Edinburgh life

CAPITAL CHOICES

Tropical rainstorms, grave- robbers and BMX bicycles

l Dynamic Earth With volcanoes erupting beneath your feet. a tropical rainstorm pouring down and earthquakes and tidal waves at every turn. the histOry of the earth has never been more interesting. Stunning new developments in interactive technology piece together the history of the planet. creating a thoroughly modern way to step back in time. Ho/yrood Road. 550 7800. Dal/y 70am—5pm {/ast entry 3.50pm. £8.45 (£4.95).

l Edinburgh Dungeon Cruel methods of torture. pestilence- ridden streets. grave-robbers. prostitutes and cannibals Edinburgh Dungeon takes you on a spine-chilling tour of the deepest darkest chapters of Scottish history. Converted to house over 1.6008q metres of ghastly artetacts. a nerve- jangling boat t0ur and all manner of unmentionable graphic re- enactments. this isn't one for the fainthearted. 3/ Market Street. 0870 8460 666. Mon—Fri

l 7am—4pm; Sat—Sun 70.30—480p/n. £8.50 (£5.50). Museum of Childhood Take a trip down memory lane with antique dolls and a 1980s BMX bicycle. Founded in 1955. this touching museum houses five public galleries relating to childhood through the ages. Better still. until the end of March you can witness special exhibit. The Golden Age of Toys. with artetacts dating from

1890— 1930. 42 High Street. 529 4 742. Mon—Sat 70am—5pm. Free.

I Royal Botanic Garden A sea of tranquillity in the hubbub ol the city. the Botanic Garden is home to a wealth of flora from around the globe. Boasting a rock garden and ten glasshouses with plants from the temperate and tropical parts of the world. the site also has a year-round programme of events and exhibitions. See Art listings for more exhibition details. lnver/e/th How. 552 7 7 77. 70am—4pm, Free.

96 THE LIST re“; law.

‘3 i t:t, P'u’fii

HOLOCAUST WEEK

THE PIANIST: THE CONTEXT

Touching personal experiences of the Holocaust are revealed as General Sir Michael Gow draws on his account, written as a young Allied officer, of entering Belsen days after it had been liberated. While historian and broadcaster, Dr David Stafford describes the British and American Government's response to intelligence reports pointing to the existence of a systematic genocide.

This extraordinary discussion precedes a screening of Roman Polanski's, The Pianist, an intensely personal film which follows the persecution of the Jews in Warsaw during World War II. Adapted from memoirs and making use of Polanski's own childhood memories, The Pianist won a prestigious Palme d'Or at last year's Cannes Film Festival. Don't miss it.

I The Fi/mhouse. 88 Lothian Road, 228 2688. Thu 6 Feb. 7pm. £5 (£4).

Other events

The Redcoat Soldier lidinburgh Castle. Royal Mile. 2259846. £8

(£2 £6). See Thu 6.

Book events

Courtyard Readings Scottish l’oett'y Library. 5 ('richton's (‘lose. ('anongate. 557 2876. 2pm. ()pen house to anyone who enjoys reading and listening read some ol' their lamurite works.

Talks

Real Bodies? [)ean (iallery. Bellord Road. 624 62()(). l()am noon. £4() per 4- week block. See Sat 1.

Other events

The Redcoat Soldier lidinburgh Castle. Royal Mile. 2259846. £8

(£2 £6). See Thu 6.

Mammoth Antiques and Collector’s Fair Royal Highland ('entre. Ingliston. 335 62()(). Want 5pm. £4 £5 (£3). Scotland‘s largest antiques and collectors lair. See photo caption. Lothian Masked Ball l’restonlield House Hotel. l’t'iestlield Road. 668 3346. 7.30pm. £75. l‘Tllltll‘ttlflllg gala hall in aid of the Lothian branch ol‘ the Red ('ross.

Other events

The Redcoat Soldier lidinhurgh ('astle. Royal Mile. 225 9846. £8

(£2 £6). See Thu 6.

Mammoth Antiques and Collector’s Fair Royal Highland (‘entre. Ingliston. 335 62()(). 9am 5pm. £4 £5 (£5). See Sat 8.

Monday 10 Talks Second Skin: Historical Life

Casting & Contemporary Sculpture National (iallery of Modern

.-\t'l. Bell'ord Road. 624 62()(). 12.45pm. liree. Stephen l‘eeke from the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds gives a talk.

Workshops

Performance Poetry Workshop Quaker Meeting House. 7 Victoria Terrace. 555 2797. 7 9pm. Six weeks £40 (£50). See M6113.

Other events

The Redcoat Soldier lidinburgh ('astle. Royal Mile. 225 9846. £8

(£2 £6). See Thu 6.

Quiz 'l‘rayerse 'l'heatre. ('ambridge Street. 228 1404. 8pm. Free. Teams of eight light it out for top spot prizes and tree boo/e at this popular cultural establishment.

Tuesday 1 1

Performances

The Tuesday Turtle Nether-how Arts (‘entre. 43 45 High Street. 556 9579. 7 9pm. £3 donation. Donald Smith hosts this informal storytelling session where storytellers new and established share stories.

Talks

The Universe Through X-Ray Eyes Royal ()bseryatory \I'isitor (‘entre. Blackl'ol‘d Hill. 668 8404. 7.30pm. l-‘ree. ()mar Alniaini gazes into the depths of the cosmos and explains how x-ray astronomy allows us to probe some ol~ the most \‘ltllt‘lll phenomena in the l'niyerse. See

prey iew.

Other events

The Redcoat Soldier lidinburgh ('astle. Royal Mile. 225 9846. £8

(£2 £6). See Thu 6.

Wednesday 12

Book events

Dilys Rose and Morelle Smith Scottish l’oelry Library. 5 ('riehton's ('lose. ('anongate. 557 2876. 7.30pm.

M.

These two poets use lyricism and wit in this fascinating exploration of the many voices of women.

Other events

The Redcoat Soldier Edinburgh ('astle. Royal Mile. 225 9846. £8

(£2 £6). See Thu 6.

Camp America Recruitment Day Assembly Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 22() 4349. Want 5pm. Fancy working oyerseas'.’ Here's your chance to see it (‘amp America is the thing for you.

Book events

Scottish Lives Netherbow Arts Centre. 43 »45 High Street. 5569579. 2pm. Free. Donald Smith leads this series ol‘ talks looking at the development of biography and autobiography in Scotland.

Talks

Jewellery and Silver Lyon 8; ’l'urnbull. 33 Broughton Place. 557 8844. l lam. Free. A specialist sale ol jewellery and silyer. See photo caption. After Hours National (iallery ol‘ Scotland. The Mound. 624 62()(). 6 7pm. Free. See Thu 3().

Other events

The Redcoat Soldier lidinhurgh ('astle. Royal Mile. 225 9846. £8

(£2 £6). See Thu 6.

My Bloody Awful Valentine The ('anons' (iait. 232 ('anongate. 556 4481. 8pm. £2 (£l ). All hail an alternatiye Valentine's Day? (‘ynics would happily rename it a source ol‘ annual misery l'or lonely single people and a major cause ol‘ arguments and breakups between otherwise unhappy couples. To get you in the mood. Writers‘ Bloc host this fun eyening ol‘ original stories in this intimate cellar bar. Prepare yourself for tales ol' embarrassing moments. bad dates. tragic endings. inady isable relationships and had sex.