Festival

AROUND TOWN For more info go to LIST.CO.UK /FESTIVAL

HITLIST THE BEST EVENTS, FESTS & TALKS

Festival of Politics See preview, page 95. Scottish Parliament, festivalofpolitics.

org.uk, 15–17 Aug, times and prices vary.

Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas See preview, page 95. The Stand in the Square,

558 7272, until 25 Aug, 3.40pm, £5.

just Conversations Thought-provoking discussions about religion and ethics,

with a panel of experts. Topics include ‘Are We Living in a Debtocracy?’, ‘Church Against Violence’ and ‘Sex for Money Supply and Demand’. just Festival, 226 0000, until 25 Aug (not 16 & 17, 23 & 24), 6pm, £5.

National Collective Presents In 2011, a small group of artists, writers

and performers got together to inspire debate about the future of Scotland. Here, some of them gather for a series of discussions and events to hash out the the referendum and its consequences, whichever way the vote goes. Scottish Storytelling Centre, 556 9579, 14–23 Aug (not 17–20), 9pm, £6.50 (£5.50).

Nightpiece Film Festival (pictured) Organised by indie director Al Carretta,

Nightpiece Film Festival gives an airing to the films that didn’t make the larger festival circuits. With a focus on independent up-and-coming local and international filmmakers, the festival is an uncomplicated way for them to get their work seen. theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 510 2385, 19–23 Aug, 12.40pm, £5.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo The grandaddy of Fringe events draws

crowds (and performers) from all over the world to Edinburgh Castle with massed pipes and drums, military bands, display teams, dancers and the haunting lament of the lone piper. Edinburgh Castle, 225 1188, until 23 Aug (not 17), 9pm (except 16, 23, 7.30pm & 10.30pm), £25–£60.

14–25 Aug 2014 THE LIST FESTIVAL 95

MEDIA SERIES AT THE FRINGE Industry heavyweights tackle the state of Britain’s media

A mid the multitude of opportunities for escapism available during the Fringe, the University of Edinburgh Business School’s Media Series at the Fringe is rooted very much in the real world, gathering a lineup of esteemed journalists to discuss the current state and future of the media.

Professor Chris Carter of the Business School will chair six discussions with some of the most influential names in British media. ‘I think collectively they capture the very best of the British media,’ says Professor Carter. ‘The idea was to get a leading broadcaster (Gavin Esler, 17 Aug), leading columnists from the left (Polly Toynbee , 23 Aug) and the right (Iain Martin, 14 Aug), a highly regarded financial journalist (Ray Perman, 18 Aug), someone who has been associated with major changes in the media (Peter Jay, 20 Aug), and a politician who was involved in one of the major pieces of investigative journalism of the late 20th century (Chris Mullin, 19 Aug) to talk about the big issues in the media.’

Organised around themes of leadership, accountability and trust, the series seeks to engage the public with some of the dominant issues that have faced the media in recent years. It offers a space for the audience to think and reflect on the nature of the media that society wants and how to uphold the standard of British media (which Carter describes as ‘the best quality media in the English speaking world’) in an era when quality newspaper journalism struggles to compete against the immediacy, and ubiquity, of its online and broadcast counterparts. ‘If the series gets people into the Business School who never normally come through our doors, and if it contributes to people thinking about the issues the media faces, then we will be delighted,’ says Carter. (Joe McManus)

University of Edinburgh Business School, 623 3030, 14, 17–20, 23 Aug, 7pm (except 20 Aug, 4pm), free.