The Edinburgh Reporter July 2020

6
NEWS
The Edinburgh Reporter
@EdinReporter /EdinReporter edinburghreporter theedinburghreporter.co.uk FEATURE 7
Tattoo marches to Buster's tune
The Royal Edinburgh Military
Tattoo has appointed Major
General Buster Howes as its new
Chief Executive.
He will be the first Royal Marine
to take up the position at the
charity, but has a few years
experience behind him. He has
been a non-executive director of
the Tattoo for five years.
Buster’s last military
appointment was as Head of
the British Defence Staff in the
USA, working to the Obama
administration. Prior to that, he
Commanded the Royal Marines.
He was subsequently the Chief
Executive of Here be Dragons, a
commercial-philanthropic hybrid,
dedicated to the conservation
and sustainable development of
the Island of Principe, a UNESCO
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Biosphere Reserve in the Gulf of
Guinea. Most recently, he advised
the NHS, helping them to enhance
organisational and individual
resilience through the coronavirus
pandemic.
He succeeds Brigadier David
Allfrey who advised last year
that he would give up the chief
executive role after ten years.
Major General Buster Howes
said: “It is an honour to be
appointed as Chief Executive
of The Royal Edinburgh Military
Tattoo, an organisation I have
been a part of for five years and
one which I have admired since
I was a wee boy. I have worked
alongside David throughout my
time as a non-executive director
and have witnessed first-hand,
his commitment, creativity and
Mask company Hass it sussed
Edinburgh stay-at-home-dad
Hass Peymani, set up Screen &
Shield after becoming alarmed at
the poor quality and unavailability
of face masks for his family as he
faced lockdown with his wife who
was pregnant, and his dad who
was in a high-risk category.
Hass had previously set up a
successful global video business.
He spent 10 weeks researching
the market before launching his
#sasMASK brand from home, in
the midst of national lockdown.
The #sasMASK is manufactured
in Europe and complies with
the latest material and layering
guidelines for non medical-grade
face coverings. It has not only
Shielding will help community groups
been designed to be washable,
comfortable and affordable,
but also comes in more than
30 designs, with this range due
to double in size in the coming
weeks.
With the wearing of face masks
now compulsory on public
transport in Scotland, Screen &
Shield expects business to boom.
Hass, 40, said: "My family and
I were stuck in lockdown and
we were shocked to hear how
key-workers on the frontline were
struggling with PPE shortages.
"I am totally confident our
business supplies the best face
mask for public use in the UK. Not
only are they high quality, three-
transformation of the Tattoo.
“I’m very much looking forward
to taking the reins and I am
delighted to be asked to lead a
team of talented and dedicated
professionals. I have lived and
worked in Scotland both as a
‘Bootneck’ and civilian, and I am
delighted to embrace and evolve
this important part of the country’s
heritage.”
The Tattoo has evolved to
become a spectacular event
celebrating Scottish and military
culture and music. WIth an
audience of 220,000 at Edinburgh
Castle and global TV viewing
figures of 100 million each year,
it really puts Edinburgh on the
map. In recent years it has also
included visits to Australia and
New Zealand.
Major General Buster Howes
layered and affordable, but as
the wearing of masks becomes
commonplace, the range of
designs allows people to make
a choice that matches their own
individuality.
“But a fundamental aim of the
#sasMASK brand was to create
a business model that also
benefited charities that support
frontline workers and community
groups. It seemed to me that – in
a health crisis – anyone who was
selling masks should be giving
back to the community, and
especially to those hardest hit.
“I set up Screen & Shield so
that 10% of all online sales go to
NHS-related charities. But any
participating community groups/
charities/influencers buying
masks for their network also
receive 10% of the sales value
– as well as their members also
receiving a 10% discount.
“Along with local and national
charities, we’ve had the likes of
a cheerleading squad, a group
of redundant BA staff, a nursery
group and a community centre
in Somerset all sign up to our
community programme. They
understand their community will
likely buy face masks at some
point, and working with us they get
high quality products and can also
generate funds to put back into
their community.
“As we continue to grow the
company, I want to generate lots
of money for those affected by the
pandemic as well as providing a
comforting level of protection at
the same time."
Keep Scotland
Beautiful
Ten brand new interactive online
learning courses will be available
for young people across Scotland
during July.
These new online learning
programmes have been developed
to provide a fun and enjoyable way
for young people to continue their
environmental learning during the
summer holidays.
The courses cover a range
of topics and environmental
activities which encourage young
people and families to explore the
world around them and to think
how to protect and improve the
places they love.
Included are courses on
Eco-Schools, heritage, food
and the environment, and
climate change, as well as other
environmental topics.
Each course consists of a
combination of online learning
and practical, fun activities, and all
those who complete a course will
be rewarded with a certificate of
involvement.
Registration is now open for
each course.
www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/
learning
Council £30m
funding gap
The council's in-year funding
gap has been reduced from the
previous figure of £56 million to
just under £30 million.
According to the Head of
Finance, Hugh Dunn, this reduction
has been achieved by the council's
finance department managing
the level of its savings, although
it does not yet allow the council
to balance its revenue budget. Mr
Dunn confirmed that by August
the Finance Department will come
forward with additional solutions
to those produced so far. He
answered questions about a BBC
report on English councils which
may face bankruptcy, explaining
that The City of Edinburgh Council
had set a three year budget
last year, putting it in a better
position than some other councils
elsewhere. He said that in the
various departments of the council
there is both the "means and will'"
to achieve financial stability.
The council delayed furloughing
staff until the middle of June
in common with other Scottish
local authorities. Mr Dunn also
pointed out that there may still be
some additional UK Government
finance available for the council's
homelessness services, but it is
difficult for the council to confirm
a clear financial position until that
finance is made available.
Parking charges, which are a
major income for the council, have
been reintroduced but the council
has not changed its financial
projections in this area. So if
people pay to park now, some of
that may well help the council
balance its books.
All city school
children back
in August
The Education Secretary, John
Swinney, announced a full return
to school in August for all pupils
in Scotland without any need
for physical distancing. This
is dependant on the continued
suppression of the Covid-19 virus.
The City of Edinburgh Council
had prepared a plan for blended
and digital learning, allowing half
of Edinburgh pupils to be taught
in school half of the time. This has
now become a contingency plan
and will only be put in place if the
virus reappears anywhere in the
city.
Councillors said their inboxes
were full with parents' concerns
about the plans to reopen schools
for only half the number of pupils
at any one time, and how this
would affect their children.
The council has set out in its
Delivery Phasing Plan the steps it
might need to take if they had to
deliver part time learning or digital
learning.
When the plan was drawn up
the council had to envisage that
only some pupils would return to
school to allow 2 metre physical
distancing to be put in place.
Edinburgh TUC said they
opposed the sudden change in
education policy.
A spokesperson said: "While
everyone wishes to see schools
operating at full capacity again,
and whilst both pupils and
staff are anxious to move from
home working to being back in
classes full time, this statement
has been made without any
consultation with the relevant
union memberships and
parent associations and risks
undermining progress made so
far in reducing Covid-19 infections
and deaths in Scotland.
"We believe that any return to
school should only take place
after proper risk assessments
and development of safe working
procedures, and the fullest
consultation with teachers’ and
support staff unions and parents."
There are 49,000 pupils in
Edinburgh schools.
Education Convener, Cllr Ian
Perry said: "It is a great relief that
schools will go back full-time. This
threw up difficult issues and now
we have more time to address
these."
The council has pre-cleaning
procedures in place in all schools
which have been closed since
March. It continues to work closely
with NHS Lothian to control any
infections, and all schools will also
remain vigilant about any pupils
and staff developing symptoms of
Covid-19.
Council Leader, Adam McVey,
said: "It has not been a waste of
time to have made preparations
for a scenario which has been
superceded."
Podcasting pantomime with the
kings of the Leven Street stage
By Phyllis Stephen
Think of panto in Edinburgh and
you inevitably think of Grant Stott,
Allan Stewart and Andy Gray. They
have been treading the boards
each Christmas since 1998 in one
show or another.
We also have to include Jordan
Young, the newest recruit, who
joined the team last Christmas,
and is now firmly part of the
family. A graduate of Queen
Margaret University, he has also
appeared in Filth, River City and
was in panto with Elaine C Smith
in Aberdeen for a number of years.
Allan had just finished the run
of his Big Big Variety Show at
the King’s, celebrating 60 years
in show business, when the
pandemic closed the theatre.
Grant and Andy were also in the
show which kicked off with Allan
singing I’m Still Standing. They
are all very adept at poking fun at
each other, as well as themselves,
but I must reveal that during our
Edinburgh Reporter podcast there
was a moment when I made Andy
Gray cry. Andy had been shielding
at home for three months, and
when we spoke he had just come
back from his first walk outdoors.
It was nothing to do with that,
that made him well up. It was the
thought there might be no panto.
Of course it was a bit of a gag, and
although they know how to make
you laugh, there is a serious side
to what the alternatives are if there
if this year's panto is cancelled.
Andy calculated how much
time they have spent talking and
laughing together in the King's
dressing room during the intervals
over the 20 years or so they have
been on stage together. It's easy
to understand why - we ran out of
time during our call, they had so
much to say.
The truth is that nobody knows
yet whether audiences will again
take their seats in our theatres,
or indeed when it will happen. So
for the moment the panto boys
Zoom together on Thursday nights
to keep in touch, and make each
other laugh.
Allan is in London with his
family where he has made a video
with his version of David Bowie’s
Space Oddity, recorded in tribute
to Captain Sir Tom Moore who
raised £32.7 million for the NHS.
He recorded the charity number at
his son David's recording studio,
and director Ryan Dewar (Wonder
Boy according to Allan) made the
video.
With 750,000 viral hits within
days he said he was ‘really
chuffed’ but he is still in awe of
Grant’s video "Save Lives" which is
a clever rendition of his trademark,
"That’s Fife", accompanied by
photos of Edinburgh’s Covid-19
empty streets by photographer,
Tom Duffin, and also deftly edited
by Ryan.
So, the panto might be on (Oh,
yes it is) and this band of panto
villains and dames discuss the
wealth of possibilities each
Thursday night.
Grant said: “The only form of
information I have had from a
reliable source was from Fiona
Gibson, the new Chief Executive
of Capital Theatres on my show.
I asked the question and she
genuinely doesn’t know either.
They are following everything
closely regarding government and
health advice. As it stands nobody
knows.”
But there are all sorts of ideas
under discussion such as
using technology - including
the possibility of using canned
laughter in an empty theatre while
recording.
But panto is very much an
in-person experience as Andy
Enter, stage right, with plans for a theatre fit for a king
Plans for the redevelopment of
The King's Theatre are making
progress but like most major
projects the £25 million revamp
has been delayed by the Covid-19
pandemic.
Applications for Planning and
Listed Building Consent have
now been submitted to The City
of Edinburgh Council by Bennetts
Associates, the architects charged
with breathing new life in to the
Tollcross institution.
Opened in 1906, "the King’s" as it
is universally known in Edinburgh,
is one of the UK’s most opulent
theatres and one of the few which
is Grade A listed. Now it receives
more than 200,000 visitors a
year and in addition to hosting
important touring productions
it welcomes major Edinburgh
International Festival shows,
alongside the much loved annual
Edinburgh Gang Show and sell-out
Christmas Panto.
Widely respected Bennets
Associates will oversee an
ambitious programme to revitalise
the Old Lady of Leven Street,
ensuring it meets the needs
of modern day audiences and
performers and to safeguard its
reputation for the years ahead.
The interior and exterior of
the theatre will be overhauled
to enrich audience experience
and create a renewed sense of
destination. The public will have
access to new spaces for the
first time and a new flytower and
technical infrastructure will allow
the artistic programme to be
extended.
Internally, revitalised heritage
spaces in the Edwardian
building will include the bars
and hospitality areas, with foyer
areas overhauled but retaining
their heritage and charm, and
providing flexible and enjoyable
entertainment spaces for pre and
post-performance.
A learning and participation
studio, new stairs and a new
box office is scheduled while the
installation of lifts will enable
visitors with mobility issues to
be able to access all areas of the
King’s for the first time. A street
café with access from Leven
Street will add to the day-long
buzz in the building.
James Nelmes, Director,
Bennetts Associates said: “I
am delighted Capital Theatres
has chosen to push ahead with
the planning application for the
King’s Theatre. As someone who
has lived a stone’s throw from
the King’s for twenty years, like
so many others in the city, I am
looking forward to not only the
reopening of the theatre, but to a
time when the building is as busy
throughout the day as it is at show
time.”
Redevelopment works were
scheduled to begin in September
2021, with the theatre closed
for 20 months, reopening in
summer 2023, however, due to
the impact of the coronavirus,
Capital Theatres have taken the
difficult decision to pause the
redevelopment and are looking
at starting the project 12 months
later.
Dame Joan Stringer, Chair of
Capital Theatres, said: "Like
so many, we are responding to
unprecedented circumstances.
Both our Project Board and Main
Board met recently, during which
we considered the impact of the
coronavirus on our plans for the
King’s redevelopment.
"What is absolutely clear is
that we all remain committed
to delivering on our plans to
redevelop the King’s into a modern
venue, celebrating its rich heritage
whilst sustaining it for future
generations to enjoy.”
Famous stars of stage and
screen who have trod the boards
at the King’s include Tollcross’s
own Sean Connery in a 1959
production of The Sea Shell (he
was also a stage hand). In the
1930s celebrated Russian ballet
dancer Anna Pavlova visited
with her dance company as did
Paul Robeson, Noel Coward and
Sir Laurence Olivier. In 1957,
legendary opera singer Maria
Callas gave one of her few UK
performances outside of London
in a production of La Sonnambula,
while Katharine Hepburn appeared
in 1952 in George Bernard Shaw’s
The Millionaires.
As part of the revamp you can
donate to have a seat named after
you or a loved one. Seats in the
rear of the stalls are £800 each
and fund raised will go direct to
redevelopment fund.
Panto zoomers - but not out of choice
stressed. He said: “Theatres
need to get people in the doors.
That’s why they are there in the
first place, and they need to
make money. If there is ay kind
of social distancing whatsoever
it will affect the atmosphere, the
number of people in the theatre
and ticket prices. There are a lot of
decisions to make. It would have
to be something that the theatre
company and the production
company were on board with too.
It would have to look good.”
Jordan added: “The entire thing
is that you need the audience
Capital Theatres, the
independent charity that manages
Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre,
King’s Theatre and The Studio,
has risen to the challenge of the
coronavirus pandemic.
Raise the Curtain, a new
wide-ranging programme of
activities which anyone can
engage with online is designed to
fill the theatre void.
The programme includes creative
play for toddlers and contactless
afternoon teas for those a little
older.
Contactless Afternoon Parties
are intended for people living
with dementia, their families and
supporters.
In a partnership with Cake My
Day, free afternoon teas will be
delivered to those taking part.
These will be contact-free delivery
to the front door, all in time for the
audience to assemble and watch
the performance by the Capital
Theatres House Band online.
Tea and Jam is Capital Theatres'
usual monthly celebration of
music making for all ages, which
has also moved online.
Professional musician Gus
Harrower leads the jam on the last
Friday of the month from 11am.
Play Days is for all ages 6+ with
instruction in arts and crafts, from
costume making to script and
lyric writing. On 6 July they have a
panto theme.
Wee Creatives is for families
with pre-schoolers. The sessions
will include craft activities based
there. If you tried to recreate this
on Zoom you could never recreate
the timing or what the live feeling
really is.”
Andy passionately believes that
Scottish panto is a peculiar and
unique brand of its own, based
as it is on music hall with heaps
of drama, great music, as well as
beautiful scenery and costumes.
We just have hope that Allan
gets to wear his dresses on stage
this winter, rather than saving the
dressing up for the Zoom calls
with the boys. (Oh, yes he will).
Raising the curtain is fun for all
on the theatres' upcoming stage
shows. There will be how-to
videos by different engagement
artists with things like making a
bird feeder, mixing up your own
playdough and also some Zoom
sessions which involves more
interaction.
There is no charge and booking
is first come, first served.
Earlier in the year Capital
Theatres put out a call for
contributions to Joy to the
Moment which will be shown
throughout the year.
This was a shout out to all
creatives for mini performances to
be part of a film for those who are
unable to go outside.
The project is the idea of Gracie
Irvine, a pupil at The Edinburgh
Steiner School, who was worried
about people who are isolating or
are in care settings. Gracie wanted
to find a way to entertain them
even though they themselves
cannot go outside.
Gracie's call asked for people
to record themselves doing
something creative outdoors.
This was intended to include
dance, music, singing, poetry,
comedy, art or anything creative
done outdoors. The intention was
that anyone from the household
could contribute to the video,
whether families or flatmates.
The recordings are up to fifteen
minutes long and a series of films
will be edited and produced from
all this creative content.
www.capitaltheatres.com