Meet a man of parts. Sunday’s lecture in McDonald Road Library is by an academic combining a remarkable cluster of interests and talents. Tariq Muneer – poet and Professor of Energy Engineering at Edinburgh Napier University – will present Tales of Alhambra and Moorish Spain from 2-4pm on Sunday 18th July.
Continue reading “Light, heat and the Alhambra: a view from McDonald Road Library”
Launching Poetry in St Andrew Square two festivals ago.
Is this poetry in motion or poetry parked? Either way, the Poetry Garden will bloom for a day in Castle Street on Friday 16th July between 10 am and 3pm, with the help of a mobile library, some potted plants – and of course the essential poetry. Continue reading “Poetry (garden) in motion”
It’s official – if a little scary – we’re in the Festival of Politics along with Annie Lennox, Mark Thomas and John Prescott. Admittedly we’re not all on the same platform at the same time. But the News Group are delighted to be in the fantastic programme of events taking place at the Scottish Parliament in August. Continue reading “Leith drama workshops in the Festival of Politics”
What if we shut our doors to all the people traumatised by wars and persecution… would we live in a stable economy once we had selected our choice citizens?
A thought-provoking question is posed by Joyce Juma Phiri on a flyer advertising Edinburgh events during Refugee Week from 13-19 June. With luck the events will provoke plenty of thought and action too. Not least a film about young Afghan asylum seekers which could hardly be more topical. Continue reading “In search of a safe place – Refugee Week in Edinburgh”
The cafe was always a place where you could go and talk about changing the world. But now a bigger change is happening; something that requires less talk and more action…
Action points: there’s lots of exciting stuff simmering below the surface which we are not quite ready to tell you about. But one festival event is ready and raring to go public. Don’t miss The Legacy the latest Flashback Drama Group production during Leith Festival on June 17, 18 and 19 in Out of the Blue Drill Hall. Continue reading “Cafe culture brews revolution in Leith”
Looking to the future: Peace and Security is the theme of this year’s international Africa Day. Picture by Yvonne Baginsky
This is a busy month for African communities in Edinburgh. There’s a brave new play exploring difference and diversity through children’s eyes, and the annual celebration of Africa Day focusing on international issues. But first the play which is being launched at the Scottish Parliament next week… Continue reading “Difference, diversity and the ghost story at the Scottish Parliament”
All smiles: Maria Masur-Grieve and just visible behind her Marek Pietryzykowski
Politicians take note. Sometimes the simplest ideas win the most hearts, minds and votes. Last night’s political drama in Fort Community Wing ended with a competition for a project to change life in Leith for the better. And the clear winners of a small cash prize to make it happen were Maria and Marek for an idea that costs nothing to put into action. Smiling Leith simply asks everyone to smile three times a day to a complete stranger. Continue reading “Smile please – you’re in Leith”
It’s not just make-believe. Actors in Change – the political drama coinciding with the general election campaign – will invite the audience to vote for changes they want to happen in real life. But this election involves community organisations who work for positive change and the winning votes come with a small cash prize. Which is why ACTive Inquiry is inviting local groups to performances, starting with Thursday’s event in Fort Community Wing (see also last blog). This is where you come in… Continue reading “Be the change (and win a prize to make it happen)”
“I’ve never seen anything like it! It is such an interesting and dynamic way to explore issues. I really liked how the audience interacted with and influenced the play.”
While politicians debate, a Leith community theatre invites local people to explore what positive change means and how we can make it happen. Change is the name of a unique theatre project which opens with a first performance at Fort Community Wing on Thursday 29 April at 7 pm.
Continue reading “Change – a real life political drama at a theatre near you”
CHANGE – a theatre project during the General Election
Saturday 10th April 10am-1pm, Pilmeny Youth Centre, FREE
So what do we mean by change? Can we do more to change things than just voting every four or five years? With questions like these, Leith-based theatre company ACTive Inquiry invites local people to help create a piece of real-life theatre exploring change for performance and debate – deliberately timed to coincide with the General Election campaign. Continue reading “Defining change in the theatre of politics”