u life /
edinburgh@list.co.uk
Events are listed by date then type. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to edinburghGlist.co.uk, by post or by fax on 0131 557 8500. Listings are compiled by Anna Millar.
Other events
Public Faces, Private Lives National Portrait (iallery. l Queen Street. (324 (i200. 6pm. Free. A tour of Scotland‘s most (amous laces ol the I‘lth and 20th centuries with Donald Stnith. SiLENCiO (’ottnting House. West Nicolson Street. 667 0876. 7.30pm. £3 (£2). Surreal and glamorous ol't'erings as always courtesy of this innovative performance piece.
The Last Wolf 8: Other Tales St (‘eciIia's Hall. Niddry Street. 557 5724. 7.45pm. £7 (£5). Bob l’egg explores the truth and tnyth surrounding this charismatic creature in words. music and verse. Part ot. the Storytelling l‘es‘tiyal.
Other events
Calton Centre 25th Anniversary Celebrations (‘alton (‘entre. I2I Montgomery Street. ()()l 5252. ('ome and see what goes on at the ('aIton ('entre and help them raise funds at the saute time.
PBFA BOOK Fair Assembly Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220 434‘). noon 7pm. £1 (tree). Browse and htty from the many second hand hooks on offer.
HALLOWEEN TOURS GHOSTS AND GHOULS Edinburgh
The nights are drawing in and the wee witches and ghosties are preparing for their annual hooley. If you too fancy getting into the spirit (sorry) of things, there’s plenty to spook you in Auld Reekie. Witness a witchcraft trial and an anatomy lecture courtesy of gravediggers Burke and Hare at the Edinburgh Dungeon. For supernatural thrills, head underground to Mary King’s Close which was closed off during the plague to prevent further infection. Word in the alley is that it’s not as spooky as it was before its recent £500,000 overhaul, but it’s
Night of the Living Dead St (iiles' ('athcdral. Royal Mile. 225 9442. 7pm. 7.30pm. 8pm. 8.30pm. 9pm. 9.30pm. I0pm. 10.30pm. llptn &
l I.30pm. to (£5). A series of special Hallowe'en ghost tours. Meet outside St (iiles (‘athedral on the Royal Mile. See preyiew.
Halloween Night St (‘ecilia's Hall. .\'iddry Street. 557 5724. 7.45pm. £7 (£5). Scottish storyteller Seoras Macpherson is joined by special guests Iron] across the Atlantic.
Other events
PBFA BOOK Fair Assembly Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220 434‘).
Want 5pm. {I (free). See I-'ri 3 I. Story Slam The Bongo ('Itth. Moray House. llolyrood Road. 557 5724. 7pm. £2. (‘ome and hear totttt)i't‘t)\\"s storytellers today as tip—and-coming talent take the stage. Part of the Storytelling l-‘estiyal.
Duncan’s Storytelling Ceilidh St (‘eciIia's Hall. .\'iddry Street. 557 5724. 7.45pm. £7 (£5). Scot Duncan Williamson. .\'atiye American I)o\'ie 'l'homason and (’arihhean stroyteIIer (‘aroI Russell host an enchanting night of storytelling. music and song.
Other events
The Galoot - A Traveller’s Tale of the Road St (‘eeilia‘s Hall. Nitldt'y Street. 557 5724. 0.15pm. £5. liwan Me\'icar plays some new Iy
witnessed many inexplicable goings-on.
If you’re still not spooked, join the Black Hart Storytellers on their famous tour to Greyfriars Kirkyard. The climax of this atmospheric historical journey is a visit to the Covenanters’ prison, where the poltergeist of Bluidy MacKenzie, the man responsible for the death of several hundred Covenanters, is said to reside.
Across town there’s more contact with the spirits at the Psychic 8. Healing Fair. It’s a more soothing outing for the soul with spiritual healing, clairvoyance, tarot and talks as well as stalls and music.
(Susannah McMicking)
I Edinburgh Dungeon, Market Street. 240 I000. Daily 70am-5pm. $8.05
(524. QS—L‘ 7. 95).
I City of the Dead Tour. Meet outside St Giles' Cathedral, 225 00/14. Night/y at 8.30pm, 0. 75pm, 70pm. Fri 3/ Oct it's every hallhour fro/n (5..’)’()/)n)---nlit/night.
Advance booking advised. £76 (575).
I Mary King '3 Close Tour. 08702 430 l(>‘0. Every 20 rnins from 10am 0pm. 5‘7
(ES—f6).
I Psych/c <2 Healing Fair. Assembly Rooms. George Street. 220 700/. Sat 8 8.
Sun 9 Nov. I lam—5.30pm. £3.50 (£72.50)
106 THE LIST Ill) ()<:t ’Il New 9003
issued l‘)5()s recordings hy American l‘oIklorist Alan I.oma.\. Part of the Storytelling Festival.
The Carrying Stream St ('ecilia’s Hall. .\'iddry Street. 557 5724. 7.45pm. £7 (£5). Scottish 'l'ray-ellers Stanley Robertson and Sheila Stewart close the Storytelling l’estiyal.
Book events
Song of the Rolling Earth National Library 01' Scotland. (ieorge I\' Bridge. 220 45.“. 7pm. I‘ree httt ticketed. Sir John Lister-Kaye. enyironmentalist and author. on why he cattte to Scotland.
Tuesday 4
Talks
Dark Matter/Gravitational Lensing Royal ()hseryatory Visitor (‘entre. Blacklortl Hill. 003 8404. 7.30pm. £2 (£I ). l‘ind out ahottt grayitational lensing. a yital tool in the quest to hetter understand our planet.
Wednesday 5
Other events
Fireworks Display Meadowhank Sports (’entre. 13‘) London Road. ()(ll 535I. (r30pm. £3 lttncoyered) £4 (stand). l‘irewot‘ks celehrations to tnark the anniyersary oI'(}uy l‘aw kes.
Thursday 6
Book events
Alisdair Gray I‘rttitmarket (iaIIery. 45 Market Street. 225 2333. 6pm. £3
it I .50). The author reads from The limls (llil/It'l'r li'l/tt'l‘s. Thirteen Sorry Stories. A Celebration of 25 Years of Bloodaxe Books Scottish l’oetl'y I.ihrary. 5 (‘richton's ('Iose. ('anongatc. 557 2870 7.30pm. £3 ([2). W.\' Ilerhert and Katrina l’ortetts celehrate 25 years ol’ Blooda\c hooks.
Talks
Pre-Performance Talk l'cstiyal 'I‘hcatre. l5 2‘) Nicolson Street. 52‘) (lililil. 0.30pm. Ramhert Dance ('ompany is pttt under the microscope in this pre- pert‘ormance talk.
Big Word Performance Poetry The 'l‘ron. ‘) Hunter Square. High Street. 220 ()‘HI. 9 llpm. {5(122). Roh (ice sets the killer pace at the latest instalment of the hectic poetic caharet. Skye l.oneragan. Jack Shea and (ills Ahhot also join resident comperes Anita (ioyan attd Jem Rolls.
Saturday 8
Other events
Body & Soul Psychic and Healing Fair Assemth Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 226 7o0l. I lain 5.30pm. £3.50 (£2.50). Health and healing therapies on offer include massage. reiki and crystals. as well as tarot readers. astrologers and clait'yoyants.
Other events
Body & Soul Psychic and Healing Fair Assemth Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220 7o0I. I lam 5.30pm. £3.50 (£2.50). See Sat 8.
Monday 10
Talks
Releasing Snared Animals in Zimbabwe Iidinhttrgh Zoo. ('orstorphine Road. 334 ‘)I7I. 7.30pm. £5 (£3). An illustrated talk hy naturalist Paul De Montille.
Tuesday 1 1
Book events War/Guerre/Krieg Armistice Day Readings National Portrait Gallery. I Queen Street. 02-1 (320”.
1 choices
We round up the best of the last few days of this year’s Storytelling Festival.
The Last Wolf 8. Other Tales Bob Pegg explores the lore of the wolf. taking inspiration from Norse myth. Inuit legend and Arthurian fable. St Cecilia '3 Hall. Niddry Street, 557 5724. Thu 30 Oct, 7.45pm. £7 (£5)
Hallowe’en Night Isle of Skye stOryteller Seoras MacPherson shares mysterious tales of darkness and light. St Cecilia's Hall, Niddry Street. 557 5724, Fri 37 Oct. 7.45pm, £7 (£5)
Duncan’s Storytelling Ceilidh Much-loved Traveller storyteller Duncan Williamson hosts a magical evening of story. song. music and fun. Sat 1 Nov. St Cecilia's Hall, Niddry Street. 557 5724. 7.45pm. 537 (E5)
The Carrying Stream This year's festival closes apprOpriately with tales from the Scottish Travellers. Sun 2 Nov. St Cecilia '3 Hall. Niddry Street. 557 5724, 7.45pm, £7 lL‘S)
I2.45pm. I'i'ee. Ken (‘ockhttrn and
Rohy n Marsack oI‘ the SH. select poems Irom across litrrope reflecting the experience and deyastation oI the I’irst \Vm‘ltl War.
The School of Poets Scottish Poetry I.ihrary. 5 ('richton's ('Iose. ('anongale. 557 2370. 7.30pm. Workshop-type session (or poets. hoth heginners and tnore e\perienced writers. with the aim of encouraging and deyeloping writing skills.
Talks
SCUBA: A Revolutionary Eye on the Universe Royal ()hset'yatm‘y \‘isitor ('entt‘e. BIackI‘ord Hill. ()(ih’ S404. 7.30pm. £2 (L'I ). Illustrated talk on the t‘eonutionary astronomical camera S(‘I'B:\. httiIt ill lidinhurgh. Edinburgh People in the First World War Augustine l'nited (‘httrcIL 4l (ieorge IV Bridge. 7pm. [2 (I‘ree It) memhers). lillls hy Sandra Marw ick. hosted by the Old lidinhttrgh (‘Itth
Book events
Reading Group Scottish l’oetry library. 5 ('richton‘s ('Iose. ('anongatc. 557 2S70. (3.50pm. I240 (Ior si\ weeks). See lllll 30.
Talks
Donald Smith: The Work of the Scottish Storytelling Centre South Morningsidc School. ('omiston Road. 7 0pm. £2. 'I‘aIk organised hy the Morningside Heritage .r\ssocialion.