The yellow giants towering over Leith Docks
The epic scale of building the shift away from fossil fuels
Welcome to your midweek edition of The Inquirer.
For today’s long read Joe Coroneo-Seaman brings you a detailed look at the epic scale of work underway in Leith to shift energy away from fossil fuels, as we explain the yellow towers that have dominated the skyline of North Edinburgh and Leith for months. And no, they’re not here to stay…
More on that below.
If you’re not (yet) a paying member of the Inquirer then you’ll have missed our delve into the latest Festivals planning controversy which has left one of the Fringe’s most celebrated venues out in the cold this summer. But, don’t worry, you can catch up here with Will Quinn’s piece: ‘I wanted to set up a 106-year-old Spiegeltent, not build a block of flats’
Your Edinburgh Briefing
FIDDLER ON THE FLOOR: The celebrated Shetland fiddler Aly Bain, who has called the capital home for many years, has been recognised with this year’s prestigious Edinburgh Award. Presented annually to someone who has made a significant positive impact on the life of the city and the wider world, recipients are honoured by having their handprints embedded in the courtyard outside the City Chambers, off the Royal Mile.
RIGHT WING HOTEL: Plans too build an 82-bedroom hotel on the site of the old Right Wing pub in Willowbrae have been submitted to the city council by developers 83S Ltd. The name of the pub, which was known more recently as the Radical Road, had nothing to do with politics, it came from the former landlord, Hibs (and Hearts) legend Gordon Smith.
FESTIVAL COUNTDOWN: The book festival has announced its full programme for its return to its new home at the Edinburgh Futures Institute off the Meadows. Among its line-up of Pulitzer and Booker Prize winners, former Prime Ministers, crime-writing royalty, tech industry giants and YA trailblazers, there’s surely something for everyone. Meanwhile, the Fringe has moved into its new headquarters, to be known as Fringe Central, in Infirmary Street, following an £8 million revamp.
FIREBOMBERS JAILED: Two men who firebombed a house in Niddrie on the orders of a crime gang boss based in Dubai have been jailed. Richard Ordish, 19, and Kurtis Young, 42, were caught on camera committing the attack on Hay Drive in the early hours of 4 April last year. They were arrested as part of the police investigation into the violent struggle between drug gangs in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Ordish was given a seven-year prison sentence and Young ordered to serve 11 years.
FIRE STATION SAVED: Marionville Fire Station is set to be saved from closure, at least temporarily, after it was removed from a list of facilities earmarked for closure. The move comes after warnings its closure would mean longer response times for fires on the east of the city centre including in Holyrood Park. However, the fire service is to carry out an analysis of stations in Edinburgh which could yet lead to its closure.
OUT OF TOWN: The Fort Kinnaird out-of-town shopping centre has applied for planning permission to build a large supermarket, with leisure units on the new building’s upper floor, next to its existing Odeon cinema and restaurants.
‘GREEN’ DATA CENTRES: Councillors have agreed not to pursue a moratorium on so-called ‘green’ data centres in Edinburgh after officials warned it would be unenforcable. However, the city council will write to the Scottish Government to ask it to impose a national moratorium until it produces a definition of a “green data centre”, which it has promised next year. The request is highly unlikely to be agreed, given the Scottish Government has been a strong supporter of new data centres and is actively seeking investment in them.
‘SCARED AND UNSAFE’: Safeguarding improvements have been advised at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People after some young patients in its mental health unit reported feeling “scared and unsafe” at times. The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland made the recommendation after a follow-up visit to the hospital’s Melville Unit after concerns around the use of restraint were raised during a previous inspection.
Your Pick of the (Cultural) Pops
I am writing to you this week from the balmy shores of the Berwick-upon-Tweed beach, doing my very best to ignore the digital tide of Fringe press releases steadily rising in my inbox, writes Will Quinn. But even though I have switched into holiday mode and swapped the stalls for the sand, the capital’s stages are refusing to take a break (how rude). This week’s chart is a fascinating mix, serving up everything from an unlikely martial arts musical and intimate Scottish historical encounters, to contemporary ballet and a formidable theatrical collaboration.
Let’s count them down...
Honourable Mentions: Arooj Aftab, Derren Brown & The Royal Highland Show
It remains highly competitive just outside the main rankings. Multi-Grammy-winning vocalist Arooj Aftab (Usher Hall, June 24th) arrives to perform alongside the London Contemporary Orchestra; one does not lightly pick up a Grammy, but Aftab was a superstar long before securing that particular accolade. Meanwhile, the master of psychological illusion, Derren Brown (Edinburgh Playhouse, June 23rd – 27th) brings his new show to town. He needs no introduction from us, though at this stage, one wonders what tricks he could have left to play on an audience. Finally, the Royal Highland Show (Royal Highland Centre, today until Sunday) operates concurrently out at Ingliston. While not precisely a performing arts event, surely the cast of prize livestock are brought along for their star power, no?
New in at Number 5 is... The Karate Kid – The Musical (Festival Theatre, June 23rd – 27th).
Taking the fifth spot is the major commercial booking of the week. No one’s eyebrow raised higher than mine when I first crossed paths with the posters for this large-scale stage adaptation of the classic film franchise earlier this year. Against the odds, some early reviews suggest it may not be the awkward car crash you might expect. Being on holiday, I won’t be able to hear your groans if you take a chance on this only to find my intel was on a par with that of the dodgy dossier of 2002. At the very least, the worst that can happen is a bad night at the theatre.
New in at Number 4 is... Ballet Black at 25 (Festival Theatre, Friday).
Stepping up into the main chart this week is a very special anniversary celebration. They might only be in town for a single night, but Ballet Black’s pioneering legend firmly precedes them. Bringing a double bill to Edinburgh to mark a quarter-century of their work, this contemporary dance company is a must-see for anyone with an eye for exceptional movement. Having reviewed their outstanding visits in both 2023 and 2024, I can confirm their place on the chart is thoroughly earned.
New in at Number 3 is... The Burns Project (Royal Lyceum Theatre, June 24th – July 5th).
Taking the bronze is an intimate encounter with Scotland’s national bard. One of my reviewing protégés, Alena Shmakova, was completely taken by an earlier iteration of this production back in January. It will be fascinating to see exactly how the creative team replicates the intimacy of a Georgian house setting within the confines of the Lyceum, but if they can capture even a fraction of that same magic, you should be in for an unforgettable night.
Moving to Number 2 is... Shall Roger Casement Hang? (until Friday)
Climbing to the silver spot is Peter Arnott’s historical drama charting the final days, arrest, and interrogation of the WWI Irish republican. Presented by the newly formed Union Theatre Company - a spiritual successor to the much-missed Arkle Theatre - its high placement here might reveal my own theatrical biases. But assuming Union captures a fraction of Arkle’s former brilliance, audiences are in for an excellent production. I anticipate an eye-opening experience for anyone in the stalls who still harbours preconceived notions about the quality of grassroots or independent theatre.
Staying at Number 1 is... The Table (Traverse Theatre, until Saturday)
Holding onto the top spot for a second week is the formidable partnership behind The Table: Curious Seed, Lyra, and Lung Ha. Lung Ha have been blowing audiences away for years, whilst redefining societal expectations of learning-disabled-led work. With youth theatre specialists Lyra and inclusive dance specialists Curious Seed also boasting impressive provenances, I expect this collaboration will be nothing less than sensational.
I will leave you at the box office while I get back to the beach - did anyone say Pina Colada? Secure your tickets, take a chance on something new, and drop your thoughts in the comments below. I will catch up with everyone’s adulation - or virtually thrown tomatoes - upon my return!
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Yellow giants tower over Leith Docks
The epic scale of building the shift away from fossil fuels
by Joe Coroneo-Seaman
On 25th February, a cargo vessel bearing the name Hua Yang Long arrived in Leith docks, carrying a set of conspicuously huge yellow towers. Overnight they became part of the Edinburgh skyline, visible from almost anywhere north of George Street.
Curious onlookers were quick to react on social media, with many of us bewildered by the sheer scale of the things: “Slightly surreal sight,” said one. “I’ve seen these from the Lammermuirs,” said another. “Wouldn’t be surprised if they were visible from space.”
Here are answers to the questions you’ve been pondering (and a few you probably haven’t).
