Edinburgh Culture Minute 🪩 21 - 27 January 2026
McCall Smith brings theatre to 17 local living rooms, Stereolab at Psych Fest, One Day musical at The Lyceum, cash boost for Pianodrome + intro to vibe-coding for creatives
👋 Hello folks and welcome to the 115th weekly Culture Minute: a round-up of Edinburgh’s local creative scene news, events, jobs and opportunities. If I’ve missed anything please get in touch. Thanks to everyone who supports and contributes!
👀 The most-viewed links from last week’s Edinburgh Culture Minute:
- 🎭 Photographer Anneleen Lindsay's images of the King's Theatre revamp.
- 🎵 Hayao Miyazaki's Dreams by Mystery Ensemble at The Queen's Hall (30/01).
- 🎸 Cowgate Block Party line-up. (31/01).
🗞️ News:
🎭 Not enough drama at home? Now you can apply to have a play performed in your house. Bestselling author Alexander McCall Smith is among four local writers who have created new plays for 'Lyceum at Home'. They will be performed at homes in all 17 wards within the city of Edinburgh, from living rooms to care homes and prisons. Other writers taking part are Apphia Campbell (Black is The Color of My Voice, Through The Mud, Woke, The Novels That Shaped the World and Urban Myths for BBC); Isla Cowan (Alright Sunshine, To the Bone, She Wolf, Progress Review) and Stephen Greenhorn (Sunshine on Leith, River City, Passing Places, Doctor Who). - You can apply to have a play performed in your gaff here.
'Edinburgh is a constant inspiration for me and the idea of being able to write short plays about it was immensely appealing. I think that's a marvellous idea, getting people involved in the work of The Lyceum, which is a theatre at the heart of the city.' - Alexander McCall Smith.
"In an age of AI – when we can never be sure if what we’re seeing on our screens is real – live theatre is a necessary antidote, a form of real, human storytelling, creation, and connection. Having real live actors performing in people’s homes and community spaces embraces this crucial human connection that we so need at the moment." - Playwright Isla Cowan.
🎹 A fundraiser for the Pianodrome creative upcycling project has successfully raised enough money to move forward with a planned revamp of the St Oswald's Community Centre in Bruntsfield. - More details from Emily and Tom in this video. The Crowdfunder continues for another week here.
🎨 The Fruitmarket warehouse will host another Fresh Fruit Youth Week with a series of events for under 30s in February. Including: Create Something Beautiful, the North by Northwest gig, Introduction to Music Production, peer networking, workshops and more. - Find out more and book in here.
🎧 The first EHFM Culture Show of the year is here. It's a great way to catch up with the month's local creative industries news so far, as well as get some thought-provoking resolutions from Katie and Katie. - Tune in here.
💻 Could technology support or even transform your creative practice? Get some inspiration at the next Creative Circles event hosted by Creative Edinburgh, online at 1pm on Monday 3 February. - Free tickets here.
- Then on 3 March there's an in-person Creative Circles event at CodeBase with a practical, hands-on workshop focused on vibe-coding for creatives. It's beginner-friendly and you'll be in good hands as it's hosted by Oli Littlejohn, VP of R&D at CodeBase. - Get a free ticket here.
🎭 What's on Edinburgh's stages this week? Here's Thom Dibdin of All Edinburgh Theatre:
It's a bit more lively on Edinburgh's stages this week, thanks to the decade-old touring production of The Shawshank Redemption, a sparkling new Into the Woods and a clutch of works in progress.
Tickets are rare (and gone on Saturday) for Bill Kenwright's The Shawshank Redemption, this time at the Lyceum (ends Sat: tickets), thanks, no doubt, to the appearance of Joe McFadden alongside the returning Ben Onwukwe.
The EUSOG are at the Church Hill Theatre where they promise "a darker and more gothic" interpretation of Sondheim's wonderful Into the Woods (ends Sat: tickets). Should be good.
More student theatre, from EUTC with Ulster American, David Ireland's brilliant and controversial exploration of how we approach contemporary social and political issues (Thurs/Fri: tickets) at the Bedlam.
There is a quartet of rehearsed readings of works in progress. Particularly exciting are the two written by members of Edinburgh's Lung Ha Touring Company, A Fishy Tale In Anstruther and Yui's Unique Adventure as a double bill at the Traverse (Thurs/Fri: tickets), where St Andrews outfit Tatty Pants have Red Tape on Saturday (tickets).
The fourth WIP, Press to Pulp at the Augustine United Church (Sun: tickets), is the inaugural outing from new grassroots outfit Edinburgh Rep Company, with a noire comedy from Oliver Giggins.
And for Burns fans, there are two excellent pieces of theatre. Immersive event: The Burns Project at the Georgian House (ends Sun: tickets) and Mairi Campbell's resonantly musical Auld Lang Syne at the Scottish Storytelling Centre (Sat: tickets).
It's back to slow January next week, but if you want to see The Lyceum's big new musical, One Day, it has just extended for a fortnight (27 Feb-19 Apr: tickets). And, as always, Æ's listings pages are all linked here.
🎟️ Big tickets this week:
👆 As Thom mentioned, One Day: The Musical is extending its upcoming run at The Lyceum 'due to phenomenal demand'. Preview performances will run from 27 February to 11 March. Tickets are on sale now from £26.95 and there's a peek into the rehearsal room here.
🎸 JUST ANNOUNCED: Stereolab will headline this year's Edinburgh Psych Fest. The first artists on September's line-up are listed here.
Your first wave of acts for Edinburgh Psych Fest 2026 is here!
— EdinburghPsychFest (@Edinburgh_Psych) January 21, 2026
Feat. @stereolabgroop, @modelactriz, @gwennosaunders, @themysterylights & many more.
Tickets on sale 10am, Friday 23rd January pic.twitter.com/hZMSyvl4hB
🎹 Jools Holland has just announced another Usher Hall concert with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra on 22 July. - Tickets are available here.
🖼️ This year's exhibitions programme at Dovecot Studios has been published. There are events featuring Biba, Liberty Fabrics, Cosprop and more. - Full details here.
🎨 Artist Talk: Georg Wilson In Conversation with Stephen Ellcock at Jupiter Artland on Sunday 1 March. - Free tickets.
💓 If you've ever been to Sett Studios or met the team behind the Leith Walk venue, chances are you have some nice feelings about the place. To make the feeling mutual, they're planning a 'special Valentine's nite of affection'... for themselves! And everyone's invited. It's at Leith Depot on Saturday 14 February and there will be karaoke, poetry, projections and a disco. It's also a fundraiser for their upcoming move. - More details here.
🇨🇦 Tony Hawk Pro Skater nostalgia alert: Canadian Celtic punk band The Real McKenzies are playing Bannermans on Sunday 1 February. - Tickets Scotland.
🎵 Coming up at The Queen's Hall: Saturday 24th: Justin Hawkins Rides Again... Again, Sunday 25th: Joanne Shaw Taylor + Friday 30th: Hayao Miyazaki's Dreams by Mystery Ensemble. The year's first AMPLIFI gig is on Wednesday 4 February with Angeline Morrison, Djana Gabrielle + Miwa Nagato-Apthorp.
🎵 Coming up at The Usher Hall: Monday 26th: Emerging Artists - Haver Quartet, Wednesday 28th: Defying Gravity - West End Women, Thursday 29th: SCO: Mozart's Last Three Symphonies, Friday 30th: RSNO: How to Train Your Dragon in Concert + Saturday 31st: The Drifters. Then on Monday 2 February it's the Transatlantic Sessions featuring Kathy Mattea, Darrell Scott and Karine Polwart.
🎵 Coming up at The Voodoo Rooms: Thursday 22nd: Ashley Campbell, Friday 23rd: An Evening with Ivy Big Band + Tuesday 27th: Dylan LeBlanc.
🎨 This weekend's events shared by Out of the Blue Drill Hall in Leith:
- "Sat 24th Jan: A calm and intentional start to 2026 with Yin and Yoga Nidra from Kuluna Yoga. This is a very gentle and accessible session at the Drill Hall in Leith, with a focus of being restful and introspective."
- "Sat 24th Jan: Design and create your own beautifully coordinated silver pendant and matching earrings with Leith Jewellery Studios at the Drill Hall in Leith. You'll finish the day with a stunning silver pendant and matching earrings—designed and finished by you."
- Wed 28th Jan: January Sound and Gong Bath. "You are fully clothed with a blanket over you to keep you cosy. You'll be guided through some grounding and breathe-work which allows you to connect to the mat and reconnect to yourself, you then have a relaxing meditation before you allow the sounds of the Himalayan and Crystal bowls, Gongs, Chimes, Drum and other instruments to wash over you and 'bathe' your whole body."
🎭 Coming up at Summerhall: Thursday 22nd: Acrylic Inks Art Workshop, Wednesday 23rd: TBC Improv & Friends: A Night of Improvised Comedy + Saturday 25th: '3,000 Feet', the untold story of Hugh Munro, the man whose name has become synonymous with Scotland’s highest mountains.
🎵 This month at the Pianodrome in Bruntsfield: Friday 23rd: Paper Sparrows | Other Dog | Amy Hill, Saturday 24th: Songs and Dances from the 100 Years War +Saturday 31st: Northern Light Singers and Sarah Irvine.
🎵 For a deeper dive into the city's gigs, comedy and nightlife events, check out Boom Edinburgh.
📌 Edinburgh Culture Minute Community Noticeboard
📌 “Thursday 22 January 2026: I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ART, BUT I F*CKING LOVE THAT! A FREE 40-minute monthly talk about some of the world’s most important artworks. Aimed at people who don’t feel at home in galleries, stupid questions welcome. 6pm, at 2 Chuckie Pend (behind Filmhouse), EH38BG.” - Thanks to Scott Lawrie Gallery for sharing this.
📌 “25/01/2026 - BURNS NIGHT! Start celebrating with an outrageously funny look at the life and times of bad boy Burns. It's a story of sex, drugs and men behaving really wierdly. Join Susan Morrison at The Stand Comedy Club for a cosy drink, a seat and hear about the history you didn't get at school.” - Thanks to Susan Morrison for sharing this.
📌 “Saturday 24 January. Pianist Matthew Shiel and storyteller Alastair Sim will present an intimate candlelit evening of Burns poems and songs at St Vincent's Chapel Stockbridge, 7pm and 8.30pm. Includes a vigorous musical version of Tam O'Shanter!” - Thanks to Alastair Sim, Writer-in-residence, Moonlight Concerts, for sharing this.
📌 “Thursday 29 January - Stills is teaming up with Inspace to celebrate the last month of Stills current exhibition. END-OF-LIFE-SERVICE blends art, ritual and community in the form of a procession and Wake, marking the imagined end of Artificial Intelligence. It's free!” - Thanks to Daisy from Stills Centre for Photography for sharing this.
📌 “Starting 31 January at Upright Gallery: Time and Motion Studies by Nick Devison - an Edinburgh-based artist, printmaker, and academic. His practice explores invention, appropriation, and experimentation through printmaking. He is Principal of Leith School of Art, with work in major collections.” - Thanks to Ian Farmer from Upright Gallery for sharing this.
📌 “Monday 2 February - Join Lorna & Cass for the first Print & Bookbinding class of 2026 at INK on MESH in Newhaven. A day of colour, creativity & learning new skills - print onto leather, pleather & paper, then bind your artwork into an eye catching book! Use code LOYALTY2026 for 10% off.” - Thanks to Cass Barron, Bookbinding with Cass, for sharing this.
📌 “Thursday 19th February: Join us at Edinburgh Central Library for a highly anticipated “in conversation” with author and broadcaster, Damian Barr, and art historian and curator, Alice Strang, exploring Damian’s 2025 novel, The Two Roberts, inspired by the lives of Bobby MacBryde and Robert Colquhon.” - Thanks to Nicky from the Art and Design Library at Edinburgh Central Library for sharing this.
📌 “Louise Marks, 'Smidgens of Joy'. A solo exhibition now on until the end of March in Lobby 37 at Gleneagles Townhouse featuring original art work.” - Thanks to Louise Marks for sharing this.
🤝 Below the paywall are this week’s local creative jobs and opportunities. Some seriously cool new roles this week. Find your future here...
🎶 Edinburgh-based music practitioners are invited to apply to inform the development of the council's new Music Strategy. Ten freelance music practitioners will form an independent focus group facilitated by Arusa Qureshi, music journalist and programmer. They will address a wide scope of issues including: Current barriers and opportunities for careers in the music industry in the city, design career pathways across education, cultural and community settings, and shape a new governance and representation model for freelance music practitioners in Edinburgh. - Focus group members will be remunerated for their contribution, advice and attendance at 4 focus group meetings between February and May 2026 with a session fee of £125 each. Deadline 3 February. - Apply here.
🔭 Collective Gallery on Calton Hill is hiring a new Community Programme Producer for a two-year fixed term contract. They're looking for someone with experience of 'working with community groups, and an interest in creative learning, heritage and/or visual art'. Salary: £28,000 pro rata (four days a week). Deadline: 22 February. - Apply here.
⮑ The gallery is also recruiting for new trustees to join its Board. Deadline: 9 February. - More details here.
🎨 Outer Spaces, one of Scotland's leading artist development organisations., is looking for a Communications Assistant. Based at Calton Road. Salary: £29,700. Deadline: 11 February. - Apply here.
📣 Culture & Business Scotland on Rose Street is hiring a new Marketing Manager. Salary: £39,000. Deadline: 11 February. - Apply here.
🎭 Three more roles have opened up at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society:
- Media and Marketing Artist Advisor (fixed term). Pay: £14.15 per hour. Deadline: 16 February. - Apply here.
- 180 Box Office Supervisor (fixed term). Pay: £14.15 per hour. Deadline: 2 February. - Apply here.
- Advertising Sales Officer (fixed term). Pay: £14.55 per hour. Deadline: 28 January. - Apply here.
🗣️ Cutting Edge Theatre seeks a Speech and Language Therapist to join its dynamic drama groups for learning disabled children (aged 8+), young people, and adults. Pay: £40/hr. Deadline: 13 February. - Application details via Creative Scotland.
🖼️ Leith Framing Studio needs a part-time Picture Framer/Mount Cutter, supporting its high-volume bespoke framing work for artists, galleries and the public. Pay: £12.75 per hour (probationary), increasing to £13.75 per hour. Deadline: 28 February. - Apply here.
🪡 Granton Goes Greener is looking for a freelance Sewing Workshop Assistant to support weekly Monday morning and monthly Thursday evening sessions. Pay: £13.45 / hour. Deadline: 26 January. - Application details via Creative Scotland.
💰 Seeing new work is an essential part of the creative process, but can be cost-restrictive. Imaginate's Go & See Fund aims to cover the costs of show tickets for freelancers based in Scotland working in the young audiences sector. There's a total pot of £3,000 each financial year to support as many tickets as possible for as many freelancers as possible. Each person can apply for up to £100 per year to cover show ticket costs. - More details here.
👍 STILL OPEN ↴
🎭 Offering d/Deaf and disabled artists £3,000 plus support to present new work at Edinburgh Fringe, the Mary Dick Award 2026 is now open for applications. Deadline: Friday 23 January. - More details here.
🎭 Edinburgh Acting School is looking to hire a professional TV & Screen PT Tutor to run two sold out courses. - More details here. Apply by 27 January.
🎭 The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society is hiring for a new Box Office Administrator (fixed term). Pay: £13.45 per hour. Deadline: 27 January. - Apply here.
🎨 Edinburgh Printmakers are recruiting an EP Spaces Lead, responsible for 'representing and advocating for our Scotland wide network of temporary artists spaces occupying empty shops and offices in 10 different locations across the country'. - Salary: £29,000-£33,000 . Deadline: 29 January. - Apply here.
🎨 The Garvald Edinburgh charity is looking for a creative person to join as a Workshop Support Worker at the Orwell Arts Glass Studio. 23 hours per week - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Salary: Pro rata to the full-time salary of £24,666 per annum (£12.82 per hour). Apply by 30 January.
🎺 The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival is looking for three new trustees. They should have experience in Digital Marketing, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion + Cultural Sector Knowledge. Deadline 30 January. - Find out more here.
🎬 Applications are open for the Through the Lens adult filmmaking programme, run by Screen Education Edinburgh. The brief: 'Work alongside like-minded people from your local community to create your own short film while learning hands-on skills in camera, sound, writing, directing, producing and editing. You’ll also get access to industry masterclasses, social events, and support for your next steps in film. The course is completely FREE and open to anyone aged 18+ (with no upper age limit!) living in South-East or South-West Edinburgh.' Deadline: 16 February. Apply here and hear from past learners in this video.
🟨 The Edinburgh International Festival has some open roles:
- Campaigns & Editorial Assistant (FTC). Salary: £25,000 to £26,500 pro rata. Deadline: 23 January. - Apply here.
- Ticketing Manager. Salary: £34,500 to £37,500. Deadline: 2 Feb. - Apply here.
📚 The Edinburgh International Book Festival is inviting applications to a global forum of collaboration and culture exchange called Global Ink in August. - More details here.
🎤 The Gilded Balloon has three open roles:
- Box Office Manager. Salary: £28,500 - £30,950 FTE (35 hour) pro rata. - Apply here.
- General Manager (Maternity cover). Salary: £32,000 - £34,00 FTE (35 hour) pro rata. - Apply here.
- Finance Manager. Salary: £32,000 - £34,000 pro rata. - Apply here.
🎸 Applications for the Wide Days 2026 Talent Development Programme and Showcase Festival are open now. Deadline: 27 February. - More details here.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the 115th edition of The Edinburgh Culture Minute. Thank you for reading and subscribing. Please share this email to help it reach more people who want to have a good time!
