Luath Press events in February

Tuesday 12 February 2018

Launch: We Do! How to Create a Meaningful Wedding Ceremony in Your Own Words by Tim Maguire

Contini George Street, 103

George Street, Edinburgh EH2 3ES

6-7pm

18 February 2018

Paolozzi at Large in Edinburgh – illustrated talk

Edinburgh Central Library, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

6.30-7.30pm

Free admission. Tickets via Eventbrite.

Les Misérables

Festival Theatre to Sat 16 Feb

After nearly a decade since the last sell-out UK tour, Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed Broadway production of Boublil and Schönberg’s musical Les Misérables plays the Festival Theatre in 2019. This brilliant new staging has taken the world by storm and has been hailed “Les Mis for the 21st Century”. With scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, the magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the songs; I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own, Bring Him Home, One Day More, Master Of The House and many more.

Scottish Opera: Anthropocene

King’s Theatre Thu 31 Jan & Sat 2 Feb

The award-winning team behind 2016’s five-star The Devil Inside returns with a gripping new work. This fourth collaboration between composer Stuart MacRae and librettist Louise Welsh promises a night of unrelenting dramatic tension and superb storytelling. Director Matthew Richardson once again teams up with designer Samal Blak to bring this work to the stage.

OPERA National Opera Studio

King’s Theatre Fri 1 Feb, 6pm

See the opera stars of the future! Every year, Britain’s major opera companies host residencies with the National Opera Studio – the UK’s leading training programme for young opera professionals. This February, their residency with Scottish Opera culminates with a performance featuring semi-staged scenes from wellloved operas including Carmen, Così fan tutte and Rodelinda. Accompanied by The Orchestra of Scottish Opera.

FAMILY Cat in the Hat King’s

Theatre Wed 6 to Sat 9 Feb

When the Cat in the Hat steps onto the mat, Sally and her brother are in for a rollercoaster ride of havoc and mayhem!

Based on the much-loved book by Dr Seuss that has captivated generations of readers, The Cat in the Hat features feline frivolity aplenty, with his acrobatic accomplices Thing 1 and Thing 2. With riotous rhymes which have delighted children for over fifty years, and infectious humour and spectacular circus for the grownups, the wonderfully anarchic Cat in the Hat comes to Edinburgh. Directed by Suba Das with Design by Isla Shaw (The Gruffalo) and original songs from Composer Tasha Taylor Johnson (George’s Marvellous Medicine), The Cat in the Hat will be a purrfect treat for all the family.

FAMILY The Singing Mermaid

The Studio Wed 6 to Sun 10 Feb

One day, the singing mermaid is tempted away from all of her sea creature friends and her peaceful home at Silversands to join a travelling circus. The audiences love to hear her sing, but the poor mermaid was tricked! Instead of the swimming pool she was promised, she is kept in a small tank by the wicked circus master Sam Sly, and she soon longs to return to the freedom of the sea. Will she ever escape? And who will help her along the way? Through beautiful puppetry and performance, and with music by Barb Jungr (We’re Going On A Bear Hunt), Little Angel Theatre collaborate once again with Royal & Derngate to bring Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks’ enormously popular story, The Singing Mermaid, to life.

MUSIC Barbara Dickson

King’s Theatre Sun 10 Feb, 7.30pm

Multi-million selling recording artist Barbara Dickson with her accomplished band returns to Edinburgh. Barbara will perform a wonderful range of material drawing on her folk roots as well as performing globally known hits such as The Caravan Song, Another Suitcase in Another Hall plus lots more.

DRAMA - ART

King’s Theatre Mon 11 - Sat 16 Feb

When Serge spends an extortionate amount of money on an all-white modernist painting, his close friends Marc and Yvan are baffled. But does their violent reactions to this provocative canvas mirror more dangerous antagonisms towards each other? Yasmina Reza’s dazzling study of friendship, prejudice and tolerance is a masterpiece. The all-star cast features BAFTA nominated Nigel Havers (Downton Abbey, Chariots of Fire), Olivier Award-winning Denis Lawson (Bleak House, New Tricks) and British Comedy Award-winning Stephen Tompkinson (The Split, Wild at Heart, Ballykissangel).

Drama The Electrifying Mr Johnston & Bite- Size

The Studio Fri 15 Feb, 7.30pm A new play by Robert Dawson Scott about one of Scotland’s great unsung heroes, Tom Johnston, once described by Churchill as the ‘King of Scotland’, focusing on his struggles to bring “light to the glens.” Through incredible feats of engineering and political manoeuvring, he sought to transform the lives of everyone in the north of Scotland by bringing hydroelectric power to the Highlands & Islands. A story of power-and the struggle for it. Reproduction of the Tom Johnston portrait by kind permission of Scottish Friendly Assurance. Bite-size an informal programme of script-in-hand play readings of new plays and works-in-progress. Readings, encounters, questions & answers, feedback and chat offer audiences the chance to be part of and enjoy the fun of the creative process.

TALKS True Fast Health with Dr Michael Mosley

King’s Theatre Sun 17 Feb, 7.30pm Dr Michael Mosley has changed tens of thousands of lives with his award-winning programmes and international bestselling books. In this informative and entertaining live show, Michael Mosley, the man behind the iconic 5:2 Diet, will explode common health myths and offer fascinating insights into the workings of the human body. He will take you on the unconventional journey that he himself has travelled, from swallowing tape worm to uncovering revolutionary new ways to lose weight, get fit and reduce stress.

DRAMA The Lady Vanishes

King’s Theatre Mon 18 - Sat 25 Feb

A new stage adaptation of the much-loved Hitchcock thriller, starring husband and wife actors Maxwell Caulfield and Juliet

Mills. Socialite Iris is travelling home to England on the train when an accident introduces her to the mild-mannered Miss Froy. After her travelling companion suddenly disappears, Iris is perplexed to find that all the other passengers deny ever having seen her. With the help of urbane musician Max she turns detective and together they become drawn into a complex web of European intrigue as they try to solve the mystery of why the lady vanished.

SCREENING National Theatre

Screening: I’m Not Running Festival Theatre Tue 19 Feb, 7pm

I’m Not Running is an explosive new play by David Hare, recently described by The Washington Post as “the premiere political dramatist writing in English.” Join us for this National Theatre screening.

DANCE Medusa

Festival Theatre Thu 21 Feb, 7.30pm

A reflection on the powerful feminine symbol of Medusa, the myth and its various connotations in our contemporary life, Jasmin Vardimon’s new production examines the philosophical idea of ‘reflection’ and Medusa’s aquatic symbolism in the environmental future of our seas.

MUSIC Paul Carrack

Festival Theatre Fri 22 Feb, 7.30pm

Legendary Sheffield-born singer, songwriter and former front man of Ace, Squeeze and Mike & The Mechanics returns to Edinburgh with his band. With a back catalogue of hits to his name including “How Long”, “Tempted” and “The Living Years”, Paul’s uniquely soulful voice is a must for his millions of fans around the world.

DANCE Balletboyz

Festival Theatre Sat 23 Feb, 7.30pm

Applauded across the globe for their stunning live performances, films and TV appearances, BALLETBOYZ are back with two brand new works, both set to original scores by world-class composers. Marking a first for BALLETBOYZ, Them is the choreographic debut of the company dancers, under the direction of Artistic Directors Michael Nunn and William Trevitt, and set to a score by emerging composer Charlotte Harding. Us, from

Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon, takes its inspiration from his achingly beautiful and critically acclaimed duet which featured in the company’s last show, Fourteen Days. With an extended score by cult singer/ songwriter, Keaton Henson, this new work explores the possibilities of before, during and after.

MUSICAL Ghost

Festival Theatre Tue 26 Feb to Sat 2 March

Walking back to their apartment late one night a tragic encounter sees Sam murdered and his beloved girlfriend Molly alone, in despair and utterly lost. But with the help of a phony storefront psychic Sam, trapped between this world and the next, tries to communicate with Molly in the hope of saving her from grave danger… The movie ‘Ghost’ has proven to be one of cinema’s biggest all-time hits. Starring the late Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg it was the highest grossing film of 1990 and won an Oscar for screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin who adapted his screenplay for this musical, featuring The Righteous Brothers’ Unchained Melody alongside many more terrific songs co-written by Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart.

VARIETY - Allan Stewart’s Big Big Variety Show

King’s Theatre Tue 26 Feb to Sat 2 March

Allan’s back with another big, big variety show, starring panto pal Grant Stott, magician Mandy Muden, fresh from Britain’s Got Talent, funny-man musician

Kev Orkian with all new jokes and songs and the rocking Soul Nation Choir, all backed by the full Andy Pickering Orchestra.