The first step in the new Opening Doors programme: (from left to right) Ola Kasprzak, Malcolm Chisholm and Fay Young
How can local communities influence political decisions? Ola Kasprzak and Maka Mwamwaja are hoping to find out as they begin this year’s shadowing programme, Opening Doors 2009, by observing the work of Malcolm Chisholm MSP both in the Scottish Parliament and in his constituency of Edinburgh North and Leith. Continue reading “Opening Doors to politics”
It is not easy for world musicians to enter Britain. So Scotland is lucky to be hearing the remarkable music of the Sufi band that survived the Taliban – and overcame obstacles to getting a visa. And we are luckier still to get the chance to hear them on our own doorstep. Thanks to Swietlica, the Ahmad Sham Sufi Qawali Group will take a detour to play at Fort Community Centre on Monday 25 May at 6.30 pm. It’s free but money raised from home-baking and books will go to help victims of war in Afghanistan. Continue reading “Music without frontiers”
Reel Iraq: a unique perspective
Stop press. This is just a glimpse of what is going on in Leith. Don’t miss the Reel Iraq readings in McDonald Road Library, come to the World Kitchen in Leith, keep an ear open for Zawadi, the new women’s choir, and keep watching this space for news of our Opening Doors shadowing programme and a new series about community leadership. And if you want to become a community activist, why not join ACTive Inquiry, the radical new theatre company in Leith.
In their own words: a rare chance to hear modern Iraqi writers. Meet Sinan Antoon, Hussain Al-Mozany, Betool Khedairi, Gulala Nouri and Saadi Youssef at the McDonald Road Readings. Continue reading “Reel Iraq in McDonald Road Library”
Calling all cooks. Here’s your invitation to take part in a unique community event during Leith Festival. World Kitchen in Leith is based on the simple idea that food is the best way to bring people together so we can celebrate the many different cultures that make Leith the most vibrant part of Scotland’s capital city. [See also World Kitchen Cooks up a Storm] Continue reading “Come to the World Kitchen in Leith”
Zawadi Women’s Choir rehearsing for their first public appearance – membership of the choir is open to women from different ethnic backgrounds.
At one end of the hall they are preparing a banquet. At the other end the choir is warming up for their first public performance. Rachel Milne quickly gets rid of any nerves by making them laugh, “That sounds very nice,” says the musical director firmly asking them to start again with a bit more oomph, “You sound like nice Scottish ladies. Now try again.” Continue reading “Women in harmony”
…the woman and man in the street do not know that they are speaking theatre. Augusto Boal April 16 1931 – May 2 2009
The pioneering Leith community theatre group, Active Inquiry is making its debut with SPACE, the story of Maggie, an ordinary woman who finds it difficult to persuade people in the local community to help her save the neighbourhood park from being turned into a car park. (Next performance Wednesday 13th May). Continue reading “Exits and entrances in the theatre”
Welcome to a new community website which happened almost by accident but is fast becoming a great source of local information. Click on EH7 Community Noticeboard to find news and views of the proposed Tesco opening in Picardy Place, how to make requests under the Freedom of Information Act, or how to get council action on problems in your street. And much more. Continue reading “Read all about it on the community noticeboard”
Thanks to Nick Gardner for the pictures
There’s nothing like a food market to bring life to a public space. The fortnightly farmers market transforms the view outside Ocean Terminal between 10 am and 4pm every second and fourth Friday of the month. And tomorrow is indeed the second Friday of April. Continue reading “The farmers market comes to Leith”
Good news for film buffs, the Red Eye film club begins a new season at 7pm on Friday 3 April. For the first showing of 2009, Mike Cowley has chosen Bertolucci’s beautifully made, but chilling, Conformist. With the wonders of new media you can see clips on YouTube of the film made in 1970 and generally regarded as Bertolucci’s masterpiece. But come to Pilmeny Youth Centre for the whole film and a chance to talk about it afterwards. All completely free of charge.