Category: Leith Open Space Events

It took a lot of helping hands to install Edinburgh’s most powerful festival exhibition, Return of the Soul: the Nakbah project by Jane Frere. Now more volunteers are needed for the massive task of unhooking more than 3,000 wax figures from the Patriothall Gallery in Stockbridge when the show ends on Monday. “That will involve bubblewrapping the figures and sending them on their way to Lebanon,” says Nick Gardner, one of the volunteers (read his review on Leith and North).

If you would like to help email returnofthesoul@gmail.com or call in at the gallery.

Pop stars, pundits and politicians – with events featuring Annie Lennox, Dennis Healey and Evan Davies, we are tempted to book tickets for everything in this year’s Festival of Politics programme. As many events are free, that would not break the bank. And even the celebrity spots cost just £6 which compares favourably with Fringe events. Continue reading “Spoilt for choice in the Festival of Politics”

A week later, it is still hard to believe that last Saturday’s event in the Botanics was such a wonderful experience for audience and performers alike. If the morning forecast was bad the evening weather was much worse. This was no midsummer magic. Yet people queued patiently in the downpour to get into the Temperate Palmhouse for the opening improvisation between FOUND, Shanghai Jazz and Korphai, and then out again (maybe a little reluctantly) to follow a watery trail to the Chinese Hillside. Continue reading “Not just singing in the rain…”

Susie Brown puts finishing touches to 600 bamboo poles: her sculpture Natural Progression becomes a stage setting for dance in the Botanics on midsummer night.

There’s a serious theme rippling beneath the music but right now enjoy the sheer, mad fun of it all. Listen to robots playing Chinese instruments in the Palm House and watch Tai Chi dancers on the lawn while Bamboo percussionists from Thailand beat out a trail of discovery to the Chinese Hillside. Fay Young reports from behind the scenes… Continue reading “Midsummer magic: a life changing experience in the Botanics”

To celebrate National Refugee Week here is an extract from a poem by Sifiso from Zimbabwe, written during poetry workshops involving Scots, refugees and poets.

Scotland

Scotland here I come –
To my surprise you are different
From what I have heard.
Cold but welcoming
Drunkards, racists, unemployed, yes,
But just like any other country… Continue reading “Cold but welcoming, a refugee’s view of Scotland”

Jonathon Baxter unmissable in Guantanamo orange suit draws a crowd to Poets’ Corner which opened in the glorious sunshine of Parklife 2008. Another great success for Friends of Dalmeny Street Park. Continue reading “Poetry in motion in Dalmeny Street Park”

If you have time to spare why not join the Leith Museum campaign stall at Leith Festival Gala in Leith Links on Saturday 7 June. Continue reading “Help wanted on Leith Museum stall”