A PLAY about 549 Scots who went to Spain as part of the anti-fascist International Brigade is to go on tour across Scotland.
The play has been created by Robbie Gordon and Jack Nurse - founders of Wonder Fools and writers of 549.
Gordon discovered the history of the 549 when his grandfather told him the story of four of his friends from Prestonpans who fought in the Spanish Civil War.
The play follows four miners from the streets of Prestonpans to the valleys of Spain: George Watters, Bill Dickson, Jock Gilmour and Jimmy Kempton.
The work has been developed over an 18 month research period, using personal testimony, speaking to family members and finding relatives.
549 was first performed in Prestonpans Town Hall in 2018, with family members of all four men present in the audience.
It will tour from Prestonpans to Wick, Inverness, Edinburgh (Traverse), Glasgow (St Luke's and Easterhouse), Dundee, Birnam, Ballantrae, Kirkmichael, Boswell and then to the New Diorama Theatre in London.
www.wonderfools.org/549
THE acclaimed writer Jenni Fagan has been selected as the 2019 Dr Gavin Wallace Fellow.
Ms Fagan will become writer in residence at Edinburgh’s Summerhall for one year to produce new work "inspired by the theme of change, sustainability and how the past informs the present."
Fagan, whose books include The Panopticon and The Sunlight Pilgrims, will receive a £20,000 bursary, work space at the multi-arts complex, and access to the full range of Summerhall’s activities during the year.
Established in 2014, in honour of the late Dr Wallace who was a constant supporter of Scottish writing, the annual Fellowship provides a mid-career or established writer with time and support.
Ms Fagan said: "Being selected as the Dr Gavin Wallace Fellow at Summerhall is a dream opportunity on every level. I can't wait to immerse myself in the past, present and future of this extraordinary place. There is so much to be inspired by and a lot of work to be done.
"I’m excited about the prospect of creating a poetic Almanac that captures twelve months, four seasons, and the ghosts, characters, artists that have influenced the character of the building.
"I’m interested in devoting each month to a different space in the building, different practitioners and events.
"I’m hugely influenced by art, music, animation, buildings, history and people in general. I can’t think of a more inspiring place to spend a year."
Verity Leigh, programme manager at Summerhall, said: "We are happy and proud to be working with Jenni Fagan as the 2019 Dr Gavin Wallace Fellow.
"In a very competitive field of proposals, we were won over by Jenni’s engagement with the life of the Summerhall building and her lively interest in the people who work here. We are incredibly excited about working with Jenni and looking forward to sharing her work with Summerhall’s staff, residents and audiences."
www.creativescotland.com
THE Edinburgh College of Art has unveiled a new head of the school of art, Dr Linda O'Keeffe.
Dr O'Keeffe is an artist and scholar, and was formerly a full-time lecturer at the Lancaster Institute of Contemporary Art at Lancaster University.
Her work has a focus on installation and performance as well as soundscape studies.
She has created works for radio, dance and public installation projects, with works performed and exhibited in Asia, the USA, Canada and Europe.
Recent works include an exhibition at the New Art Exchange (NAE) Gallery, Nottingham (2017) and a commission for the Ormston Gallery as part of EV&A festival in Ireland (2016).
On her appointment to ECA, Dr O'Keeffe said: "I am very excited to be working with an amazing team of artists and researchers, and look forward to developing projects within the School as well as working with the students."
www.eca.ed.ac.uk
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