THE LIST
location will be the ever-controversial Hole in the Ground, temporarin a Fringe venue torthe Elephant Tent. but suggested tor many years sa the site at an Opera House. There we can expect mutated walkways and the Mutoids’ usual line in ‘graveyard‘ sculpture. They will also be creating an original piece. specially designed tor Edinburgh— though they are unlikely to have sopranos and acoustics too much in mind. 0 The Mutoid Waste Company can be seen in a spectacular tire-juggling pertormance —Thurs 20 Aug, 9pm and Sun 23 Aug. 9pm - and completing one 01 their sculptures on Sat 22 Aug.
‘Glasnost in Britain?’ The provocative title 01 a hastily organised Forum Against Censorship And In Delence 01 The Word needs no explanation. In the wake ot the everlasting Spycatcher controversy, whose thoughts have not been brushed by- it not devoted to- the creeping worry at Government secrecy and the hidden tacts 01 State that lie behind our ever-so-democratic
exterior?
The Forum is sponsored by the Tribune newspaper. and championed by its
chairman Norman Buchan. Labour MPlor Paisley South. Since the recent censorhsip volcano Duchan lirme believes ‘that the argument should be public' —hence the debate. Speakers will include Liz Lochhead. David Daiches and John McGrath and the Forum will be held on Sunday 23 August
(11 .3Dam-1pm) in the Lyceum Studio Theatre. £1 admission)
DUTCH COURAGE
The luture 01 Richard Demarco's gallery is at last looking brighter. The entrepreneur who has overthe years excited the city with avant-garde exhibitions and theatrical coups such as this year's Fringe First winner, Tattoo, has decided ‘he believes in angels again’, nowthata Dutch businessman has come unexpectedly to his aid.
Paul Van Vlisingen, a triend he met in Warsawthree years ago, has otteredto
buy and renovate the 1860s church in which the gallery is based, tor the sum 01 £125,000, with the turther otterot rent-tree use tor Demarco torthe next twenty years or until he dies.
Says Demarco: ‘The otter hasto be put belorethe board at the gallery on the
26th at this month, butl can't imagine they will retuse it.‘ Unlortunately he says the problem will still be tartrom over. ‘How do we keep the doors open? That costs £5,000 a month quite apart trom the building. And il I am trying to do proper programming that means much more than that; a Festival exhibition could cost well over £25,000.‘ Demarco has been without subsidy lrom the Scottish Arts Council since 1900 and the removal 01 his grant. This year he received some help lrom private patrons, some at the artists, and apparently the city 01 Sarajevo, whence came the Tattoo Theatre. Now he believes the solution could be a mixture at business and civic sponsorship, which. in tandem with the Dutch otter, could persuade the Arts Council to subsidise him again. ‘I have got the business sponsorship more or less assured', he says. revealing also that the City at Edinburgh District Council are also considering a subsidy 01 £7,500, to be decided in a meeting in mid-September. ‘I think it I could raise £50,000 altogether, I could ask the Arts Councillor another £50,000.' The SAC’s Lindsay Gordon has said that he is ‘delighted' lor Richard Demarco at his new lound Dutch support. but he is pragmatic about the likelihood ot luture support horn the council. ‘Dack in November last year, just alterthe Demarco gallery had moved to Blacktriars Street, we conducted a review at the present situation and his plans, and that was carried out jointly by representatives at the Arts Council and the gallery. We identitied a
‘ '3'” m9- —1. N-‘ifl' ‘
number otweaknesses. in particular, these three: One, the management and the stalling; two, the lack at any viable planslor reducing the gallery‘s delicit or tunding its conversion plans torthe
FESTIVAL GUEST LIST
building; and three, the lack
at any indication that Edinburgh District Council would provide lunding on an annual basis. The tirst gallery was on small premises in Jeltrey Street and it received a grantot £26,000 trom us. The new premises were a lot more expensive and everyone agreed not to provide sponsorship until these problems were resolved.’ Now it looks as itproblem numbertwo has been resolved and problem numbertnree could be soon. Says Gordon: ‘There has never been any doubt that he can do some marvellousthings. . .ithe got £50,000 and had viable plans on how to runthe gallery-with a management and administrative structure to cope with this big enterprise—then we would look at his proposal very seriously.‘
Meanwhile Demarco admits to being anxious about the luture ol the enterprise it things do not go his way. ‘The strain on my personal tinances has been overwhelming. I don't have a pension or any decent salary. . . l havejust hadto sell my house torthelirst time in 30 years.’ He claims now to have ‘come out otthe detensive and intothe attacking position', and adds ‘we will do this with a conlerence in the City Chambers on the weekend 01 the 12th and 13th 01 September , entitled ‘Whither Scotland's culture in bed with an Elephant‘- the elephant being England.‘
N - FIREWORKS
Watching tire turn to water
is always a highlight otthe Edinburgh Festival and this year's tirework spectacular
' has no plans to dispense
with that tradition. Rivers ollire will again
cascade down the castle
rock, onlythistime to an
entirely new musical score.
Composer Carl Davis is aiming to make his music tie in exactly with the tireworks, which
presumably could mean
year.
‘Davis' Watermusic', now that Handel, the Festival’s usual choice, has been passed over, at least torthis
The bangs at any rate should be lairly easy to synchronise, and the organisers are planning ‘the biggest one ever' tor the evening's climax. Stay at home citizens planning to go to sleep with Radio Forth should thereiore adjust their sets, torthe station is once again recording the event torthe benetit ot walkman-clad spectators.
As tor seeing it. ityou are one at the millions who don't have tickets torthe bandstand area, you will do best to make your way up to the top at Calton Hill (East End Princes Street) or even Arthur's Seat, where it is rumoured that relatives 01 The List contributors are sometimes lound dancing naked in the dew. . . Dnthe other hand tor sheerioie de vivreand a sense thatyou might lose your nearest and dearest once and tor all, try Princes Street, (prelerably the steps 01 the National Gallery), ortailing that, Castle Street or Frederick Street.
Make the most 01 it. Glenlivet, who sponsorthe event to the tune at £100,000. has contirmed that it will no longer put money in it the Council still
expects it to pay torthe erection and dismantling ot the bandstand‘s tent. And that could put the whole event in jeopardy.
The Glenlivet Fireworks Concert, Ross Bandstand. Princes Street, Thurs 20. 10.45 pm. Free. (Tickets: personal applicaion to Edinburgh Tourist Dtlice. Waverley Market, 3 Princes Street.)
STOP PRESS
0 Black and Baddiel and
7 The Two Marks appear at
10.55pm at Theatre ACT
and not 12.12pm as in some
Fringe programmes.
0 Bluebeard. StJoan and Mother Goose is presented by Wamboro Theatre Co (not in Fringe programme) until 29 Aug. 11.15am St Cuthbert‘s Hall, (venue 50) 6671809.
0 Shadow Syndicate give an extra pertormance ottheir production The Last Days 01 Nosleratu at the vampirish
hour ol 1 .3Dam on Fri21
Aug. Canongate Lodge
(venue 5) 5561388.
0 Jenny LeCoat and the Diamantes give an extra pertormance on 24 Aug at
7.45pmintheAssembly Rooms.George Street ; (venue 3) 226 2427.
i
o In the Kingdom at Chachamuca by Teatro El Salvador's run has been extended until 30 Aug. Theatre ACT, Broughton Street, (venue 101 ) 557
17 5.
0 Tattoo Theatre. the spellbinding Yugoslav production at Richard Demarco's venue may extend its run tor a third week. but in a dilterent venue. Keep your ears open and see it ityou can.
0 Pushkin. Faynia Crane and Richard Williams excellent play aboutthe Russian poet has had its run extended at the new venue at the Traverse. until 22 Aug. Ring 226 2633.
SIMON
'I'hc List 21 Aug — 3 Scpl 3