www.list.co.uk/aroundtown
Online Booking Fringe www.edfringe.com International Festival www.eif.co.uk Book Festival www.edbookfest.co.uk Art Festival www.edinburghartfestival.org
Activities & Events Sir William Kircaldy Captain of the Castle Thu 12 & 19 Aug, 11am, 11.30am, noon, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm & 3pm. Included in admission: £14 (£11.20; children £7.50; under 5s free). Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. Living history performance telling the story of Sir William Kirkcaldy, governor of Edinburgh Castle at the behest of Mary, Queen of Scots, during the ‘Lang Siege’ of 1571–1573. Mary, Queen of Scots and the Birth of James IV Fri 13 Aug, 11am, 11.30am, noon, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm & 3pm. Included in admission: £14 (£11.20; children £7.50; under 5s free). Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 668 8858. Hear about Mary, Queen of Scots and the birth of her son, James, who was to become the first King of a United Kingdom of England, Ireland and Scotland.
✽✽ The Edinburgh Military Tattoo Until Sat 28 Aug (not Sun), Mon–Fri
9pm; Sat 7.30pm & 10.30pm. £16–£50 (Sat 10.30pm shows £19–£53 – includes fireworks display). Castle Esplanade, Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 1188. A unique blend of music, ceremony, entertainment and theatre featuring bands from across the globe, set against the magnificent backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Booking essential. See Hitlist. Life in a Medieval Castle Mon 16 Aug, 11am, 11.30am, noon, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm & 3pm. Included in admission: £14 (£11.20; children £7.50; under 5s free). Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. Learn about the life of a young girl in medieval Scottish society, in particular that of one girl of noble birth, Isabella, who placed the
crown on the head of Robert the Bruce when he was crowned in 1306. FREE Knit & Stitch Tue 17 Aug, 10am–noon. North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 15a Pennywell Court, 315 2151. Bring along a knitting or sewing project to work on in a friendly social environment. Prisoner of the Crown Tue 17 Aug, 11am, 11.30am, noon, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm & 3pm. Included in admission: £14 (£11.20; children £7.50; under 5s free). Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. Meet an American prisoner held within the mighty walls of Edinburgh Castle during the War of Independence. Bat-tastic! Thu 12 Aug, 2–4pm & 8–9.30pm. Afternoon activities included in admission; evening walk £4 (children £2). Inveresk Lodge Garden, Musselburgh, 0844 493 2124. Bat-based games and crafts for children in the afternoon, and a walk along the Esk to see if you can spot any in the evening. Booking essential for walk. FREE Musical Deck Chairs Fri 13 Aug, 6–8pm. Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. A musical chairs record swap event with live vinyl DJing for people interested in trading their vinyl records with others. Places are limited so please call or email to book: gallery@edinburgh-printmakmers.co.uk. FREE Balerno Opening Day Sat 14 Aug, 11am. Various venues, Balerno, 529 2253. A day of family-friendly events, food and music to celebrate the completion of improvements to the main street in Balerno. Military Police (Black Watch) Sat 14 Aug, 11am, 11.30am, noon, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm & 3pm. Included in admission: £14 (£11.20; children £7.50; under 5s free). Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. Meet two soldiers from the Black Watch regiment and learn about crime and punishment in the army. Ensign Ewart Sun 15 Aug, 11am, 11.30am, noon, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm & 3pm. Included in admission: £14 (£11.20; children £7.50; under 5s
free). Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, 225 9846. Ensign Charles Ewart is buried at Edinburgh Castle; find out why and hear the remarkable story of his capture of a regimental eagle and the Battle of Waterloo at this living history event. Lady Reres Sun 15 Aug, 11am, noon, 1.30pm & 2.30pm. Included in admission: £4.20 (£3.40; children £2.50). Craigmillar Castle, Craigmillar Castle Road, 661 4445. Meet one of Mary Queen of Scots’ principal ladies-in- waiting and get the inside line on Scotland’s most mythologised queen.
✽✽ FREE Cameo Curio Sun 15 Aug, noon–6pm. Sonic Lodge, 9 Ferry
Road, Leith, 553 8952. A pop-up art event with things to see, do and buy from Marvel Comics, Godiva Fashion, Lindstrom Effect and many more. See Hitlist. Family Guided Tours Sun 15 & Thu 19 Aug, 2pm. Family ticket £15 (£10). Georgian House, 7 Charlotte Square, 0844 493 2118. Tour the Georgian House and discover how rich families of yesteryear lived – and the less privileged life led by their servants. Booking essential. FREE Education Open Evening Mon 16 Aug, 6–8pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. Find out about RBGE’s upcoming courses, meet some of the tutors and sign up for the coming year.
Books FREE Courtyard Readings Until 21 Aug (not Sun), 2pm. Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 557 2876. An open event for all poetry lovers, hosted by the School of Poets. All are invited to come and read their own poems or personal favourites of other writers in the language of their choice. Readings are held outside if it’s fine or inside in summer rain. See picture, below Havers and Blethers Until 21 Aug, 7.30–8.30pm. £2. Captains Bar, 4 South College Street. A spoken word-based festival show from the Captain’s Bar, hosted by fiddler Kirsty-Jacqueline
Courtyard Readings One of the loveliest annual events of the festival season, these outdoor readings (don’t worry, they go indoors if/when it rains) hosted by the School of Poets are open to all poetry lovers. Come and read your own work, or a personal favourite poem, in the language of your choice. ■ Scottish Poetry Library, 557 2876, until 21 Aug (not Sun), 2pm, free.
Festival Around Town
Lingard and featuring writers, poets, actors and musicians performing short snippets from their works. Free acoustic folk sessions every night after the show. FREE Edinburgh Festival PBFA Book Fair Sun 15–Sat 21 Aug, Sun noon–6pm; Mon 16–Thu 19 Aug 10am–6pm. Roxburghe Hotel, 38 Charlotte Square, 01383 725566. Sellers exhibit interesting second hand and antiquarian books, maps and prints at prices to suit all pockets.
✽✽ FREE Book Signing: Emily Gravett and Julia Donaldson
Mon 16 Aug, 2pm. Waterstone’s West End, 128 Princes Street, 226 2666. The award-winning author/illustrators sign copies of their latest work, Cave Baby. See Hitlist. Nothing but the Poem @ The Book Festival Wed 18 Aug, 11am–12.30pm. £15 (£12). Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, 0845 373 5888. An informal book group which removes the pressures of review, criticism and hype, to focus instead on the reader’s response to the text. No background knowledge is necessary. With Lilias Fraser. FREE Getting Started at NLS Thu 19 Aug, 10.30am–noon. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Find out how to register, seek out specific books and peek inside the Reading Rooms, then enjoy a lifetime of reading books for free.
Exhibitions FREE Land Girls and Lumber Jills Until Sat 26 Feb 2011, 9.45am–4.45pm. National War Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Castle, 225 4413. An exhibition telling the story of the Women’s Land Army (WLA) and Women’s Timber Corps (WTC) in Scotland who, from their roots in the First World War, played a vital role in feeding the nation and providing timber. FREE Lewis Chessmen Until Sun 19 Sep, 10am–5pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 225 7534. Thirty of these mysterious historic chess pieces have been reunited from their homes in Edinburgh and London for an exhibition that delves into the intrigues surrounding them and what they tell us about the times in which they were made. FREE A swing through time: the story of golf in Scotland Until Sun 14 Nov, Mon–Fri 10am–8pm; Sat 10am–5pm; Sun 2–5pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Find out why whacking a ball with a stick whilst wearing Argyle socks is so important to Scotland and how it transformed itself into the billion-dollar industry it is now. Skin Deep: The Restoration of Form and Function Until Mon 28 Feb 2011, Mon–Fri 10am–4pm; Sat/Sun noon–4pm. Included in admission: £5 (£3). Surgeons’ Hall Museum, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Nicolson Street, 527 1649. An exhibition investigating plastic surgery relating to war, punishment, psychology, congenital defects and cosmetic reasons. FREE From Another Kingdom: The Amazing World of Fungi Until Sun 21 Nov, 10am–7pm. Royal Botanic Garden, 20a Inverleith Row, 552 7171. The UK’s first major multi-media exhibition to focus on the fascinating world of fungi and the relationship of the fungal ones with humans and the planet. FREE Loss of Innocence Wed 18 Aug, noon–7pm. Coates Crescent, (Beside St Georges West Church), 620 0052. Work drawn and painted by Palestinian children shortly after the attacks on Gaza over New Year 2008/9.
For everything you need to know about all the festivals visit www.list.co.uk/festival 12–19 Aug 2010 THE LIST 93