West Port Book Festival 2012: day 1

In the summer of 2008 the West Port Book Festival was birthed. Originally running over a long weekend in August, to coincide with its big sister the Edinburgh International Book Festival, a series of free events were held in various venues on Edinburgh's West Port - often referred to as Edinburgh's Soho for its multitude of bookshops (and strip clubs) - using Edinburgh Books as its base.

Run almost entirely on love and cake, it has continued to attract remarkably big names to perform in bookshops, galleries, church halls, pubs and cafes, often to an audience of more people than you would think you could fit in a bookshop.

After two years in August it became more of a pop-up Festival, having been in June 2010, October 2011 and now November 2012. And the ever-changing landscape of Edinburgh's venues means that old stalwarts have died and been replaced by a raft of newbies; this year they've even added Inspace and Central Lending library as a venue, not to mention a chipshop!

This year's programme launch was in Edinburgh Books and along with the usual stars - more cake than can be eaten in one evening and beer pleasingly donated by Stewarts - there was the addition of a brass band.

This year they're working with the Rock Trust to build a reading corner for their drop in centre. So if you have any spare books you think 16-25s might appreciate you can drop them off at any of the WPBF venues...

This year's festival started off, as is traditional, with an informal pre-fest meetup; cue a round of very friendly drinks and nibbles (to fortify the team of course) in Pulp Fiction.

While this was happening, Main Point Books was taken over for the first actual event, a discussion on book covers featuring amongst others, and probably one reason for the massive turnout, Alastair Gray. So big a turnout that there wasn't even room to slip in and grab a few photos. This was followed by Take Tea with Turing, a collection of works inspired by Alan Turing compiled by Viccy Adams. Everything at Inspace is exciting.

The West Port team like to collaborate wherever possible and the last event of the night was a miniature version of Edinburgh's latest cabaret sensation Rally & Broad, aka Rachel McCrum and Jenny Lindsay.

The downstairs bar in the Cuckoo's Nest was about as full as it could be, which made every visit to the toilet by customers upstairs - who had to wade through the masses - thoroughly entertaining.

We were treated to an excellent if somewhat harrowing poem/story by the illustrious Hannah McGill.

Followed by the inexplicable and entertaining musical trippings of Liz Cronin (whose refraim "I'll be a killing machine in the name of justice", led to some terrified looks on the men trying to sneak out of the toilets).

Then the show was tied off by a set of very dramatic poetry from Luke Wright, who alliterated us to bits while absentmindedly being the best dressed person in the building.

And then there was much collapsing and a brief sleep before the events of Saturday...

Paper sculptures - on tour and in print

To say that people got a bit excited about the little paper babies would be a vast understatement. Although many of them remained hidden in their venues their story spread around the world and touched the hearts of many. And some of those people wanted to help spread the story even further...

If you visited the bookshop at this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival you might have spotted this:

Polygon, a local Edinburgh publishing house, realised that there were people out there who spent more time in books than on the internet and therefore they might not have heard! After discussions with the Scottish Poetry Library and some anonymous communications with the sculptor (we still don't know who she is) it was decided that there should be a book. And so there is!

It's beautifully designed (and filled with lovely photographs... I wonder who by?) with text by Robyn Marsack, the SPL's Director. It also features a little piece from the sculptor and instructions on how to build your very own poetree. Squee! It's on sale at the Scottish Poetry Library, Filmhouse, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh Bookshop... well, it's going to be in as many of the venues who received a sculpture as possible, not to mention Waterstones and Blackwell's and who knows where else. (It's even on Amazon if you're that way inclined).

So that's exciting, yes? But wait, there's more!

Yes, the little beasts are ON TOUR!

It was mighty strange to see a bunch of press photographers suddenly taking an interest in the wee things, I can tell you. But also, wonderful to see them getting out and being seen by more people!

The full list of dates is as follows:

Aberdeen Central Library: Friday 17 August – Thursday 6 September 


Dundee Central Library: Friday 7 September – Tuesday 25 September 


Wigtown Book Festival: The Studio: Friday 28 September – Sunday 7 October


Mitchell Library, Glasgow: Tuesday 9 October – Saturday 27 October


Dunfermline Carnegie Library: Tuesday 30 October – Sunday 18 November


Scottish Poetry Library: Saturday 24 November – Saturday 8 December

There's a Facebook event with up to date information on where they are etc. There's no plans that I know of to get them all together again after this so if you get a chance, make sure you get along to see them.

And then, just as all of these exciting things were launching, a bunch of paper flowers started to appear around Charlotte Square...

A quick (anonymous) email confirmed that they were from the same sculptor, there were 50 of them and that they were, "sneaky ones for punters". A good thing, too; by the time I had arrived on site that day most of them had been snapped up, either by eagle-eyes members of staff or the public. Part of me was devastated that I couldn't 'collect' them all on camera but after speaking to someone who had found one and hearing how totally made up they were I relented. The only real frustration was that while the timing couldn't be coincidence - the same week that the book was released and the tour starting - none of the news outlets who reported on the flowers made mention of these things.

So although the last sculpture was 'gifted' almost ten months ago, the story is far from over. And now I have an easy Christmas present for everyone I know...

Better than cinema?

It's remarkable how many people, on arriving at Inspace, make coo-ing and ooh-ing sounds while wondering why they have never been there before.

Hiding amongst more mundane and less publicly accessible parts of Edinburgh University, in the shadow of the Mosque lies one of the most exciting spaces in Edinburgh. More than an event space, everything that happens there is either programmed by New Media Scotland or a partnership between them and the event organisers. Since the lab itself - which appears at first to be little more than a large white box on the inside - is fitted with some extremely interesting toys, no two events are alike and most are remarkable.

Some of the most envigorting and memorable experiences are the Atmosphere events; it's like watching a film with all the bonus features turned on and surrounding you. And usually with a good drink. Although these happen throughout the year they peak during the Edinburgh International Film Festival - see what happened last year...

This year's Atmosphere screenings were on the theme of 'belief'. Starting with the heavenly Wings of Desire, finishing with Hellboy and passing through Frankenstein, Young Frankenstein, Portrait of Jennie, The Creator, The Illusionist, Finding Neverland and a 24hour Potterthon - midnight to midnight in bed with all eight Harry Potter films.

Phew!

Sadly I had to miss the first event. I gather Wings of Desire was a great success despite my absence, with acrobats and edible clouds!

image by Geoff Huggins 

Frankenstein featured the premiere of Yati Durant's new soundtrack, largely electronic but with a live violin.

For Young Frankenstein the lab's many projectors helped to liven up key moments in the film. Not that many seemed to notice as they were so caught up in the film itself.

I sometimes wonder what the neighbours must think.

Next up was Portrait of Jennie. For this they installed an ice rink (!) in the lab, hunted down a suitable outfit and graced us with a moody five minutes of skating to open with.

And as the film closed the room was filled with snow. Lovely.

I'm not sure how G&T is relevant to The Creator, a short film about Alan Turing, but nobody was complaining. An oppressive atmosphere as fleshy graphics pulsated on the walls while a computer voice recited numbers. The film was then followed by a Q&A session with the film's creators, Al & Al.

Last year Ericka Duffy, who works for Lush's excellent Gorilla Perfume line, created a signature scent for The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. This was a great success so we had high hopes for her interpretation of The Illusionist. Sure enough, Ericka had filled the space with intrigue and had a small team to help make everything happen. The bar consisted of mysterious glass bottles topped with red wax (containing a cocktail of whiskey and byrhh, provided by Lounge Bohemia) and paper bags (with sugared almonds inside) - both to be consumed only when instructed.

Bob Last, one of the film's producers, came to introduce it - much to the surprise and delight of the team.

As the film opened one of the team walked theatrically through the audience with a prop cigarette, wafting scents behind her.

Cued by a projection beneath the screen, the crowd opened their bottles and drank (with a few gasps audible as they realised how strong the contents were).

Next, as the film moved across the water the audience were sprayed with the scent of sea air.

The film arrived in Edinburgh and electronic vaporisers came on at the back of the room...

... and a few moments later the two gorse-covered tubs at the front started to produce a gorse-scented mist.

Then it was time to open the paper bags...

... as bubbles were blown across the room, both by the assistants and volunteers in the crowd.

On the floor in front of the the screen had been painted the famous image from the film of the Nux Girl soap advert. As this scene came on the lips on this painting - hitherto uncoloured - were illuminated with a vivid red light; within moments there was someone there filling the lips in with red paint.

As the film came to the end, mounting Arthur's Seat, the ultrasonic gorse mist went on again, only for the mist to be blown towards the crowd.

The whole experience was magical. I can't wait to see what Ericka might do next time.

After this spectacle the screening of Finding Neverland was a (relatively) simple affair. The lab was covered with gilt and there were fairies projected around the room which people could 'catch' with small hand mirrors and chase them around the walls. Oh, and more gin.

And so to the surreal highlight of the series, although not the finale. A dozen beds had been purchased from IKEA and fitted into the lab.

Places were booked in pairs for people to spend 24 hours watching Harry Potter.

Most came in, or with, their jim-jams. After all, beds!

Snacks were provided by the Edinburgh University Harry Potter Society and there was an ever-changing kitchen full of treats from Union of Genius.

Three films in there was a pause for breakfast; porridge and toast helped refresh those who had been lulled to sleep by the cozy beds.

Heads down for Goblet of Fire and then it was lunchtime. Off to the Meadows for some Quiddich!

Alas, the match was rained off. Soggy but certainly awake everyone headed back to the lab for salads and coffee, and some intense Sorting Hat quizzing.

The final lap of the films saw everyone invigorated and excited. The strange experiment was drawing to a close and the group had formed an unusual beddish bond.

And then, suddenly, 24 hours after arriving, it was over!

Groggily we went our separate ways, proud of having been part of such a unique day.

How to finish? With Hellboy of course.

The Potterthon beds were laid out beneath the screen, while a fascinating variety of projection-mapped animations passed across the wall.

The film, and the season, ended with the audience doused in flames.

The most puzzling thing for me is that the Film Festival don't seem to have made any sort of fuss about these goings-on. I understand that they have a lot of premieres to wrangle but the Atmosphere events received - as far as I can see - no mention at all in their official coverage. I think they may be seriously missing a trick...