list.co.uk/aroundtown Edinburgh Doors Open Day
Doors Open Days, Scotland’s largest free annual architectural appreciation event, turns its hand to Edinburgh. This is the 21st year that the city has given us free access to some of its most significant buildings that are normally not open to the public, or would charge an entry fee. All venues offer special exhibitions and family-friendly tours, including Edinburgh College of Art, the City Chambers and the Queen’s Hall. Visit doorsopendays.org.uk for a full list. ■ Various venues, Edinburgh, Sat 24 & Sun 25 Sep.
Reflecting on the Royal Museum Project Thu 22 Sep, 6.30–8pm. £6 (£5). National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Gordon Rintoul, NMS director, architect Gareth Hoskins and Phillip Tefft of Ralph Applebaum Associates UK, discuss the realisation of the new museum. Bangers and MASH Thu 22 Sep, 7.30–8.30pm. £3 (£1.50). Royal Observatory Visitor Centre, Blackford Hill, 668 8404. Fred Watson of the Australian Astronomical Observatory gives an illustrated talk about amusingly- titled cosmic phenomena. Booking essential. Clare Short in Conversation Sat 24 Sep, 4–5.30pm. £5 (£3). Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, 228 2688. Anti-poverty campaigner and former cabinet minister Clare Short discusses her career. Part of Take One Action Film Festival. A Wild Life Exposed: Chris Packham Sat 24 Sep, 7pm. £10 (£6). The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. The wildlife expert presents an illustrated look at his life in nature. Edinburgh at Work Mon 26 Sep, 10.30am. £8. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Photographer Peter Stubbs shows and discusses images of Edinburgh’s dwindling industries, including trawling, brewing, printing and shipbuilding, taken in the 1990s. FREE Wednesday Walkabout Wednesdays, 1–1.30pm. Talbot Rice Gallery, University of Edinburgh, South Bridge, 650 2210. Informal half-hour talks from gallery staff. FREE Reporting International Development Wed 28 Sep, 2–5pm & 5–7pm. Edinburgh College of Art, 74 Lauriston Place, 243 2680. Reporters, filmmakers, students and campaigners debate the role of journalism in issues of international development. Part of Take One Action Film Festival. Art And The Bible / The Bible As Art Thu 29 Sep, 1.30–2.30pm. Exhibition admission £5 (£3.50), talk included. City Art Centre, 2 Market Street, 529 3963. An illustrated talk on the Bible’s influence on art. In conjunction with David Mach’s Precious Light exhibition. FREE Spotlight on . . . Our New Galleries Thu 29 Sep, 2–3pm. National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Part of a series of curators’ talks focusing on the new galleries at the Museum. FREE The Secret of East German Censorship Thu 29 Sep, 6pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Dr Laura Bradley of the University of Edinburgh’s German department gives a talk on her new book, which explores censorship of the arts in East Germany. FREE Ovarian and Breast Cancer: New Strategies to Target the Right Treatment to the Right Patient Thu 29 Sep, 6–8pm. Appleton Tower, Crichton Street, 650 8445. Public talk on the genetics of cancer. Zoya Phan in Conversation Sat 1 Oct, 4–5.15pm. £5 (£3). Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Road, 228 2688. A chance to hear from the daughter of the General Secretary of the Karen National Union and refugee from Burma. Part of Take One Action Film Festival. FREE Land Rights, Land Wrongs Sun 2 Oct, 1–4.30pm. Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Explore the impact of globalisation on the environment. Part of Take One Action Film Festival. Castle Restoration in Scotland Tue 4 Oct, 10.30am. £8. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Historical talk with two Scottish experts. FREE Scotland: Mapping the Nation Tue 4 Oct, 6pm. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 623 3918. Illustrated talk on Scotland’s past, given by the Library’s Senior Maps Curator. FREE The Curious Tale of the Undead: From Potatoes to Cancer Thu 6 Oct, 6pm. Anatomy Theatre, Teviot Place, 651 9141. Intriguingly titled talk by David Harrison as part of the Medical Detectives series of lectures. Booking essential. Human Planet Thu 6 Oct, 7.30pm. £8 (under 18s, students and RSGS members free). Appleton Tower, Crichton Street, rsgs.org Photographer Timothy Allen goes behind the scenes on his two year work as stills photographer of the BBC’s Human Planet. Tea: An Illustrated Talk About the History of Tea and Tea-Related Antiques Mon 10 Oct, 10.30am. £8. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Around 40 antique items help illustrate the history of tea from its origins in China to its popularity in Europe. FREE The Secret of The Blood Sat 15 Oct, 2–3.30pm. Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, 225 4825.
AroundTown
Swiss naturopath Christopher Vasey gives a talk on how the blood is the binding element between the physical body and the immaterial spirit of man aka the soul. Cultures of the Pacific Wed 19 Oct, 2.15pm. £8 (under 18s, students and RSGS members free). Appleton Tower, Crichton Street, 650 8445. Explorer Patrick Richardson presents some of his photographs and discusses remote cultures he’s visited. Workshops FREE Human Genre Workshop – Translating the Genome Thu 22 Sep, 2pm. Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. Part of a series of discussion workshops with the Traverse’s playwright in residence Peter Arnott, who is based at the University of Edinburgh’s Genomics Forum. Klezmer Karavan Workshops Sun 25 Sep, 10am–5pm. £40 (£33). Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7100. Klezmer Karavan lead an exciting day of Klezmer and Yiddish song workshops following their gig at the Drill Hall the previous night. No experience required. St Andrew Speakers Forum Tue 27 Sep & 11 Oct, 7.30pm. £3. Boroughmuir Rugby Club, Meggetland, Colinton Road, 07960 141570. Fortnightly meetings of this friendly forum for learning and practising public speaking. Explore: Berlioz Sat 1 Oct, 10.30am–4.30pm. £20. National Library of Scotland, George IV Bridge, 478 8353. Event studying the life and work of the great 19th century Romantic ahead of Scottish Chamber Orchestra’s Berlioz- themed concert. Tea Time! Sat 1 Oct, 10.30am–3.30pm. £30. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Hand-paint a teapot and create a designer tea cosy to go with it. Lynda Radley Playwriting Workshop: Finding Inspiration Sat 1 Oct, 10.30am–4.30pm. £16 (£8). Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. The
Futureproof writer presents a workshop on the images and ideas that can make the basis of a play. FREE British Sign Language Taster Mon 3 Oct, 10–11.30am. Deaf Action, 49 Albany Street, 556 3128. Intro to BSL and deaf culture. Part of Learn to Sign Week. The Playwright’s Toolkit Mon 3 Oct & 17 Oct & fortnightly until Mon 12 Dec, 7–9pm. £120 for all six sessions. Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, 228 1404. Playwright Zinnie Harris leads workshops for adult writers (ages 26+). Northern Renaissance Study Day Thu 6 Oct, 11am–7.30pm. £20 (£15). Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 557 2500 & Queen’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, 556 5100. Study day with curators and academics, including visits to the Dürer’s Fame (National Gallery) and Northern Renaissance (Queen’s Gallery) exhibitions. Refreshments included. Booking essential. Radical Print Workshop Sat 8 Oct, 11am–4pm. £55 (£40). Edinburgh Printmakers, 23 Union Street, 557 2479. Create your own poster using wooden- block type.
✽✽ Workshop: The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe Wed 12 Oct, 7–9pm. £5 (£3 with performance ticket). Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. Playwright Lee Gershuny leads a storytelling workshop promoting mental health in a supportive environment. Part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts & Film Festival. Painted Pots and Frames Sat 15 Oct, 10.30am–3.30pm. £18. Lauriston Castle, 2a Cramond Road South, 529 3963. Use stencils to create a beautiful planter and picture frame for your home. Portrait Photography Sat 15 Oct, 11am–5pm. £59 (£49). Stills, 23 Cockburn Street, 622 6200. Learn the basics from an expert tutor, including formal and informal portraiture, studio and natural lighting, and technical settings.
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