Before 5pm, Talks & lectures

A final African adventure from the writer whose gimlet eye and effortless prose have brought the world to generations of readers. The Last Train to Zona Verde is Paul Theroux's ultimate safari. He talks to Rosie Goldsmith about his journey in the kingdom of light, from Cape Town, heading northwards up the left-hand…

SUNDAY 6 OCTOBER Weekend events from 10am A new generation. Innovation. Radicalisation. Electronics. In the six years of the Second World War, art, music and technology had been used to manipulate and destroy. Composers saw no option but to start from scratch and set about creating radical new music in the…

Ann Cvetkovich looks at the possibilities of a queer community politics and how aspects of queer life and intimacy are depathologised to create new modes of creative survival.

Tom Murray, the Purse Bearer to the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, explains his complex role.

In this illustrated talk, Rachel Lichtenstein reveals some of the extraordinary stories she uncovered whilst researching her latest book Diamond Street - The Hidden World of Hatton Garden. Best known as London's diamond and jewellery quarter, this historic area of the city is also a place of underground vaults…

A central hub for Refugee Week Scotland events, where there's a place to take a load off and read up on related issues or meet one of the week's participating artists.

A weekend of Regency life. Reflecting the display of TV and film costumes, there will be a Regency gardener re-telling of the landscaping of Belsay and maybe passing hints and tips too.

This conference explores how artists from across the globe have approached the representation of the world of the spirit.

Living with people who differ - racially, ethnically, religiously or economically - is one of the most urgent challenges facing civil society today. We launch our new Festival of Neighbourhood with a conversation involving Richard Sennett, University Professor at New York University and one of the world's leading…

Acclaimed novelist Sarah Dunant discusses blood, beauty, power, corruption, sex and poison with leading historian Lisa Jardine. Sarah Dunant is a celebrated novelist of the Italian Renaissance. Her new novel is Bloody and Beauty. Lisa Jardine, a historian of the same era, is Professor of Renaissance Studies at…

The Scottish Ballet provide a behind-the-scenes look at their current ballet, with chat of the costumes, characters and story. Then, watch the company take a class on stage.

What do you know about the City of London, the Corporation that runs it, and the economic crisis? Inspired by the Occupy movement, filmmakers Lee Salter and Michael Chanan contribute to the current debate about capitalism by seeking to bring the Corporation of London out of the shadows. Watch this revealing film then…

Vedic Maths is an elegant and esoteric system of knowledge developed one hundred years ago in India. Learn its secret sutras from a renowned expert in the field, and astound your friends with feats of numerical skill. Tickets include one delightful cocktail. Suitable for ages 18+.

Always thought you’d like to get into comedy but don’t know how? Funny Women presents a panel of female writers, producers and performers sharing their experiences of breaking into comedy. Hosted by writer and Funny Women Awards finalist Viv Groskop, featuring Amused Moose's founder Hils Jago and Huffington Post Comedy…

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations brings together a panel of experts to discusses the state of the housing sector as it faces increasing pressure from welfare reform and financial constraints. Speakers include Minister for House and Welfare Margaret Burgess; John Hocking of Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust; and…

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations presents two half-day conferences that help social housing providers understand how to help tenants become digitally empowered.

A panel discussion about threats to the natural environment.

Celebrated naturalist and environmentalist John Lister-Kaye talks of his work at the Aigas Field Centre and his books, including the classic Song of the Rolling Earth.

A project on the practice of Edinburgh artist Lyndsay Mann, featuring you are what you think about most of the time by Chris Dyson & Katherine MacBride; TRANS by Mark Chapman; and 60 seconds the release by Lyndsay Mann.

Informal get-togethers for adults where everyone can share their favourite memories of overfull cars and strolls along the seashore.

Learn how to catch a fish for your supper with Dams to Darnley Angling Club.

Terre Thaemlitz reads from Soulnessless – Introduction and discusses whether seeing transexuality as an unbecoming rather than a becoming would allow a kind of deprogramming in relation to ideas of the self, the soul or religion.

Over two weekends we are attempting to translate an entire book from French into English - and we need your help. On Les Aura! began life as the private diary of a French ground-soldier during the first months of World War I. Many years later, renowned illustrator Barroux discovered the diary and published it in…

Dr Andrew Ross, the curator of the Amazing Amber exhibition, reveals the nitty gritty about the substance, looking to science, stories and even ways to spot a fake.