Holyrood Amateur Theatre Society stage rare production of Gray’s McGrotty and Ludmilla
Alasdair Gray's poster for the production
By Thom Dibdin
An amateur production of Alasdair Gray’s early play McGrotty and Ludmilla, to be staged this week at the Roxy Arthouse, has benefited from personal input from the playwright.
HATS, the Holyrood Amateur Theatre Society, are staging the production from tonight (Thursday) to Saturday. Loosely based on the Aladdin story, the play follows the adventures of the uncouth and unpolished young Scot Mungo McGrotty amongst the Machiavellian civil service mandarins of 1980s Whitehall. … Continue reading Æ News – HATS doffed to Alasdair Gray
Short Filmhouse season preps audiences for EIF
By Thom Dibdin
It's Bliss, Opera Australia's production
The Edinburgh International Festival are linking up with the Filmhouse next week for On Screen, On Stage, a short season of four films which tie in with productions in this year’s EIF.
The innovative season, running from Sunday 18 through to Sunday 25 July, is described by Filmhouse as “a short season of films to whet your appetite for the upcoming Edinburgh International Festival’s 2010 programme”.
On Screen, On Stage includes two Scottish premieres. Susanna Boehm’s 2009 documentary Porgy and Me follows the cast of the New York Harlem Theatre on their European tour of Porgy and Bess. Following the company from city to city – where they attract stares from startled Austrians – the film draws out the parallels between the opera and the real life experiences of individual singers in a series of deeply personal conversations. … Continue reading News – On Screen On Stage
The Festival party season comes early for younger culture-vultures
By Thom Dibdin
It's Bliss in the EIF IN crowd - Opera Australia's 'Bliss'. Photo credit: Branco Gaica
The Edinburgh International Festival is staging a pair of free pre-Festival events this month, aimed at stimulating interest in its year-round education programme – and appealing further to the under-40 year-old Festival goer.
The first of the events takes place on Friday June 18 at the Hub when Sally Hobson, the EIF’s Head of Programme Development, will talk about the festival’s year-round outreach work. Titled New Worlds, New Horizons, the lecture will also be attended by EIF Director Jonathan Mills, who will be talking about his thinking behind this year’s EIF programme.
The second event is being held on June 23rd at the Roxy Art House, when the EIF launch IN, their new initiative for culture lovers in their 20s and 30s. The scheme will augment the existing 50% discount on all tickets for under-18s and those in full-time education, as well as the £8 on-the-day tickets for under 26 year-olds.
Although the club costs £20 to join, members of IN will be offered a whole raft of offers, from “hot tickets to exclusive VIP parties and behind the scenes events” to invitations to preview performances and discounts on selected performances. … Continue reading Be IN with the EIF’s Party People
Stephen Skrynka on the Wall of Death. Photograph: Peter Dibdin
By Thom Dibdin
Stephen Skrynka, the visual artist at the centre of the National Theatre of Scotland’s Wall of Death: A Way of Life has fulfilled a lifetime’s dream and ridden a motorbike onto the wall of death.
The show, which features [...]
By Thom Dibdin
The Edinburgh Playhouse Spotlight Award is to change emphasis for 2010, to recognise an outstanding contribution over the last 12 months in the world of Edinburgh amateur dramatics. … Continue reading Edinburgh Amateurs £1000 Award 2010 Launched
Liburd wins Best Male Dancer but announces he is to retire from Scottish Ballet
Paul Liburd, Scottish Ballet’s popular soloist, has won the top accolade from the Critics Circle Dance Awards, as he announces that he is to retire from the company at the end of the Spring season.
… Continue reading Scottish Ballet’s Paul Liburd awarded