Edinburgh and Us: What’s On in Edinburgh

Find out about some of the great events happening in Edinburgh this month…

EVENT. Failte Fayre, The Hub

Friday 6 – Sunday 8, April

Failte Fayre 2018 logo. Photo Credit.

To showcase Scottish brands and products the ‘Failte Fayre’ brings together a mix of Scottish craftmanship.

There will be gins and whisky, handmade wares and traditional cuisine on offer, as well as music.

It will take place at The Hub, 348-350 Castlehill. Tickets are £7-9 and available time slots vary.

For information visit: https://www.failtebrands.com/events/failte-fayre-2018-the-hub-edinburgh.

MARKET. Pitt Street Food Market, 125 Pitt Street, Leith

Saturday 7, 14, 21 and 28, April

The Pitt Market. Photo Credit.

This weekly street food market offers a vibrant array of food and live music.

Drinks such as craft beer, wine and cocktails are available too.

The event lasts from noon until 10pm. Entry costs £2 and is free for children who are welcome until 8pm. Their ‘Cheese Fest’ takes place on April 28.

For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/pittstmarket/.

THEATRE. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, King’s Theatre

Tuesday 10 – Saturday 14, April

Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde at The Rose Theatre. Photo Credit: Mark Douet.

This adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic gothic thriller stars Phil Daniels as the extraordinary Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

During one of his audacious experiments trying to separate good from evil, the kind and gifted Dr Jekyll inadvertently unleashes an alternative personality of pure evil - the mysterious Mr Hyde.

As this sinister figure starts causing terror and havoc in foggy London, Jekyll must race to find a cure for his monstrous alter-ego before it takes over for good.

Phil Daniels’ credits include Jimmy Cooper in Quadrophenia, Richards in Scum and Kevin Wicks in EastEnders. He has worked with the RSC and NT and has appeared on stage in productions as diverse as Les Miserables and This House.

Jekyll & Hyde is directed by Kate Saxon, designed by Simon Higlett and adapted by Tony award-winning playwright David Edgar.

Tickets cost £18-£35. For information visit: http://www.capitaltheatres.com/jekyllandhyde.

MUSIC. The Chicago Blues Brothers, Edinburgh Playhouse

Friday 13, April

The Chicago Blues Brothers. Photo Credit.

The musical presents material from the original Blues Brothers films and includes songs by artists including Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Tina Turner and Cab Calloway.

There are many other blues, soul, Motown and funk classics too.

The Chicago Blues Brothers show is two-hours long with over 40 hits performed and was described by The Stage as ‘Fun and Infectious’.

Tickets cost £31-£55. For information visit: http://www.atgtickets.com/shows/the-chicago-blues-brothers/edinburgh-playhouse/#overview_tab.

THEATRE. War Horse, Festival Theatre

Wednesday 18, April – Saturday 12, May

War Horse. Photo Credit.

Based on the beloved novel by Michael Morpurgo, War Horse has become a popular theatrical event.

It uses life-size puppet horses by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company to tell the story of Joey - a horse purchased by the Army for service in WW1, France and the attempts of young Albert, his previous owner, to bring him safely home.

The Sunday Express described the show as ‘an extraordinary piece of theatre, absolutely guaranteed to move the heart.’

Tickets cost £18 - £61. For more information visit: http://www.capitaltheatres.com/warhorse.

FILM. Grease Sing-A-Long, Cameo Cinema

Thursday 19 and Saturday 21, April

Grease. Photo Link.

The sing-a-long screening celebrates the 40^th anniversary of the classic 1978 film.

Grease is a romantic comedy directed by Randal Kleiser about the lives of two American high school seniors (John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John).

It includes songs ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’, ‘You’re The One That I Want’ and ‘Summer Nights’.

Tickets cost £12.20. For details visit: https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/Cameo_Picturehouse/film/grease-40th-anniversary-sing-a-long.

FESTIVAL. Beltane Fire Festival

Sunday 30, April

Beltane Fire Festival. Photo Credit.

TO MARK the changing seasons the Beltane Fire Society perform using dance, drums, acrobatics, puppetry and fire.

Their cast of otherworldly creatures use fiery displays and immersive storytelling to show the May Queen transforming the Green Man from his wintry guise, so they can rule together over the warmer months.

At the end of the show amidst the spectacular setting of Calton Hill they light their traditional Beltane bonfire.

Tickets cost £9 in advance, or £13 cash at the entrance at Waterloo Place. Organisers advise booking in advance to avoid disappointment. The event lasts from 8pm – 1am.

For information visit: https://beltane.org/about/about-beltane/.

CHILDREN. ‘Hatch Fest’ Zoo Trail, Edinburgh Zoo

Now – Sunday 15, April

Hatch Fest. Photo Credit.

AN EDUCATIONAL Easter Egg Trail around Edinburgh Zoo lets families learn about animals that lay and hatch eggs.

The eggs of animals – including penguins, flamingos, rhea, insects, owls, snakes and pelicans – can be discovered whilst visitors explore the zoo.

The trail was inspired by the toy craze ‘Hatchimals’ which are bird-like soft toys that must be looked after before and after they hatch out of an egg.

They can be rubbed, tapped and comforted before they hatch and then nurtured through the new-born stage and then taught to talk, walk and dance.

The ‘Hatch Fest’ trail is free with zoo admission and takes place between 10am – 6pm.

FESTIVAL – Edinburgh International Science Festival

Now – Sunday 15, April

Edinburgh International Science Festival. Photo Credit.

The annual two-week festival celebrates science and technology with a programme of innovative events, talks and activities at venues across Edinburgh.

The festival, which was founded in 1989, aims to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to discover the world around them.

Try their ‘Virtual Worlds’ drop-in activity anytime during the festival on the third floor of the City Art Centre. Virtual reality headsets allow visitors (ages 10+) to transport themselves to another world – explore the moon or roam through a tropical jungle.

Attend one of the festival’s hundreds of discussions from ones entitled ‘Dr Bunhead’s Rubbish Puppets Trip to Mars’, ‘DNA, Race and Identity’ and ‘Climate Change: Is it time for extreme measures?’.

Last year we covered a talk at the event by Thomas Thwaites on how he become a goat for a scientific study: https://edinburghandus.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/thomas-thwaites-account-of-becoming.html.

For more information visit: https://www.sciencefestival.co.uk/festival.

ART. Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition, National Museum of Scotland

Now – Sunday 29, April

'Toad with Attitude' by Jaime Culebras, Spain. Photo Credit.

The diversity and fragility of life on Earth is depicted through a wildlife photography exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland.

The images are part of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year photography event which has been developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London.

Their touring exhibition features award-winning photographs displayed on large-format, backlit panels.

Visitors can learn how the photographers captured the images which showcase some of nature’s most astonishing sights.

Tickets cost £8 for adults (£6 concession) and for under 16’s entry is free. Information at: https://www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland/whats-on/wildlife-photographer-of-the-year/.

ART. ‘When We Were Young: Photographs of Childhood’, Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Now – Friday 13, May

When We Were Young exhibition. Photo Credit.

The ‘When We Were Young’ free exhibition explores how the experience of childhood and our portrayal of children has changed over the years.

It features almost 100 images from the 1840’s to 2017 from the National Galleries of Scotland’s permanent collection.

For further information visit https://www.nationalgalleries.org/.

Film. April film releases.

Avengers Infinity War. Photo Credit.

Showing: Ready Player One - Director: Steven Spielberg. Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, TJ Miller, Simon Pegg, Letitia Wright, Mark Rylance.

Isle of Dogs, Peter Rabbit, A wrinkle in time, Black Panther (Review) The greatest Showman.

April 5: A Quiet Place – Director: John Krasinski. Starring: Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Noah Jupe.

April 6: Death Wish - Director: Eli Roth. Starring: Bruce Willis, Elisabeth Shue, Vincent D'Onofrio, Dean Norris, Jack Kesy, Len Cariou.

Ghost Stories - Director: Jeremy Dyson, Andy Nyman. Starring: Martin Freeman, Alex Lawther, Nicholas Burns, Andy Nyman, Jill Halfpenny, Paul Whitehouse.

April 27: Avengers: Infinity War. Director: Joe Russo, Anthony Russo. Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt.

Look out for areas filmed here in Edinburgh!

For more listings visit: https://www.launchingfilms.com/release-schedule.

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