Marta Mari

What an interesting appointment! Very much looking forward to seeing what Cu***ng will bring us!

Alan Cu***ng named as new Artistic Director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre Film, stage and TV star Alan Cu***ng has been announced as the new Artistic Director of the iconic Pitlochry Festival Theatre.

Ten lessons from walking over 200km on Camino de Santiago.

LESSON ONE: If you want to go fast, walk alone. If you want to go far walk together.
LESSON TWO: Forward really is the pace.
LESSON THREE: We should cherish whatever time we have with each person we meet. Nothing is forever.
LESSON FOUR: Being alone in nature long enough puts everything into the right perspective.
LESSON FIVE: It often rains in life. But if you’re resilient and observant, you will always find a way to dry yourself and move on.
LESSON SIX: Be kind and appreciate every part of your body.
LESSON SEVEN: Symbols in life bring us closer to each other. They break language and cultural barriers and make communication more powerful. They help us understand the world.
LESSON EIGHT: It’s a wealth to have faith. We should choose how we interpret religion as opposed to blindly rejecting and negating it. It’s not all or nothing. Places of worships should be protected regardless of which religion they represent.
LESSON NINE: We should share our gifts and talents generously with others. What goes around comes around.
LESSON TEN: Keep on working to make your dreams come true. No matter how old they are.

I should also say that it is transformative and addictive and completing this journey feels just so fu***ng good! 😉

Symbolism and Spirituality

One of the most common sight on any Camino de Santiago is a scallop shell.
The path is marked with shells, pilgrims wear variety of shells attached to their backpacks, and as jewellery.
I did not have one when I started my pilgrimage, which was noticed by the Dutch pilgrim I met. “I’ll get one along the way”-I said. “Fine, but until then, take mine. It was given to me by another pilgrim on my first Camino”. I accepted it with thanks. After all, our beliefs guide are through life…
But how did the shell become the symbol of Camino de Santiago? The legend goes that during his pilgrimage, Santiago carried a scallop shell to beg for water and food. Even the poorest could fill the shell so he always got help.
In symbolism shell’s hard texture makes one’s mind stronger. Seashells stand for resilient and determined mindset. It also represents protection against evil. Some believe that shells are bridges between physical and supernatural realms.
This morning the hostel’s owner mother prepared fantastic breakfast including the famous Tarta de Santiago with St. James’ cross. We were expressing our gratitude and some said it was the best they ever tasted. Gloria said in Spanish with an open joy that she makes it every day for pilgrims with love.
LESSON SEVEN: Symbols in life bring us closer to each other. They break language and cultural barriers and make communication more powerful. They help us understand the world.
I love symbolism in theatre and I guess I will be using it more often in my work.

Sharing is caring

Another 20km hike in the rain alone. Bought myself a nice green pancho- helped somewhat but when I arrived at a hostel and took it off the owner said they had a free laundry service. I looked at myself and my shirt was all nasty- vomit like green. I must’ve looked really bad, on top of that waddling due to blisters on my feet from wet shoes but I smiled and said I was just in time for the football match:-) He must have liked that cause he upgraded my room to a really cool one. Spaniards in Galicia love their pilgrims. And pilgrims are very empathetic to each other- sharing plasters, painkillers, various pain relieving creams, food and drinks.After dinner we go together to pharmacies.
Walking Camino teaches us to be more aware of our bodies; why is it that only left calf muscle is sore? Or right shoulder. Is our posture good? You see people taking extra care of their feet. It’s a physical journey as well.
LESSON SIX: Be kind and appreciate every part of your body.

4 days of Camino behind me. A lot of walking. I’m taking a Coastal Portuguese route as proximity of water has soothing effects on me. I started in Porto where I collected my Camino passport. I explored the city and as I was not so keen on walking in the city I took a train to a nearby village of Viana do Castelo. Met 3 other pilgrims and the next morning we set off to Caminha. Lovely but very difficult 26 km through woods, hills, along a gorgeous coast. 2 German, 1 Dutch and 1 Polish ladies walked together.
LESSON ONE: If you want to go fast, walk alone. If you want to go far walk together.

What is Camino de Santiago?

It is a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, where it is believed the remains of the Apostle St. James (Santiago) the Great have been discovered in the 9th century.

The Way was defined then by the net of Roman routes that joined the neuralgic points of the Peninsula. The network is similar to a river system – small brooks join together to make streams, and the streams join together to make rivers, most of which join together to make the Camino Francés (one of the routes). During the middle ages, people walked out of their front doors and started off to Santiago, which was how the network grew up.
Therefore there are many routes starting from variety of places- they all meet in Santiago de Compostela.

People from all over the world, of all ages walk the Camino for variety of reasons.
Spiritual, religious, to connect with themselves and/or nature or as a physical challenge.
The minimum requirement to get the credentials from the Cathedral in Compostela is to walk at leat 100km. Along the way pilgrims gather stamps from various places in their Camino passports.
The popularity of the pilgrimage boomed from the 19th century and the journey and its various aspects have inspired writers, filmmakers, and musicians and the art works themselves continue to inspire people to walk the Camino.
Many people I’ve met say Camino is addictive, transformative-that may very well be-one way or another there are lessons to be learned along the way and the beauty of landscape and kindness of the people met along the way is something we all want to be surrounded with on a daily basis.

Glasgow folks! If you have no plans for Saturday go listen to this magnificent concert! Splendid Gershwin’s Rapsody in Blue, Bertstein’s West Side Story and Grieg’s Peer Gynt. A feast for ears and a soul. I took my younger daughter tonight and we totally enjoyed it!

RSNO Season 2023-24 West Side Story (RSNO & SNJO) Programme Ellington Black and Tan Fantasy Grieg arr. Ellington Morning Mood from Peer Gynt Suite Bernstein arr. Florian Ross West Side Story Suite Gershwin arr. Tommy Smith Rhapsody in Blue (Extended version) Herrmann Suite from Vertigo Bernstein Symphonic Dances from West Side Story Bertie Baigent....

When shopping malls around the world decorate their stores with Christmas trees and glitter, kids in Amman decorate Olive Trees with well wishes to children in Palestine. Somehow I find more Christmas spirit in this than in artificial 🌲! From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!

Beautifully written resignation letter!

Read Anne Boyer’s extraordinary New York Times resignation letter. It’s been a hell of a 24 hours for writers demonstrating moral courage. Last night at the National Book Awards, over a dozen NBA finalists took to the stage to use their moment in the spotlig…

Fantastic news!

This is a must see production! Touring to Italy, Greece, Switzerland and Germany.

Fingers crossed!

👏 A round of applause! 👏

We are so thrilled to announce that ESMS has been chosen as a Finalist in the 2023 Independent Schools of the Year Awards for the Performing Arts, Music and Drama category! 🎭 🙌

This is a brilliant recognition of all the work our students and staff do every year, putting on fantastic shows and performances for everyone to enjoy.

The winners will be announced in October - please keep your fingers crossed! 🤞

Independent School Parent

I am truly gutted to miss this year's Edinburgh Festival Season! Some great productions out there! One of them I'd like to recommend is an American production of Macbeth By the Sea brought to Edinburgh Fringe by my Alma Mater folks. Enjoy!

Edinburgh Review: Macbeth by the Sea at theSpace - Theatre Weekly Macbeth by the Sea at theSpace Review: “The bizarre jokes and slapstick comedy encapsulate what I have always

Really pleased with that! Especially considering the category is Performing Arts, Music and Drama and I was fortunate to direct two of the productions this year!

ESMS Shortlisted for an Independent Schools of the Year Award Each year, our ESMS Community enjoys an exciting repertoire of plays, musicals and performances, expertly delivered by students from all Schools, with the guidance and support of our teachers helping them to bring out their talents. The year wrapped up with the dazzling Senior School rendition of .....

Watched this exquisite production last night! Beautifully dark and poetic. McBurney captured Polishness very accurately...very faithful to the book. And the music was just devine. It tours internationally. See it if you can.

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead - Production Trailer Trailer (March 2023) edited by Robbie Brown with original music by Richard Skelton.***Based on Nobel Prize-winning author Olga Tokarczuk’s novel of the same ...

My fav photos of Our Town...

A few photos from Our Town...

We open the show tomorrow! I've enjoyed working with young people and am proud of what some of them achieved. If you're local and have a spare evening in Edinburgh-do come. Laugh, share a tear or two and feel good about life 😜
Tickets at the door or in the link below.

https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing?eid=34394&