Events in 2010
Events organised by the National Library of Scotland. Last updated: 8 February. The venue is the George IV Bridge Building unless we give a different location. Places are limited, so we strongly recommend that you book in advance. Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.
February events | March events
February events
Panel event: 'The Birth of the National Theatre of Scotland'
With over 117 productions in over 114 locations the National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) has achieved much in its first four years. From the multi-award winning 'Black Watch' and 'Peer Gynt' to 'The Bacchae', NTS continues to create world-class theatre. A panel of guests will look at why Scotland needed this theatrical body, what it took to create it and how it is achieving its aims.
Tuesday 9 February
18.00
Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.
Workshop: Getting started at NLS
Learn how to get a readers' ticket, find your way around the Library and request materials from our collections. For more information, the readers' workshops page.
Thursday 11 February
10.00-11.30
Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.
Scottish customs from the cradle to the grave
Come and hear author, folklorist, ethnologist and singer Margaret Bennett as she looks back over many years of Scottish tradition. Her book 'Scottish customs' spans several centuries and is regarded as one of the most authoritative works exploring childbirth to burial and all that lies between.
Thursday 11 February
18.00
Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.
Dramatic Talk: John Murray, Lord Byron and Caroline Lamb
A literary love triangle for Valentine's Day
What was the relationship between respected London publisher John Murray, notorious poet Byron and Caroline Lamb, the tempestuous (married) Regency belle jilted by Byron? Playwright Peter Arnott uses dramatised readings from the John Murray Archive to examine this literary love triangle.
Monday 15 February
18.00
Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.
Workshop: Beyond Google
An introduction to Credo Reference and Oxford Reference Online
Learn how to access hundreds of quality reference books online. For more information, see the readers' workshops page.
Thursday 18 February
10.00-11.30
Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.
March events
Panel event: 'The book that changed my life'
Award-winning author A L Kennedy will be joined by writer Sara Sheridan and guests to discuss which books changed their lives. This event celebrates the launch of 'The book that changed my life', a collection of inspirational stories about significant books. The collection was gathered from all over Scotland by the Scottish Book Trust.
Thursday 4 March
18.00
Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.
Panel event: 'The Traverse Theatre'
The Traverse Theatre's work over the years has helped change Scotland's theatrical landscape. In one key season in 1985, this Edinburgh theatre staged several important productions, including 'Losing Venice', 'Elizabeth Gordon Quinn' and 'White Rose'. Join a panel of experts as they discuss the Traverse, its history, its playwrights and the influence of that 1985 season on theatre in Scotland and beyond.
Monday 8 March
18.00
Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.
Workshop: Getting started at NLS
Learn how to get a readers' ticket, find your way around the Library and request materials from our collections. For more information, the readers' workshops page.
Tuesday 9 March
18.00-19.30
Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.
Workshop: Discovering family history at NLS
Find out how we can help you with your family history research. For more information, see the readers' workshops page.
Wednesday 10 March
18.00-19.30
Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.
Workshop: Beyond Google
An introduction to Credo Reference and Oxford Reference Online
Learn how to access hundreds of quality reference books online. For more information, see the readers' workshops page.
Wednesday 17 March
18.00-19.30
Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.
NLS Film Club: 'Health and fitness'
An evening of films from the Scottish Screen Archive linking into a popular New Year's resolution – getting fit. Watch a variety of films made over the last century to educate, inform and inspire the people of Scotland to get fit. Includes 'Scotland for Fitness', made for screening at the 1938 Empire Exhibition, and '4 and 20 Fit Girls', dating from around 1942.
Thursday 18 March
18.00
Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.
A Gray Play evening
Join author, playwright and artist Alasdair Gray and special guests for an evening of spoken word and performance. The event marks the recent publication of 'A Gray Play Book' featuring 22 plays. They include 'The Fall of Kelvin Walker' on 1967 TV and 'Voices in the Dark', recently staged at Glasgow's Oran Mor. Event followed by book signing.
Thursday 25 March
18.00
Book online or phone 0131 623 3918.
Conference: 'Contemporary Argentina: Reading the last decade'
Prize-winning Argentinean novelist Guillermo Martínez (pictured), Professor Evelyn Fishburn and Dr Ben Bollig will talk about recent developments in prose and poetry from Argentina. Topics will range from leading fiction writers to poetry from Patagonia, and the question of how authors are made 'great' in Argentina. All welcome.
Friday 26 March
11.30-16.30
To book, contact Fiona Mackintosh: f.j.mackintosh@ed.ac.uk or phone 0131 650 8303.
Telephone booking and further information
To reserve your places(s) for events book online or phone 0131 623 3918. For further information, or to join the events mailing list, email events@nls.uk.
Postal address:
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh
EH1 1EW
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