Drama@Drylaw is a friendly, informal group where we come together to move, chat, laugh and explore everyday life through simple drama activities.
The activities are based on familiar, real-life situations, so it’s great for building confidence, communication skills and vocabulary – including for people who want to practise English in a natural, supportive way. Everyone’s contributions are valued, and people bring their own experiences to the group.
Each session begins with gentle, mindful bodywork to help us relax and feel comfortable working together. There’s also time to catch up, share news and enjoy being part of a group before moving into creative activities. The activities are different every week, so if you miss a session because of appointments or family commitments, you can drop straight back in the following week.
There’s no acting, no scripts and no pressure to perform – just a chance to try something new in a safe, encouraging space. Drama@Drylaw is growing, and the new year is a great time to give it a try.
Every Tuesday 10:30am – 12:30pm.
New members are very welcome — just come along and see how it feels!
Holiday cheer has faded, credit card bills have arrived, and motivation is running low; Blue Monday on 19th January is billed to be the most depressing day of the year.
But what if instead of being something to endure, it marks the start of a powerful reset? GroceryAid – a charity that provides relief in tough times for grocery workers and their families – is urging anyone struggling with money worries and emotional strain to use Blue Monday as a chance to reach out and access the wide range of support available and kickstart a happier and healthier 2026.
Mandi Leonard, Welfare Director at GroceryAid, shares top tips for accessing vital help that could change a negative date into the start of something positive:
Find out if you’re eligible for free money
A quick search on grants-search.turn2us.org.uk will tell you if you could be eligible for a financial grant from a range of sources. Or if you’re one of the 2.6 million people working in the grocery industry, GroceryAid should be your first port of call. Last year the charity provided £4.6m in financial grants to help with everything from priority debts to supporting those on a reduced income due to caring responsibilities. Find out if your eligible to apply at groceryaid.org
Combine quick-impact help with long-term support
If you’ve got money worries and are struggling to make ends meet, see if you’re eligible for a financial grant, but don’t stop there. Underpin it with money management advice and practical support to better equip you for the future.
Check out groceryaid.org for handy budgeting tools and help managing bills or turn to StepChange and MoneyHelper for free debt advice.
Don’t wait until you are at crisis point
Many people assume support is only available in extreme circumstances but it’s available long before crisis hits. If you’re experiencing an unexpected bump in the road which is affecting your financial and emotional wellbeing, it’s time to seek help now – don’t wait for a blip to turn into an emergency.
Contact your mortgage company or energy provider to discuss payment plans when bills start to get on top of you, and look into mental health hints and tips to tackle niggles before they get bigger.
Talk to your friends and family
Let’s make suffering in silence a thing of the past. Opening up to friends and family can be the first step in making a change and by being a good listener yourself, you could be the catalyst to helping someone get back on their feet.
Most people know someone who works in the grocery industry and could potentially benefit from GroceryAid support, whether now or in the future. Be ready to spread the word about the support available.
Don’t see help as a handout
There is zero shame in asking for help and it isn’t a handout. GroceryAid, for example, provides free and confidential financial, emotional and practical support to grocery workers, from shop workers to factory operators, because they help feed the nation – it is the help they have earned.
Mandi adds: “Blue Monday doesn’t have to be something people simply get through. It can be a moment to pause, reset and take that first step towards feeling more in control.
“At GroceryAid we see time and again how reaching out early – whether for financial help, emotional support or practical advice – can make a real difference. If things feel tough right now, you’re not alone, and support is there to help you start 2026 in a stronger, more positive place.”
For more information on the free and confidential support available, visit: groceryaid.org.uk/get-help/ or call 08088 021 122.
There’s lots for theatre lovers to be excited about at Vue this year, with several productions taking over the big screen in the first quarter of 2026.
Kicking things off is the Royal Ballet and Opera’s La Traviata, arriving on screens from 14 January. Audiences can enter a world of seductive grandeur, experiencing the tender and devastating beauty of Verdi’s opera, directed by Richard Eyre.
Also heading to Vue from the Royal Ballet and Opera is Woolf Works (from 9 Feb), Giselle (from 3 March) and Siegfried (from 31 March). In the former, resident choreographer Wayne McGregor leads a luminous artistic team to evoke Woolf’s signature stream of consciousness writing style in this immense work that rejects traditional narrative structures.
Meanwhile, Giselle conjures up the earthly and otherworldly realms in a tale of love, betrayal and redemption with Peter Wright’s 1985 production of the quintessential Romantic ballet – set to Adolphe Adam’s evocative score with atmospheric designs by John Macfarlane.
The latter is brought to life under Barrie Kosky’s inspired eye, following his spectacular Das Rheingold (2023) and Die Walküre (2025). Andreas Schager, in his much-anticipated debut with the productions house, stars as Siegfried’s titular hero, with Antonio Pappano conducting, drawing out the unspoken tensions and ethereal mysticism of Wagner’s dynamic score.
Fans of Shakespeare can enjoy two of the world’s greatest playwright’s productions at Vue, with Othello heading to Vue from 4 March after being filmed at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London especially for the big screen.
Directed by Tony Award-winner Tom Morris OBE (War Horse, Dr Semmelweis, The Grinning Man) with music by PJ Harvey, this epic story of manipulation, jealousy and toxic masculinity explores the darker side of power, rage and desire.
Meanwhile, the National Theatre’s Hamlet will be arriving from 22 January. Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) takes on the titular role in this fearless, contemporary take on the famous tragedy.
Also returning from the National Theatre is Academy Award-winner Helen Mirren in The Audience (from 26 February), where she plays Queen Elizabeth II in Olivier Award–winning hit production that inspired Netflix’s The Crown.
Finally, from the Metropolitan Opera is Tristan und Isolde– arriving on screens from 24 March. The electrifying Lise Davidsen tackles one of the ultimate roles for dramatic soprano: the Irish princess Isolde in Wagner’s transcendent meditation on love and death. Heroic tenor Michael Spyres stars opposite Davidsen as the love-drunk Tristan.
One of Edinburgh’s leading visitor attractions, The Real Mary King’s Close, has reported another record-breaking year after welcoming 296,726 guests in 2025, marking continued year-on-year growth and reinforcing its position as one of the Capital’s most popular experiences.
The latest figures represent an impressive 5% increase on 2024, when the attraction welcomed 282,525 visitors, making 2025 the third consecutive record year for The Close. Located beneath Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile, the attraction continues to draw strong interest from both domestic and international audiences keen to explore the city’s hidden history.
Traditionally one of Edinburgh’s peak summer months, July saw 38,079 visitors undeterred by warmer weather, instead choosing to step below the Royal Mile to uncover Auld Reekie’s rich heritage, hidden streets, and stories from the city’s past.
Over the course of the year, The Real Mary King’s Close welcomed visitors from 147 countries, underlining its global appeal. International guests travelled from as far afield as the Åland Islands, Belize, French Polynesia, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Namibia and Nepal, alongside key tourism markets in Europe, North America and Asia.
The visitor site’s reputation is further reflected in its online performance, now boasting over 5,780 reviews across Google and Tripadvisor, with 93% rated four stars or higher, positioning it among Edinburgh’s highest-rated cultural experiences.
Alongside its core offering, The Real Mary King’s Close continued to expand and diversify its programme in 2025, launching two new tours while seeing strong ongoing demand for its established special experiences. Introduced in April, Carnage and Contagion: The Plague Tour welcomed 574 guests; Coffee & Closes, in partnership with John’s Coffee House, attracted 884 guests in its first year.
These new additions sat alongside the continued success of specialist and limited-run experiences, which allow returning visitors the opportunity to delve into different facets of Scotland’s history, including the Dr Arnott Experience, which welcomed 3,043 guests, and four Underground Unlocked free-flow events that together welcomed 976 guests.
Retail performance also remained strong, with historically inspired merchandise proving particularly popular. Best-selling items included the Plague Dr Shopper bag, with 5,363 units sold, and the Plague Ducktor, which sold 3,538 units during the year.
Paul Nixon, General Manager at The Real Mary King’s Close said: “Achieving another record-breaking year is a fantastic milestone and demonstrates the overwhelming appetite for immersive, high-quality historical experiences in our Capital City. Our dedicated team welcomed nearly 300,000 guests in 2025, from 147 different countries.
“We are continuing to evolve our offering through new tours and experiences while staying true to what makes The Close distinctive – its powerful storytelling, authenticity and a deep connection to Edinburgh’s past. It’s so encouraging to see consistent growth across both the peak and shoulder seasons, and we’re excited to build on this momentum.”
For more information about The Real Mary King’s Close and bookings please visit:
Families in towns across Scotland are paying up to £2,437 more per year on their grocery shopping simply because they lack access to a discount supermarket, new analysis from Aldi reveals.
The findings form part of Aldi’s national review of towns facing the steepest postcode penalty, with shoppers in places such as Cathcart in Glasgow missing out on the savings enjoyed by those with access to Aldi.
The analysis shows that households without access to Aldi – which has been named the UK’s Cheapest Supermarket by consumer champion Which? for the past five years – pay £826 more on average, rising to £2,437 in areas dominated by the highest-priced supermarkets.
These figures are based on the average monthly cost difference between Aldi and either the average major UK supermarkets, or the most expensive UK supermarket, using the prices of a typical 68-item shopping basket tracked by Which?*.
Across the UK, Aldi has mapped 220 locations where shoppers are disproportionately affected by this postcode penalty.
In Scotland, this includes towns such as Cathcart, Bonnyrigg, Clarkston, Barnton (? – Ed.) and Largs where residents are paying more for identical groceries because no discount supermarket is available locally.
Jonathan Neale, Managing Director of National Real Estate at Aldi UK, said: “No one should pay more for their weekly shop simply because of where they live. We believe every household should have access to high-quality, affordable food.
“With household budgets under intense pressure, local access to a discounter isn’t just convenient – it can save families hundreds of pounds a year. These findings show that expanding access to Aldi is one of the simplest ways to reduce the cost of living for many.”
Aldi has invested £650 million across Britain through its store opening and refurbishment programme in 2025, with each new site creating around 40 jobs.
The discounter also recently announced it would be doubling down on its investment in Britain with a £1.6 billion commitment over the next two years, opening 40 stores each year as it moves towards its ambition to have 1,500 UK stores.
The National Autistic Society Scotland is calling for real change for autistic people, ahead of the Scottish Parliament election in May.
The new campaign calls on the next Scottish Government to introduce the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence (LDAN) Bill to parliament as soon as possible.
Autistic people in Scotland are waiting months, if not years, for an assessment and experience poorer health outcomes than the general population. At school, autistic pupils face exclusion and isolation due to lack of support, and in community settings autistic people face discrimination stemming from a lack of understanding and access to services.
The campaign is split into four key areas: diagnosis and support; accessible healthcare; support in schools; and inclusive communities. The LDAN Bill can play a transformative role in each of these areas by introducing national and local plans to tackle waiting lists, introducing mandatory training in healthcare and education, and addressing a glaring lack of accountability in the public services and systems meant to support autistic people in Scotland.
Rob Holland, Director of the National Autistic Society Scotland, said:‘Too often we hear from autistic people and families that do not have the support they need to live fulfilled lives on their terms, and who are continually being driven into crisis.
“Despite many good laws, strategies and policies in Scotland, there remains a gap between the support people should receive and what they actually receive, whether in school, social care, healthcare or employment.
“The importance of the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill in tackling the inequalities faced by autistic people and their families cannot be underestimated. It is a vital opportunity to address systematic injustices and to improve outcomes for autistic people of all ages, and that is why we are calling on all political parties to commit to introducing the Bill in Government.”
Becca, NAS Campaigner, said: “We must be allowed to have equal access and opportunity. We are not a burden on society. We are useful, we are intelligent, we are creative. We are inspiring. We are contributors.
“We must be allowed the chance to belong, the chance to make a difference, to be educated and be educators, to be validated, taken seriously. We must be allowed to live in a fair and just society where we are not discriminated against and where we have the chance to live our lives fully and freely.
“The LDAN bill will give autistic and neurodivergent people a chance to be involved in a fairer society. It will decrease the amount of discrimination and invalidation by making people aware, trained and knowledgeable.
“It will increase independence and choice, helping people to feel they are active in the decisions that affect their own lives whilst also receiving valuable support.”
You can read more about the campaign on the NAS website.
On Monday 19 January, the Edinburgh Union will host a landmark debate on the motion: This House Has No Confidence in the Scottish Government Ahead of the Holyrood Election.
With the Holyrood election fast-approaching, this debate will examine the legacy of nearly two decades of SNP governance and assess the Scottish Government’s record across key policy areas. The event will bring together MSPs and election candidates from across Scotland’s major political parties to debate the motion and put their arguments directly to the audience.
Alongside guest speakers including Paul McLennan MSP, Katherine Sangster, and Alex Cole Hamilton MSP, student speakers from the University of Edinburgh will also take opposing sides in the debate.
The audience, comprising students and academics from across Edinburgh’s universities, will have the opportunity to question speakers and ultimately vote on whether they retain confidence in the Scottish Government ahead of the upcoming election.
This debate marks the beginning of the Edinburgh Union’s summer term programme. Following a series of sold-out events last semester, the Union continues its mission to provide a platform for open, rigorous debate on contemporary political and cultural issues in Scotland’s capital.
The forthcoming term card includes debates on whether immigration is the biggest issue facing the UK, and if NATO can solve modern security challenges – as well as a Varsity debate against the Cambridge Union.
Each debate takes place in Rainy Hall, New College, and offers audience members the opportunity to engage directly with speakers from across the political spectrum in a traditional Union-style format.
Finn Tyson, President of the Edinburgh Union, said: “With the Holyrood election approaching, this debate gives students and the wider academic community the chance to assess the record of the Scottish Government and directly question candidates seeking to govern Scotland.
“The Edinburgh Union exists to foster open, challenging, and respectful debate. Our events are open to all students, and we are proud to bring together voices from across the political spectrum to start this semester with an event centered on democratic engagement and rigorous discussion.”
NEIL GRAY PRAISES STAFF AFTER SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENT
Health Secretary Neil Gray has thanked NHS staff for their efforts as latest figures show that in the 12 months to November 2025 the number of operations carried out increased by 5.3% on the same period the year before.
A total of 272,465 operations were performed during this time according to the statistics from Public Health Scotland.
In November alone, 794 operations took place each day – up from 756 a day in November 2024.
The 12 month period also saw the highest number of operations performed in a single month since January 2020, with 25,261 procedures carried out over the 31 days of October.
Today’s statistics come after Public Health Scotland figures last week showed progress in other areas including a 12.8% fall in the number waits over 52 weeks for a new outpatient appointment between October and November 2025
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “It is welcome to see sustained and continued improvement in the number of operations carried out, despite ongoing pressures on services. This is further evidence that our NHS has turned a corner.
“I am extremely grateful to all the staff who work so hard every day to make progress like this possible.
“We want to build on this success and we are investing £135.5 million to tackle the longest waits for procedures and operations.
“Our record investment in the NHS this year is allowing us to target specific areas that are experiencing long waits, reducing backlogs and getting people the appointments and treatments they need as quickly as possible.”
Scotland’s largest trade union body has urged the Scottish Government to prioritise the ‘people of Scotland and not political survival’ in their budget today (Tuesday).
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) are calling on the Scottish Government to take the “bold decisions” on reforming property, land and wealth taxes in their budget and to avoid “short-term electioneering” ahead of the election later this year.
Last year, on behalf of Tax Justice Scotland, the STUC published research showing Scotland’s five richest families hold more wealth than an entire quarter of Scotland’s population.
The research further showed that a modest 2% tax on all those with assets over £10 million could raise almost £500,000,000 for public services.
Commenting, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer implored the Finance Secretary Shona Robison “do what is right” and deliver for Scotland’s workers during the budget.
Ms Foyer said:“Today, the Scottish Government must do what is right and prioritise the people of Scotland not political survival.
“With the election looming large, this budget can’t sacrifice the long-term wellbeing and growth of our nation on the altar of short-term political survival. We must see bold decisions from the Finance Secretary on reforming tax on property and land, along with the introduction of wealth taxes, not more of the same measures designed to prioritise short-term electioneering.
“STUC research has shown that modest wealth taxes on Scotland’s richest few can benefit the many with almost £500,000,000 raised for the public coffers in the process.
“These are the measures the Scottish Government must prioritise if they want the support of Scotland’s workers.
“This isn’t about the next four months; if the government wishes to re-take office for the next five years, we urge them to do what is right and stand beside Scotland’s workers tomorrow, prioritising public services, job security and decent pay in their budget measures.”
STUC research ‘Taxing Wealth for a Fairer and Greener Scotland’ can be viewed here:
Dhruva Kumar, Alba Party, Former MP Candidate writes that Scottish politics has finally woken up to the geopolitical crisis, yet remains oddly silent on an older story: how U.S. power behaves when oil and strategic resources are at stake:
Scotland speaks often about a just transition under the Labour Westminster government, yet we overlook the geopolitics that will shape it. Two arenas matter now: Venezuela, where U.S. sanctions flip-flops have jolted heavy‑crude supply, and Greenland, which banned new oil licensing but is pivotal to Western critical‑minerals and Arctic security strategies.
Greenland is the mirror image: in 2021, it ceased new oil and gas licensing, citing environmental and economic costs, yet has drawn stronger U.S./EU interest in rare earths and Arctic security.
From Venezuela to Greenland, Washington’s pattern is clear. In Venezuela, U.S. sanctions have evolved into direct control over who can sell the country’s oil and where the money goes – a shift from “regime change” to long-term management of another nation’s core resource. In Greenland, U.S. interest has moved beyond missile‑warning bases to a renewed diplomatic presence and a growing focus on minerals and rare earths as the Arctic ice retreats.
Scotland sits at the intersection of those same pressures. The North Sea may be a mature basin, but billions of barrels of oil equivalent remain, and recent surges in revenues have reminded us how central these flows still are to our public finances. At the same time, the North Atlantic is militarily critical, Faslane anchors the UK’s nuclear deterrent, and Scotland’s offshore wind and marine resources are among Europe’s most valuable.
Overlay that with Donald Trump. He is not just a sometime visitor with a tartan tie, but an owner of loss-making, debt-laden golf resorts at Menie and Turnberry that have relied on UK support schemes and opaque financing. He has waged a decade-long crusade against Scottish offshore wind, rhetoric that has since been exported into a wider global war on renewables from the White House. In Venezuela, he has been explicit about “taking” oil to reshape a country on U.S. terms; in Greenland, he floated outright acquisition in pursuit of strategic minerals.
It would be naïve to assume Scotland is exempt from that mindset simply because we fly the Saltire. Our energy transition, our remaining oil and gas, and our critical geography all sit within the same mental map that links Caracas, Havana and Nuuk.
The question for Scotland is not whether tanks will roll up Union Street, but whether, in the next round of US–UK trade, security and energy deals, our future is quietly bargained away in boardrooms and back channels without a single Scottish voice in the room – as with the recent decisions involving Wick.
It is time this angle was interrogated openly in our media before decisions are made for us, not by us.
Drama@Drylaw – a relaxed, welcoming social group
Every Tuesday 10:30am – 12:30pm.
