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ARTS AND CULTURE NEWS COVERED IN TWO MINUTES
AROUND TOWN Everyone knows that sleep is an over-rated beast during August and the Ghillie Dhu are capitalising on that in style, keeping their doors open till 5am for the month. Check out their Ghillie Fringe (18–20 Aug), which includes two-course dinner, cabaret performance and Ghillie house band for entertainment.
BOOKS Presented by Leith On The Fringe, Ragged Talks celebrates ‘the intellectual life of Leith’, with a not-for-profit Ragged project, boasting free informal and inspirational lunchtime talks from the likes of Tom Muirhead, David Greig, Emily Dodd and Kevin Williamson. Check it out at Out of the Blue on Dalmeny Street. See ragged-online.co.uk for full details. In other book news, we say get involved as Edinburgh International Book Festival, working in partnership with Edinburgh Libraries and Sighthill Library, attempt to break the world record for the Longest Reading Chain in the world on Fri 19 August. Organisers are hoping to attract 350 readers on the day to blitz the current record of 290 people, which was set in Vienna last year. The novel Prisoner in Alcatraz by Scottish children’s author Theresa Breslin has been chosen, with each participant in the chain reading one sentence aloud. Participants can sign up at edinburgh.gov.uk/ libraries or by email: sighthill.library@edinburgh.gov.uk
SHOP And finally, those looking for a break from shows for an hour might want to check out K for Kakao’s pop-up shop on Thistle Street on 18 August, celebrating their third anniversary in Edinburgh. See kakao.co.uk 12 THE LIST 18–25 Aug 2011
L A V I T S E F
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(g)Host City
Edinurgh’s virtual festival hits the capital for the first time this year. Performer Laura Cameron-Lewis takes us on her journey
I t’s day one of the Fringe. I’m walking up the steps of the library but I’m not going to take anything out, I’m going to put something in. My palms are tingling and my hands are shaking a little as I clutch the bag containing my precious quarry. Looking over my casually, surreptitiously, I check no one is watching me as I head for the scene of the crime. I’ve cased the joint already, so I know which corners are hidden from cameras and the watchful eyes of the assistant librarians. Among the bookshelves are three secret spots where I will hide my treasure.
shoulders,
This is the second in a series of performances I have created for (g)Host City: Edinburgh’s Virtual Festival. I’ve created five works of audio, sculptural and walking performance which are chapters in a forthcoming four-week-long show, ‘Quantum Physical’. My performances encourage the
audience to walk in the footsteps of one of the characters, searching for a missing woman. I hope that the audience experiences some of the things that the characters experience and make the same discoveries. The library section is a treasure hunt and hopefully gives the audience the sense that a part of their lives has been sneaked in there amongst the shelves. In the library I am not shoplifting, I am shop-putting. The danger is part of the experience of the performance and soon after I’ve hidden these treasures, the audience will come after me and walk the path I am walking. I hope that these three hidden boxes remain secret and continue to be discovered by (g)Host City listeners and that their journey takes them out of the city streets and all the way to the sea. See virtualfestival.org for more.
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
Lucy Danser (24), writer and director of Rachael’s Cafe, is at the Fringe this year with her mum (the show’s producer), her dad and sister (flyering and stage hands) and her grandmother, who at 86 has found herself publicist of the show. Here they reveal the best bits about keeping their show close to home 1. You can trust them to tell the truth about your show, your prospects and/or your professional conduct . . . even when you’d rather they didn’t! 2. They always have your best interests at heart. You know your family are most unlikely to put you in a compromising position, cause you trouble or stop your project being the best it can be. 3. You’ve got a strong, stable grounding. It’s easy in this industry to get carried away, become egotistical and lose sight of the important things. Having your family around you keeps your feet on the ground. 4. You know each others’ capabilities and limitations. Sure, there’s always more to learn but it’s a good place to start. 5. You know exactly what buttons to press (and vice versa) and when to back off. ■ Rachael’s Cafe, Laughing Horse @ Jekyll & Hyde, 225 2022, until 29 Aug, 2pm, free.