Latest news with #ColinHattersley
Edinburgh Reporter
06-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Fringe 2025 – Matt Hale will help you BE Oasis… for one night only
Comedy hypnotist Matt Hale is offering his audiences the chance to do more than listen and sing along from the crowd – they can actually climb up on stage and be Noel or Liam for the night. And that's just the start. Matt Hale's Funbelievable! 90s Rewind brings back boy bands, girl power, Britpop, shell suits, and some of the worst novelty songs you'd hope to have forgotten by now. Yup, it's all about regular people doing daft things on stage (a lot of them set to great music) and an audience loving every silly second of it. Revel in the biggest, cheesiest, bangers of the decade, dodgy fashion throwbacks and the kind of pure silliness that reminds you why the 90s were so damn fun. Matt says: 'It's fast, it's fun and it's your once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a stadium-filling superstar. Be Noel, be Liam or get to perform as the Spice Girl of your choice – we'll be reliving the biggest, best and most bonkers of everything 90s.' Funbelievable! 90s Rewind is all ages friendly, it's fresh and fun and no two shows are ever quite the same. And what's more, you won't need to sell your house to afford a ticket. Venue: Gilded Balloon Patter House – Big Yin (Venue 24) Time: 17:00 Dates: Previews 30 Jul to 1 Aug. Main run 2-12, 14-25 Aug Duration: 60 minutes Ticket prices: £10-£16 Advisory: Age 8+ (only over 18s allowed on stage) Tickets: Matt Hale Funbelievable 90s Rewind Show at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Photography from: Colin Hattersley Photography Matt Hale Funbelievable 90s Rewind Show at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Photography from: Colin Hattersley Photography Matt Hale Funbelievable 90s Rewind Show at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Photography from: Colin Hattersley Photography Matt Hale Funbelievable 90s Rewind Show at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Photography from: Colin Hattersley Photography Matt Hale Funbelievable 90s Rewind Show at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Photography from: Colin Hattersley Photography Matt Hale Funbelievable 90s Rewind Show at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Photography from: Colin Hattersley Photography Matt Hale Funbelievable 90s Rewind Show at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Photography from: Colin Hattersley Photography Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Deaf Festival programmer Nadia Nadarajah: 'Deaf artists belong in the arts — not occasionally, but always'
It's time we normalised deaf creativity, writes Nadia Nadarajah Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... There's a whole world of deaf creativity that many people have yet to encounter. Not because it's hidden, but because it's rarely given space in the mainstream. As a deaf actor, writer, director, and now Creative Programmer of Edinburgh Deaf Festival, I want to help change that. Because our creativity isn't niche; it's vibrant, diverse, and long overdue for recognition. We often hear about 'showcasing' deaf talent, but what we really need is to get to a place where we can normalise it. That means reaching a point where seeing deaf artists on stage, using British Sign Language (BSL), or leading creative projects isn't treated as a novelty, but as part of the norm. It means building a cultural landscape where deaf people are not just included, but expected, welcomed, and celebrated on equal terms. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad That's exactly what we're working towards at Edinburgh Deaf Festival. This August, we return with our biggest programme yet, spanning theatre, drag, comedy, music, storytelling, film, panel discussions and more. All of it centres deaf creatives, with BSL and captioning built in from the start. This isn't a side programme. It is the programme. Creative Programmer of Edinburgh Deaf Festival Nadia Nadarajah | Colin Hattersley / Deaf Action We're proud to host much of the festival at our home on Albany Street in Edinburgh, within the headquarters of Deaf Action. Deaf Action is the charity behind the festival, and this year marks its 190th anniversary. It's the oldest deaf organisation in the world, and that heritage means something. That legacy matters. To be creating work today in a space shaped by generations of deaf activists, artists, and leaders is both a privilege and a responsibility. It reminds us that deaf creativity is not new – it's deeply rooted, and it deserves to be seen, supported, and celebrated. With the support of our partners, we're expanding our reach across the city. We're thrilled to be working with Summerhall, the Edinburgh Art Festival, the Fringe, and others to bring Deaf-led work into more of the capital's cultural spaces. One highlight is Evie Waddell: Ivory Cutlery, performed at Summerhall as part of the Fringe. Evie blends signing, Scots, and music into a powerful and original performance. It's the kind of work that deserves a central place on Scotland's cultural stage. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's also important to recognise the progress being made. More venues are offering BSL access, more festivals are including deaf-led work, and there's a growing awareness that inclusion benefits everyone. We applaud the organisations taking meaningful steps. Not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it makes the arts richer, bolder, and more representative. That said, there's still work to be done. Normalising deaf creativity also means rethinking how the arts industry operates. It's about who gets commissioned, who gets funded, who gets seen. And it's about ensuring deaf artists can thrive without constantly having to justify their presence. As part of this year's festival, I've written and directed a new play, Echoes Across Time, which follows three women across different eras, connected by themes of silence, strength and legacy. It's performed in BSL with integrated voiceover and visual storytelling. Not as an afterthought, but as an artistic choice. It's a bilingual, bicultural production designed for deaf and hearing audiences alike. That's part of what normalisation looks like: making space for both languages, both perspectives, in one shared experience. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad When I performed as Cleopatra at Shakespeare's Globe last year, I was reminded how powerful that shared experience can be. Hearing audiences told me that BSL helped them connect with the text emotionally. That they could feel the story more deeply because they could see it. Deaf performance doesn't just add access, it adds value. Of course, none of this happens without support. Just last year, the festival was at risk due to a major funding crisis. Thanks to a strong public response and a three-year investment from Creative Scotland, we're now able to grow, take creative risks, and plan for the future with confidence. That backing helps us make deaf creativity more visible, and more normal. READ MORE: Four Edinburgh Fringe performers on the incredible true life stories behind their shows So how can you help? Come to a show. Bring a friend. Try something unfamiliar. Learn a few signs. Talk about what you enjoyed, not because it was 'inclusive', but because it was brilliant. And if you're in a position to platform or commission artists, ask yourself: are deaf creatives part of your picture? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This isn't about being exceptional. It's about being part of the whole. Deaf artists belong in the arts — not occasionally, but always. At Edinburgh Deaf Festival, we're not just showcasing deaf creativity. We're normalising it. And we invite you to be part of that change. Nadia Nadarajah is creative programmer of the Edinburgh Deaf Festival, which runs from 8-17 August. Her own show, Echoes Across Time, is at Deaf Action, 15-17 August, 6.30pm.
Edinburgh Reporter
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Fringe 2025 – Garden Party, Truman Capote's Black and White Celebration
A garden party packed with gossip, intrigue, mystery and music – worthy of Truman Capote himself Truman Capote revelled in outrage and celebrity – staging parties that would simultaneously delight and scandalise 1960s American high society. His guest lists featured Audrey Hepburn, Greta Garbo, the Bloomingdales, Peter Lawford and Patricia Kennedy, David Niven, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, Hope Lange and many, many more. Edinburgh Fringe audiences are invited to don a mask and take part in the world premiere of Garden Party, Truman Capote's Black and White Celebration – an immersive theatrical experience. By France-based Kulturscio'k Live Art Collective (correct) and showing until Saturday 9th August. Cast members (from left) Sean O'Callaghan, Lucy Planet, Paul Spera(correct), Alessia Siniscalchi and Didier Leglise are pictured in the University of Edinburgh's Old College quad. Tickets here. Garden Party Truman Capote Celebration at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Photography from: Colin Hattersley Photography Garden Party Truman Capote Celebration at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Photography from: Colin Hattersley Photography Garden Party Truman Capote Celebration at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Photography from: Colin Hattersley Photography Garden Party Truman Capote Celebration at Edinburgh Festival Fringe Photography from: Colin Hattersley Photography Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
SkiffieWorlds championship: The 2,000-strong rowing extravaganza descending on this Scottish town
The youngest rowing competitor at the SkiffieWorlds championship is 14, while the oldest is thought to be 81 years old. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... More than 2,000 rowers from four continents will descend on Scotland next week for the largest rowing event of its kind. The SkiffieWorlds championship is taking place Stranraer, on the west coast of Dumfries and Galloway, and will see a record-breaking 79 clubs compete. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Skiff rowing groups often centre around St Ayles skiffs, a 22-foot fixed-seat rowing boat designed specifically for community building and coastal rowing. Each boat is typically built by the community that rows it. SkiffieWorlds set to take place next month and will see a record number of clubs competing, organisers said | Colin Hattersley / Stranraer Wat They are popular in Scotland, with clubs dotted around the country's coastline. Participants to the week-long event, which takes place from July 6 to 12, will come from as far afield as Australia, South Africa, USA and Canada, alongside teams from across the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The championship race, involving a 2,000m multi-lane course, will see more than 100 races across multiple age categories from under 17 to over 60, plus mixed and open competitions. 2,000 plus competitors from four continents are set to compete in the largest ever gathering of community-built St Ayles coastal rowing boats. | Colin Hattersley / Stranraer Wat The youngest competitor is 14, while the oldest is thought to be 81 years old. Wendi Cuffe, trustee of Stranraer Water Sports Association, said: "SkiffieWorlds is a world championship rowing event, but it's about so much more than competition. It's a celebration of community, connection, active participation and coastal heritage. 'The shoreside festival programme reflects everything that makes this sport special, from the international friendships forged through shared love of the water to the wellbeing benefits that keep people coming back to rowing.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Organisers said there are now more than 350 St Ayles skiff boats registered around the world, making it one of the fastest-growing water sports globally. St Ayles coastal rowing, inspired by traditional Scottish fishing boats, emerged in 2009 from a collaboration between the Scottish Fisheries Museum, Jordan Boats, and renowned boat designer Iain Oughtred, an expert in historic boats. It is said the project aimed to revitalise community involvement in coastal regattas, echoing historical traditions of Fife miners' rowing and sailing. Rebecca Edser, head of EventScotland, said: 'We are delighted to be supporting Stranraer SkiffieWorlds through EventScotland's National Events Funding Programme and it's great to see the event offer on land as well as on the water. 'Events like the SkiffieWorlds help encourage economic growth for the region and elements like the Wellness Hub bring further physical, mental and social benefits to the local community.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Stranraer previously hosted SkiffieWorlds in 2019. Organisers said the event attracted about 30,000 visitors over the week-long event and generated an estimated £3.5 million-£4m for the local economy. They said the 2025 event was expected to have an even greater economic impact given the increased participation. The event showcases Stranraer's ongoing transformation as a major water sports destination, with construction underway on a £6.7m Water Sports Hub scheduled to open in summer 2026.
The National
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Scottish spaghetti Western film funded and led entirely by women
Spaghetti Western, which Fox promises will be rich with many much-loved Hollywood ingredients including some good old-fashioned gun-toting outlaws, Sheriffs, wagons, saloons, bar brawls and shootouts, will be 'very different' from your usual cowboy films. The Wild West movie will have a very special flavour, Sicilian cooking, inspired by a big bowl of pasta which was served to Fox at a restaurant. READ MORE: Film set during Highland Clearances wows at Cannes Film Festival 'Honestly, I wish it was a more romantic reason, but I was in an Italian restaurant, and I was looking down at my bowl of pasta, and I thought, 'oh my God, this is so good',' she said. 'And then I thought, 'why didn't cowboys eat this'? 'Because pasta's super light, they could have carried it on the trail, and then I started wondering if tomatoes and basil and all those ingredients would grow.' Fox (below) went on to explain that she looked at the soil composition of Sicily and the American Southwest and found that it was very similar, along with the weather, which then got her thinking about creating a real Spaghetti Western film. (Image: Colin Hattersley) 'I started dreaming that there was this guy who had dreams of going and becoming a cowboy at the height of cowboy culture, and this poor woman was kind of thrown into his dream, and it really becomes about her story,' Fox added. Spaghetti Western is set in 1881 when Elena Fardella, a young Sicilian widow, finds herself thrust into the battle for control of the remote, dust-blown town of Eden, New Mexico. Her only weapon is her skill as a cook and determination to use food to bring people together. Fox said that she wanted to explore the cultural melting pot, which was the wild west through food in her film, breaking down stereotypes and tropes the cowboy genre has long clung to. 'You start realising that the cowboy culture that we know now, which is kind of the typical rugged individualist male cowboy, it's not really true,' she said. 'The wild west was full of immigrants, and those immigrants brought their own culture to the wild west, and that started becoming cowboy culture. (Image: Colin Hattersley) 'It was a collaboration of all different kinds of ethnicities.' The entire project is female-led and aims to be fully funded by women – with a sizable portion of backers being Scots. Along with London-based producer, Diana Phillips, Fox believes it's essential to have more films created from the female gaze and with female financing. Fox, who is best known for her award-winning movie Stella and her romantic memoir Three Things You Need To Know About Rocket, said she has been lucky throughout her career to work with a lot of talented people who believe in her work, but they have been predominantly male. The filmmaker explained that the more she wondered why the screen industry is so male-dominated the more she realised that history is often seen through the lens of people who don't get to tell it. Fox said: 'It's a sector that's overwhelmingly dominated by men. Men decide who and what to fund, the films and TV that we watch, and our cultural narratives. Even the films with female central characters are largely made through the male gaze.
