Ben Fletcher-Watson

Scottish Writers Community: Panel Discussion Scotland's new writing theatre, the Traverse champions creative talent by placing powerful and contemporary theatre at the heart of cultural life.

Special Fringe Event:

Monday 11 August at the Traverse

Join some of Scotland’s best playwrights in conversation with @fergusmorgan.bsky.social from 4pm

www.traverse.co.uk/whats-on/eve...

Two splendid Traverse shows - Lost Lear is a heartbreaking spin on the dementia play with lots of tricks up its sleeve; Rift combines super-tight performances with a killer script. Check them both out!

Two Fringe shows from today that are worth your money:

Kanpur: 1857 at Pleasance Courtyard is a slow burn but tells an important story. Fab tabla accompaniment.

DUSK/NIGHT/DAWN at Assembly Roxy really won me over by the end - doing something new and exciting with pole dance. Some gorgeous imagery.

This letter is already at over 1000 signatures, showing the level of support in UK academia for these students - and hopefully increasing pressure on the Home Office and FCDO. Still open to sign.

Why use an AI-gen image that’s overtly sexist for a book calling for chapters on “Shakespeare and the politics of gender”? Why use an AI-gen image prompted by Venetian carnival/Commedia for a Shakespeare collection? Why use an AI-gen image at all?

Pay. Artists. Properly.

Kathleen Jamie | At the Canongate Wall The Canongate Wall is a feature of the Scottish Parliament building in Holyrood, Edinburgh. Designed by Soraya Smithson...

‘Stone suits the poetry. Or perhaps it’s the other way round. I think poetry suits stone, more than it suits paper, certainly more than it suits a screen. The poetry releases something latent in the stone.’

New: Kathleen Jamie visits the Canongate Wall in Edinburgh.

www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2025/ju...

Unbound authors and former staff members who want to talk, including anonymously, get in touch at rachael.healy@observer.co.uk

The US thing of the cast meeting people in the lobby to shake hands and chat can work as a mid-ground.

Completely - but on occasion I selfishly want to cling on to the emotion.

I also think that quite a few plays would benefit from cutting the curtain call, to really revel in the ending’s impact.

Derevo’s “Ketzal” when the sun rises out of a huge pool of water
Ontroerend Goed’s “Once and For All…” when they do everything ‘multiplied, inflated, magnified and tenfold’
Prior’s final speech in “Angels in America”
de Sade on his chair in “Marat/Sade”

Thanks v much - can you follow me so I can DM?

@dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social @matpringle.bsky.social Could either of you add me to the Unbound WhatsApp? I can DM my number if you follow me. My book is “Dangerous Women” from 2022. Thanks!

Orange blending into green book cover of "neurodiversity: a very short introduction" by Robert Chapman and Sue Fletcher Watson, with this text written in a white font.

Excited to say that "Neurodiversity: A Very Short Introduction" written by myself and @suereviews.bsky.social is finally ready to preorder! Afaik the first general academic introduction covering the ND movement, ND studies, and applications of ND theory in practice.

global.oup.com/academic/pro...

In Pursuit of Justice: Lockerbie - Edinburgh Futures Institute A conversation with playwright David Harrower about creativity and the role of drama in the pursuit of justice. In collaboration with IASH.

Tickets are still available for our conversation with playwright and screenwriter David Harrower on Friday 4 April at 11am at @edfuturesinstitute.bsky.social He'll talk about his new series "Lockerbie: A Search for Truth", starring Colin Firth. Join us!

efi.ed.ac.uk/event/in-pur...

55 years of blue-sky thinking - Dr Ben Fletcher Watson | SAHA: The Scottish Arts and Humanities Alliance A joint initiative of Scottish Higher Education institutions, the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities.

2025 marks 55 years since the first Fellows arrived at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities ( @iashedinburgh.bsky.social) at the University of Edinburgh.

To mark its 55th anniversary, the Institute is planning a series of events - all info, programme & tickets 👇

Still from "Pumzi", a short film by Wanuri Kahiu. A figure climbs a sand dune against a grey sky.

"Desert Future"

A film screening and discussion exploring climate fiction, environmental humanities, history of science and Black/Africana studies. Part of the Edinburgh Science Festival, Friday 11 April at 7pm.

www.edinburghscience.co.uk/event/desert...

I made a book! Happy International Women’s Day!

Very pleased to have a chapter on theatre for young audiences in The Oxford Handbook of Scottish Theatre, which has just been published: global.oup.com/academic/pro...

Huge thanks to editors Randall Stevenson and Greg Walker!

Born Ready, by Sprog Rock 10 track album

hello bluesky, if you have children and/or like fun music (written with and for kids) Sprog Rocks debut album BORN READY is out today. You can get it on Bandcamp (or most of the other places) sprogrock.bandcamp.com/

The Art of Being Dangerous | Leuven University Press Browse a preview of the book > Unique and kaleidoscopic collection of feminist visual and literary art The idea that women are dangerous – individually or collectively – runs throughout history and ac...

50% off our brilliant 2021 volume, "The Art of Being Dangerous", edited by @joshaw.bsky.social and @bfletcherwatson.bsky.social!

Use code BOOKSALE25 to get 50% off select print books in Art. This offer is valid on online orders via www.lup.be until 28 Feb.

Buy the book: lup.be/book/the-art...

I know of quite a prominent Irish actor (now 44) who did this a few years back. Just another 15-20 years to go…

Happy Christmas to you and yours!

Whisky label: Craigellachie 17 year old

Christmas Eve Braydram

Full PDF here: www.ias.edu/sites/defaul...

Not sure I agree w/ everything either. That triangle of shared attention between performer, baby spectator and adult spectator is much richer than just one *responding to* the other. But always good to see articles on #babytheatre

Do babies even like theatre? The joys of live performances with very, very badly behaved audiences

Why take a baby to the theatre? Alice Saville writes about the joys of attending live performances with some very, very badly behaved audiences at ENO, Polka Theatre and @newdiorama.bsky.social

Thanks v much!

That it did

Overexcited about my feed-making ability, I’ve now made one for Edinburgh!

bsky.app/profile/did:...