THEATRE
■ THE EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE 18–22 Greenside Place, 0844 871 3014.
✽Blood Brothers Mon 24--Sat 29 Jun, 7.30pm. £15–£39.50. Willy Russell’s tale about two brothers whose lives are worlds apart. See preview, page 100. Colm Wilkinson in Concert Thu 20 Jun, 7.30pm. £27.50–£38.50. Songs and stories from the original Jean Valjean (Les Misérables) and Phantom (of the Opera) from one of Broadway’s best- loved voices. Dreamboats and Petticoats Mon 8–Sat 13 Jul, 7.30pm (Wed & Sat 2.30pm also). £10–£35. Jukebox musical based on the songs of Roy Orbison, the Shadows, Eddie Cochran, Billy Fury and others.
■ EDINBURGH FESTIVAL THEATRE 13–29 Nicolson Street, 529 6000. Pilrig Park: Our World Fri 21 Jun, 7.30pm. £7. End of year show put on by pupils at the school. Rigoletto: Live from Taormina’s Ancient Greek Theatre Tue 9 Jul, 8.30pm. £25. Verdi’s opera live from the Taormina Arts Festival. ■ THE GRANARY 32–34 The Shore, Leith, 554 9465. Junk Food Vampire and Rockstar Granny Fri 14 Jun, 2pm. Sat 15 Jun, 7.30pm. £7 (£5). Two short eco-humour dramas for all ages. Part of Leith Festival.
■ NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND Chambers Street, 0300 123 6789. Hickory and Dickory Dock Mon 1– Sat 6 Jul. See Kids listings. ■ OUT OF THE BLUE DRILL HALL 30–36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, 555 7101. Taking Care of Business Thu 13– Sat 15 Jun, 7.30pm (Sat 2.30pm also). £5. Why do millions of people tune in every week to watch TV chat-show The Business? Is it for the fashion and cookery tips, celebrity guests and music performances? Or is it to see someone murdered in the name of entertainment? Leith Festival.
■ THE PLEASANCE 60 Pleasance, 650 4673. From Cairo with Love Sat 15 Jun, 7pm. £10 (£8). Bellydance Scotland presents a show inspired by the bustle of Cairo, demonstrating the many different styles of dance from across the world. Hosted in aid of The Sick Kids Friends Foundation, Edinburgh. ■ POINT HOTEL 34 Bread Street, 221 5555. Paul Wilson: Sleight of Hand Wed 3 Jul, 7pm, 8.30pm & 10pm. £20 (£18). The master of scams and star of The Real Hustle returns with more of the explanations behind the wily ways of con artists. Suitable for ages 12+. Part of Edinburgh International Magic Festival. FREE MagicFest at SKYbar Thu 4 Jul, 6pm. Watch your wallet as all those light-fingered types move into the bar. Over 18s only. Edinburgh International Magic Festival.
■ ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE Grindlay Street, 248 4848. National Theatre Connections Mon 17–Sat 22 Jun, 7.30pm. £8 (£5; members £3). Double bill from a collection of new plays performed by young people from Scotland. This year the writers were asked to return home and work with young people on their ideas. What Are They Like? Sat 22 Jun, 7.30pm. £5–£8. The Lyceum Youth Theatre returns with a play about teenhood.
✽Being Tommy Cooper Mon 24 Jun, 7.30pm. £14–£19.50. In a small
Las Vegas hotel room, the up-and-coming comedian Tommy Cooper faces his first 104 THE LIST 13 Jun–11 Jul 2013
(£8; children £5). Magic Circle member Paul Nardini amazes with his close-up magic and sleight of hand. Ages 12+. Edinburgh International Magic Festival. ■ THE VILLAGE 16 South Fort Street, 478 7810. The Village Pub Theatre Thu 13– Sat 15 Jun, 8pm. £3. Showcase for up and coming Scottish writers. Leith Festival.
■ THE VOODOO ROOMS 19a West Register Street, 556 7060. The Colour Ham Fri 5 Jul, 8.30pm. £12. Magical comedy sketch group making good use of absurdity, magic and mentalism. Over 18s only. Edinburgh International Magic Festival. Four Nations Magic-Off Fri 5 Jul, 10pm. £16 (£14). The ‘Late ‘n’ Live’ of the magic world. Ages 18+. Edinburgh International Magic Festival.
■ WHITESPACE 11 Gayfield Square, 07814 514771. Sinatra: The Final Curtain Thu 13– Sat 15 Jun, 8pm (Sat 3pm also). £7.50. Musical based on the life and times of Ol’ Blue Eyes. Leith Festival. Sanctuary Thu 13–Sat 15 Jun, 10pm. £7 (£5). David McFarlane’s play deals with a young man’s guilt over a relationship breakdown and the difficult circumstances surrounding it. Leith Festival.
OUTSIDE THE CITIES
■ BRUNTON THEATRE Ladywell Way, Musselburgh, 665 2240. Morag Alexander School of Dance Annual Show Thu 13–Tue 18, 7pm (Sat & Sun 3pm also). £17 (children £12). The school’s annual performance of singing and dancing, with styles ranging from traditional Scottish to hip hop. Teechers Sat 15 Jun, 7.30pm. £11.50 (£9.50; under 18s £6.50). John Godber’s play, set in a challenging secondary school with a new drama teacher trying to make it through the end-of-term play. East Lothian Youth Theatre wShowcase Thu 20 & Fri 21 Jun, 7pm. £6.75. Annual showcase of theatre from 5–18 year olds.
✽The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) Sat 22 Jun, 7.30pm. £14 (£12). The RSC barrel through the Bard’s greatest histories, tragedies and comedies for a whirlwind look at one of our best-loved writers without all the boring bits they insist on teaching at school. Move It! Showcase Mon 24 & Tue 25 Jun, 6pm. £6.75. Energetic dance from the East Lothian youth company.
■ DUNDEE REP Tay Square, Dundee, 01382 223530. Let the Right One In Thu 13 Jun (2.30pm & 7.30pm) Fri 14–Sat 29 Jun, 7.30pm (Sat 2.30pm also). £9–£17 (£8– £14). John Ajvide Lindqvist’s story of a young boy and his vampire love interest gets the theatre treatment from Dundee Rep and collaborators, who translate the Swedish setting to a Scottish one. ■ MACROBERT University of Stirling, Stirling, 01786 466666. Fantasia Sat 15 Jun, 2pm & 7pm. Sun 16 Jun, 1pm & 6pm. Mon 17 & Tue 18 Jun, 7pm. £9. Central Scotland Ballet present their fantastical dance showcase. The Complete Works of Shakespeare (abridged) Thu 20 Jun, 7.30pm. £16 (£14; members £12). See Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh. Calum’s Road Fri 28 Jun, 7.30pm. £13.50 (£12; students £5). David Harrower’s take on the true tale of a man on the Isle of Skye who, faced with council indifference to his remote village’s isolated plight, built a two- mile stretch of road all by himself with nothing but a pick, a wheelbarrow and a shovel.
WHY SCOTLAND, WHY EAST KILBRIDE Taking its title from a 1972 infomercial of the same name, Why Scotland, Why East Kilbride is a fifty-minute performance in which a double rock band explores and retraces themes of technology and sci-fi. It’s written by and stars composer J. Simon van der Walt, who appears as imagined alter ego Edward ‘Teddy’ Edwards. The music, which Walt says came to him in a dream last year, will be performed by a band featuring Glasgow-based electric ukulele player williwaw and legendary composer and film percussionist Steve Forman. ■ CCA, Glasgow, Thu 4 Jul.
failure. Comedy-drama written by Tom Green. Magic and Variety Gala Show Fri 28 Jun, 7.30pm. £16–£24 (£10–£20). The Edinburgh International Magic Festival kicks off with a gala show featuring many of the acts performing across the festival. Ages 5+. Edinburgh International Magic Festival. ■ SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE 43–45 High Street, 556 9579. The Den Thu 13 & Fri 14 Jun, 7pm. £7.50 (£4.50). Two gangs fight it out for ownership of a newly discovered hideout. Suitable for all ages. Emily and the Howler’s Hollow Thu 13 Jun & Sat 15 Jun, 9pm. £7.50 (£4.50). Sam Siggs’ sinister tale of a house with a dreadful story lurking within its walls. Ages 14+. The Halfway House Fri 14 Jun, 9pm. Sun 16 Jun, 7pm. £7.50 (£4.50). Duncan Kidd’s modern retelling of Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure. Max to the Future Sat 15 & Sun 16 Jun. See Kids listings. Sylvanian Family Feud Sat 15 & Sun 16 Jun. See Kids listings. Morgan & West: A Grand Adventure Sat 29 & Sun 30 Jun, 5pm. £12 (£10; children £8). Time-travelling Victorian tricksters astound with their spiffing spectacles. Ages 7+. Edinburgh International Magic Festival. Ali Cook: Principles and Deceptions Sat 29 Jun–Fri 5 Jul (not Mon), 7pm. £12 (£10; children £8). Star of TV shows such as Penn & Teller: Fool Us and Dirty Tricks, Ali Cook presents an awe-inspiring array of illusionary entertainment. Ages 12+. Edinburgh International Magic Festival. Luke Jermay: 6th Sense Sat 29 Jun–Fri 5 Jul (not Mon), 8.30pm. £12 (£10). Mind magic from the mentalist maestro and creative consultant to Derren Brown. Ages 14+. Edinburgh International Magic Festival. War of the Wizards Sun 30 Jun, 11am & 2pm. £5 (£3). Would-be wizards and aspiring conjurors battle to win a cash
prize and the chance to compete at next year’s festival. The under 18s compete in the morning, while the afternoon contest is open to all ages. Ages 10+. Edinburgh International Magic Festival. Tricky Ricky: Magical Madness Mon 1–Fri 5 Jul. See Kids listings. Lewis Barlow: The Way of the Magician Mon 1 Jul, 7pm & 8.30pm. £12 (£10; children £5). Close-up magic from Lewis Barlow, award-winning conjuror and magical consultant to the BBC. Ages 8+. Edinburgh International Magic Festival. ■ SUMMERHALL 1 Summerhall, 0845 874 3001. Anatomy Fri 14 Jun, 7.30pm. £6. Variety night with a focus on risk- taking performance from any genre. See preview, page 100.
■ THE VAULT 11 Merchant Street, 510 0022. Ian Kendall: An Afternoon of Magic Sat 29 Jun–Fri 5 Jul (not Mon & Tue), 4pm. £8 (£6; children £5). Seasoned Edinburgh magician and fringe regular who pulls the odd joke out of his hat. Ages 7+. Edinburgh International Magic Festival. Fritz with a Z: Let’s Go Dutch Sat 29 Jun–Fri 5 Jul, 6.30pm. £10 (£8; children £5). Dutch magician Fritz Alkemade dazzles with his card tricks. Ages 7+. Edinburgh International Magic Festival. Tony Roberts: Card Magic Sat 29 Jun–Fri 5 Jul, 7.45pm. £10 (£8; children £5). Escapologist extraordinaire Tony Roberts has managed to get out of both Australia and New Zealand and now brings his card magic to these shores for your entertainment. Ages 10+. Edinburgh International Magic Festival. Late Night Myths with Colin McLeod, Marcus Gordon and Elliot Bibby Sat 29 & Sun 30 Jun, 9pm. £10 (£8; children £5). Late night show with some mind-blowing magic. Ages 12+. Edinburgh International Magic Festival. Paul Nardini : The Parlour Magician Mon 1–Thu 4 Jul, 9pm. £10