Events are listed by date then
I type. Submit listings at least ten
I days before publication to edinburghGlichomk, by post or
by fax on 0131 557 8500. Listings are compiled by Anna Millar.
Thursday 11
Talks
Professor Ann Reynolds University of Edinburgh. Fine Art Department. 19 George Square. 650 4124. lpm. Free. Professor Ann Reynolds of the University of Texas talks about her new book. Robert Smithson: Learning from New Jersey and Iz'ls‘ett'here.
After Hours - Curator’s Tour of Many Happy Returns National Gallery of Scotland. The Mound. 624 6200. 6pm. Free. A programme of after gallery hours events featuring a tour led by Christopher Baker of the Many Happy Returns exhibition which celebrates 100 years of the Art Fund. See arts listings for more information.
The Edinburgh Wheel Princes Street Gardens. 10am—10pm. £2 (£1.50). The capital‘s skyline appears in all its effervescent glory so take a backseat and enjoy the ride as the wheel allows you
i spectacular views of the city. the gardens and Winter Wonderland.
. Other events Winter Wonderland Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. |()am. £6.50 (£4.50). Now in its 6th year. Winter Wonderland's spectacular frozen playground is bigger and better than ever before. Surrounded by twinkling fairy lights and the dramatic Edinburgh skyline. this is sure to capture the imagination of children and adults alike. As well as the ice rink. Winter Wonderland includes an awesome Snow Slide. a fairground and traditional food and drink to warm your cockles. Traditional German Market Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. 10am-8pm. Free. This international market pitches up in preparation for the festive season. Christmas with Dickens Edinbttrgh Castle. Royal Mile. 225 9846. 1 lam. noon. 2pm & 3pm. £8 (£2—-£6.25). History comes alive as Charles Dickens returns to talk about the inspiration behind his greatest work. A Christmas Carol. Poetry Pamphlet Christmas Party and Fair Chaplaincy Centre. Bristo Square. 662 8882. 5—9pm. Punch. poetry readings and tnore at this festive fair.
Other events
Winter Wonderland Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. 10am. £6.50 (£4.50). See Thu I l. Santa’s Reindeer Garden West Princes Street Gardens. 473 3600.
l()atn 6pm. Free. Santa's reindeers set up residence and spread some festive fttn. Traditional German Market Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. 10am—8pm. Free. See Thu 1 1. Christmas with Dickens Edinburgh Castle. Royal Mile. 225 9846. I lam. noon. 2pm 8: 3pm. £8 (£2 £6.25). See Thu 1 1.
Famous Robert Brothers Circus Princes Street Gardens. 5pm & 7.30pm. £8~£18 (£7-£I4). For the first time ever Capital Christmas welcomes this traditional cichs to scale the dizzy heights of the highwire and mess about with Clowns. See preview.
Talks
Artist’s Talk Fruitmarket Gallery. 45 Market Street. 225 2383. 4pm. Free. Swiss photographer Balthasar Burkhard discusses his work.
IEdibI'IJh "'9
Other events
Ghost Hunt ll - The Return Edinburgh Castle. Royal Mile. 557 6464. £1 I £28.50. Mercat Tours presents an evening of chilling ghost stories in the atmospheric surroundings of Edinburgh Castle.
Antiques & Collectors Fair Royal Highland Centre. Ingliston. 335 6200. Browse or buy from a wide range of antiques and collectibles.
Santa’s Reindeer Garden West Princes Street Gardens. 473 3600.
l()am 6pm. Free. See Fri 12.
Winter Wonderland Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. 10am. £6.50 (£4.50). See Thu 1 l. haditional German Market Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. 10am--8pm. Free. See Thu 11.
Arts & Craft Fair Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 220 4349. 10.30am-5.30pm. 90p (50p). 3D/2D returns to the Assetnbly Rooms for this weeklong extravaganza.
Bonnie Dundee Edinburgh Castle. Royal Mile. 225 9846. I lam. noon & 3pm. £8 (£2—£6.25). Revel in history as you learn about the Jacobite uprising of 1689.
Famous Robert Brothers Circus Princes Street Gardens. lpm. 4pm & 7pm. £8v-£18 (£7--£14). See Fri 12.
Open Ceremony Winter Wonderland. Princes Street Gardens East. 539 7235. 4.30pm. The tenth SPAR European Cross Country Championships is launched in style.
Other events
Antiques & Collectors Fair Royal Highland Centre. Ingliston. 335 6200. See Sat I3.
10th SPAR European Cross Country Championships llolyrood Park. 539 7235. 9.30am. This world-class athletics event attracts some of the top sports men and women in the cottntry. with lots of family entertainment thrown in. Santa’s Reindeer Garden West Princes Street Gardens. 473 3600. I()am--6pm. Free. See Fri 12.
Winter Wonderland Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. 10am. £6.50 (£4.50). See Thu 1 I.
Arts 8: Craft Fair Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 220 4349. 10.30am—5.30pm. 90p (50p). See Sat 13. Traditional German Market Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. Noon~8pm. Free. See Thu 1 1.
Famous Robert Brothers Circus Princes Street Gardens. 1pm. 4pm & 7pm. £8--£18 (£7—£14). See Fri 12.
Talks
Curator’s Tour of Cindy Sherman National Gallery of Modern Art. 75 Belford Road. 624 6200. 12.45pm. Free. Richard Calvocoressi gives a tour of the acclaimed Cindy Sherman retrospective exhibition.
Other events
Santa’s Reindeer Garden West Princes Street Gardens. 473 3600. 10am—6pm. Free. See Fri 12.
Winter Wonderland Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. |()am. £6.50 (£4.50). See Thu 1 1. Traditional German Market Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. 10am~8pm. Free. See Thu 1 1.
Arts & Craft Fair Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 220 4349. 10.30am-5.30pm. 90p (50p). See Sat 13. Famous Robert Brothers Circus Princes Street Gardens. 5pm & 7.30pm. £8 -£18 (£7» £14). See Fri 12.
‘ edinburgh@list.co.uk
and ugly of the genre . . .
1 . The sexiest movie stars of all time have been circus-related. A definite change of pace for Carol Reed (of The Third Man fame), the 1956 movie, Trapeze featured a trio of circus performers played by Burt Lancaster (Mike Ribble), Tony Curtis (Tino Orsini), and Gina Lollabrigida (Lola). If a trip to the circus doesn’t inspire you to hire out Reed's movie - complete with spectacular stuntwork from some of Europe’s top aerialists - nothing will. 2. Monty Python’s Flying Circus was one of the funniest comedy programmes of all time. A surreal group of British actors, including John Cleese, Eric Idle and Michael Palin, performed this famous comedy extravaganza showcased on the BBC from 1969 -1974. Their use of typical British humour in the sketches, their radical treatment of some of the most combustible issues of their time, and their outstanding ability as writers and actors has ensured a warm place in the public’s heart for a long time to come. 3. From circus day in Pompeii’s Rome complete with lions, pachyderms and performances infused with chariot racing to modern day Cirque de Soleil, ‘ circuses remain the most enduring form of family entertainment in the world. 1 Early Roman circuses, in keeping with the morals of the day, featured wild and I exciting athletes who fought to the death for their freedom; animal duels, daring equestrians and spectacular chariot races that provided entertainment
for the Roman population.
4. Some of the earliest ancestors of the clown were present in ancient Greece. Bald-headed and padded to appear larger than normal, they performed as secondary figures in farces and mime parodying the actions of more serious characters and at times threw nuts at the spectators and abuse at their fellow actors. All hail the uber-evil modern interpretation with scabby wig and scary
Jack Nicolson smile. (Anna Millar)
l I Famous Robert Brothers Circus, Princes Street Gardens, times vary (see listings).
72—21 Dec.
Tuesday 1 6
Talks
Mastermind Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackford Hill. 668 8404. 7.30—8.30pm. £2 (£1). The ever- impressive Royal Observatory experts wax lyrical as part of their winter lecture programme as John Davies presents this astronomy version of the popular TV quiz. Enthusiasts should check out the public observing time available every Friday from October through to March. with activities and events for the whole family.
Other events
Santa’s Reindeer Garden West Princes Street Gardens. 473 3600.
10am 6pm. Free. See Fri 12.
Winter Wonderland Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. l()atn. £6.50 (£4.50). See Thu 1 1. Traditional German Market Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. 10am- 8pm. Free. See Thu 1 1.
Arts & Craft Fair Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 2204349.
10.30am 5.30pm. £0.90 (£0.50). See Sat 13.
REASONS TO GO TO THE CIRCUS
As the circus comes rolling into town, The List showcases the good, the bad
Edinburgh life
Famous Robert Brothers Circus Princes Street Gardens. 5pm & 7.30pm. £8—£18 (£7—£l4). See Fri 12.
Wednesday 1 7
Other events
Santa’s Reindeer Garden West Princes Street Gardens. 473 3600. 10am—6pm. Free. See Fri 12.
Winter Wonderland Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. |()am. £6.50 (£4.50). See Thu 11. Traditional German Market Princes Street Gardens East. Princes Street. 473 3600. 10am—8pm. Free. See Thu 1 1.
Arts 8: Craft Fair Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 2204349. 10.30am~5.30pm. £0.90 (£0.50). See Sat 13.
Famous Robert Brothers Circus Princes Street Gardens. 5pm & 7.30pm. £8—£l8 (£7—£l4). See Fri 12.
Thursday 18
Talks
After Hours - Christmas Music Dean Gallery. 73 Belford Road. 624 6200. 6pm. Free. Seasonal music with the clarsach perfomted by Isobel Mieras and friends.
1 1 Dec 2003—8 Jan 2004 THE LIST 1 19