Latest news with #NakedandUnashamed
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
A pin sharp soprano with elegant strings: Review of Scottish Ensemble
Keith Bruce After a rural start in Perthshire and Strathpeffer, the Scottish Ensemble's 'Concerts for a Summer's Night' is touring visual arts venues of Scotland's cities with a sonically-colourful soiree that spans the centuries. Ditching their concert blacks for mostly white clothing, the instrumentalists have as their guest soloist soprano Heloise Werner, a performer who focuses attention with her animated reading of Barbara Strozzi as much as in her own experimental compositions. Hers is not a huge voice, but its pure tone and pin-sharp accuracy sit well with the elegant playing of Jonathan Morton's string group. Read More 'This play is a sensation' - Review: The Mountaintop, Lyceum Review: Nan Shepherd: Naked and Unashamed, Pitlochry Festival Theatre Much-loved TV detective takes to the stage but does it work? Lithuanian Antanas Rekasius provides the arresting opener, a movement from the composer's tongue-in-cheek Music for Strings setting the exploratory tone of the evening. It finds more familiar form in the music of Stravinsky and Ravel, as well as new experiences like Lisa Illean's clever instrumental settings of Gilles Binchois's Chansons and Tom Coult's response to the Baroque ground bass. The reverberant acoustic of Kelvingrove added an additional challenge to the music-making, and where it worked – as in the chorale of Julie Pinel's Cantatille, as arranged for Werner by Marianne Schofield – it was an ally to the performance. In some other respects, and prosaically in the audibility of Morton's stage announcements, it was less helpful. The soprano's own compositions and recordings, which are released on Scotland's Delphian label, provide the programme's most original content, most obviously the improvisation of the wittily-titled Unspecified Intentions. Her Lullaby for a Sister is echoed by Morton's equally lovely arrangement of Pauline Viardot's Lullaby and Errollyn Wallen's melodious Tree provides the climax of the recital. For the Glasgow concert that was achieved with some last minute re-ordering of the programme, which sacrificed some potentially-interesting juxtapositions to create different ones, and the true purpose of which did not become apparent until the arrival of the unlisted encore. That is of the Danish String Quartet's version of the English folk tune As I Walked Out, which ends with the players doing exactly that, whistling the refrain as they stride off stage through the audience. The final performance of the tour is at V&A Dundee on Monday at 8pm.
The National
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The National
We can't wait until every other problem is solved to protect Gaelic
The Daily Mail treated us to: 'The ultra woke remote Highlands towns that want more migrants to move in ... despite fighting a housing crisis.' Apparently, the fact the Highlands are welcoming to refugees is something to be affronted about. I read the article but couldn't summon the strength to comment, because I was already reeling from something arguably worse – a letter in The Herald where a reader grandly declared that 'Gaelic culture and education aren't essential at the moment'. The writer argued that the £2 million allocated to support another Gaelic primary school in Glasgow, along with the additional £5.7m for other Gaelic initiatives, was effectively taking food from the mouths of children in poverty. I quote: 'Taken in isolation, any increased investment in education may seem a desirable thing to achieve. But in the context of a serious national child poverty crisis, it must be considered as a very dubious allocation of public funds.' READ MORE: 'Naked and Unashamed' cements Nan Shepherd's place in Scotland's literary canon Warming to his theme, he added: 'The allocation of large amounts of scarce funds to the sole benefit of Gaelic language is a crucial diversion away from other sectors with potentially greater social benefits. Gaelic language and culture can be seen as something 'nice to have when we have available funds' rather than 'absolutely essential to have right now'.' He finished with a flourish. 'Gaelic should become a secondary priority, while the generous funding it now receives is re-directed to overcoming the more severe challenges of our child poverty crisis.' All this, helpfully, landed in the same week as the 20th anniversary of the passing of the Gaelic Language Act was celebrated. I say 'celebrated' – but while it was covered extensively in Gaelic media, it didn't register so much as a blip in the English-language press. BBC Alba ran an excellent and in-depth interview with the man who chaired the Government's Gaelic advisory group (MAGOG), which first lobbied for and designed a Gaelic Bill back in 2000 and fought to get it into law at every stage. I'm biased, because that man is my father. He's given more than most in the fight to keep Gaelic alive. His family, and perhaps he himself, sometimes wonder if he gave too much. He certainly paid for it in the following years with his health. So to sit and read a comment as ignorant and crass as 'Gaelic language and culture can be seen as something 'nice to have when we have available funds'', while simultaneously watching my dad – 20 years on – carefully explain how hard it was to secure even basic rights for one of Scotland's indigenous languages, was, to put it mildly, infuriating. Gaelic is not a 'nice to have'. It's a language, a culture, a heritage. It's identity. It's part of thousands of us. It's part of Scotland – and it's dying. If we wait until every other problem has been solved and the coffers are overflowing, it will simply be too late. Not 'nice to have', but 'where did that go?' The road to any legal recognition or public support for Gaelic has been long, painful – and still isn't finished. Even the creation of the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005, which many now take for granted, was anything but simple. READ MORE: Can fiction free a nation? A Scottish writer looks to James Joyce for answers In 2000, the Scottish Government set up MAGOG to explore legislation. My dad's first inkling about the group was when he heard an item on the radio news about his appointment as chair. The group's aims were clear. They wanted a statutory Gaelic board to strengthen the language, proper funding for Gaelic organisations, and an Act that would give Gaelic secure status and protection. The government, however, was wary. Ministers seemed to view MAGOG as a way to contain Gaelic demands, not strengthen them. MAGOG had other ideas – they wanted Gaelic's position embedded firmly across Scotland. By 2003, a shift in political mood – partly thanks to a Labour manifesto promise – finally opened the door. But even then, progress was cautious. My dad and MAGOG looked to the 1993 Welsh Language Act, which had given Welsh equal validity with English. That was their gold standard. But Scottish politicians got cold feet. Instead of 'equal validity', they offered 'equal respect' – a legally vague phrase which carries no enforceable rights. Underlying much of this, I'm told, was fear. Fear that stronger legal rights would lead to spiralling costs or administrative burdens. Debates became heated, with some officials even raising concerns about whether Scotland might end up printing every phone book in Gaelic. One of the biggest losses was the legal right to Gaelic-medium education, which had been included in MAGOG's early drafts. That too was watered down. My dad wryly comments that you could have warmed your feet on the heat from some of the letters it generated, particularly around education and parental rights. Even the Act's final passage in 2005 was bittersweet. MAGOG had been wound up, and the job was done, but my father wasn't even formally invited to Holyrood for the vote. He only found out almost by accident. 'No limousine came to the door, or even a horse and cart,' as he puts it. Looking back now, he's frank. The Act was 'quite weak', weakened further by civil servants as the drafts progressed. But, he says, it was as much as could be secured in the political climate of the time. 'It wasn't strong enough, without any doubt – but it was as strong as we could get.' More sobering still is that it took another 20 years before any serious attempt was made to strengthen it. He had hoped for a review within five years. Instead, it was 2023 before a new Scottish Languages Bill, with overdue provision for Scots as well as Gaelic, was introduced – but even now, progress remains fragile. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes recently admitted that, while progress has been made, the government must go 'further and faster' if Gaelic is to survive. Listening to my dad's interview this week reminded me not only how thankless the task was then – but how thankless it remains. READ MORE: Fourth Gaelic primary school to open in Scottish city after £2.4m investment In 2000, there were those who worried that giving Gaelic status might force them to translate the telephone directory. In 2024, we've reached the stage where Gaelic funding is branded as some kind of 'ultra woke' indulgence, as though supporting an indigenous Scottish language is a radical political statement, rather than basic cultural stewardship. And just for the sake of perspective: the Scottish Government's budget for child poverty interventions, including the Scottish Child Payment uplift and associated measures, stands at around £600 million a year. The entire Gaelic Development Officers scheme – the scheme that tries to support Gaelic across all of Scotland's communities – operates on £600,000. MG ALBA, which produces Gaelic broadcasting for the whole country, receives around £13 million annually, roughly the cost of building two or three average primary schools. The total Scottish Government funding for Gaelic language development, education, community activity and media sits somewhere in the £30 million range. In other words, it's no more than a rounding error in the national budget. Yet somehow, every time even a modest sum is allocated to Gaelic, someone shows up to argue that it's an outrageous extravagance. As though the existence of a language spoken in this country for over a thousand years is an optional luxury. Maybe the Highlands and Islands are welcoming to strangers from foreign lands because we know all too well what it's like to be treated badly. Our contexts and cultures are different, but the concept of being othered is universal
The National
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The National
Val McDermid to premiere new play on Christopher Marlowe's death
This August, Pitlochry Festival Theatre, in partnership with Edinburgh International Book Festival, will present a special script-in-hand reading of Val McDermid's play, And Midnight Never Come, which explores the notoriously controversial circumstances of playwright Christopher Marlowe's death. One of crime fiction's most formidable voices, McDermid has been crafting best-selling thrillers for more than 30 years, selling more than 19 million copies worldwide. From her groundbreaking Lindsay Gordon series to the beloved Tony Hill and Carol Jordan books, she has consistently pushed the boundaries of crime fiction. Her novels have been translated into more than 40 languages and adapted for television, most recently Karen Pirie. READ MORE: 'Naked and Unashamed' cements Nan Shepherd's place in Scotland's literary canon McDermid's unflinching examination of human nature and evil has earned her numerous awards, including the CWA Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement and The Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award. The author said she had always been interested in Marlowe as a character and a writer and was particularly drawn to his death in mysterious circumstances in an alehouse in Deptford. The three men with him at the time were all closely connected to the Walsingham family and the English secret service. 'I've been fascinated by Christopher Marlowe since I first encountered his dynamic and ground-breaking work as a student, more years ago than I care to admit,' said McDermid. 'He was only 29 when he died in circumstances that are often misrepresented and this is my attempt to provide an explanation that fits the known facts and makes sense. 'I'm delighted to be working with such talented teams across Pitlochry Festival Theatre and the Edinburgh International Book Festival and I hope audiences will be as thrilled by the life and death of one of our most startling playwrights.' Director Philip Howard added: 'Val McDermid applies a lifetime of experience and forensic observation to the story of Christopher Marlowe and the last day of his life and – as a playwright – she does it with vibrant theatricality. 'I'm excited that Pitlochry Festival Theatre and the Edinburgh International Book Festival have combined forces to give Val's play its first public reading.' And Midnight Never Come will take place in the Studio at Pitlochry Festival Theatre on August 18 and at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on August 19 at Spiegeltent
The National
a day ago
- General
- The National
Perth fire sees 40 evacuated as fire continues 8 hours after it broke out
Several casualties were reported at the fire in Scott Street, while one firefighter was injured by falling masonry. Crews were called to the junction of Scott Street and South Street at around 1.30am and remain at the scene. Police Scotland said officers have closed off Scott Street, South Street and Canal Street. The force urged people to avoid the area. READ MORE: 'Naked and Unashamed' cements Nan Shepherd's place in Scotland's literary canon First Minister John Swinney, the MSP for Perthshire North, wrote on social media: 'Very concerned to hear of a fire in Scott Street, Perth. Hope everyone is safe.' Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and Kinross-shire, added: 'Hearing reports of a terrible fire in Scott Street in Perth overnight. Hope everyone is safe.' A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'We were alerted at 1.47am on Saturday June 14 to reports of a dwelling fire at Scott Street, Perth. 'Operations Control initially mobilised three appliances to the scene and on arrival firefighters found the roof well alight on the top-floor of a four-storey residential building. 'A further nine appliances were requested to support the incident and at its height, a total of 12 appliances were in attendance dealing with structural collapses. 'Around 40 affected residents were evacuated and taken to the Salutation Hotel which is being used as a respite centre. 'Several casualties were passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service, including one firefighter who sustained a minor injury from fallen masonry. 'As at 10am, the incident has been scaled back to four appliances and one height resource. Firefighters remain on scene as they dampen down hotspots'.
The National
a day ago
- The National
Perth fire flat blaze ongoing 8 hours after it broke out
Crews were called to the junction of Scott Street and South Street at around 1.30am and remain at the scene. Police Scotland said officers have closed off Scott Street, South Street and Canal Street. The force urged people to avoid the area. READ MORE: 'Naked and Unashamed' cements Nan Shepherd's place in Scotland's literary canon First Minister John Swinney, the MSP for Perthshire North, wrote on social media: 'Very concerned to hear of a fire in Scott Street, Perth. Hope everyone is safe.' Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and Kinross-shire, added: 'Hearing reports of a terrible fire in Scott Street in Perth overnight. Hope everyone is safe.' A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'We were alerted at 1.47am on Saturday 14 June, to reports of a dwelling fire at Scott Street, Perth. 'Operations Control initially mobilised three appliances to the scene and on arrival firefighters found the roof well alight on the top-floor of a four-storey residential building. 'A further nine appliances were requested to support the incident and a total of 12 appliances are now in attendance. 'Firefighters remain on scene as they work hard to extinguish the fire affecting a four-storey residential property.'
