AGENDA
:— Havingaball
Festival fever gets off to an early start this year with The Festival Ball, when the best of internationally acclaimed fashion and music hits Edinburgh. The event, organised by new arts outfit Firefly Productions — who pool design, printing. film production and large- scale live extravaganza talents — brings together the lntemational Festival, Film Festival and Fringe with the aim of breaking down the baniers between the organisations and the public who supports them.
Fashion highlight of the night will be a one-off show of Vivienne Westwood designs, based on her Anglomania collection which was the toast of Paris. Those of a more musical bent can enjoy the final date in the latest tour by up 'n’ comers One Dove (previewed on page 28), a set by singer Suzanne Bonnar (subject of a TV documentary and star of Fringe hit I Cover The Waterfront and a selection of vinyl from Festival FM DJs.
The Festival Ball takes place in an artistically transformed Assembly
Vivienne Westmd: one-oft collection hits Edinburgh
Rooms on Saturday 31 July between 9pm and 2am. Dress is black tie, and tickets (priced £15) are available from the Fringe Box Office, The City Cafe, Waterstone's Bookshops and Virgin Megastores. (AM)
I Glasgow Hospitals: Glasgow could lose four of its main hospitals before the end of the decade if a proposal by Greater Glasgow Health Board is accepted by the Scottish Office and the Treasury. The Victoria Infirmary. the Southern General, Stobhill Hospital and the Western lnfinnary would all be axed under the most radical of the options put forward. Instead, a new South Side Hospital —- costing around £400 million — would service the city along with the Royal Infirmary and a redeveloped Gannaval. Four other options have been approved by the Health Board as part of the review, which many fear may necessitate funding by a private/public sector partnership and the building of a private Health Care lntemational hospital in Clydebank, thereby limiting the development of public health care facilities in the area.
I Highland llnlversity: Scotland looks closer to adding another university to its prestigious list as plans for a university in the Highlands are announced this month. Two reports examining the possible curriculum, information technology and marketing strategies will soon be submitted to the Scottish Office. The University of the Highlands and Islands Steering Group has long campaigned for people in the area to be allowed the choice of further education at university level without having to leave their home area, as the aim is to have existing colleges linked to a central campus by computer. Part of the funding for the institution would come from BC aid amounting to £260 million, which has already been earmarked for developing jobs, transport links, training and environmental improvements. Invemess, Caithness, Aviemore and Alness are all competing to be the location of the headquarters.
I Dundee Odeon: In the last year, it’s been a case of one closure after
another, as far as Central belt cinemas go. In Tayside. however, the situation is looking brighter as the Odeon chain brought a further six screens to Dundee at the end ofJune. The new multiplex in Stacks Leisure Park added a total of L646 seats (with additional space for 16 wheelchairs) to the city's existing pair of cinemas at a cost of over £4 million. The Odeon complex also boasts a shop, theme bar and Dolby Digital Stereo in its main auditorium. I Scottish Parllament: The future of Edinburgh’s Royal High School. the site designated for a future Scottish Parliament, is in doubt after it was revealed that the Crown Office is to vacate it at the start of next year. The building is currently the responsibility of Property Holdings, formerly part of the Govemment‘s Property Services Agency, and costs £150,000 a year to maintain. It is used by the Scottish Grand Committee. which only met three times in 1992. The move away from the building has been seen as politically motivated, as the Royal High School holds a symbolic value in the eyes of many Scots. and has been the base ofa Democracy For Scotland vigil since the General Election.
I Rail Privatisation: The Government has announced that the franchise to operate ScotRail will go on the market early in 1995, a little later than had been expected. According to public transport minister Roger Freeman, there has already been considerable interest from the private sector, with Strathclyde Buses — recently privatised in a £25 million buy—out from Strathclyde Regional Council — one of the companies which has already indicated its intention to make a bid. It was stressed that Government plans did not pose a threat to rural lines in \ Scotland. with franchisees committed to maintaining all services for seven to ten years. However, Freeman added that the public should be prepared to pay higher prices for improved services.
firefly
productions
proudly presents
THE 1 993 FESTIVAL BALL-
tuninan
l2
Communications
smunoAv - 9 - zom - JULY 3151
ASSEMBLY ROOMS - GEORGE STREET
_VIVIENNE WESTWOOD'S -
- FASHION SHOW EXTRAVAGANZA I
_ SUZANNE BONNAR _
_ FESTIVAL EM 01's—
_ ONE DOVE lIVE -
_ SWEET ADELINES _
TICKET PRICE “5- mass BLACK n:
OUTLETS:- Fringe Box Office, The City Cate Waterstone's Bookshops, Virgin Megoslores
é,
[Fill
Itlitilmigli
J
The List. l6—29 July 1693 5