EdinburghGuide.com - City Guide to Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh News


RSNO Denève Conducts Mahler 6 Review

RSNO Oct 09.jpg

 There’s always that fear when there’s only one piece on the programme, and so no interval, that you are in for a long slog. But far from it with Stéphane Denève’s interpretation of Mahler’s full and complex 6th Symphony. 

Northern Ballet Theatre's Wuthering Heights Review

Heathcliff and Cathy

Northern Ballet Theatre's reputation has grown immeasurably since David Nixon took over as Artistic Director in 2001. Since then he has created and choreographed nine full-length ballets for the company and in December last year won an OBE for services to dance. 

Opinion: An Open Letter To Edinburgh City Council Leader Jenny Dawe About Edinburgh's Trams

Edinburgh Trams Arriving 2011

Edinburgh's trams were originally supposed to be trundling through city streets this year, 2010. After a series of delays, this week we learned that the main contractors Bilfinger Berger may need until 2014 to complete the tram works.

Porridge Review

IMG_1144 copy credit Matt Jamie copy[1].jpg

“Not another one!” This was the only thought in my mind as I fumbled through the Porridge program, eagerly awaiting the lights to dim so that my pained face could be disguised.

Voices Connect Across the Irish Sea at the Storytelling Centre

This March, a programme of events in Scotland, surrounding St. Patrick's Day, illustrate how these two great nations are moving in the oldest yet closest of friendships and explores how often there has been a reluctance to admit or engage this closeness, with both nations holding on to a complicated historical legacy and becoming intimate strangers, existing with their backs to each other and reluctant to forge new chapters.

The Government Inspector Review

The Government Inspector

Communicado really knows how to put on a show. There’s music, singing, dancing, drama, comedy, fabulous costumes, imaginative effects, and terrific acting - aa in the wan gless. Oh, and a message. How good is that?

A Play, A Pie & A Pint review: The Shattered Head by Graham Eatough

Shattered Head is the title of a piece of sculpture made by Scots Italian artist, Eduardo Paolozzi in 1956. This short play shows the acclaimed artist in the last years of his life when he is confined to a wheelchair and the inside of his own head has been shattered after his stroke in 2001.

ESPC Sees Flat Property Market In 2010

The Edinburgh Solitors' Property Centre, Edinburgh

The average house price in Edinburgh rose by 2.8% annually last month, according to figures from the Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre (ESPC). The average price of a property sold during February stood at £200,126, up from £194,678 during the same month last year. The rise marked the sixth time in the last seven months during which an annual increase had been recorded in the Capital.

Review: Xiu Xiu

Xiu Xiu

Dear God, I hate myself. So wails Jamie Stewart as he stands wracked, seemingly almost in pain, at the microphone. His eyes are permanently screwed shut as he wrestles with technology to expose whatever demons lie rank within him.

Dinnerladies Review

Dinner Ladies

There is so much bad comedy on the television these days. And most of it, it saddens me to say, home-grown.

Over recent years, aside from the odd flash of brilliance (The Office, Spaced, The Green Wing), we have produced uninspired, lazy shows that seek out cheap laughs from start to finish.

Review: Scottish Chamber Orchestra play Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven

Richard Egarr, Music Director of the Academy of Ancient Music, was the guest conductor of this performance of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven compositions played by the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. 

Inventor of Genetic Fingerprinting Wins Edinburgh Medal

A pioneer in DNA fingerprinting and DNA profiling techniques, used by police forces throughout the world, is the receipient of the 22nd Edinburgh Medal. The award is presented annually during the Edinburgh International Science Festival for achievements in science and technology that are judged to have made a significant contribution to the understanding and well-being of humanity.

The Beauty Queen of Leenane Review

The Beauty Queen of Leenane

Now Martin McDonagh has been thrust into the spotlight for award-winning short films and his Oscar nominated feature length In Bruges, it seems only fitting that the Lyceum present his first major

Russian State Ballet's Sleeping Beauty Review

The Russian State Ballet of Siberia's production of Sleeping Beauty is all one would wish for in a classical ballet. Set in the traditional period, the variety of costumes are resplendent - flamboyant sequined ball-gowns, multi-coloured feathered hats, pastel-shaded tutus, which looked as pretty as a picture, vibrant coloured sentry outfits, and magnificent cloaks worn by the King and Queen and the evil witch - all of which created a magical setting for the well-known fairytale, where good surpasses evil.

Review: Songs For An Airless Room

Joby Burgess and Phil Minton, live at the cameo, photo credit, Russel McEwan.

Songs For An Airless Room styles itself as somewhere between theatre and a piece of music to be performed. If this is fairly grandiose and self-regarding it nevertheless is an ambitious collaboration between live musical performance and screened film.

Hormonal Housewives Review

Hormonal Housewives

Given the success of theatrical forays such as The Vagina Monologues and Grumpy Old Women, one might have had high hopes for Julie Coombe and John MacIsaac's Sex and The City meets HRT themed romp, Hormonal Housewives.

A Play, A Pie & A Pint Review: "Heaven" by Simon Stephens

Last year’s innovative lunchtime theatre series "A Play, A Pie and A Pint", a successful collaboration between Glasgow’s Òran Mór and the Traverse Theatre, is back in Edinburgh for the next 5 weeks.  This time they have had the good sense to include the classic meat pie (Òran Mór’s own, I am told) among the choice and very good it is too. Aussies take note!

Epic Indie Night - Battle of the Bands

Run/Lucky/Free

Po Na Nas last week gathered a few known names on the Edinburgh music scene for a Battle of the Bands, where the winner of the event will play at a new Indie night, ‘Edit’, when it moves to the Liquid Room on Sundays.

The Dream of Gerontius Review

Elgar

As a child I don’t suppose I was alone in pondering heaven and hell and wondering how it was decided which I should end up in at my death. John Henry Newman’s long poem, The Dream of Gerontius, is a dream just about that.

The Feathers Are Out at Guilty Lily Charity Burlesque

Situated at the corner of Bonnington and Newhaven Road, Guilty Lily is an unexpected surprise with its chandelier, bright silken cushions, high wooden barstools and fairy lights. 

Promises, Promises Review

Promises, Promises

A prodigious playwright, Douglas Maxwell will have at least 5 of his plays performed this year - including a musical for Cumbernauld Theatre. 'Promises, Promises' however is a monologue written in the voice of a primary school teacher who feels drawn to protect a mute six year old Somalian girl, allegedly possessed by the devil.