Fringe: A timely reminder of historical horrors

A young woman rescues a drowning man on a beach in South America and the ensuing conversation between the two reveals the true nature of the man – and why he is what he is. This is not a play about the well documented mass murder and experimental atrocities committed by Josef Mengele, it is…

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Fringe: Any job will do in entertaining Not Quite

Cassie Symes and Georgina Thomas are 2016 graduates from CENTRAL drama school. Not Quite is written and performed by the two artists. It is an amusing and well observed comedy about the absurdities of interviewing for that first tenuous grip on the job ladder. With pithy wit it regales us with their desperation for employment.…

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Fringe: Bringing prohibition USA to Edinburgh

For those that don’t know the work of Damon Runyon he was a short story writer that encapsulated the prohibition era in America. His colourful characters were gangster and hustlers with wonderful 1930’s names such as Harry The Horse and Good Time Charlie. Runyon’s work is best known as the basis to the musical Guys…

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Fringe: A production of two halves – and it’s superb

BalletBoyz is an outstanding production. The production is presented in two halves, Them and Us, both choreographed and executed perfectly to the accompanying music score by Charlotte Harding and Keaton Henson respectively. ‘Them’ explores individuality of movement, ‘Us’ explores human connections. The all-male dance troupe are metronomic in their precision, graceful in their movement, expressive…

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Time to expand for Aberdeen’s The Bread Maker

For many of us, whiling away an afternoon baking is a therapeutic pastime. Mixing simple ingredients and watching them transform into a delicious loaf or sponge is like some sort of beautiful witchcraft – and for the rest who don’t partake in the making of them, it is still a joy to eat these wonderful…

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Bean beer joins supermarket craft beer festival

A supermarket has unveiled a beer made from beans as part of its Isle of Ale Scottish Craft Beer Festival. Perfect for craft-obsessed, bargain-hunting beer lovers, the latest Lidl Isle of Ale festival line-up features 20 beers from 14 breweries across the country. Brewed in Scotland’s Capital, Barney’s Cool Beans IPA is made using broad…

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The secrets of Leith revealed in new publication

Leith, often overlooked today, has had an exciting and prominent part to play in Scottish history. Secret Leith gives a visual walkthrough of the burgh, describing in intricate detail the history behind the then major port and industrial area, providing the reader with an insight into the civil wars and production past. Gillon uses early…

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The Trojans brought to the stage by war survivors

Real-life innocent survivors of a conflict are to tell the story of The Trojans at this year’s Fringe. Hiba is standing in the garden of the council house she shares with her family in Milton of Campsie, near Glasgow. It’s a long way from Syria, the country they fled after Hiba’s school was shelled by…

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Rare whiskies remember the silent distilleries

Silent Scotch distilleries are being honoured with rare whisky releases. Single malt Scotch whisky creator Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled its Summer Collection, which includes some of the oldest ever whisky releases from two silent distilleries. Bottled as part of its Private Collection range, Gordon & MacPhail 1969 from Dallas Dhu Distillery is joined by…

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When DNA, Brexit, history and diversity collide

Debuting at this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe is TERRAtory, a dual timeline modern play with a tribal twist. Essex girls with DNA tests results, tribal chiefs and conquistadors coming ashore at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Writer Elissa Nicholson’s TERRAtory is set in a 21st century Essex laden with political bias, campaign trail ethnic and cultural…

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