Inspire Me: 9 great things to do in the next week

SUNNY AFTERNOON

GET ready to rock all day, and all of the night at the Playhouse from Tuesday, when the story of The Kinks unfolds on the Greenside Place stage. Set against the back-drop of a Britain caught mid-swing between the conservative 50s and riotous 60s, this production explores the euphoric highs and agonising lows of one of Britain’s most iconic bands and the irresistible music that influenced generations.

The Kinks exploded onto the 60s music scene with a raw, energetic new sound that rocked a nation. But how did that happen, where exactly did they come from and what happened next?

Winner of the 2015 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, Sunny Afternoon boasts slick storytelling at its heart as it reveals the captivating tale of how one of Britain’s greatest bands rose to stardom.

Expect to hear all the iconic hits like You Really Got Me, Waterloo Sunset, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, All Day and All of the Night, Lola and many more...

Sunny Afternoon, Playhouse, Greenside Place, Tuesday-Saturday, 7.30pm (matinees 2.30pm), £15-360, 0844-871 3014

BOOK NOW

ARE you a mum-to-be? Then why not have your pregnancy aches and pains eased as Zen Lifestyle, a collection of multi award-winning salons, team up with Lululemon Athletica, to offer an exclusive prenatal yoga class with some beauty R&R thrown in.

On 17 September at 10am, expectant mums can enjoy an exclusive pre-natal yoga class with acclaimed instructor, Julie Smeaton.

This will be followed by discussions and massage consultations with Zen Lifestyle’s dedicated pregnancy massage therapists.

Held in the private and tranquil yoga space at Lululemon’s George Street store, refreshments will also be served and there’s a luxury Zen Lifestyle goody bags for each guest.

Spaces for the free event are strictly by ticket only and available on a first come first serve basis by emailing [email protected]

CALEDONIAN RACE DAY

CANTER along to Musselburgh Races on Saturday and you’ll find more than just thrilling horse racing.

As it’s the Caledonian Brewery race day, there will be a chance to sample an array of beers from the Edinburgh brewers.

There will also seven flat races to have a punt on, as well as three harness races and live music to keep you entertained in between the beat of thundering hooves.

If you’re new to racing, make sure to dress for the weather and get the best views from the Grandstand at the front of the racecourse.

However, to feel the thrill of the action, the best place to stand is by the rails as the horses gallop past - an absolutely breathtaking spectacle.

And don’t forget to pay a visit to the Parade Ring where the horses are led round before each race.

On Saturday, doors open 12.30pm, with the first race at 2.45pm and the last at 7.30pm. One of the UK’s most stylish racecourses, Musselburgh offers an exciting day out for all the family, especially as children 17 years and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

PLANET EARTH

ALL aboard the Skylark for Planet Earth Rock ‘n’ Roll, ‘one of the best psychedelic record nights in the actual world’ - it says here.

The fun starts at 9pm, so get dressed up appropriately and head to Portobello High Street for a night of music, food and refreshments by the sea.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE

THE latest screening direct from Shakespeare’s Globe in London boasts a superb cast and marks the final summer production from artistic director Dominic Dromgoole.

Measure for Measure is a wickedly black comedy of secret identities, sexual politics and manipulation with stellar performances from Mariah Gale as Isabella, Dominic Rowan as Duke Vincent and Kurt Egyiawan as Angelo. Sit back in the comfort of the Festival Theatre and imagine you are sitting under the stars at one of the most exciting open air theatres in the world.

Shakespeare’s Globe Encore Screening: Measure For Measure, Festival Theatre, Nicolson Street, Saturday, 7pm, £14.50

GILDED BALLOON COMEDY NIGHT

EDINBURGH Comedy Award Best Newcomer Scott Gibson comperes a night of laughs at the Festival Theatre’s Studio this Saturday, aided and abetted by David Morgan, Gary Meikle and Tom Wrigglesworth (pictured).

A compelling storyteller with a unique brand of dark humour, Gibson confidently leads his audience down a path few dare to tread.

Along the way he’ll be introducing Morgan, best known as a team captain on ITV 2’s Safeword and for presenting I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! NOW!

Meikle, meanwhile, has been dubbed the people’s comedian thanks to his innate sense of what makes a great story.

Wrigglesworth describes himself as having the body of Peter Crouch, the face of Postman Pat and the overall appearance of a stretched-out Crystal Tipps.

Disarmingly charming and with a host of awards to his name, you might remember he stormed to victory in the Gilded Balloon’s So You Think You’re Funny? competition in 2003

Gilded Balloon Comedy Night, Festival Theatre Studio, Potterrow, Saturday, 8pm, £13.50, 0131-529 6000

THE CARPENTERS STORY

IT’S yesterday once more at the Playhouse on Saturday as this award-winning production tells the story of Richard and Karen Carpenter and their music, accompanied by state of the art projection and lavish arrangements from an eight-strong band.

The Carpenters Story, Playhouse, Greenside Place, 7.30 pm, Saturday, £25.90-£27.40, 0844-871 3014

 GRAND PENFEST CONCERT

PENICUIK Town Hall hosts the Grand Penfest Concert this Saturday, with an exciting triple-bill - the engaging Corrina Hewat Band, Scotland’s premier Indian classical dance troupe, Dance Ihayami, and Scots folk choir, Sangstream.

Corrina is a renowned harpist and singer, along with her live-wire band she plays traditional music for the 21st Century.

Dance Ihayami, meanwhile, bring Indian classical dance to Penicuik fresh from their sellout run at the Festival Fringe, and Sangstream, now in their 20th year as a community choir, entertain with their lovely sound, and wide repertoire.

The Grand Penfest Concert, Penicuik Town Hall, Saturday, 7pm, £12, from the Arts centre, 4 West Street, Penicuik / www.penicuikarts.org/ or 01968-675 661. Tickets will also be available on the door on the night from 6.30pm

OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL

THE Ocean Film Festival showcases the world’s most amazing ocean films at the Festival Theatre on Wednesday. Seven shorts are brought together by the producers of the Banff Film Festival UK Tour, an extraordinary collection that documents the beauty and power of the ocean, celebrating the divers, kayakers, swimmers, surfers and oceanographers who live for the sea’s salt spray. The films are Kayaking the Aleutians (36 minutes), The Right (2 minutes), Gold of Bengal (43 minutes), The Accord (18 minutes), Ocean Stories: The Halls (20 minutes), India’s First Surfer Girl (5 minutes) and One Voice (6 minutes). Head along, you won’t even get your feet wet.