City cancer research breakthrough could save thousands of lives
Plus: Princes St stays shut; and your cultural highlights for the week ahead
Welcome to your midweek edition of The Inquirer.
For today’s long read we highlight the work of a city research team whose breakthrough could allow earlier diagnosis and more targeted cancer treatment for countless thousands of people around the world.
More on that below, but first your regular midweek news roundup and your cultural highlights for the week ahead.
Your Edinburgh Briefing
SHIRT AFF: Edinburgh council’s trading standards team led what is thought to be the UK’s largest haul of counterfeit football kit this week. The nine tonnes of 58,000 fake shirts, mainly Scotland and England, were intended to be sold during the world Cup and are worth £5.5 million. The operation in the capital was carried out by the trading standards team along with Police Scotland and the National Trading Standards Intellectual Property team in Newport Trading Standards.
RECORD BREAKER? Josh Kerr will aim to beat Hicham El Guerrouj’s world record for the mile at the London Stadium on Saturday. Fellow Edinburgh Athletics Club (EAC) alumni Jake Wightman joins a strong line-up in the 800m at the Diamond League meeting, in one of the pair’s last races ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. (Read more about EAC in How to forge world champions)
PRINCES ST CLOSURE: Princes St is likely to remain closed into August as work continues to assess the fire-damaged former Debenhams building and make it safe. The street remains closed to all vehicles and pedestrians between Frederick Street and South Charlotte Street, with buses diverted along George Street and Queen Street, and trams from the airport terminating at Shandwick Place.
TWERK OFF: The senior Historic Environment Scotland (HES) manager accused of twerking in front of actor Martin Compston during an official function at Edinburgh Castle has been sacked, The Herald reports. The manager was also reportedly the subject of a complaint about a separate incident. Meanwhile, former Fife Council chief executive Ronnie Hinds has been appointed interim chair of Historic Environment Scotland, the third person to hold the post in the last year. He has been asked to help strengthen “the culture, governance and leadership” of the Newington-based agency which oversees more than 300 of Scotland’s most historic buildings.
NO GOLDEN GOODBYES: Councillors who are not re-elected in next May’s local elections will not be offered severance payments of up to £27,000. The pay-outs were one of the recommendations of an independent review in 2024 which said the lack of resettlement payments was a significant barrier to attracting people to stand in council elections. However, the Scottish Government said there was not enough time to set a scheme up before next year’s elections.
CRIME WAR TRUCE: The dispute between drug gangs which saw a series of firebombings and other attacks across Edinburgh has ended after the rival factions made a truce, police have said. There has been a “resolution of differences” between the two gangs, following a police operation which resulted in dozens of arrests, according to an update to the Scottish Police Authority.
CLEARING CLOSED: Heriot-Watt University has closed its clearing process to Scottish students after filling its Scottish Government-funded spaces. The number of home-based students at Scottish universities is capped due to the funding system which sees their fees paid by the Scottish Government. Meanwhile, spaces remain open to fee-paying students from other countries. The restrictive nature of the system has come under growing criticism in recent years.
FIRE FIRST: Work has started in preparation for building the capital’s first new fire station in more than 30 years. The existing Liberton Fire Station will be demolished to make way for the £10m facility. The future of the under-threat Marionville Fire Station remains uncertain.
MCTAVISH AWARD: The Stand comedy club has launched a new Fringe award in memory of the popular stand-up Paul Sneddon, better known to audiences at Vladimir McTavish. The prize, run in conjunction with The List magazine and THe Comedy Unit, will recognise the most outstanding show by a Scottish or Scottish-based act. The winner will receive a £2.5k prize, sponsored by the city’s W hotel, a Fringe run at The Stand and comedy mentoring.
Pick of the (Cultural) Pops
Greetings, Pop Pickers!
The August madness is practically breathing down our necks, but there are still a few cultural hits worth catching before railings everywhere vanish behind posterboards! Whilst we’ve had a few rainy blips, Edinburgh’s rather pleasant version of the national heatwave has continued to bring boundless joy - and an army of golden retrievers - out onto our sun-drenched streets. The aftermath of the Princes Street fire may be bringing traffic to a complete halt, but, fortunately, Edinburgh remains a most walkable city, so there’s no reason not to satisfy your cultural cravings this week!
Indeed, there’s so much cracking stuff on the radar that the Honourable Mentions have made a triumphant return. We are blending local youth theatre, side-splitting double acts, a homegrown musical production, thunderous Irish feet, and a city-wide jazz takeover. Alright? Let’s get it on...
Honourable Mentions: Bubbling just under the main chart, we have a true cinematic belter! John Carpenter’s dystopian sci-fi cult classic Escape from New York (Filmhouse, Ongoing) is back on the big screen, offering a glorious slice of retro tension as Kurt Russell’s iconic, eye-patch-wearing Snake Plissken navigates a maximum-security Manhattan to rescue the US President. Over at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, the fresh-faced creatives of Atelier 32 are staging their debut piece, Modern Love (Netherbow Theatre, July 23rd), promising a witty, highly relatable look at the chaos of 21st-century situationships and the messy realities of...modern love. Don’t miss ‘em!
New in at Number 5 is… Summer on Stage 2026 Double Bill (Royal Lyceum Theatre, Friday and Saturday)
Kicking off our chart this week is a magnificent showcase of tomorrow’s talent! Every single year, the Lyceum opens its doors to local youth aged 7 to 19, pairing them with seasoned theatre professionals to create something truly magical. This time around, they are tackling Philip Wilson’s adaptation of Philip Pullman’s brilliantly dark Grimm Tales, stripping those classic fairy tales right back to their creepy, psychological roots. It is a wonderful opportunity to support the next generation of creative minds and experience the stage through entirely fresh eyes. Who knows, you might just catch the debut performance of a future superstar! Yes, indeed!
New in at Number 4 is... Hammer Lake (Monkey Barrel Comedy, Friday)
Crashing straight into the chart is a double act that I promise will have you rolling in the aisles! I’ve been waxing lyrical about Sam Lake in reviews for a few years now, and the word on the street is that teaming up with Kate Hammer is making for comedy gold, brilliantly blending his trademark wholesome camp with her high-octane absurdity. They are heading to the Monkey Barrel to unleash their unique cocktail of stand-up and sketch chaos. They’re here to solve your life’s problems while undoubtedly creating a few new ones along the way. If you are in the market for some joyful, unadulterated belly laughs to kick off your weekend, look no further! Not ‘arf!
Moving to Number 3 is... Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Church Hill Theatre, until Saturday)
Climbing up two spots to Number 3, we are looking at a notable homegrown effort this week. Forget the massive commercial tours; this production comes from Find Your Light Productions, showcasing the students of the SJM Performance Academy and Edinburgh Acting School. For those unacquainted with the script, it follows the true-life-inspired story of a 16-year-old Sheffield schoolboy who overcomes local prejudice to step into the spotlight as a fierce drag queen. The positive critical buzz surrounding this company’s previous outings suggests they are a team to watch. Keep an eye out for Fionn Cameron—who earned my well-deserved praise in Southern Light’s Guys and Dolls earlier this year—and the magnetic Cherry West making waves from the drag scene. All in all, this promises a slick, thoroughly engaging evening of song and dance.
Staying at Number 2 is... Lord of the Dance: 30th Anniversary (Edinburgh Playhouse, until Sunday)
Holding steady in the silver spot! Thirty years, pop pickers! It has been three full decades since Michael Flatley decided to branch away from Riverdance and create a rhythmic empire of his own. While the legendary showman has handed over his dancing shoes to a fresh crop of incredibly swift-footed talent, the production still delivers a staggering display of synchronised footwork that aims for the exact same stadium-shaking punch it pioneered in the nineties. You aren’t booking a ticket for a sophisticated narrative - Flatley’s focus always lay in his spellbinding choreography and pure showmanship - but audiences can expect a blistering evening of pyrotechnics and world-class precision tapping. It’s an absolute powerhouse!
Staying at Number 1 is... Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival (Across the city, tomorrow until July 26th)
Right! Still reigning supreme at Number 1! It’s simply unshiftable, music lovers! Before the August madness takes hold, this expertly curated festival proves you don’t need a sweaty attic to experience international greatness. Boasting over a hundred shows, it’s a mammoth musical feast! We’re spinning those heavyweight highlights we flagged last week: the legendary Bad Plus bidding us a fond farewell, Tuba Skinny bringing the New Orleans heat, and Louisiana blues dynamo D.K. Harrell. Throw in the brilliant Brian Kellock tribute, the cutting-edge Dutch ‘SPARK’ showcase, and the sun-soaked return of the Grassmarket Mardi Gras! Yes, indeed!
And if you’re a bit less jazz-initiated? Never fear! Recognisable national treasure Jools Holland is bringing his sensational Rhythm & Blues Orchestra to town for a massive blast of unparalleled boogie-woogie piano and unmistakable big-band swing! Grab your diaries, pop pickers, and let’s get booking!
And that’s your Top 5! As the countdown to August ticks away, these crackers will give you all the high-quality cultural fuel you need to tide you over. Get those tickets booked, back our brilliant local venues, and let me know what’s tickling your fancy in the comments below. Alright? Oh, and if you do find your next cultural obsession thanks to my wise words, don’t be shy: let the world know!
Until next week: Stay bright!
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City cancer research breakthrough could save thousands of lives
New lung cancer testing that would speed up diagnosis and enable more targeted treatment
