Snack - Edinburgh Festivals 2019

EDINBURGH ISSUE 09 FESTIVALS 19 ED FESTIVALS 2019

GINGZILLA HOW NOT TO DROWN THEATRE SK SHLOMO FILM SARA SHERIDAN FOOD AND DRINK GREENHOUSE TRAVEL KEVIN LGBT+P. GILDAY THEATRE VISUAL COMEDYARTS WORDS FOOD AND DRINK MUSIC VISUAL ARTS WORDS

CONTENTS WHAT’S ON LGBT+ SK SHLOMO ED BOOK FEST

DRAMA, FAMILY, SHAKESPEARE, COMEDY . . . | PAGE 06

LGBT+ PREVIEWS, GINGZILLA | PAGE 20

PAGE 28

SARA SHERIDAN | PAGE 30

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GREENHOUSE KEVIN P. GILDAY ESCAPE THE FRINGE FOOD & DRINK WORDS PAGE 32

PAGE 34

LINDA MCCARTNEY, NICK CAVE, OUTWITH FEST . . . | PAGE 38

FEASTING AT THE FRINGE, VEGAN | PAGE 46

SHORES | PAGE 54

WHAT’S ON GUIDE DRAMA SQUARE GO Summerhall, 4th-25th Aug (not 6th,13th,20th) at 21:15.

If you missed it last year then here’s your chance to check out last year’s Fringe First winner Square Go. It’s a hilarious insight into a Scottish playground and the myths of what it takes to be a man. Max, a bog-standard Scottish kid, and his hilariously weird pal Stevie Nimmo showcase a raucous coming of age story whilst exposing the violence and challenges kids face when no teachers are watching. Staring Game of Thrones actor Daniel Podman as Max.

HOW NOT TO DROWN Traverse Theatre, 3rd-25th Aug (not 5th,12th,19th) Say goodbye to your sense of security and place yourself on the boat with Dristan Kastrati, as he and his fellow cast members tell his story. Kastrati, an 11-year-old boy at the time, was smuggled from Kosovo across the Adriatic sea and ended up in the UK care system. It’s an anxiety-driven adventure, with some thrilling staging. Prepare to cry, to challenge your concept of what your own childhood experiences were, and understand just a little more about one of the diverse lives that make up our country. Prepare to be moved.

OH YES OH NO Summerhall, 3rd-25th Aug (not 12 or 19) at 19:20, part of the British Council Showcase.

If you’ve ever had a questionable fantasy, this show is for you. Louise Orwin’s Oh Yes Oh No explores the grey area between fantasies and gender politics under the microscope of rape culture. Can you be a feminist but fantasise about rape? Why do you have desires that you’d never wish on your worst enemy? Louise interviewed the women of Great Britain to find out just that, and the end result is a darkly provocative performance.

Not to be missed, in my opinion.

THE AFFLICTED Summerhall, August 3rd-25th There’s something uncanny taking place at Summerhall. The Afflicted, an all-female dance/ theatre piece, fuses horror and true crime to ask what would happen to a community which thinks young women’s medical symptoms are somehow supernatural. It’s not so long since ‘hysteria’ was deemed to be our wombs playing up – could it happen now?

HONEY Zoo Playground, 1st,2nd-25th Aug (not 12th & 19th) 16:30 If you need to laugh about what it means to be a woman, I think this show’s for you. Written

by Finnish Tove Appelgren and performed by Scottish actor Sarah McCardie, Honey will take you on a raucous adventure through the lives of ten characters. These all serve to illustrate the hilarious life of Honey, a woman trying to find the balance in her life and to express her own story. Honey is a freelance journalist, mother of four (and a half), daughter of a disappointed mother, friend to the nay-sayers, and lover of unsupportive men, and she is trying to find some guidance.

WHO CARES Summerhall, 3rd-25th Aug (not 12th) 18:20 Prepare to jump into the double lives of Nicole, Jade and Conner. At school, they are your regular teenagers, but at home, they care for their parents. This bold Amnesty International awardwinning piece of theatre reveals what happens as a result of our failing care system in this age of austerity. It’s not just a story; these are the documented experiences of some of our reallife young people here in the UK. If you care, go along and get angry.

THE FISHERMAN – PART OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL SHOWCASE Assembly George Square, 1st, 19th-24th Aug (13.25).

Now if a story about Nigerian fisherman didn’t catch your eye at first, think again. The Fisherman has had several sell-out runs, so get your tickets booked. Based on the Booker Prize shortlisted novel by Chigozie Obioma, the play tells the story of four brothers who sneak off to fish at a forbidden river. A prophecy foretells misfortune... and you won’t be disappointed.

Theatre and Drama by Laura Woodland Page 7

SWISS SELECTION EDINBURGH, AND MERCIMAX Summerhall, Former Women’s Locker Room, 31st July-25th Aug 2019 (not 1st, 5th, 12th & 19th) We’ve all heard the saying ‘never judge a book by its cover’. This intimate theatre performance, with an audience of just eight, explores how we form snap judgments of the people we meet every day. The audience members stand in front of a diverse cast of eight people, drawn from the Edinburgh community, and are then asked to form opinions on them based on what they say, and how they look. The play asks the question, ‘How much information is needed to label someone a suspect?’ and is partly inspired by a youth lawyer who said, “The more you get to know about a person and his background, the harder it becomes to judge and condemn him or her.”

THE FORECAST - AMY BELL AND THE PLACE Dance Base, Studio 1, 21st-25th Aug 2019 12.30 (13.30) Amy Bell’s poetic but humorous show, which combines elements such as dance, text animation, and a live digital soundscape, was inspired by wondering ‘where all the queer women in dance were?’. Eager to bring her show to the Fringe, Amy says,”The show is essentially an invitation to celebrate the particularity of female queerness and for audiences, whoever they are, to connect, find common ground and to have a laugh. I’m genuinely excited about the potential of the work to open up conversations around gender and have some real impact.”

BLACK HOLES - SEKE CHIMUTENGWENDE AND ALEXANDRAINA HEMSLEY ZOO Southside, 19th-25th Aug 2019 14.20 (15.20) The concept of Afrofuturism, an art form which combines futurism and the Afrocentric movement, has previously been explored via music by talented artists such as Janelle Monae. Now Alexandrina Hemsley & Seke Chimutengwende are set to tell the Afrofuturist history of the universe via the medium of dance, in this performance that has been described as “a ferocious dance piece that twerks, rages, stops, droops, struggles and pulls its audience squirming out of their comfort zone”.

SPRAY - CHOIN THEATRE Assembly Roxy, Central, 31st July-26th Aug 2019, 14.35 (15.35) This ‘innovative and colorful’ play is directed

by Park Cheong-euy, Korean Theatre Directors’ Association Director of the Year 2018. The story focuses on a man who is bored of his everyday life (a feeling surely most of us can relate to.) He begins stealing parcels to inject some excitement into his days. Then an act of revenge on a neighbour goes all wrong when he finds a dead cat in the package he stole...This darkly comic satire is based on a popular Korean novel by Kim Kyung-wook.

FAMILY JOYCEE - TURTLE COMPANY Assembly Roxy Central, 31st July-26th Aug 2019, 11.25 (12.25) Joyce is simply described as, “A heart-warming family show about the adventures of a father and a giant hamster who journey into the world of a storybook.” The show, which combines elements such as puppetry, music and live magic, is set to be great fun for the whole family. The adults in the audience are asked to ponder the philosophical question, ‘what is it that I’ve forgotten, that made me so happy as a child?’

SLIME - THE HERD THEATRE AND ABSOLUTELY CULTURED Pleasance Pop-Up: Central Library, 2nd-24th Aug 2019 (not 4, 11 & 18), 11.15 (12.15) I’ve yet to meet a child who doesn’t love slime, so the name alone should be enough to sell the idea to any wee one. This fully immersive experience marks the first time the Central Library has been used as a Fringe pop-up venue, and will see the space reimagined into a ‘slime-tastic undergrowth.’ This show for 2-5-year-olds and their families is set to be full of fun and will feature few words, but a lot of slime!

I’LL TAKE YOU TO MRS COLE - COMPLICITÉ ASSOCIATES AND POLKA THEATRE Pleasance Courtyard, Pleasance Beyond, 31st Jul-26th Aug 2019 (not 12th), 13.45 (14.45) Complicité have been described as ‘arguably the country’s best theatre company’. 2019 sees their return to the Fringe for the first time in twenty years, with their first-ever family-friendly show, the fun and dynamic “I’ll Take You To Mrs Cole.”

The play is based on the bestselling children’s book, and explores themes such as cultural differences, fear of the unknown and children’s special ability to imagine. Director Catherine Alexander, a single parent and child of divorced parents says the aim of the show is to celebrate solo parenting.

Theatre and Drama by Laura Woodland Page 9

ALTERNATIVE SHAKESPEARE SHAKESPEARE ALTERNATIVES – MACBETH Choin Theatre @ C South, Main Theatre, 1st-26th August 2019, 18.55 (19.55) One of only three Macbeths this year at the fringe, director Park Cheong-euy has chosen to portray the Shakespearean story in a truly unique way.

In a one-person show, the actor alternates between a male and female portrayal for each performance. Puppets, music, and dance are all brought into play to create a physical and highly visual show.

The actor, hungry for recognition, becomes so entangled in the role that they must decide whether to put their own spin on the Macbeth narrative or follow the traditional story leading to Macbeth’s traumatic death.

The show intelligently explores the emotions of ambition, and what lengths people and aspiring actors will go to in the struggle for success.

JULIET & ROMEO Dancebase, 21st-25th August, 2019 12.45 (13.55) Juliet and Romeo is an updated, more realistic version of the classic love story. The pair have been together for 25 years and while they still love each other, they are experiencing something very common amongst couples; a rocky patch.

Through humour, dance, and a whirlwind of emotions, Juliet and Romeo takes the audience on a journey. These are two people desperately clutching on to the shreds of their relationship and experiencing the highs and the ultimate lows.

SHITFACED SHAKESPEARE Underbelly, McEwan Hall, 31st July-26th August, 2019, 23.00 (00.00) If both the Bard and the booze are your thing, then you’re in for a treat. Shit-faced Shakespeare is back at the Fringe and it’s guaranteed to have your sides splitting in an unusual yet brilliant performance.

The show consists of professional actors performing a Shakespearean play. The only slight difference is that one of the cast members is nominated each night to get extremely ‘mad wae it’ before the performance.

As you can imagine, this could possibly lead to chaos and some unexpected outbursts. The cast enjoy regaling the audience with a list of everything that the unfortunate chosen one has had to consume.

COMEDY WILD SWIMMING: A BRIEF AND BENIGHTED HISTORY Beneath, Pleasance, 31st July - 26th August (not 7th, 13th or 20th) FullRogue actor and director Julia Head takes us to four historical periods throughout 400 years of history, to explore the ever-changing world of gender politics, artistic expression, and cultural progress.

Protagonists Nell and Oscar meet on a deserted beach in Renaissance-era Dorset.

Oscar has just returned from university and Nell appears to be doing ‘hee-haw’.

A lot has changed over the years. The characters explore the acceleration of feminism and what it now means to be masculine.

Nell and Oscar must keep up with the times, which they do, through their playful and loud interactions.

Shakespeare and Comedy by Eve Jarvis Page 11

SK SHLOMO Can you imagine feeling utterly melancholic, poignant, pensive, and then fiercely effervescent in a single song? Well, be prepared for a journey to all the far corners of your soul with the long anticipated return of Simon ‘Shlomo’ Kahn.

Nebula Productions are delighted to announce that Shlomo will be performing at this year’s Fringe Festival at the Underbelly. After a 3-year break and with a new electronic-heavy direction, the beatbox artist returns with his empowering masterpiece Surrender. Featuring a sound so dense and complex it’s hard to fathom how he is pulling it off, it’s a hugely immersive and, be warned, traumatic story translated to music. Brimful of harmonies and synths, this is a truly candid retelling of a difficult time in the artist’s life. A memoir.

Furthermore, the country’s leading beatboxer will be tackling by far the harshest of critics: children. And it turns out he’s a natural. He teaches the kids how to hone their skills and become vocal gymnasts much like himself, and educates with short histories of music and beatboxing. Definitely not to be missed.

Amphitheatres can be quite spectacular acoustic marvels. If you find yourself in one this August, surrounded by ivory keys and brass pedals, strings and tiny hammers, not to worry. You haven’t fallen down a rabbit hole. You have stumbled upon Pianodrome.

Lucky you.

Returning to the Fringe, this time located in a post-industrial warehouse on Pitt Street, we have the world’s first amphitheatre made entirely from upcycled pianos! The travelling theatre was willed into existence by artist Tim Vincent-Smith, who envisioned a dream performance space.

And a dream performance space he built. Billed as the biggest small venue in town, Pianodrome comes equipped with its own band, Sink, and can seat 100 people around its generous arena.

Pretty damn cool.

What’s cooler is the itinerary they’ve set out for the Festival, suitable for both adults and children.

Be sure not to miss beautiful and poignant songs from George Francis, complemented by Harry Harris later in the month. Other strong recommendations are virtuosic harp player Esther Swift, and Edinburgh electronic musician Candythief. For a larger performance, there is Tinderbox, a 20-piece progressive orchestra.

And if you’re after something kid-friendly, the theatre will also be transformed into a five-screen cinema, accompanied by the in-house band’s music score.

Page 12 Schlomo and Pianodrome by Sara McCombe

COMEDY

AMELIA BAYLER PRESENTS EMOTIONAL BANGERS

RACHEL MARS – YOUR SEXTS ARE SHIT: OLDER BETTER LETTERS Red Lecture Theatre, Summerhall, 13th-25th August (not 19th), 11:30 (12:30) Winner of the Total Theatre Award for Innovation 2017, Rachel Mars hits the stage with her solo performance of Your Sexts Are Shit: Older Better Letters.

Rachel explores the raunchy and pretty dirty world of historic smut; titillating letters exchanged by lovers before the days of texting, Snapchat, and ‘send nudes.

In a hilarious, intimate and emotional performance, Mars delves into her personal experiences of Queer Kink. It’s a thoughtprovoking and open-minded show, which explores the different ways we express ourselves sexually.

Mars summarises the show as a ’hilarious and tender hour that reminds us we didn’t invent sex and makes us revel in the filth of history.’

“Rising star of the Scottish circuit”—The Skinny

Bob’s Blundabus, 1st-25th August, 9.10pm Irreverent, witty and unique, Australian-born Laura Davis returns to the Fringe with her new show, Better Dead Than A Coward.

The show consists of Laura taking us along with her for a wee ride on a London bus, providing some smart and hilarious entertainment along the way.

Davis’s previous show, Ghost Machine, won the Best Independent Show award at Melbourne Comedy Festival and Melbourne Fringe. Time Out said: ‘An hour with Laura Davis leaves you uplifted, somewhat bewildered, and utterly amazed by such blistering talent.’

As seen on BBC Scotland’s The Comedy Underground

LAURA DAVIS: BETTER DEAD THAN A COWARD

1-26 August (not 14) at 12:30pm Mirth Meltdown at 52 Canoes Tiki Den (Venue 452) 27-31 West Port EH1 2JA

Twitter @ameliabayler ameliabayler.com

CATHERINE BOHART: LEMON Pleasance Courtyard, 31st July - 25th August, (not 13th), 6pm The hugely entertaining Catherine Bohart is hitting the stage again with a new show, Lemon.

The show tackles stereotypes around sexuality, sex, and relationships, in Bohart’s hilarious nobeating-around-the-bush comic style.

Lemon follows on from Immaculate, Bohart’s hugely successful production at last year’s Fringe.

The show featured a witty and emotional look into her life as a bisexual, OCD-suffering daughter of a Catholic Deacon.

Catherine’s success has been rapidly growing; to add to her live performances she has appeared in in TV shows such as E4’s 8 out of 10 Cats, Comedy Central UK’s Roast Battle and BBC2’s The Mash Report.

Shakespeare and Comedy by Eve Jarvis Page 13

STUDENT MURDER ON THE DANCEFLOOR Spies Like Us Pleasance Beside, Pleasance Courtyard-31st July-26th August (not 13th), 14:15 (1 hour) After taking not one but two frenetically brilliant shows to last year’s Fringe, Spies Like Us return with new production Murder on the Dancefloor.

Last year’s Woyzeck, a breath-taking adaptation of Büchner’s classic play, and the hilarious Our Man in Havana, were universally wellreceived. Murder On The Dancefloor looks just as promising; it’s a jet-black comedy following five friends as they are plunged into a ruthless world of greed, betrayal, grudges and grooves.

It promises more choreographic genius and fast paced physicality from a young theatre company on the rise.

HOT YOGURT The St Andrews Revue The Charteris Centre, Just the Tonic, 1st-25thAugust (not 13th), 20:00 From the Fife coast come the St Andrews Revue, bringing you some hot new comedy! The group has built up a dedicated cult following after many years of Fringe success, with the likes of Loop and The Big Time. After winning last year’s Derek Award for Bears, the Revue are looking to build on glowing reviews and a reputation as one of the Fringe’s most ambitious student sketch comedy groups. Combining slick metanarratives, rib-tickling sketches and top notch timing, the St Andrews Revue always guarantee a cracker of a show.

IT’S NOT THAT SERIOUS – The Leeds Tealights Wine Bar, Gilded Balloon Teviot, 2nd – 26th August (not 13th), 19:45 After the surreal heights of Souls for Sale, The Leeds Tealights return to the Fringe with their new show It’s Not that Serious. Having won last year’s Sketch-off, the Tealights will be kicking off their Edinburgh run on a high. The show promises an hour of fast-paced, absurd comedy with more than a few twists and turns along the way. The Tealights have always been known for their strong performances and cast chemistry, alongside a willingness to play with form and convention.

Alumni include Fringe stars Goodbear and Patrick Turpin. so this bunch of talented comedy up-and-comers are not to be missed.

F.OFF National Youth Theatre of Great Britain Venue 61 Underbelly, Cowgate, August 2nd25th (Except 13th), 12:50 (1hr 15mins) The NYT company return to the Fringe to perform F. Off; a searingly funny and powerful look at the sinister and destructive potential of social media.

Written by Evening Standard ‘One to Watch’ writer Tatty Hennessy, the show puts Mark Zuckerberg and his social network colleagues on trial. It asks, who really is to blame? And who is following who? Over the course of the show the audience become the jury and the NYT company will be the disrupters. It looks to be a metatheatrical, immersive experience served with a heavy helping of humour, some knitting, and hardcore experts.

THE LADIES Cambridge University ADC Ivy Studio, Greenside Infirmary Street, August 12th-24th (not 18th), 23:00 Harry and Ella walk into a bar. They’ve been together a year now. It’s going well. Until suddenly – after a not-so-quick trip to the Ladies – it’s not. The Cambridge University theatre group return to this uproarious and poignant play after 20 years. The Ladies examines the walls we build around gender and sexuality, and the struggles of navigating a queer new world when those walls unexpectedly come down. This is a topical play, in equal parts funny and urgent, performed by a talented group of Cambridge’s finest thesps.

Surely not one to miss.

thejazzbar

edinburgh

1a Chambers Street eh1 1hr

LIVE MUSIC UNTIL 3AM EVERY NIGHT!

JAZZ//FUNK//SOUL//BLUES//ACOUSTIC @thejazzbar www.thejazzbar.co.uk

HOW TO MEND THE WORLD (WITH A STUDENT PLAY) Drunken Brainstorm theatre Space 1, theSpace on the Mile, 12th-24thAugust, 21:55 From the depths of Drunken Brainstorm theatre comes How to Mend the World (With a Student Play). This new comedy gives the audience a fly-on-the-wall view of how messy putting on a student Fringe play can be. Watch an early production meeting of the university theatre society who are attempting to put on a horribly misguided reimagined production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. See the chaos unfold: hearts will be broken, dreams will be made and Daddy’s trust fund will be well and truly depleted.

The show promises a dose of subversive hilarity for any big-dreaming student theatre group at the Fringe.

Student Shows by Louis Catliff Page 15

THE ESTABLISHMENT Le Bureau De Strange The Hive@Heroes

ALASDAIR BECKETT-KING The Interdimensional ABK Pleasance Dome: Jack Dome

How are you supposed to perform whimsical comedy when the real world is so...you know?

Astute, intelligent and jammed with niche nerdery, The Interdimensional ABK is giving it a good go.

Here we all are, rudderless-ly moping about in the bafflingly miserable B Timeline, totally clueless to there being a marginally superior version next door: The A Timeline.

A place where everything is better, happier, and more optimistic; Wetherspoons is called Definitelyspoons for a start.

Don’t despair – Alasdair Beckett-King is here, on a heroic mission, sent from the A Timeline to save us from ourselves. He has, however, hit a snag. It turns out the B Timeline has heaps of awful things that he kind of loves.

Instead of Alasdair making the B Timeline better, is the B Timeline making him worse?

Innovative observational comedy, idiosyncratic animated illustrations team up to deliver escapism with a charmingly subtle commentary on the political climate in which we B Timeliners find ourselves.

Meet Godfrey and Cecil - eccentric, charming and ultra-privileged English toffs. These gents, in their bowler hats and mismatching suits, are attempting to make the greatest show ever.

Naturally, everything that can go wrong will….

A-class experts at a distinctly British humour - think Python, Pete and Dud, The Boosh - Dan Lees and Neil Frost are together known as The Establishment. Conjuring categorically stupid nonsense is harder than it looks. Dan and Neil however, have been making it look easy since 2015.

Blending a heady mix of slapstick, clowning, improvisation, and quick-fired wit, this is classic British comedy with a refreshing twist.

Le Bureau De Strange was Winner of the 2019 Best Comedy Adelaide Fringe Weekly Award.

BEEP BOOP performed by Richard Saudek Assembly George Square: The Blue Room

DOODLE POP Assembly George Square Studios: Studio One Doodle POP is an underwater world of mysterious creatures and untold adventures, all just a doodle away from what your imagination can conjure...

Two friends a big whiteboard and some marker pens make the basic ingredients for this delightful visual feast. As the mischievous duo begin to draw a scary watery universe emerges, unbound by causality and cavorting with creative characters. Drawings created and erased evolve with the magic of projections, mime, facial expression, physical acting, shadow play and puppetry, and intensified with the use of jaunty sound effects and live music.

South Korean company BRUSH Theatre uses the best of analogue and digital artistic technologies in an innovative and engaging, hands-on, low-fi, fun-for-all experience. The target audience of +3-year-olds truly spans generations captivating adults and kids alike.

Last year’s show Woogie Boogie, was met with high popular and critical acclaim at Edinburgh Fringe 2018.

Beep Boop is a darkly comic clown show about a man left alone to his own devices, giving witness to the full expression and logical outcome of our technology addiction. It’s about the absurd and aching irony of the detachment brought about by tools that are meant to help us connect.

It is also one of the funniest shows about loneliness you are likely to see this Fringe…

Simultaneously super silly and painfully profound, award-winning physical comedian Richard Saudek utilises a madcap combination of clown, digital project, foley sound, and original composition to tell an everso-human tale of the digital present.

Beep Boop conjures a small and poignant universe, recognisable to anyone who owns a Smartphone or spends more time online than they most probably ought.

Supported Page 17

MONSOON SEASON Underbelly: Belly Button

FROM JUDY TO BETTE – THE STARS OF OLD HOLLYWOOD performed by Rebecca Perry Gilded Balloon: Patter Hoose, Doonstairs

This is 1930’s Hollywood. The Golden Age of Cinema, where stars and dreams are made…. but not without some trailblazing, take-noprisoners, feminine chutzpah!!

Join convention-breaking Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Lucille Ball and Betty Hutton four formidable megastars - for an evening of scandalous headlines and room-rousing renditions of iconic songs such as “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “You Can’t Get a Man with a Gun”.

Channelling, not impersonating, these inimitable women and exuding a magnetic stage quality all of her own, (five-time Broadway World award-winning) Toronto creator and performer Rebecca Perry lovingly brings their larger than life characters - and all she admires in their unusual lives and careers - to the fore, utilizing the humour that allowed them to excel in an industry set against them. Nodding to the battle for gender equality being fought in today’s Hollywood, the show delicately endorses female empowerment, body positivity, optimism and self-worth.

Page 18 Supported

The neon sign from a strip club across the road has been keeping Danny awake all night for weeks. His grasp of reality is slipping.

Julia has been left with a mortgage to pay and a child to rear. Her Adderall addiction has worsened since her dealer moved in. Plus she keeps seeing a giant bird in her backyard.

Is anyone looking after their child?

As the recently separated pair spiral into chaos with the audience in step, they hurtle headlong towards a precipice they cannot help but jump from. Just one tragic option remains, if they are to survive.

Upcoming New York playwright Lizzie Vieh (The Loneliest Number, Backwater Rising) twists her dark tale of toxic masculinity and addiction with a cut-throat savagery and black-as-the-night humour that will keep audiences perched on the edge of their seats, eyes glued to the stage. This is a raw descent into the darkest depths of humanity.

STORYTELLING The Scottish Storytelling Centre will be presenting 22 unique shows as part of the Fringe, showcasing stories in all their forms; entertaining, thought provoking, experimental, inspiring and well-loved, there are tales for everyone.

The Storytelling Centre is always a wee haven of tranquility within the city and, alongside their main Fringe programme, they have partnered with the Year of Conversation project to introduce a Conversation Booth to inspire some human connection and encouraging visitors, performers, staff, tourists and locals to take 10 minutes away from their phones and the buzz of the Fringe.

Might be just the thing to help you press the reset button if it all gets a bit much.

We’ve picked out just a few of the highlights from their programme.

WALK THE OARS

the adoration of all around her, nothing can please the Queen’s strange and beautiful daughter, Ethaun. The Queen is at her wits end and by sorcery Ethaun is transformed into a fly.

Condemned by her desire for more, she wanders unknown kingdoms where she meets kings, queens, jugglers and fools until her heart changes and her true nature is discovered.

SUPERNATURAL: WONDER TALES FROM SCOTLAND August 13th-26th (not 21st).

Renowned storyteller Dougie Mackay takes you on a journey all over Scotland’s mythical past – and you won’t even need your wellies! Stories of mythical and magical creatures and beasties of all shapes and sizes are gathered from Scotland’s traditional tales and made fresh for a whole new audience. This was a sell out show in 2018, better get your wings on.

August 21st-25th Have you ever wanted to be a Viking? Perhaps you will once you’ve experienced walking the oars with Danish storyteller Svend-Erik Engh and Scottish musician/singer Neil Sutcliffe as they share a story inspired by the Viking’s arrival in Scotland. You are invited on board a Viking longship, so hold your oars steady as the Viking storyteller walks upon them to celebrate victory.

Expect an immersive experience; the audience is encouraged to join in with call and response song.

THE GOLDEN FLY Date: August 21st-August 25th Storyteller Alice Fernbank and musician Graham Dickson lead a voyage laden with song and myth, presented through flute and voice. Despite

Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, EH1 1SR scottishstorytellingcentre.com Storytelling by Peter Greenwood Page 19

LGBT+ FRINGE PICKS Sifting through the programme at the Edinburgh Fringe is an overwhelming experience. It is incomparable, though, to the stress of arriving in our nation’s capital on a whim to ‘see what’s on’, only to circle round the same venue and abandon ship in a mindnumbing sea of choice. Luckily, we have done the leg work for you and compiled a must-see list of LGBT+ and inclusive performances at this year’s Festival. Champion our community by buying tickets, sharing reviews and clapping gayly for these stellar performers. Here is the cream of the crop, and the tip of the iceberg of amazing LGBT+ talent performing at this year’s Festival. You’re welcome.

LEN BIANCO Aug 1st-11th, 14th-24th, 9.20pm Just the Tonic at The Charteris Centre You may recognise Mr Len Blanco from his scintillating performance on BBC One’s All Together Now last year, but you don’t know the real Len Blanco: he is the modern man of your dreams.

Woke. Feminist. Vegan (Monday to Thursday).

He just wants to talk to you. For God’s sake, let him talk to you. In his musical comedy cabaret, this recovering boy band member and drag king amongst men will be exclusively revealing just how far he’s come since the 90s (spoiler: not very far).

A VAULT Festival After Dark nominee and Man Up finalist, Blanco’s larger-than-life debut solo

show will deliver live vocals, live lip-sync, and live choreo. What more can you ask for, really?

FOC IT UP! THE FEMMES OF COLOUR COMEDY CLUB Fridays and Sundays, 11.15pm Gilded Balloon, Downstairs When Texan comic Kemah Bob arrived in London, the UK’s most multicultural city, she was shocked at the lack of diversity in the comedy scene – onstage and in the audience – and the tokenism she experienced herself as a black female comedian.

Thus, she founded FOC IT UP, celebrating the perspectives of comedians of colour that identify as female, trans and non-binary with a ‘100% no-white-dudes-onstage guarantee!’ People of colour remain underrepresented at the Fringe: a report in 2018 by Fringe of Colour stated that of 1,170 comedy shows at Edinburgh Fringe, merely 66 were by performers of colour. FOC IT UP’s provision of a space for comedians of colour is hugely popular, selling out shows at both the Fringe and Southbank Festival, and being part of Comedy Genius in association with BFI. So, check your privilege at the door and enjoy a night of amazing comedy rooted in diversity, handing the mic to comics whose voices you need to hear.

FUDGE 31st July-26th August, 7.45pm Nip in Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose Dating in the gay world is a minefield. With a plethora of apps at our disposal, catering to every desire and whim, intimacy and self-love can often sit on the back burner. Modern gay sex is under the microscope in Fudge, a fast-paced dramatic comedy exploring the way gay men interact with each other and navigate the landscape of hookups, love and everything in between. Following their acclaimed debut, Ginger Beer, Hallam Breen and Phoebe Simmonds present to the audience Charlie, who has had enough: no more

sex, booty calls, walks of shame…all in the name of learning to love himself first. Frank and funny, Fudge is a heart-warming and witty exploration of gay celibacy and intimacy.

ALFIE ORDINARY: HELP! I THINK I MIGHT BE FABULOUS! 1st- 26th August, 6pm Gilded Balloon, Upstairs Alfie Ordinary is many things: a drag queen, comedy gold, irreverent…but he is in Edinburgh this August to assert simply how fabulous he is. You may recognise him from opening for the queens of RuPaul’s Drag Race on their UK tours, or the more far-flung of you may well have experienced Eat Sleep Drag Repeat, his popular Bristol club night. After touring his award-winning show in festivals across the globe, however, Alfie finally makes his Edinburgh debut, welcoming you into Madame LeCoq’s Preparatory School for Fabulous Boys. Armed with charm, his incredible pipes and a little help from his good friends Whitney Houston and Bette Midler, Alfie wants to set free the fabulous, sequined gene in every one of us - and help us celebrate who we really are. Challenging stereotypes, toxic masculinity, shame and homophobia, Help! I Think I Might Be Fabulous! is queer, smart, funny and full of heart. Expect to see a blonde bowl cut, sequined pantaloons and to fall in love with Alfie Ordinary.

A PARTNERSHIP 31st July-26th August, 2.45pm Nip in Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose There are a few schools of thought when it comes to gay monogamy, with the key question being whether men who have sex with men were designed to remain with one person, or if it’s even sustainable. Gay men who engage in consensual non-monogamous relationships often face stigma

LGBT+ or shame for their decisions, while men on the opposite end face criticism from their peers for conforming to a fairly heteronormative construct.

A Partnership is a one-hour, real-time tragicomedy that challenges its audience to question their perception of this very issue, as well as the general state of homosexuality and homophobia in 2019. With two actors onstage for its duration, A Partnership seeks to explore whether sexuality has a bearing on the length and strength of a relationship, also succinctly dissecting the struggle to accept one’s own sexuality and internalised homophobia. First-time writer Rory ThomasHowes creates a moving, challenging and thought-provoking production, one comprised totally of LGBT+ cast and crew. Not to be missed.

JOHN PENDAL: MONSTER 31st July-26th August (not 16th, 23rd), 7.45pm Gilded Balloon – Turret (Venue 14) John Pendal is an interesting guy. A stand-up comic since 2010, he has performed across the UK, US, Australia and Europe, and was the first Briton to win ‘International Mr Leather’ in 2003.

But John lies awake from 3-4am every night worrying he’s not a good person. Why would this shy Baptist boy from Watford be so full of shame? Does it have anything to do with seven years of gay conversion therapy? Monster aims to explore the difference between shame and guilt, and ponders whether it’s too late for John to try and live without either. Conversion therapy itself remains a frightening reality for many in 2019. John’s honest, funny and heart-wrenching account of his life experience – from undoing the button on your suit jacket to how shame impacts our everyday lives – is unmissable. Monster is aimed at anyone struggling to feel good about themselves.

LGBT+ by Jonny Stone Page 21

GING The award-winning ‘bearded belle of the festivals’, Gingzilla is bringing her debauched, iconic Late Night Lip Service back to the Fringe. Having rapidly created the festival’s must-see cult experience, Gingzilla takes her 7ft, red-headed glamonster self to Edinburgh for another year to showcase a rotating cast of the most outrageous acts from across the Festival. Originally from Sydney, Gingzilla has become a viral star thanks to her appearances on The X Factor and America’s Got Talent, but she is back on our shores to give the children what they well and truly need: an evening of general degeneracy. We sat down with Gingzilla to talk about her new show, ideas for my Halloween costume this year, and the small task of world domination.

So you’re a seasoned Fringe pro by this point: how are you feeling about this year’s Festival?

Well, this is the first time I’m only doing the one show, which is really fun, but I think it’s still going to be quite crazy. What I’ve planned for this show, oh my God! ‘Extravaganza’ doesn’t even come close to describing it.

Late Night Lip Service is making its triumphant return. For the unfamiliar, what is the premise of the show and what can they expect?

“Extravaganza”

doesn’t

even

COmE

cloSe Okay, so it is a revolving line-up variety show. It’s me hosting, and every time I come out I will be wearing something even more stunning, even more amazing, more crazy than before! There are catwalks-off, lip synch battles…it’s the most fun you’re going to get in one show. I have hand-

“TO ME, WORLD DOMINATION MEANS CONTINUING TO TOUR AND SHOWING MY GINGER LOVE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD” picked the best performers of the Fringe as well as some international guests who aren’t even part of the Fringe. One of my favourite performers, Jacqueline Furey, is coming all the way from Australia to do a couple of spots. The show is getting bigger and bigger every year.

The catwalk portion is always amazing.

I just watched a video of you in a design challenge where you had two hours to make an outfit out of tacky Scottish souvenir items.

That was so much fun! I was living my Drag Race fantasy, making something out of nothing.

ZILLA LGBT by Jonny Stone Page 23

Why do you think lip synching is such an important part of drag?

I think it’s the tradition. If you look at the past, lip synching was about emulating and adoring female divas. When drag became popularised in the 60s and 70s, they used recordings to emulate their favourite divas. But I don’t really lip synch too much in my own performances; I do a couple in the show, but my thing is live singing.

Of course! You’ve made headlines across the world thanks to your appearances on X Factor and America’s Got Talent. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it online. What were those experiences like, especially the latter?

I mean, when you’ve gone viral…ha! It was absolutely amazing. I said yes to the experience and it was such an overwhelming experience that absolutely blew my mind. I felt like I was just being a stupid idiot and people loved it. I’ve had lots of offers from America; it’s been crazy busy with creating so many shows.

Are you pals with Simon Cowell now?

Yes, we are BFFs. If world domination is on your radar, what does that look like to you?

I’m on my way, girl! I just got back from Sweden, I’ve nearly done all of Australia…I still haven’t done Sydney, which is where I’m from!

To me, world domination means continuing to tour and showing my ginger love to the rest of the world, spreading as much joy as I possibly can.

It’s so nice going to a country where English isn’t the first language or they haven’t experienced anything like me before. I always forget that I am a lot to take; visually, there is a lot to take in, then there is this deep voice…that’s a lot to compute for normal people!

Have audience or even public reactions changed towards you as your profile has increased?

I would say yes. I think the world has changed a lot. When I first started drag three years ago, people looked at me like, ‘What the fuck is this?’

But since then, drag has become so popularised

and people treat me with so much awe. People didn’t do what I did when I first started - I’d be promoting my shows and people would ask ‘What do you do, you ginger man-woman?’ But after The X Factor and America’s Got Talent, people realised what I do and are more willing to see me in real life. I’m not a traditional drag queen, in a sense. I am more of a cabaret performer using drag as a vessel.

You’ve managed to create that niche for yourself, and on such a public scale. Do you think you would consider Drag Race UK, and how you could fit that niche into the show?

I would love to get on Drag Race, and the reason why is because I love competition! I would go hammer and tongs. I would adore making all the different costumes, which is something I love doing. The costumes I’ve created for Late Night Lip Service are the best costumes I’ve ever made.

I’ve been working with my friend Gina and I feel like every year I get better and better.

Last time we spoke, your all-time favourite lip synch song was Finally by Cece Peniston.

Has your choice changed over time?

NO! Definitely not, it’s still Finally. How could it not be?! ‘Meeting Mr. Right, the man of my dreams…’ Come on, the best opening lines ever!

The reason I love it so much is because it’s in the last scene of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. And burned in my brain is the visual of them changing their costumes with that epic set. And I still remember Hugo Weaving sticking his tongue out.

I have a quick side question, on the topic of Priscilla. My boyfriend and I have already been invited to a Halloween party with two possible themes: musicals or figures from history. He doesn’t seem to think Priscilla counts as a musical.

It is a movie musical. If you don’t do Priscilla you can’t do Grease, Sound of Music…

But the drag element is a deal breaker. We always do a couple, like The Shining twins…

I see, what could you do…? Musicals are hard because they’re normal people! What were you

thinking for the other theme?

Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots.

Ooh, do that! I’m doing a Mary look in the show.

You’re quickly becoming the planet’s most glamorous redhead, and are of course spending a month in the most ginger country in the world. Who is your favourite celebrity ginger?

Lucille Ball, because she’s hilarious. She was a comic genius who was one of the first female slapstick comics to take over the world. I even love all the advertising within the show, as well: she would do all these cheeky little nods, like ‘Hi, I’m advertising this…’ I rank her highly.

What are your post-Fringe plans?

I will take a well-deserved month off in September and go to New York. Get some inspiration, see shows and live some life. Then when I’m back, every inch of my body becomes Christmas. I will develop a new solo show and plan 2020, maybe a tour or something…I don’t know! What should I do?

Okay: you should have a web series or talk show, akin to what Courtney Act and Monet X Change have touched on, but there should be more of a variety element to it, as you have the gift of the gab.

Yes! I like the talk show hostess idea, I like talking to people. I think my dream is to have a travelling show around the world – Gingzilla Against the World – and visit the most obscure places you could imagine and put me in the middle. Imagine me walking up the streets of South Korea or a market in Somalia. It would be so much fun! Kind of like Idiots Abroad. Netflix: let’s go.

“THE COSTUMES I’VE CREATED FOR LATE NIGHT LIP SERVICE ARE THE BEST COSTUMES I’VE EVER MADE.”

Gilded Balloon presents Gingzilla’s Late Night Lip Service at The Main Theatre in Gilded Balloon's Rose Theatre Thursday to Sunday, 2nd till 24th August, 11.30pm – 1.30am LGBT by Jonny Stone Page 25

HOW NOT Say goodbye to your sense of security and place yourself on a boat with Dritan Kastrati, as he and his fellow cast members relate his story. How not to Drown is a retelling of Kastrati’s experience as an 11 year old unaccompanied asylum seeker, smuggled from Kosovo across the Adriatic sea and ending up in the British care system. Where he came from wasn’t safe and the journey he experienced was traumatic - but the place Dritan arrived at had its own layers of trauma, racism and danger, which no child should have to experience.

I had the opportunity to talk to writer and actor Dritan Kastrati, co-writer Nicola McCartney and director Neil Bettles about how on earth you create a show about such a personally harrowing tale. Of any show in the Fringe, this is destined to be the one that leaves an imprint on your heart and soul.

The play features 5 actors, over thirty characters, and one story, which could be that of million children. Sometimes Dritan plays himself, sometimes other people play him as he watches.

Actors swap and jump from person to person with adventurous rhythm, reflecting the unsettled nature of his own time growing up. Neil tells me ‘All this happens whilst the actors precariously

balance on a large wooden rectangle, floating in darkness, tilted towards the audience’. The idea is that the audience never forgets how precarious Dritan’s tale is, and a sense of danger and anxiety remains throughout.

The play is fast-paced and energetic. ‘Dritan’s energy is relentless, and I wanted to get that feeling across’ says Neil. Although these are difficult topics, ‘the heaviness is viewed through the eyes of a young person, so you can see the humour in the situations he ends up in. The play makes you root for someone.’

‘We also want the audience not to just be crying all the way through, and in real life, in those moments, you crack a joke to deal with it.’ says Dritan.

Dritan came up with the idea of How Not to Drown 4 years ago. The actor tells me that those four years have given him the time to take one person’s traumatic tale and ‘make it a universal story, to push the concept and see it from different points of view’. This play is important and powerful, but was made at a personal cost.

Dritan has had to re-experience the trauma he went through ‘We debated whether Dritan should be in the show himself, but after the second workshop it felt like he should be the person to start to tell his story’, says Neil. ‘It’s been cathartic, just getting

here after 4 years. It feels great.’ says Dritan.

His experience has been given the room to breathe and grow, and like the water that embeds itself in the piece, to flow. Though difficult, Dritan is telling his story in the medium he feels most comfortable with. Co-writer Nicola, who is also a foster carer for Glasgow City Council and has specific training in working with trauma and attachment issues, knows the care system well.

‘Nicola’s process centres on using dramaturgy to help a person take back control of their own

“MADE AT A PERSONAL COST. DRITAN HAS HAD TO RE-EXPERIENCE THE TRAUMA HE WENT THROUGH.”

narrative, the story they tell to themselves, and to others, about themselves. Trauma, addiction, violence can often leave a person with a very fractured sense of their story and hence themselves’, explains Neil.

Nicola’s method seeks to help them piece together the parts of that narrative into some kind of coherent whole. Dritan says he is forever thankful to both Nicola and his Jamaican drama teacher who first identified his ‘relentless’ energy and inspired him to get into theatre.

If you want to see something which will open your eyes, hearts and minds, I think this is the show. You’ll definitely find me there one night.

How not to Drown runs 3rd till 25th August 2019 (not 5th, 12th or 19th) at the Traverse Theatre.

Presented by ThickSkin Theatre as Part of the Made in Scotland Showcase 2019, commissioned by ThickSkin and Lawrence Batley Theatre.

How Not To Drown by Laura Woodland Page 27

Many years ago I caught beatbox legend Shlomo in a pre-fringe party, and immediately I was like: this guy’s got talent.

The innovation he brings to the style is without compare, fusing sampling, humour and genuine musical ability. He’s perhaps only challenged by our own Beardyman in the UK representation of the form. Having collaborated with legends such as Damon Albarn, and the unfathomably popular

ginge-with-a-fringe Ed Sheeran, the future looked set for Shlomo. That was until two years ago, when he experienced a mental breakdown; a lot to do with the pressure to achieve he put on himself, and a traumatic experience in his past. He has emerged from this dark period with his debut album Surrender, and two shows in the Fringe that showcase his new-found openness about mental illness alongside his tremendous musicality.

SCH

How did you first start out in the music industry?

I first got known as being a live beatboxer, a collaborator and a creator. It all happened so fast, because I started beatboxing as a kid as a way to practice playing drums. When I left home, I started going to open mic nights, jamming with anyone I could. I ended up joining a hip-hop band who were on tour, so I got to travel the world and support loads of heroes like Snoop Dogg and Missy Elliott. That was when I was 19 years old. It was amazing. It’s carried on from there.

As someone with a mental health condition myself, it’s great to see someone like yourself being so open about it. What’s your aim with the live music show?

It’s mostly about empowering myself, about speaking the truth rather than trying to pretend I’m perfect. That’s what caused me a lot of problems, worrying about what people think of me, and then doctoring what I was making to try and be more popular, and to be accepted or whatever it is. When I decided

OMO

to stop doing that, I felt much safer in myself, and was much more satisfied with what I was making.

It’s a celebration, really. I’ve been playing around with it in previews: it starts off very exciting and dynamic, what you might expect from a live beatboxing show, then quite quickly becomes dark and goes to a difficult place. I’m talking about dealing with depression and suicidal ideation. I work through the story, and by the last chunk of the show it becomes a celebration of being a human. All of the good stuff and difficult stuff is who we are. At the end everyone comes together and it becomes this rave!

Sounds great. What can the audience expect from the show musically?

I’m gonna mix it up, lots of live beatboxing, crowd sampling. I sample the sounds the audience make and make it into music in real time.

I’m also doing some album tracks, and they’re in context. When I first started touring the songs from the album I was playing in pubs and clubs, and I found it hard because I was trying to tell the story of the songs, but people wanted to dance. They weren’t necessarily listening. So I thought maybe it was more of a theatre show. So I can explain what the songs mean and where I was when I wrote them, and that forms the narrative of the show.

Is your other show, The Beatbox Adventure For Kids something you had planned for a while? How did it come together?

A few years ago I became a Dad, and I thought maybe there was a show I could do during the day, for parents who might not be able to see a late-night show. It really appeals to both adults and kids. I get a lot out of it too. On the surface it looks like a fun show; we’re all making silly noises. It’s actually a show about well-being and empowerment for the kids. I’m trying to encourage them to find their voices and express themselves, through an alternative way filtered through my own experience. I want to encourage them to find who they are and live that truth. At the end of the show I get two teams of kids to come

on stage and they’re terrified, and I give them what I call emergency beatbox training, and they do a little show. The crowd goes wild, and and it’s amazing seeing that evolution from absolute fear to absolute power. In fact the other day I was doing a show that was meant be solo, and all my kit just died. So I thought “OK, let’s not bother with that, let’s do some stuff from the kids show!” So I got the adults on stage beatboxing, and it was hilarious. I absolutely love playing at the Fringe. I do a lot of other slots, which makes it easy to relax into the moment. I have a lot of fun, the crowd has a lot of fun, it’s just really cool.

SK Shlomo performs his live music show Surrender at the Underbelly from 1st-23rd August. Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure for Kids is on at the Underbelly Bristo Square from the 31st of July to the 18th of August.

Shlomo by Martin Sandison Page 29

EDINBURGH

BOOK FEST

‘Rewriting Scottish Herstory’: Sara Sheridan at the Edinburgh Book Festival Walking down Princess Street, one passes Triduana’s Seat, the extinct volcano a mile to the east of St. Margaret’s Castle. Christened after St. Triduana, who, so distressed by the amorous attention of the King of the Picts who loved her beautiful eyes, tore them out and sent them to him, allowing her to continue her life of piety free from harassment.

Walking further from Suffragette Square, one may admire the green, white and violet flowers. You tug at your t-shirt emblazoned with Glasgow’s motto ‘Jobs For Women’. These t-shirts are in vogue, and it is hot and sunny and bright in this Scotland. You are happy, because you have accessed hundreds of thousands of stories from women who have done amazing, terrible, fantastic, clever, mundane, ordinary things.

This Scotland would be lovely if it were

“THERE ARE TERRIBLE STATUES OF MEN WHO DID TERRIBLE THINGS. WOMEN WILL SAY TO ME, ‘HOW COME WE WEREN’T TOLD THESE STORIES INSTEAD?”

real, and in Sara Sheridan’s Where Are The Women? it is. A guidebook to an alternative Scotland, Sheridan has reimagined the existing Scottish landscape to memorialise the lives and stories of Scotland’s women through existing and fictional features, buildings and monuments.

This year the Edinburgh Book Festival, whose theme is ‘We Need New Stories’, will see Sara Sheridan in conversation with former Stirling University Professor Sian Reynolds. One of the editors of the New Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women, Professor Reynolds appears as part of the Telling Her Story series of events.

Sheridan will also be speaking with Lari Don in an event named ‘Nessie Reimagined’, about her spin on the Loch Ness Monster for her daughter, Molly. In Sheridan’s Loch Ness, Nessie is pulled into the pollution of the 21st century.

“I think we do need new stories”, says Sheridan.

“All the tumultuous politics we’re involved in at

the moment is our need for new stories, and the inability to tell new stories. I mean Brexit in a way is a brilliant story – just a story, not a reality. It is very much what the world is about at the moment.

“It’s interesting – the theme was picked months ago, and now it’s still bang on.”

Essentially, Where are the Women? is a book of new stories, filling in the gaps left behind by years of a patriarchal history which has overshadowed and eliminated women from its narrative. What has been the reaction from women who have read the book, and found new stories and histories they were previously unaware of?

“A lot of the initial reaction from women has been anger”, Sheridan says. “Of course, though.

I mean – women feel a bit like they’ve been short changed. They’ll ask, ‘Why didn’t I know about this woman, or that woman?’ it just feels like our stories haven’t been told.”

Sheridan, named as one of the Saltire Society’s most influential women, is a prolific author and feminist. Known for the Mirabelle Bevan mysteries and a series of fictional and non-fictional historical novels, Sheridan is uncovering forgotten women in history. Her other work as a feminist activist includes co-founding a perfume company, REEK. Developed with her daughter Molly, REEK has set about memorialising landmark women, including Jacobites and witches, through wearable scents.

In using them, Sheridan writes that the wearer becomes “themselves a monument”, allowing women to “take a stand by remembering forgotten heroines from the past.”

“I started with some very big lists” laughs Sheridan. “The first job was to find the women, then put them on a map, thinking, where was the place for them? I already had women in mind, but I found a tonne of women I hadn’t heard of when I started. It shows you how bad we are at commemorating it already.”

“What we have now is a landscape full of remembering people that I wouldn’t agree with.” says Sheridan. “I wanted to create a landscape that mirrors that reality, that commemorates

Edinburgh’s famous fossil shop

5 Cowgatehead, Grassmarket Edinburgh, EH1 1JY 0131 220 1344 www.mrwoodsfossils.co.uk

women the way that men are commemorated.

One that says, ‘here is our female history, here is our stuff. Our hills are not named after this. Why not?’ I wanted to create something alternate, that had people when they come back to our real landscape think, actually, ‘this is quite weird as well. Where are the women?’’

“There are terrible statues of men who did terrible things. Women will say to me, ‘how come we weren’t told these stories instead? The ones of women doing great things, and instead we know of these men who did terrible things?’ My only answer can be – ‘welcome to misogyny’.

“A story is a seduction, and that’s what I want to do” Sheridan tells me. “Seduce people to go to a place they might not have gone otherwise. I want to bring people along with me on the argument and make them think.”

It would seem that with the theme of this years’ Bookfest – the need for new stories – Sara has plenty to add. I, personally, cannot wait to hear what.

Edinburgh Book Festival by Carla Jenkins Page 31

GREENHOUSE There’s a new venue popping up this year at the fringe and its completely Zero Waste.

The very appropriately named Greenhouse can be found in the grounds of Dynamic Earth, with the gobsmacking backdrop of Arthur’s Seat, and has been completely constructed using recycled materials. It apparently looks like a rather eclectic large shed - but on entering you will find an inviting theatre in the round with approximately 30 seats. It’s been a year in the process with a team of around 35 to get this to fruition, but they have delivered an exciting programme of theatre, dance, music, workshops and a new musical, all with a message of sustainability.

I had a chat with Louis Catliff about what it takes to build your own venue - a completely zero waste one no less, at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Louis has been at the Fringe for the past three years, but this is certainly his most ambitious involvement to date. What has it been like, building an entirely new theatre?

‘I think it’s been pretty complicated’, says Louis. ‘However, the zero-waste element has made it easier for us.

‘Because the venue is smaller than most, and because it has no electricity, no sound system, it’s renewable, recycled and handmade... it’s all turned out ok.

‘It’s been like constructing a gazebo but on steroids. It’s a testament to an amazing team that its happened. There’s been a lot of late nights, a lot of sourcing materials, picking up scaffolding across the country and bringing it to Scotland.

Architect Caelan Mitchell-Bennet and designer Lucy Reis have done an incredible job making it

happen.’

Whilst moving towards a greener society may be in vogue for just now, it’s a big feat to build a new theatre amongst the already well established thespian homes, such as Assembly, Gilded Balloon and Summerhall. Where did the idea come from?

‘The idea was first thought up by a friend of mine a year ago at the last Fringe, and it was between the two of us and another friend that we envisioned a fully sustainable venue with a community focus. It’s important to us that the entire venue is level 2 accessible, so can be accessed by wheelchairs’ – an important characteristic which cannot be said for other Fringe venues.

What kind of shows can be seen at Greenhouse?

‘There’s a wide range of shows, workshops and music to appeal across tastes and ages. Many of

the shows have new voices, written by students but professionally developed, so opening up a whole raft of new voices to the world’.

‘If you want to take the whole family, your best bet would be a show called The Earth Untold.

It features a lot of music and dance and no seats, so kids can roam free and interact. One not to miss might be Daphne or Hellfire– an ecofeminist modern updating of the Daphne-Apollo Myth – it’s intensely beautiful. There are also a series of workshops to check out, all designed to engage with people in a sustainable way.’

My advice is, take a stroll around Arthur’s Seat, pop to Henderson’s for a guilt-free vegan wrap, then head on into the Greenhouse for a show.

Or catch some live music in the evenings in a venue that was literally built by the hands of theatre makers. The Fringe can be exhausting but it doesn’t have to be.

10 — 26 AUGUST 2019

800 EVENTS WITH 900 AUTHORS FEATURING FICTION, POETRY, PERFORMANCE, DEBATE, MUSIC & MORE BOOK & BROWSE EVENTS: EDBOOKFEST.CO.UK

Greenhouse by Laura Woodland Page 33

“IT’S A SHOW ABOUT SCOTTISH IDENTITY AND THE ABSURDITY OF SCOTTISH IDENTITY” Suffering From Scottishness is a show that tackles themes such as the meaning of Scottish identity, the indyref, and the current divide in Scottish Politics. Snack caught up with the Creator, and award-winning writer and spoken word artist Kevin P. Gilday to find out a bit more about his one-man show, coming to Edinburgh Fringe for the first time this August.

What can audiences expect from the show?

It’s a show about Scottish identity and the absurdity of Scottish identity. The idea is that the audience is a focus group, and I am a government official leading this focus group, and we are going to decide what questions become a part of the first ever Scottish citizenship test.

We discuss things like inventions, language, alcohol and different parts of Scottish culture, and at the end, the audience gets to vote and decide what questions should be a part of the citizenship test.

What was the inspiration for the show?

I’ve always wanted to write something about Scottish identity. I’ve always been interested in who gets to decide what the Scottish

identity is and what the criteria is. It is very open to interpretation.

I grew up in an Irish Catholic background, where there is a schism that if you are born in Scotland your Scottish, but your background is this other country. It can make you feel like your between identities.

It’s something I always wanted to write about it. I had a bit of time, and it felt like the right time.

Is there a political tone to the show?

There is a political tone. The play kind of mirrors my own journey from not feeling particularly Scottish, to then getting involved in politics and becoming a supporter of independence, to where I am now which is feeling kind of jaded by the way the debate has gone and how the main issues I was interested in, and wanted to fix have been abandoned because people are being tribal.

That’s another main theme. Tribalism. How do we unite as a country when we’re split over issues such as yes, or no? Remain or leave? How do we get to a place where we can have a decent debate when people are split into two categories.

Another big theme that runs throughout the show is stereotyping, and asking whether or not we play into stereotypes or challenge them.

For the most part, it is a black comedy and we do take the piss out of Scottish culture a bit, we will touch on some serious issues but for the most part, we are laughing at the way we perceive ourselves and how the rest of the world perceives us too.

You’re a spoken word artist, how did you get into that?

I’ve been a spoken-word artists for ten years now. I got into it through being in bands. I was the frontman in lots of really bad indie bands and started reading poetry as part of my sets. When my band split up I began performing poetry regularly around Glasgow. Things took off and it ended up becoming a career for me, which is amazing!

Is there anything else audiences should know about the show?

I feel like audiences should be prepared for

A family business making hand sewn kilts & highland dress for 70 years.

R & I MacDonald

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interaction - it’s a fun show but I don’t pull punches either! We discuss hard hitting issues too. if you have any interest in Scottish history and Scottish culture, this is a show that allows you to have a say about how you feel. Even though we deal with politics, it’s not coming at it from anyone's agenda which makes it open for everyone to come along, and hopefully have a laugh as well.

Suffering From Scottishness Assembly Roxy Downstairs 31st July - 26th August, 5.10pm (Not 7, 13 or 20))

“WE ARE LAUGHING AT THE WAY WE PERCEIVE OURSELVES AND HOW THE REST OF THE WORLD PERCEIVES US TOO” Kevin P. Gilday by Danielle McAdam Page 35

FILM FESTIVAL From the age of 12, my biggest passion has been Kung Fu cinema. As a teenager deep into my private passion, I never imagined I would get to meet my heroes and be involved in the scene to the extent I am. It’s a dream come true. In recent years I’ve had the notion to create a Kung Fu film festival in Scotland. That someone has beat me to the punch doesn’t irk me; it fills me with joy that the genre I love will get more exposure in the beautiful country of my birth. The first Scottish Kung Fu Film Festival finds its home in the fantastic Summerhall, we caught up with programmer Tom Forster to talk about how it has come together.

For a lifelong Kung Fu cinema fan like me, this is such a great thing to happen in Scotland. Can you tell me if this was a passion project?

Yes. It came about through a conversation we were having at Summerhall; we needed a film festival, and I asked everyone, ‘What should our theme be?’ My colleague, whose family are from Hong Kong, said, ‘A Jackie Chan film festival!’ About 6 months went by, and I went to a prescribed culture event run by the University of Edinburgh They spoke about how there are 3,000 students who come from South East Asia to Edinburgh every year, and I made the link to having this festival. So it’s a passion project and it’s practical.

I love Kung Fu Hustle, but it was the only film in the festival I had seen. So I came to this festival with the approach, ‘what would I like to see and learn about the genre?’ I went to the distributor and the cinema partners and they gave me an extensive list of about forty movies to choose Film by Martin Sandison Page 36

from, so there’s no reason why it couldn’t happen again if the audience was there for it.

What is your background in programming?

I’m a theatre programmer for Summerhall, and I worked for Edinburgh International Film Festival for three years as a Jury Assistant. Cinema has never been my professional spin, but with what I’ve been doing at Summerhall there is a kind of synergy between film and theatre. As a programmer you’re trained to have balance in many different areas, such as historical context and gender equalities, in the art you are choosing from, and that has applied to this festival. We were lucky enough to have Creative Scotland get behind us, and the University of Edinburgh, through which we found June, who is now our Audience Development Consultant. She is from China, and has a PhD in Cultural Relations. So she and I can approach the project from both Eastern and Western standpoints.

What is your main aim for the Festival?

One aim is to take advantage of Summerhall’s audience's desire to discover something new. June will reach out to South East Asian communities, and the festival is set up for the week after Freshers week. Recently the Guardian posted an article about how University applications are up 30 percent for students from South East Asia. A lot of that has to do with US/China tensions at the moment, and more students are coming to the UK than the US, so there will be a huge influx.

We’re working with the University of Edinburgh to target those who may be studying film or culture.

Summerhall launches Scotland’s first Kung Fu Film Festival from the 16th to the 22nd September.

Film by Martin Sandison Page 37

GLASGOW THE MILLION DOLLAR ORCHESTRA SWG3 Galvanizers, Saturday 24th August The Million Dollar Orchestra are set to deliver another love-soaked floor-filling spectacular.

Following last year’s hugely successful Jazz Festival show at Saint Lukes, which paid tribute to New York’s seminal Salsoul Records, The Million Dollar Orchestra returns with a bang on Saturday 24th August. Having upgraded to one of Glasgow’s flagship venues: SWG3 Galvanizers, the show evolves from toetapping sweat pit to full-on disco spectacular.

DORO ZINN - SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY Street Level Photoworks, till 8th September Zinn encounters people and places with portraiture and story photographs of residents local to the Gorbals. Set between tower blocks and newly built houses, the area became famous as being one of the highest populated areas in Europe around the beginning of the 20th century as well as being one of the poorest, with many migrants from Italy and Ireland. Zinn’s work is the outcome of an exchange residency in 2018 between Street Level and Ostkreuz Association, supported by Festival 2018, and Goethe Institute, Glasgow and tells the story of the unheard.

from Scottish rock legends Mogwai, 2019 SAY award shortlisted The Twilight Sad and The Joy Formidable. The performance will mark the band’s first Scottish gig in 27 years and will be one of only a select few headline spots at festivals around the world.

LARRY DEAN

THE CURE Glasgow Summer Sessions, Bellahouston Park 16th August If you missed them at Glastonbury this year, fear not. The Cure are headlining Glasgow’s Summer Sessions at Bellahouston Park with support

The Blue Arrow, 19th-21st August Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated Larry Dean is one of the biggest and funniest rising stars in the UK Comedy scene. The Newlands born funnyman is taking the piss out of himself, family and friends once again, starting in his hometown before betraying them for the Fringe. Expect big thoughts on Scottishness, sodomites, and selfesteem, all told with a pinch of Irn-Bru under the piercing gaze of his sky-blues. Not that you’ll be able to see anything behind tears of laughter anyway.

Escape the Fringe by Carla Jenkins Page 39

LINDA MCCARTNEY 'The Linda McCartney Retrospective' will feature some of the most iconic names and moments in music from the 1960s, along with more intimate and emotional later work by the acclaimed and prolific photographer Linda McCartney. Much of the work is being shown to the public for the first time.

Co-curated by Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney as well as the Linda McCartney Archive Curator Sarah Brown, the exhibition will display ephemera and archive material along with the intimate portraits of household names and her family alike.

"The McCartney family curated this exhibition of over 500,000 archive items and chose photographs that they thought gave a good overview of Linda's career, style and subject matters" curator Sarah Brown told me.

"It's the first time the exhibition has come to the UK and the family were so excited that it was coming to Scotland. They have such amazing memories of living here as a family and wanted to do something special, so for Glasgow, we decided to add in Linda's cameras."

The exhibition also includes one of Linda's diaries from the 1960s, an iconic vintage magazine and a postcard handwritten by Linda herself.

"What the exhibition is aiming to do is bring Linda as a photographer to a wider audience", Brown said.

"The exhibition is an introduction to the woman

behind the camera, and what she was doing in the years before she met Paul and their life in Scotland. It's a real testament to her skill as a photographer."

The choice to debut the exhibition in Glasgow was not by default, but rather a considered and loving gesture towards the place where the McCartney family made cherished memories.

Many photographs in the collection depict the McCartney's family life on their West Coast farm in the Mull of Kintyre and the local community in Argyll and Bute; another shows Paul crossing a road in Glasgow with a bottle of Whisky wrapped in a brown paper bag.

"Mary McCartney has described choosing Glasgow for the exhibition as a real homecoming of sorts,'' said Brown.

"When they came from London, they always came via Glasgow. For the family, it made sense to have the exhibition here.

The exhibition was first shown at the Kunst Haus Wien museum in Vienna and will run until early 2020 in Glasgow.

Along with the intimate portraits of sixties life, it will champion accessibility of the arts and particularly the work of female photographers throughout the sixties.

The Linda McCartney Retrospective is showing at Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Gallery, August 2019 till February 2020

UNTIL Nick Cave, the Chicago-based contemporary artist, is coming to Glasgow’s Tramway for his first European exhibition said to be his most ambitious project to date – Until.

Cave creates ornate figurative sculptures that can be worn and performed.

Occupying Tramway’s main gallery, Until is a vast immersive installation comprised of thousands of found objects and beads, designed to make viewers feel as if they have entered a rich sensory tapestry, becoming one with his work.

The sheer volume of material in Until is astounding — 16,000 wind spinners; millions of beads; thousands of ceramic objects; more than 10 miles of crystals; 24 chandeliers; 1 crocodile; and 17 cast-iron lawn jockeys (racist souvenirs from America’s Jim Crow era).

An artist whose work has been driven by the social and personal impact of racism for close to three decades, Cave created his first Soundsuit as a form of both camouflage and symbolic body armour, an insulating layer of accumulated materials and meanings.

Though opulent and celebratory, the exhibition remains firmly connected to the political impetus behind Cave’s ongoing body of work.

Until is a space where alluring kinetics and sumptuous materiality gives way to stark images, referencing complex issues of gun violence, racial profiling and gender politics that currently divide the United States of America and the extension of these matters in communities around the world. It is inspired by the artist’s question, ‘is there racism in heaven?’

Until is more than an exhibition, it is a platform.

Cave says:

“I view this work as an elaborate community forum, as much as a work of sculpture.”

During the duration of the exhibition, Tramway will become a space for local artists and community groups to present their responses to the exhibition throughout its duration. Some have likened it to functioning as a town hall, but its ultimate aim is to become a gathering space for community events, performance and discussion.

Cave reinforces his commitment to engaging with the diverse and complex communities that constitute our society and to interrogating the truth and fragility of our histories and communities, our belief systems and our systems of justice.

Until runs from 3rd August 2019 until November 24th at Tramway, Glasgow.

Escape the Fringe by Carla Jenkins Page 41

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FIFE WOMEN’S TOUR OF SCOTLAND (STAGE 1) 9th August The Women’s Tour of Scotland is a new and permanent fixture in the professional cycling calendar. The world-class cycling race, which covers 350km across Scotland’s central belt, will invite up to 20 elite teams from across the globe to complete. Stage 1 will see the cyclists race through Fife, showcasing stunning rural scenery running through Cupar and North East Fife and finishing in Dunfermline’s Pittencrieff Park. The tour has support from both Kate Archibald, MBE and Fifer, Eileen Rowe and will support Scotland’s aim to become one of the world’s finest cycling destinations. Go along to witness a world class sporting event up close and cheer on the participants! womenstourofscotland.com

JAM MAKING Ravenscraig Walled Garden, 24th August 10:30am till 12:30pm Forage around Ravenscraig, picking fruit and wild berries and then learn how to turn it into jam to preserve the summer harvest into the winter.

You’ll look at the principles behind jam making, how you can make the most of different kinds of fruit and you’ll be sent home with recipes, ideas and a jar of jam. Wear suitable clothing for being outdoors and cooking. No experience is necessary.

Price: £20 - concessions available. greenerkirkcaldy.org.uk

Escape the Fringe by Carla Jenkins Page 43

OUTWITH FESTIVAL Launching as the Edinburgh festivals dissipate, from across the Forth, comes Dunfermline’s own 6 day arts festival. This year sees a carefully curated and wide-ranging programme of music, comedy, film, theatre, literature and family events, across 23 venues in Dunfermline Town Centre. The heart of the festival, Outwith’s multi-venue music event on Saturday 7th September, boasts a cracking line-up with some of Scotland’s best established and grassroots acts. 50+ bands across 7 venues at only £20 for the day. It would be great value at double the price.

Idlewild top the bill; distant from their skuzzy DIY roots, the now elders of the Scottish indie pack recently released their disparate and explorative album Interview Music to pretty much universal acclaim, it’s a great time to catch up with

them again. Honeyblood have been relentlessly touring their fantastic and immeasurably hooky In Plain Sight album all summer, so their set will be honed razor sharp by September. Siobhan Wilson will be fresh back from her summer US/ Canada tour - the cherry on top of which was a support slot for the great Suzanne Vega.

While you’re there, don’t miss some of the best from Scotland’s independent grassroots: L-Space (Future dream pop), Man of Moon (touring again with The Twilight Sad in Europe this autumn), Lucia, Foreignfox, The Van T’s, Acrylic, Fauves, Scarlett Randle, Moonlight Zoo, Jonnie Common, Beerjacket, Mt. Doubt and Super Inuit.

Outwith Festival, Dunfermline 3rd till 8th September – Various Venues https://outwithfestival.co.uk/

STIRLING

to capture the excitement, passion and sensitivity of Scottish music all at once. It’s time for your ‘yeooow’s to come out as the old and the new fuse together on stage.

THE SRUIGHLEA SESSIONS Borrowmeadow Farm Road, 17th August Back for a 3rd year with folk icon, Dougie MacLean headlining, ‘Caledonia’ is set to be the Session anthem this summer.

The line-up is eclectic and global-reaching: including the fantastic Brina, the voice of World Roots Reggae Music from Jamaica; Scotland’s greatest busker, Matthew Gibb who performed at Stirling’s Hogmanay event in 2017; the up and coming Gordon James and the Power, with an indie vibe hailing from Speyside and Stirling’s very own Greig Taylor Blues Band. With a good choice of local street food vendors and craft beer bars on-site, it’s going to be a very Scottish summer celebration.

GREASE: 40TH ANNIVERSARY Vue Cinema Forthside Way, 13 August It’s the 40th Anniversary of the cult classic so it’s time to gather your T-Birds and Pink Ladies and get together for a night of romance and reminiscing.

It’s the classic tale of love turned woe, complete with jiving school dances, awkward drive-in movies, deadly drag-races and the looming threat of graduation. What more could you want to do on a Tuesday night? th

BLAZIN’ FIDDLES Albert Halls, Stirling, 22nd August Classed as the ‘Led Zepplin of the folk world’, contemporary fiddle band from the Highland and Islands, Blazin’ Fiddles are one of the world’s most prolific fiddle groups. Celebrating their 21st year in 2019, no other band has quite managed

OPERA BOHEMIA: THE MERRY WIDOW Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling, 25th August It’s time to get your galilean binoculars out as Opera Bohemia, Scotland’s professional touring company, returns to Lossiemouth with one of the world’s best-loved operettas, The Merry Widow

by Franz Lehár. Set in the romantic city of Paris, various suitors squabble and fight to win the hand of the recently widowed, but very wealthy Hannah Glawari (classic). A contemporary operatic take on one of the oldest stories in the book.

PAISLEY 11-19 October

Glasvegas Hue Gruff Rhys & Cry Jerry Sadowitz MAKE COMEDY GRATE AGAIN!

Hayseed Dixie Karine Polwart’s Scottish Songbook

PP Arnold

Roddy Hart, Emma Pollock & Rab Noakes Gerry Rafferty Songbook

Tickets on sale NOW www.thespree.co.uk

Escape the Fringe by Carla Jenkins Page 45

FEASTING AT THE OLD TOWN FRINGE PARADISE PALMS

41 Lothian St EH1 1HB ‘Award-winning vegetarian food’ that’s the technicolor deal. Try out flavours from around the world, such as pinto beans, quinoa, okra, seitan, halloumi and buffalo cauliflower (one of our favourites).

‘Vegetarian soul food’ is what they call it, and it’s never drab looking, nor is the venue itself! Outside, the south-facing beer garden will supply Vitamin D on sunny days, while inside it’s a quirky place with low lighting, mixed seating

FOOD AND DRINK a curious thing known as a ‘tatti dog’, basically a frankfurter wrapped inside a crispy potato jacket. Whatever you order it’s bound to be filling and good value. This is a great place to grab a quick bite.

and cuddly toys hung from the ceiling. Popular on Friday and Saturday nights, there are always DJs on. In fact, there’s even a record label (upstairs) and a record shop with vinyl, books and zines just to the left as you walk in the door.

Paradise Palms is an eclectic place hosting all sorts of weird and wonderful events, such as the Fungasm Gameshow on most Tuesdays in August. Check out the impressive gantry, as it’s a great place for cocktails and will be open till 3am during festival time.

NEW TOWN BASEMENT BAR

10a-12a Broughton St, EH1 3RH Barely visible at street level, the Basement Bar is of course below the main road. It’s primarily a pub, so you can nip in for just a drink if you so desire. You’ll find beer from one of Edinburgh’s newest breweries, Cold Town, and also Brewdog, Williams Brothers and Mexican brand Day of the Dead. There’s lots and lots of tequila; oakaged tequila, mezcal, tequila cocktails, mezcal cocktails. In fact, they sell tequila flights, and this is possibly the best place to have a margarita in all of Edinburgh! If you haven’t gathered by now, there’s a Mexican theme going on, and so 38 South Bridge EH1 1LL we would recommend that you stay for food. Let Part of the fabric of Edinburgh. Well, it did open the bar snacks tempt you at first - guacamole, in 1995, a good two years before the first Harry ribs, chilli, nachos - and then investigate the Potter book was published! Popular with students more intriguing options of tortilla soup, octopus, and those on a budget, prices start at £1.10. pork gorditas and chicken tinga tostada. Brunch Most famous for pepper steak and haggis pies; options of huevos rancheros, sweetcorn pancakes they actually have over 30 different types. The and smoked haddock enchiladas are available menu is split into steak, haggis, beef, chicken, weekends from 11 - 5pm. Quirky Day of the Dead vegetarian and vegan pies, and the latter two artwork, tequila bottle light fittings and a wall of are not poor substitutes (spinach, mushroom, plant pots make this an entertaining place to eat potato and mixed veg). Our favourite is the and drink. There’s mixed seating inside and some macaroni & cheese pie, but they also have a tables and chairs outside too.

Fiery Cheesy Dog, sausage rolls, bridies and

Food and Drink by Mark & Emma, foodieexplorers.co.uk Page 47

PIEMAKER

THE PRINTING PRESS BAR & KITCHEN 21-25 George St, EH2 2PB There’s a certain charm about entering a restaurant through revolving doors. Located in one of George Street’s grandest buildings, elegant and upmarket bar & bistro The Printing Press is attached to the 5-star Kimpton Hotel. Historically the hotel has always had a fashionable feel, and the restaurant is no different, with wood panelling, Art Deco motifs and grand chandeliers. It could be New York or London. The menu focuses on seasonal Scottish produce like Tweed Valley beef, Orkney scallops and Kirriemuir strawberries. They’ve created their own gin in collaboration with Oro Gin near Dumfries, so gin cocktails feature prominently on the drinks menu. We recommend a coffee and cake next door in Burr & Co after your visit too.

LEITH LA RIVA

43 Assembly Street, Leith EH6 7BQ A newcomer to Leith and somewhere to venture to for a budget lunch. On weekday lunchtimes, create your own pizza, or pick a pasta and soft drink for £5.95. It’s not just pizza at La Riva; there are starters such as burrata with smoked salmon and breadsticks, bruschetta with both tomato and mushroom varieties as well as baked meatballs with tomato sauce and mozzarella. The pizza selection is wide, with both traditional and gourmet varieties including vegan-friendly pizzas. Whether you love spinach-filled ravioli or are more at home with a traditional penne Napoli, there is bound to be something for you on the list. Priced moderately, with gourmet options around the £11 mark.

LEITH WALK

GAIA

32 Crighton Pl, EH7 4NY There are plenty of excellent Italian cafes and restaurants in Edinburgh, but Gaia is a hidden gem. Situated on Leith Walk, it’s a tiny family-run Italian cafe/deli with a very friendly, homely feel.

The main business is with takeaways, but there is some seating inside and out so grab a seat if you can as it does get busy! The food is Sicilian and they have daily pasta specials, soup of the day, salads and antipasti platters. They also have a big selection of freshly made paninis, mainly for those eating on the go. But don’t leave without perusing their selection of Italian cheese, meat and drinks.

WALNUT

7 Croall Pl, EH7 4LT There are plenty of pricey French and Frenchinspired restaurants in the New Town, but a little outside the centre you’ll find Walnut. Offering Scottish cuisine with Gallic flair, this place is a more affordable choice, with BYOB too. The little bistro could easily be missed, as it’s so unassuming from the exterior. Walnut looks like a simple café, but step inside and you’ll see that the food is much more sophisticated. Fresh seasonal ingredients, so the menu changes often, but expect to see dishes such as scallops, chicken livers, fish stew, pork belly and a roast on Sundays. The bread is also sensational. This place is all it’s cracked up to be and more. As it’s so small and popular, booking is essential. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

STOCKBRIDGE SAINT VINCENT

11 St Vincent St EH3 6SW Tucked into a corner at the end of a road

dominated by the imposing Saint Stephen’s, Saint Vincent’s is a much more humble affair. St Vincent is the patron saint of charitable societies, if you didn’t know. And what a place to donate money to good causes, such as eating and drinking!

The food is of the bar variety - hot buffalo wings, burgers, ribs, that sort of thing, but done well with no pretension. A great selection of real ale is available and a warm friendly atmosphere awaits. Choose your seats wisely so you can play name the album’ from the vinyl sleeves on the wall.

WEE BUDDHA

2B Jamaica St EH3 6HH Cosy and slightly hidden just off Howe Street, this is indeed a wee place with mostly ‘wee hings’ on the menu – think edamame beans, blanched pak choi, wakame sesame salad. There’s also an element of ‘Asian-fusion’ so if you’ve been searching for haggis wontons all your life then this is the place to find them! Vegetarian? They have veggie haggis wontons too, along with a reasonable selection of bigger noodle-based dishes and rice curries. Feed your soul. Don’t forget the drinks; Wee Buddha has a hefty selection of world beers, primarily Asian, with up to six varieties of Hitachino Nest from Japan available.

TOLLCROSS INDABA 3 Lochrin Terrace EH3 9QJ More tapas and more fusion food. Most of the tapas here are of the traditional Spanish variety (tortilla, patatas bravas, boquerones etc.) but here we also have the added curveball of South African tapas.

In fact, ‘Indaba’ is a South Africa word meaning ‘a discussion, conference, gathering or meeting’ so talk, especially regarding how good the food is, should be expected! You will find biltong, South African beef and avocado among the dishes but also Pap, a cornmeal porridge made into a firm dough.

It doesn’t really taste of anything but is a staple in many African countries where rice isn’t consumed as much. Chakalaka can also be found here; it’s South African’s answer to chili, basically a tomato and/or bean-based stew with a good dose of curry paste or other spices. For drinks they specialise in wine, mainly Spanish and South African bottles. Closed Sundays.

NEWINGTON THE AULD HOOSE

23-25 St Leonard’s St, EH8 9QN We covered The Auld Hoose in more detail in Snack issue 4 earlier this year. It’s a beer and whisky bar with an eclectic jukebox, so don’t be surprised to find metal sub-genres playing when it opens at noon!

The portions here are massive and legendary. King amongst all plates is the 5.9lbs portion of nachos, designed for 4 - 6 people. These come topped with cheese, kidney beans, jalapenos, sour cream, guacamole and beef. Nachos can also be made vegetarian or vegan, and other meat-free and dairy-options exist. The macaroni cheese is also massive and comes with three slices of garlic bread; you can pimp it further with toppings of pulled pork, bacon or sun-dried tomato. No reservations and it’s dog-friendly too. Breakfast is served until 3pm and students get 10% off all food.

Food and Drink by Mark & Emma, foodieexplorers.co.uk Page 49

VEGAN BEST ALL ROUNDER

Thrive, 171 Bruntsfield Place, EH10 4DG, 0131 623 6885 If you want a great, brunch, lunch or dinner place my favourite go-to is Thrive, Bruntsfield. It has the biggest avocado toast I’ve seen in the city. It’s got a great vibe and a range of healthy to junk options to suit all tastes. In my opinion,it’s always a winner.

Veggie/vegan

BEST BRUNCH WITH YOUR OMNI’S Dishoom, 3a St Andrews Square, EH2 2BD, 0131 202 6406 If you are looking for something different, we like to head to Dishoom for breakfast, as the vegan option is actually better in the morning then the rest of the day. I love the vegan sausage naan roll served with a rose cardamom vegan lassi. You gotta book though – everyone loves this place.

Omni/ vegan options

MOST INVENTIVE Harmonium, 60 Henderson Street, EH6 6DE, 0131 555 3160 Harmonium holds a special place in the hearts of the vegans of Edinburgh, it’s got a really inventive menu and I would definitely recommend heading here one night. Being in Leith, it’s not near the action of the Fringe, but it’s worth the trip. It’s 100% vegan, but it’s the type of vegan food even the stubbornest meat eaters will love.

100% Vegan

BEST FOR LUNCH/ PICK YOU UP Naked Bakery, 24a Hill St, EH2 3JZ, 0131 226 3887 Located in the centre of Edinburgh, down a side street, is this beaut of a café. The cakes are incredible and you will not understand how they are vegan.

They also serve beyond burgers, including one with vegan mac and cheese and a charcoal bun.

100% Vegan

BEST TO RAISE YOUR BLOOD SUGAR Considerit, 3-5 Sciennes, EH9 1NH 0131 667 4064 Located next to the Meadows and opposite Summerhall, this is a go-to spot for a sugary treat. Considerit has an awesome array of chocolate, doughnuts and amazing vegan ice cream. Everything is a winner here, believe me.

100% vegan

Be

HEALTHIEST GRAB AND GO

Organic

Pumpkin Brown, 16 Grassmarket, EH1 2JU, 0131 629 1720 If, as is likely, you find yourself in the Grassmarket, Pumpkin Brown is a perfect option to grab a healthy snack or lunch. I love their raw cakes (and I’m usually not a fan of the whole raw cake thing) because they are actually really yummy, and I guess guilt free.

100% Vegan

BEST FOR A MEADOWS PICNIC – IT’S AN EDINBURGH TRADITION Beetroot Sauvage, 33 Ratcliff Terrace, EH9 1SX, 0131 629 4484 Located somewhat out of the city, although near to Summerhall, this is a great option if you are sick of vegan junk food. They also do phenomenal vegan cheese at their Sunday markets. I’m still scheming for a Sunday wine and cheese picnic in the meadows. They also offer yoga and other classes, so check it out if that’s your thing.

Edinburgh is super lucky to have a range of amazing options for vegans. I can’t describe them all, but you will also occasionally find me stuffing my face at the following: Happy Cow (100% Vg), Tanjore (Indian Vg Op), Mr Kims (Korean Vg Op), Harajuku (Japanese Vg Op), David Bahns (V/Vg Op), Hendersons (V/Vg), Greek Artisan Pastries (Vg Op – more on Orthodox Greek fast days) Hummus, Morningside (Vg/ VG).

Don’t forget Real Foods for all your vegan and organic kitchen staples.

www.realfoods.uk FREE DELIVERY

for UK orders over £39* For all your Vegan Vegetarian Plant-based Organic Free-from Fairtrade Ethical Eco-friendly Plastic-free Sustainable needs •

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37 Broughton Street, EH1 3JU 8 Brougham Street, EH3 9JH *Terms apply. See website for details.

Vegan by Laura Woodland Page 51

STEPHEN BIRD KILN GODS

Arbitrary Tree, 2015 glazed earthenware

VISUAL ARTS

Saturn Eating Another Man’s Leg, 2017 glazed earthenware

24th July-24th August The Scottish Gallery Part of the Edinburgh Art Festival Visual Arts Page 53

SHORES Your naked raft has weathered the storm; the shore welcomes you.

You’ve made it through, but you don’t like it here.

You long for shipwreck and destruction, the clarity of struggle and your body’s terrible lament. Cavernous and lean you see yourself, a harsher pilgrim.

The shore has dragged you to rocky stillness.

You’ve made it through, but you don’t like it here.

By Anna Viceconti

.

Open 7 days a week Student Discounts + Special Offers

Gift Vouchers Available

129 Lauriston Place, Tollcross, EH3 9JN

www.EdinburghArtShop.co.uk