving the debt crisis and reducing poverty, debt and economic chaos. An opportunity to engage in a vibrant and informative discussion on Positive Money and the subject of monetary reform, and to hear perspectives from external commentator Howard Reed from Landman Economics. Before founding his own consultancy Howard was Chief Economist at the Institute for Public Policy Research. positive money logoNewcomers very welcome! 7.30-9.30pm, Royal Dick Pub, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall.

WEDNESDAY 20TH MAY 2015

Royal Blind Pub Quiz: the legendary quiz makes its comeback! Pit your wits against Guru Gary; prizes and raffle too! For over-18s only. 6.30pm, Hemma, 73 Holyrood Road (the Tun building opposite Dynamic Earth). £5 per person – you can come on your own or as a team of up to 6 people. Tickets may be purchased online via the Royal Blind’s website here, by calling Frances on 0131 229 1456 or emailing frances.chisholm@royalblind.org (please put ‘Royal Blind Pub Quiz’ in the subject box).

bookbug rhymetime imageBookbug Week: to celebrate this annual event – for which this year’s theme is Bookbug’s Big Bedtime Story – there will be more special sessions today, all including fun, songs, rhymes and stories for children aged 0-4 years and their parents and carers. 10.15am and 11.15am, Portobello Library, Rosefield Avenue, 2pm, Piershill Library, Piershill Terrace.

quintinshill

Quintinshill: a film by Finestripe Productions (director Ian Lilley) will be shown at 9pm on BBC Scotland tonight. It tells the story of the 1915 railway disaster near Gretna, in which over 200 men of the Royal Scots 1/7th Battalion (the Leith Battalion) died. A new exhibition about the disaster opens at Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street on 22nd May and a new promenade theatre production will be premiered there that evening (see listings). Quintinshill will be shown again at 9pm on BBC4 on Thursday 21st May.

Will Pickvance
Will Pickvance

Lunchtime Concert: Will Pickvance – Piano Speak. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

let's glowLet’s Glow: Pipe Dream. Edinburgh College HND Year 2 students from both the Popular and Classical courses present this comedy musical, following a Glaswegian lad chasing his dream of playing Scotland’s most traditional yet controversial instrument. 7-8.30pm, The Music Box, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh College, Bankhead Avenue. Tickets cost £7/£5 and are available from The Music Box reception or by emailing tickets.pipedream@gmail.com. Also at same time on Thursday 21st May 2015.

Robert Cunninghame Graham painted by Henry Raeburn in 1794
Robert Cunninghame Graham painted by Henry Raeburn in 1794

Slavery, Politics and Poetry: historian Alastair Learmont considers the extraordinary life of poet and politician Robert Cunninghame Graham of Gartmore. 12.45-1.15pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.

John Knox in Edinburgh: Walking Tour. Storyteller and author Donald Smith leads you through the dramatic story of John Knox in Edinburgh. Beginning at the Edinburgh International Festival Hub (top of Royal Mile), the tour will take in places of interest in the Old Town en route to John Knox House, entry to which is included in the ticket price. 4.30pm, The Hub, Castle Hill. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be obtained online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579. Also at same time on Thursday 21st May 2015. The tour is part of the General Assembly of Scotland 2015’s celebration of John Knox.

john knox tour

let's glow 2Let’s Glow: My Romantic History. Edinburgh College HND 1 Acting and Performing students present DC Jackson’s contemporary Scottish play, set in Glasgow. My Romantic History follows the relationship of Tom and Amy, showing that the first cut is indeed the deepest and that our memories don’t always reflect what actually happened.  2pm or 7pm, PASS Theatre, Granton Campus, Edinburgh College, 350 Granton Road. Tickets cost £10/£7 and are available by emailing ashling.findlay-carroll@edinburghcollege.ac.uk.  Also at same times on Thursday 21st May 2015.

TER Stockbridge

Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council: 7-8pm, Stockbridge Church, Saxe Coburg Street. All members of the community are welcome to attend and participate. The community council may be contacted via Stockbridge Library, Hamilton Place or at stockbridgeandinverleithcc@gmail.com.

napier grad film showEdinburgh Napier University Film Graduate Show: a compilation of short films from final year undergraduate students. This year there is an emphasis on documentary films – from the enthusiasm of bat conservationists to a poetic look at the sea through the eyes of those most in contact with it. Fiction is not left out, however – there are mysterious spirits abroad, and even aliens from another world. 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688. A further Napier graduate show will follow on 26th May, with Edinburgh College of Art graduate screenings on 2nd and 15th June and a showcase by Edinburgh College students on 10th June 2015.RoyLichtensteinReflectionsonGirl

National Galleries Visually Impaired Tour and Workshop: ARTISTS ROOMS – Roy Lichtenstein. A free descriptive tour and practical workshop for the visually impaired. 10am-3.30pm, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Please book your place by calling 0131 624 6560.

Graham Fagen: War Garden After Tubby 2007
Graham Fagen: War Garden After Tubby 2007

Graham Fagen: Scotland and Venice. Graham Fagen, one of the UK’s foremost contemporary artists, will talk about his new exhibition at the 56th Venice Biennale, the most prestigious contemporary art platform in the world. This major new work has been commissioned and curated by the Arbroath-based arts organisation Hospitalfield. Fagen’s work mixes media and crosses continents, combining video, performance, photography and sculpture with text, live music and even plants. 6.30-8pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free and unticketed.art space nature MFA image

Art Space Nature: new work from students on this Edinburgh College of Art MA/MFA course. Patriothall Gallery, 1D Patriothall, off Hamilton Place, Stockbridge.

Amanda MacLeod (mezzo-soprano), Finlay Turnball (percussion) and  Jessica Bennett (saxophone). Image: Joseph Wilson
Amanda MacLeod (mezzo-soprano), Finlay Turnball (percussion) and Jessica Bennett (saxophone). Image: Joseph Wilson

Reid School of Music Final Year BMus Student Recitals. Today: 3.30pm Ashton Brower (soprano/vocals), 5pm Andy Britton with his trio at The Jazz Bar, Chambers Street, 6.30pm Jessica Bennett (saxophone) and 7.30pm Finlay Turnball (percussion), all at Reid Concert Hall (except Andy Britton), University of Edinburgh, Bristo Square. All recitals are free and open to the public; recitals continue on Thursday 21st May 2015.

YearLightLogoEvenings of Enlightenment: join University of Edinburgh researchers on Wednesday evenings in May and June to celebrate the 2015 International Year of Light. Experts from various disciplines will explore this fascinating area – from historical discoveries to today’s cutting-edge research. Tonight Dr Neil Robertson (School of Chemistry) will talk on Solar Energy in Scotland – A New Dawn? 6.30-7.30pm, Red Lecture Theatre, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets are free and may be booked via eventbrite here.

our man in havanaGraham Greene Spy Stories on Screen: as part of Edinburgh Spy Week, this mini-season presents three fascinating examples of Greene’s politically acute and psychologically probing spy fictions. Today’s concluding film is Our Man in Havana (PG) (1959): Wormold, a vacuum-cleaner salesman in pre-revolution Cuba, agrees to act as an agent for the British Secret Service to fund the expensive habits of his daughter. He makes up a network of agents, sending back sketches of invented military installations based on his own vacuum cleaners – until the plot darkens. This screening will be introduced by Professor Penny Fielding (University of Edinburgh). 6.15pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688. Edinburgh Spy Week is organised by the University of Edinburgh in partnership with Filmhouse, National Library of Scotland and Blackwell’s.

boda quizBoda Quiz: topical questions, true or false rounds and great games for teams of four people. No entrance fee – and prizes! 8pm, Boda Bar, 229 Leith Walk.  Please book by calling 0131 553 5900 or emailing boda@bodabar.com.

lgbt_entranceBi & Beyond Edinburgh: a fortnightly social gathering for people who identify as bisexual and non-monosexual. With organised social activities and refreshments provided, whatever your label or lack of label, we welcome you. 7-9pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. Group contact: biandbeyondedinburgh@gmail.com.

trapsVera Chytilova Film Season: Vera Chytilova, the leading lady of 1960s Czech New Wave, died last year at the age of 85. A rebel, a feminist, a critic of contemporary society and an innovative filmmaker best known for her work Daisies, Chytilova focused on women rebelling against a male-dominated order, while consistently applying her own moral vision. She was banned from filming by the Czech government. Today’s film is Traps/Pasti, pasti, pasticky (18) (in Czech with English subtitles). Described as a ‘feminist black comedy’, Chytilova’s post-communist film continues the confrontational approach of Prefab Story with the subject of a woman who is raped by two men; unfortunately for them she is a veterinary surgeon practised in techniques of castration. Also a political commentary attacking male power, the film shows Chytilova treating capitalist morality with the same enthusiasm previously reserved for ‘socialist’ compromise. The screening will be introduced by Dr David Sorfa (University of Edinburgh), editor-in-chief of the journal Film-Philosophy. 6pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 228 2688.

THURSDAY 21ST MAY 2015

bookbug rhymetime imageBookbug Week: to celebrate this annual event – for which this year’s theme is Bookbug’s Big Bedtime Story – there will be a special session today with fun, songs, rhymes and stories for children aged 0-4 years and their parents and carers. 10.30am, Currie Library, 210 Lanark Road.

Friends of Granton Castle Garden: The Whole is Greater than the Sum of its Parts – how do we make the walled garden restoration both sustainable and of benefit to local people? A meeting with guest speakers from the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and the Community Land Advisory Service. Come along, ask questions and join in the discussions. 6-7.30pm, Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, 11 Pilton Drive North.  For more information please contact grantoncastlegardengroup@gmail.com.

paris kiss coverMaggie Ritchie: Paris Kiss. Freelance journalist Maggie Ritchie introduces her first novel, the story of English sculptor Jessie Lipscomb and her passionate friendship with Camille Claudel, the 19 year old protege and lover of Auguste Rodin. This fictionalised account of a true story moves between the young women’s heady youth in 1880s Paris, where they share a studio and explore the demi-monde, meeting artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec and Rosa Bonheur, and Jessie’s visit to Camille years later, after her family have had her committed to an asylum. ‘An intense and satisfying story. It will haunt you’ (Sara Sheridan). 2.30-3.30pm, Central Library, George IV Bridge. Free tickets may be obtained via eventbrite here.

st giles cathedral interiorLunchtime Concert: North Dakota State University, USA.  12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

LGBT LogoLGBT Learning Difficulties Social Circle: a monthly group for LGBT people who also identify as having a learning difficulty or disability. The theme for this session is Friendship. 2-4pm, Lifecare Centre, 2 Cheyne Street. If you are interested in joining the group please contact George Burrows on 0131 652 3281 or at george@lgbthealth.org.uk.

john knox tourJohn Knox in Edinburgh: Walking Tour. Storyteller and author Donald Smith leads you through the dramatic story of John Knox in Edinburgh. Beginning at the Edinburgh International Festival Hub (top of Royal Mile), the tour will take in places of interest in the Old Town en route to John Knox House, entry to which is included in the ticket price. 4.30pm, The Hub, Castle Hill. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be obtained online here or buy calling the Box Office on 0131 556 9579. The tour is part of the General Assembly of Scotland 2015’s celebration of John Knox.

spark greyfriars poster for 21st May 2015Spark Greyfriars Lunchtime Concerts: Henry Wallace (organist, Greyfriars) plays Music for Ascension and Pentecost. 12 noon-12.45pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Free: all welcome.

Easel Sketching at Scottish National GalleryEasel Sketching in the Gallery – May: led by artist Damian Callan. A different subject every month, sometimes with a model. All materials supplied. 2-4pm, Gallery main floor, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free: no booking required. Also at same times on Friday 22nd May.

Amanda MacLeod (mezzo-soprano), Finlay Turnball (percussion) and  Jessica Bennett (saxophone). Image: Joseph Wilson
Amanda MacLeod (mezzo-soprano), Finlay Turnball (percussion) and Jessica Bennett (saxophone). Image: Joseph Wilson

Reid School of Music Final Year BMus Student Recitals. Today: 3pm Emma Aitken (soprano), 4pm Amanda MacLeod (mezzo-soprano), 5.30pm Timothy Matson (baritone) and 6.30pm Henry Pemberton (tenor), all at Reid Concert Hall, University of Edinburgh, Bristo Square. All recitals are free and open to the public.

clipart yogaLGBT: Relaxation Yoga Skills. A six week course with yoga instructor Helen Gailliard, who will gently help participants practice simple yoga moves and breathing techniques that can help reduce stress. Ideal for people who may not have practised yoga before or who are looking for a slower paced form of yoga with a focus on relaxation. Yoga mats provided. 6.30-8.30pm; please contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or at alison@lgbthealth.org.uk for details and to book (booking essential). Suggested donation £1 per session.Ronnie Browne The Corries

Blackwell’s Edinburgh Presents Ronnie Browne: That Guy Fae The Corries – an informal signing. With his musical partner Roy Williamson, Ronnie Browne became a national and international figure as one half of The Corries. His autobiography describes his childhood in wartime and the austerity Britain of the 1950s and 60s, his musical career, Roy’s death and his ensuing years as a solo artist. Throughout his career Ronnie has also been an active and sought-after painter and portraitist. 12.30-2.30pm,  Blackwell’s, South Bridge. No booking required.

Pascale Petit and Niall Campbell Poetry Reading. Pascale’s sixth collection Fauverie was shortlisted for the 2014 TS Eliot Prize; she tutors courses at Tate Modern and for The Poetry School. Niaill Campbell, originally from South Uist, won the Edwin Morgan Prize in 2014; his first collection Moontide won the Saltire Society Scottish First Book of the Year Award and is a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. 6.30-8pm, The Saltire Society, 9 Fountain Close, 22 High Street. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be purchased via eventbrite here.

prof michael gorhamHumpty Dumpty and the Troll Factory: Varieties of Verbal Subversion on the Russian Internet. Associate Editor of Russian Review and Russian Language Journal, Professor Michael Gorham (University of Florida) researches internet regulations and the attempts of Russian authorities to bring the internet under state control. His presentation at this open seminar will focus on information battles between various participants, such as pro-governmental and opposition hackers, trolls and cyber-activists, and the languages and discourses of these battles. 5.10pm, Dashkova Russian Centre, 14 Buccleuch Place.

worcester state university choraleWorcester State University Chorale: a Scottish tour by this a cappella vocal group of Worcester State students and alumni, founded and directed by Dr Christine Nigro. 8pm, Canongate Kirk, 153 Canongate. Free.

Picturehouse Documentaries: We Are Many + Satellite Q & A. On 15th February 2003 over 15 million people marched through the streets of 800 cities around the world to try to avert the war in Iraq. Director Amir Amirani’s fearless, thought-provoking documentary reveals the remarkable inside story behind the biggest protest in history and chronicles its surprising social and political legacy. Contributors include Danny Glover, Richard Branson, Mark Rylance, Ken Loach and Professor Noam Chomsky. The screening will be followed by a live satellite Q & A and panel discussion hosted by Jon Snow with guests including Amir Amirani, producer and comedian Omid Djalali, convenor of the Stop the War Coalition Lindsey German and Professor of International Law at UCL Philippe Sands. 8pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.

We are many

let's glowLet’s Glow: Pipe Dream. Edinburgh College HND Year 2 students from both the Popular and Classical courses present this comedy musical, following a Glaswegian lad chasing his dream of playing Scotland’s most traditional yet controversial instrument. 7-8.30pm, The Music Box, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh College, Bankhead Avenue. Tickets cost £7/£5 and are available from The Music Box reception or by emailing tickets.pipedream@gmail.com.

Nothing Ever Happens Here: Honeyblood + Jesus H Foxx. ‘Despite Honeyblood’s minimal set-up, their songs are fully formed and perfectly assured’. Support, Edinburgh band Jesus H Foxx, ‘well-orchestrated slacker pop’. For over-18s only. 8pm, Dissection Room, Summerhall, 1 Summerhall. Tickets cost £10 and are available online here or by calling the Box Office on 0131 560 1581.

Knockengorroch World Ceilidh: here’s your first chance to get away this weekend! Knockengorroch brings first class World Music acts to a beautiful and undiscovered upland corner of Scotland, with the express aim of ‘establishing progressive linkage between the celebration of this natural amphitheatre and the now far-flung Celtic diaspora, once rooted in such homely places’. Music from all continents is booked alongside the best in Scottish and European talent to showcase Celtic and World Music in both traditional and contemporary fields. This year’s acts include Young Fathers, Bella Hardy and the Big Band, Shooglenifty, Peatbog Faeries and the intriguingly-named Colonel Mustard and the Dijon 5, and there will also be lots of activities and entertainments for children. Knockengorroch, Carsphairn, Castle Douglas DJ7 3TJ. Tickets may be booked online here or purchased from Ripping Records, 91 South Bridge (Edinburgh): prices vary. Bus transport to/from Edinburgh/Glasgow can also be booked via the festival’s website. Knockengarroch World Ceilidh continues until Sunday 24th May 2015.

FRIDAY 22ND MAY 2015

bookbug rhymetime imageBookbug: songs, rhymes and stories for pre-school children and their parents and carers. 10.30am today and every Friday (and Tuesday), Muirhouse Library, Pennywell Court. All welcome: free.

Crafty Books Time: The Sea. Crafts and stories for the under-10s; this week What’s On the Beach?. 2.30-3.30pm, Leith Library, 28-30 Ferry Road. Free: no booking required. ‘You’ll have a WHALE of a time!’

bookbug rhymetime imageBookbug Week: to celebrate this annual event – for which this year’s theme is Bookbug’s Big Bedtime Story – there will be lots of special sessions today, all including fun, songs, rhymes and stories for children aged 0-4 years and their parents and carers. 10.30am at each of Colinton Library, Thorburn Road, Balerno Library, Main Street, Currie Library, 210 Lanark Road, Kirkliston Library, Station Road and South Queensferry Library, Shore Road.

roger fisher organistCelebrity Organ Recital: Roger Fisher, Organist Emeritus, Chester Cathedral, will play Hollins Concert Overture in C Minor, Harris Prelude in E Flat, Rheinberger Sonata No 8 in E Minor and Liszt Ad nos, ad salutarem undam. 7.30pm, St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, 5 Lothian Road. Admission £10/£5 (school-age children free).

TER National Museum of Scotland roofLGBT Women’s Wellbeing Group: an inclusive group offering the chance to meet other LGBT women in a relaxed environment, with chat, info and activities promoting health and wellbeing. The group is open to all LGBT women and to transgender people who identify primarily as women. This month: Time After Time – a visit to the National Museum of Scotland. 2-4.30pm: for more information and to be added to the group’s mailing list please contact Alison Wren on 0131 652 3283 or at alison@lgbthealth.org.uk.

easel-sketching-in-the-gallery-image-2Easel Sketching in the Gallery – May: led by artist Damian Callan. A different subject every month, sometimes with a model. All materials supplied. 2-4pm, Gallery main floor, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free: no booking required.

In the Car by Roy Lichtenstein 1963, copyright The Estate of Roy Lichtenstein/DACS 2004
In the Car by Roy Lichtenstein 1963, copyright The Estate of Roy Lichtenstein/DACS 2004

Gallery Social: ARTISTS ROOMS – Roy Litchenstein. A relaxed and informal guided tour, with refreshments, for anyone affected by dementia and their relatives, friends and supporters. 10.30am-12 noon, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art ONE, Belford Road. Please book your place by calling 0131 624 6560. Supported by the Friends of NGS.

gretna 100Persevere: the Quintinshill Disaster 100 Years On. 22nd May 2015 is the 100th anniversary of the UK’s worst ever train disaster: it happened at Quintinshill (Gretna) and left over 200 men of the 1/7th Royal Scots dead. This ‘Leith Battalion’ had trained at the Drill Hall, which later became the focal point for families seeking information about what had happened. Now a group of community actors from Active Inquiry and Strange Town Young Theatre Company have researched and devised a piece of promenade theatre, Persevere, which guides the audience around the Drill Hall, enabling them to catch glimpses of stories of Leithers saying goodbye to sons and brothers, hearing news of the crash and coping with the aftermath. 8.30pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Tickets cost £6 and may be purchased via eventbrite here (booking fee applies). Also at 6.30pm and 8.30pm on 23rd May, 6.30pm and 8.30pm on 20th June and 6.30pm on 12th and 13th August 2015.

gretna old photoSeven of the 7th. Persevere will be accompanied by an exhibition, Seven of the 7th, researched and curated by a group of community researchers and Citizen Curator and artist Jan-Bee Brown, in which the stories of seven of the soldiers involved will be explored. The exhibition also includes The Tree of Life, produced in partnership with Pilmeny Youth Centre and artist Heather Scott, in which pupils from Leith Academy have researched and helped to make a glass tag for each of the 216 soldiers who died. Launch at 6pm tonight, then 10am-5pm Monday to Saturday, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Free entry. Ends 13th August 2015.

achilles lamentingIn Focus: Gavin Hamilton’s Achilles Lamenting the Death of Patroclus (1760). Art historian Ailsa Turner discusses this painting, and the Scottish artist, who enjoyed an international reputation as a leading exponent of the 18th century neo-classical movement. 12.45-1.15pm, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Free: no booking required.

poetry and music in the Rossyln ChapelPoetry and Music in the Rosslyn Chapel: poets Brian Johnston, Margaret Christie and Jamie Reid Baxter will read from their own work, accompanied by the Miguda Quartet playing Haydn’s String Quartet Op 76 No 2. ‘Marvellous poets, fantastic music and a magical setting’. 7.30-9.30pm, Rosslyn Chapel, Tickets cost £8 (£6 for members of Penicuik Community Arts) and may be obtained from the PCAA Craft Co-Operative Shop, 4 West Street, Penicuik, or online here.

god-help-the-girl-posingBalerno Village Screen: a community cinema run by volunteers, offering free admission and funded by donations. Tonight’s film is God Help the Girl (15), 7.30pm St Joseph’s Hall, St Joseph’s Centre, Balerno. Although all screenings are free, the organisers ask that you register in advance to give them an idea of numbers – free tickets for each film may be reserved via eventbrite here or obtained from The Mill Cafe or Balerno Post Office.

the end of the golden age - wynntown marshalsThe Wynntown Marshals: the Edinburgh-based Americana/alt country band performs tracks from a new album The End of the Golden Age. 5pm, Coda, Bank Street, The Mound.

PASS Out - Ed CollegeLet’s Glow: PASS Out. A new showcase for Final Year HND Acting and Performance students at Edinburgh College   The group will devise three new, 20 minute pieces to be guided and shaped by three of Scotland’s leading practitioners in the field of creating new work. Multi award winning directors Gerry Mulgrew (Communicado), Fiona Miller (Tricky Hat) and Gordon Dougall (Limelight) will bring their vast experience to help the students showcase their abilities in Scotland’s home of new writing. 8pm, Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street. Tickets cost £12/£8 and are available from the Traverse Box Office, in person, by calling 0131 228 1404 or online here.  Also at same time on 23rd May 2015.

screamScream: The Poetry Circus presents two hours of pure poetic mayhem with sixteen performance poets,  including Freddie Alexander, Agnes Torok and Amanda Baker. Comperes: Emily Elver and Max Scratchmann. 7.30pm, Dalriada, 77 Promenade, Portobello. Tickets cost £3 and are available now from the bar.

Hidden Door: the 2015 Hidden Door starts today – nine days of music, visual art, cinema and theatre in a unique, abandoned location in Edinburgh. This year events will take place in two venues – the Secret Courtyard in King’s Stables Road and the Bongo Club (not an ‘abandoned’ venue!) in Cowgate. Tonight’s opening event includes three music acts, three theatrical performances, art and short films. For more information see Hidden Door’s website here. Tickets for each day may be purchased from Brown Paper Tickets.

correspondents posterThe Correspondents: singer Mr Bruce and producer Chucks are ‘now something of a global phenomenon…prepare to be swept away by the humour and infectious energy of this incredible live show’. 7-10pm, The Bongo Club, Cowgate. Tickets cost £8 in advance and may be purchased via club’s website here. Tickets on the door will cost £10 sta.

edinburgh spy week

Edinburgh Spy Week: Publish Your Own Spy Fiction! In this free workshop Amazon best-selling author Tim Stevens takes you through writing a thriller and publishing it yourself, electronically. 2.30-4pm, G.04, 50 George Square, University of Edinburgh. Places are limited and booking is required via eventbrite here. Publish Your Own Spy Fiction forms part of Edinburgh Spy Week, a unique public event organised by the University of Edinburgh’s Department of English Literature and focusing on espionage fiction and film and the ways in which secrecy and spying run through our history and culture.

LGBT_film_icon.svgLGBT Film Nights: see LGBT themed and mainstream films in a friendly, sociable setting. Vote via email and at the events for the film choices each month. You are welcome just to turn up, but please be aware that the film will already have been chosen. 6.30pm (film starts 7pm)-9.30pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. To join the mailing list or to find out more please call 0131 523 1100 or email admin@lgbthealth.org.uk.

James-Robertson-1038x250-1038x250

Edinburgh Spy Week: James Robertson – Secrecy, Literature and the State. From Macbeth to the fiction of Robert Louis Stevenson and John Buchan, literature of or about Scotland has often focused on hidden agendas, double lives and the deceits of power and authority. Leading Scottish novelist James Robertson looks at some aspects of this tradition, drawing on examples from his own work. 5.30-6.30pm, Informatics Forum, University of Edinburgh, 10 Crichton Street. Free and open to all: booking is required and may be made via eventbrite here. Secrecy, Literature and the State forms part of Edinburgh Spy Week, a unique public event organised by the University of Edinburgh’s Department of English Literature and focusing on espionage fiction and film and the ways in which secrecy and spying run through our history and culture.

Mhor festival posterMhor Festival. And here’s your second chance to get away – ‘A fun weekend of activities and antics, feasting and frolicking, music and magic’. The line-up for this two-day event includes The Soul Foundation, Scottish Ceilidh Allstars, b.ding, Shiverin’ Sheiks, Stefan van de Sande and King Eider – but there’s also food (from a bake-off to an omelette challenge and a Great Scottish Feast), drink, art, theatre and lots of children’s activities. And which other festivals offer you a Sunday morning panel review of the papers, a raft race and the chance for Tea and Tango? Monachyle Mhor Farm, Balquhidder FK19 8PQ. For tickets call 01877 384622 or email monachyle@mhor.net: ticket prices vary. Camping and parking are available, and the festival ends (late) on Sunday 24th May 2015. ‘A great celebration of local culture and a platform for showcasing local produce’.

SATURDAY 23RD MAY 2015

edinburgh spy weekEdinburgh Spy Week: Secrecy in the Modern World. A day of events following the diverse forms of secrecy that shape the modern world:

stasi_2356986k(1) 1-2pm: Secret Actors: The Stasi at the Theatre. Dr Laura Bradley uses new material from the Stasi files to explore the roles played by undercover informants in East Germany’s theatres. How much did the Stasi really know about East German theatre, and what could informants do if they no longer wished to play their parts?

kieron o'hara spy week(2) 2.15-3.30pm: Secrecy and Anonymity in the Digital Age. As more of our lives are lived online, Dr Kieron O’Hara asks whether anonymity is dead or whether technologies like Tor and Bitcoin can help us carve out territory free from observation. This talk will be followed by a panel discussion and Q & A on the uses of secrecy in finance, law and information technology, with Dr Paul Crosthwaite, Professor Lilian Edwards and Dr Kieron O’Hara.

charles cumming cover spy week(3) 4-5pm : Spy Fiction After the Cold War. Leading British espionage novelist Charles Cumming discusses writing spy fiction in the modern world with fellow best-selling author Daniel Pembrey.

All of today’s events will take place in the Project Room, 50 George Square, University of Edinburgh. All events are free but booking is required via eventbrite here (you can book for one or several sessions). Secrecy in the Modern World forms part of Edinburgh Spy Week, a unique public event organised by the University of Edinburgh’s Department of English Literature and focusing on espionage fiction and film and the ways in which secrecy and spying run through our history and culture.

heather lucchesi exhibition at morningside library May 2015Heather Luccesi: Art & Chat Afternoon.  Local artist Heather has formed Light Bulb Arts, a social enterprise delivering accessible art workshops to schools and the wider community, including work with Alzheimer Scotland and Art in Healthcare: her exhibition includes both her own mixed media work and pieces from the workshops, together with information about the projects; this afternoon Heather will host an informal drop-in session when you can meet her and hear more about her work. 1.30-4.30pm, Charles Smith Room, Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road. The exhibition is open 10am-8pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am-5pm Thursday to Saturday (closed Sundays) until 30th May 2015.

bookbug 3Bookbug Week: to celebrate this annual event – for which this year’s theme is Bookbug’s Big Bedtime Story – there will be lots of special sessions today, all including fun, songs, rhymes and stories for children aged 0-4 years and their parents and carers. 10.30am at each of Colinton Library, Thorburn Road and Corstorphine Library, Kirk Loan, and 11.30am at Portobello Library, Rosefield Avenue.

Scottish_Birdfair_2014_logo_72RSPB Scotland’s Big Nature Festival: if you love the outdoors and are interested in wildlife, this festival can offer you everything from bushcraft and wildlife photography classes to science workshops, a farmers’ market and live music. Guided walks, expert talks – and you can get up close to some fascinating birds at the ringing demonstrations. Over one hundred exhibitors will showcase art, books, nature breaks and state-of-the-art optics. For children there will be forest schools, pond dipping, magical woodland walks, storytelling and more. 10am-5.30pm (with entertainment until 7pm), Leavenhall Links, Musselburgh. Tickets may be purchased online here; prices vary. There are free guided cycle rides to the site from The Meadows, free bike hire from Musselburgh Station, a shuttle bus from the station and free parking at the site. All proceeds will go to RSPB.

richard taylor at ESWEdinburgh Sculpture Workshop: Richard Taylor. To mark the end of his Research Residency in Art Writing at Edinburgh College of Art and ESW, artist and writer Richard Taylor is holding an open reading; other authors have also been invited to read their work or to have it read by a nominated performer. All welcome to form part of the audience! 2-6pm, Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, 21 Hawthornvale. No booking required – just come along.

gretna 100Persevere: the Quintinshill Disaster 100 Years On. 22nd May 2015 is the 100th anniversary of the UK’s worst ever train disaster: it happened at Quintinshill (Gretna) and left over 200 men of the 1/7th Royal Scots dead. This ‘Leith Battalion’ had trained at the Drill Hall, which later became the focal point for families seeking information about what had happened. Now a group of community actors from Active Inquiry and Strange Town Young Theatre Company have researched and devised a piece of promenade theatre, Persevere, which guides the audience around the Drill Hall, enabling them to catch glimpses of stories of Leithers saying goodbye to sons and brothers, hearing news of the crash and coping with the aftermath. 6.30pm and 8.30pm, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street. Tickets cost £6 and may be purchased via eventbrite here (booking fee applies). Also at 6.30pm and 8.30pm on 20th June and 6.30pm on 12th and 13th August 2015.

Mr Peabody and ShermanSt Bride’s Family Cinema: see your favourite films for free! Adventure, excitement, fun and laughs – it’s all here. Choc ices and juice are available to purchase during the interval for 50p. This week’s film is Mr Peabody and Sherman (U). Please note that all children under the age of 16 years must be accompanied by an adult. 10.30am-12.30pm (including interval), St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace. All welcome: no booking required.

NewStory_0

The New Story – Storytelling as a Pathway to Peace. Inger Lise Oelrich explores the background to her recently published book, which includes over thirty tales from around the world and easy to do exercises, giving a fresh and encouraging take on how to bring about understanding, compassion and transformation in different life situations. ‘The shortest distance between two human beings is a story’.

Lunchtime Concert: NOTEables Community Choir, Dunfermline. 12.15pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free.

2.30pm, Storytelling Court,  Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street. Free and unticketed. Inger Lise Oelrich will also be running a related workshop prior to the launch: see the Storytelling Centre’s website for full details and ticket prices.

T-his/T-hat: Fuora Dance Project. An interactive performance in which children will play a very important role. The performance is divided into two sections; the first is the story of two little girls who have lost something during a journey, the second a creative workshop in which the children will be led to choose props using different tasks. The children will explore and learn some basic words in Italian – alphabet letters, numbers, colours, adjectives, common places and typical foods. For ages 2-7 years. 11am, Assembly Roxy, 2 Roxburgh Place. Tickets cost £5 and may be booked online here. Also at 2pm on Sunday 24th May 2015.

Christian-AidMorningside & Fairmilehead Parish Churches Christian Aid Fair: stalls, author readings, music, magic, exhibition by Morningside Heritage Association, refreshments and lots more. 10am-2pm, Morningside Parish Church Halls, Braid Road. Admission free: all very welcome!

26. bohemia craft fair

Bohemia Art, Craft and Vintage Fair. 10.30am-4.30pm, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Free entry.

Balerno Village Screen: a community cinema run by volunteers, offering free admission and funded by donations. Today’s films are Paddington (PG) showing at 4pm and The Imitation Game (12A) showing at 7.30pm, both at St Joseph’s Hall, St Joseph’s Centre, Balerno. Although all screenings are free, the organisers ask that you register in advance to give them an idea of numbers – free tickets for each film may be reserved via eventbrite here or obtained from The Mill Cafe or Balerno Post Office.

ratho coffee and craftsRatho Coffee and Crafts: a bijou craft fair to launch Ratho’s community bunting – if you would like to exhibit your work, please contact the library in advance. 10.30am-12.30pm, Ratho Library, School Wynd.

dr neil's garden 3Scotland’s Open Gardens: Dr Neil’s Garden. Secluded, landscaped garden on the lower slopes of Arthur’s Seat, featuring conifers, alpines, physic garden, herbaceous borders and ponds. Also Thomson’s Tower with the Museum of Curling and beautiful views across Duddingston Loch. Refreshments available. 2-5pm, Dr Neil’s Garden Trust, Old Church Lane, Duddingston Village, EH15 3PX. Please park at the kirk car park on Duddingston Road West then follow signs. £3 per person, of which 40% goes to Dr Neil’s Garden Trust and the remainder to SG beneficiaries. Also at same times on Sunday 24th May.

lee miller and picassoLee Miller and Picasso: Opening Lecture. The relationship between Lee Miller and Picasso began during the enchanted summer holiday they shared in the Cote D’Azur in 1937 and lasted until Picasso’s death in 1973. Picasso painted six portraits of Lee Miller, and she photographed him more than a thousand times. She was a frequent visitor to his home in post-war years, accompanying her husband Roland Penrose on his many research trips whilst he was writing the artist’s biography. Anthony Penrose, Director of the Lee Miller Archives and the Penrose Collection, tells the story using Lee Miller’s own photographs. 2-3pm, Hawthornden Lecture Theatre, Scottish National Gallery, The Mound. Tickets cost £5/£4 and may be purchased in advance from the National Gallery’s Information Desk or by calling 0131 624 6560. (card payments).

appropriate behaviourOver the Rainbow: Filmhouse launches a brand new monthly screening strand for new and classic LGBTQIA films and events. This weekend’s film is Appropriate Behaviour (15). After a bad breakup with girlfriend Maxine, New York twentysomething hipster Shirin (Desiree Akhavan, who also writes and directs) is trying desperately to get her life back in order; the film ‘alternates moments of poignancy with inspired deadpan humour’. 3pm, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online here.

hearing dogs for deaf people logoHearing Dogs for the Deaf Ceilidh: with the Robert Fish Band. Doors open 7.30pm, dancing 8pm-12 midnight, St Bride’s Centre, Orwell Terrace. Tickets cost £10 (under-12s £6) and may be purchased from St Bride’s on 0131 346 1405.

steinway at Edinburgh Society of MusiciansEdinburgh Society of Musicians: pianist John Willmett plays preludes by JS Bach, Debussy and Rachmaninov.  7.30pm (prompt), Edinburgh Society of Musicians, 3 Belford Road. The Edinburgh Society of Musicians was founded in 1887; it promotes practical music-making in the city and arranges chamber music recitals every Saturday from October to June. Admission is free.

eurovision party 2Eurovision Party: a big screen showing with scorecards. Wear your lycra sparkles! This event is very popular so advance booking of tables is recommended. 8.30pm, Victoria Bar, 265 Leith Walk.

song by toad poster for hidden doorHidden Door x Bongo: Song, By Toad. As part of this year’s Hidden Door, the trailblazing Edinburgh blog-turned-label presents Bat Bike and Younstrr Joey. 7-10pm, The Bongo Club, Cowgate. Tickets cost £5 on the door or £4 in advance here (free with Hidden Door combined tickets).

eddia-argos-Art_Brut_2Eddie Argos (Art Brut): The Spoken Word Tour, or How To Form A Band and Become Famous. The world renowned singer and songwriter steps into the limelight to tell stories that happened along the way as Art Brut became the world-beating pop behemoth it is today. Heartwarming story or cautionary tale? You be the judge. Over 18s only. 7.30pm, Voodoo Rooms, West Register Street. Tickets cost £8 and may be purchased online here (transaction fee applies).

Peter_Evans__MCO_show_infoThe Meadows Chamber Orchestra: Debussy Prelude to L’apres-midi d’un faune, Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No 2 in D Minor, Op 119, Debussy/Beamish Suite for cello and orchestra and Richard Michael Meadows Suite for jazz piano and orchestra. Conductor: Peter Evans; cello: Robin Michael; piano: Richard Michael. 7.45pm, St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, 5 Lothian Road. Tickets cost £11/£9/£5/£1 and may be purchased in advance from the Queen’s Hall Box Office on 0131 668 2019 or on the door (sta).

SUNDAY 24TH MAY 2015

Belhaven-House,-East-Lothian-188,-featured-webScotland Open Gardens: Belhaven Hill School with Belhaven House. Originally called Winterfield House, the school has retained the formal garden in front of the walled garden, which is accessed through an ornate gate and archway and is laid to lawn with box-edged borders, some containing wildflowers. A gate from the playing field leads to Belhaven House Garden, which has four acres of formal Georgian gardens, walled vegetable and fruit gardens and open woodland. Owned for a while by Sir George Taylor, famous botanist and a former director of Kew. Refreshments available at the school. Both gardens are situated on Belhaven Road, Dunbar and will be open 2-5pm. £4 per person for admission to both gardens (children under 12 free), of which 40% will go to East Lothian Special Needs Play Schemes and the net remainder to SG beneficiaries.

fantastic mr foxFilmhouse Junior: films for a younger audience. This week: Fantastic Mr Fox (PG), Wes Anderson’s quirky animation of Roald Dahl’s children’s book. 11am, Filmhouse, Lothian Road. Tickets cost £4 per person, big or small, and may be purchased from the Box Office on 0131 228 2688 or online here.

NGS storytellingStorytelling: Mary, Queen of Scots. Join storytellers Fergus and Claire McNicol for an afternoon of fun stories and songs about the amazing adventures of Scotland’s most famous queen. For ages 7+. 2pm or 3pm (45 minute sessions), Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street. Free: no booking required. Supported by the Friends of NGS.

beyond the veil May 2015Beyond the Veil Story Session: Prophet Ibrahim. Activities, story and snacks for children aged 5-10 years. 2-4.30pm, John Hope Gateway (West Gate), Royal Botanic Garden, Inverleith Row. £3 per child: booking is essential; please email beyondtheveil@hotmail.co.uk with your name, your child’s name and age, details of any allergies your child may have, and at least one contact number. For any enquiries please contact Nasim Azed on 07795 417 030. Beyond the Veil is a Muslim Women’s Group based in Edinburgh, aiming to promote a better understanding of Islam on a basic level: ‘we believe it is through integration and partnership that understanding on a reciprocal basis can be achieved’.

freaksCameo Vintage Sundays: classic films back on the big screen. Today: Freaks (12A) – the story of a travelling circus of freaks who exact a terrible revenge on a beautiful trapeze artist and her strong-man lover after one of their number is nearly murdered for his fortune.  1pm, Cameo, Home Street. Tickets may be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office on 0871 902 5723.

Blackford-Road,-Edinburgh,-42,-featured-webjpgScotland’s Open Gardens: 20 Blackford Road. A Victorian Walled Garden designed for all year colour, structure and interest. Mature trees and box hedging with a wide range of mixed beds of shrubs and herbaceous plants. Refreshments available. 2-5pm, 20 Blackford Road, EH9 2DS. £4 per person, of which Retired Greyhoud Trust – Edinburgh will receive 40%, with the remainder going to SG beneficiaries.

sofi's nocturnesSofi’s Nocturnes: weekly open stage hosted by Matt Norris and Arno Blok. Unplugged and intimate – all acts welcome, including music, spoken word and anything else you’d like to perform. House guitar available. A free drink for all performers! 8-10pm, Sofi’s Bar, Henderson Street.

fountainhall road 2Scotland’s Open Gardens: 61 Fountainhall Road. Large walled town garden in which trees and shrubs form an architectural backdrop to a wide variety of flowering plants. A collection of hellebores and triliums, several alpine beds and three ponds with a lively population of frogs. Refreshments available. 2-5pm, 61 Fountainhall Road, EH9 2LH.  £4 person, of which 40% will go to Froglife and the net remainder to SG beneficiaries. For further information please contact Mrs Annemarie Hammond on 0131 667 6146.

Black-Diamond-Express-photoHidden Door x Bongo: Alternative Orchestra After-Party. Live sets from Black Diamond Express and special guests, followed by DJs and dancing till late. 10pm-2am, The Bongo Club, Cowgate. Tickets cost £7 on the door sta (free with Hidden Door combined tickets).

me & T monthlyMe & T Monthly: a supportive space for people who have friends, family or partners who are transgender or exploring their gender – an opportunity to meet others who may have similar experiences, questions or concerns. 2-4pm, LGBT Health & Wellbeing, 9 Howe Street. For more information please contact me.and.t.edinburgh@gmail.com at any time.

dr neil's gardenScotland’s Open Gardens: Dr Neil’s Garden. Secluded, landscaped garden on the lower slopes of Arthur’s Seat, featuring conifers, alpines, physic garden, herbaceous borders and ponds. Also Thomson’s Tower with the Museum of Curling and beautiful views across Duddingston Loch. Refreshments available. 2-5pm, Dr Neil’s Garden Trust, Old Church Lane, Duddingston Village, EH15 3PX. Please park at the kirk car park on Duddingston Road West then follow signs. £3 per person, of which 40% goes to Dr Neil’s Garden Trust and the remainder to SG beneficiaries.

william jewell concert choirSt Giles’ At Six: William Jewell College Concert Choir, Missouri. An eclectic programme featuring works by composers from around the world. Conductor: Anthony J Maglione, organist: Ann Marie Rigler. 6pm, St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street. Free: retiring collection.

TER St Giles

 

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