QM News 74 (pdf 1.58 MB) - Queen Margaret University

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CREATIVITY AND CULTURE
Drama lecturer wins Fringe First
with her allotment
QMU sponsors
Lennoxlove
Book Festival
Kate Nelson’s ‘Allotment’ won the award for most sustainable show at the Edinburgh Fringe
A play staged on an Edinburgh allotment
was to win a QMU lecturer, not only a
prestigious Fringe First, but an award for
most sustainable show at the Edinburgh
Fringe.
Kate Nelson, Lecturer in Drama and
Performance, sacrificed her prize globe
artichoke bed to accommodate actors
and the audience during her play
‘Allotment’ which took place at her own
allotment in Inverleith.
Audiences were treated to a unique
artistic experience with the show kicking
off with the distribution of steaming hot
cups of tea accompanied with freshly
baked scones smeared with homemade
damson jam. The staging, which involved
no lighting or protection from the
elements, presented a truly earthy setting
in which to experience the performance.
Edinburgh Fringe audiences are used to
viewing performances in unusual venues,
but this was probably the first time that
guests jostled for position amongst the
courgettes, strawberries, beetroots and
raspberries whilst watching the delights of
the tale unfold.
‘Allotment’, by the acclaimed Scottish
writer, Jules Horne, and directed by
QMU’s Kate Nelson with set design from
QMU’s Sarah Paulley, Programme Leader
for Costume Design & Construction, was
a darkly comic story - a tale of life, death,
Pink Fir apples and the secret power
of worms.
Kate was delighted that Edinburgh City
Council and her fellow gardeners were
extremely supportive of the project.
However, the audience was warned
that they mustn’t give in to temptation
and nick the veggies from other
gardeners’ plots!
As part of its commitment to supporting
the local community, QMU was delighted
to be one of the sponsors of the
Lennoxlove Book Festival.
The cultural and education event, which
took place last autumn in the beautiful
setting of Lennoxlove House outside
Haddington, East Lothian, included an
impressive line-up of actors, playwrights,
MPs, historians, gardening experts
and crime writers. Big names such as
Scottish actor Bill Paterson; playwright
John Byrne; Sarah Brown, wife of the
former Prime Minister; MPs Tam Dalyell,
Chris Bryant and Alastair Darling; and
author of War Horse, Michael Morpurgo
helped to make the event extremely
memorable. Senior QMU staff also
took part in the festival both chairing
or presenting sessions, and student
volunteers helped with the smooth
running of the event on the day.
Fireworks, local musicians, fantastic
literary opportunities for children and
excellent readings from a wide range of
authors and experts ensured that the
book festival had something for everyone.
www.lennoxlovebookfestival.com.
The Great Hall at Lennoxlove is an exquisite setting for a reading (Image courtesy of Writer Pictures)