The first image has been revealed for new drama, Make It Happen, about the rise and fall of the Royal Bank of Scotland, featuring Brian Cox who will be playing the role of Adam Smith and Sandy Grierson who will be playing Fred Goodwin.
Make it Happen is the first major artwork to tell the story of Royal Bank of Scotland’s role in the 2008 financial crash and is written by James Graham and directed by Andrew Panton.
It marks the return of Brian Cox to Scottish stages for the first time in a decade. The world premiere of Make It Happen opens the Edinburgh International Festival’s 2025 following preview performances at Dundee Rep Theatre.
Tickets to the Edinburgh International Festival opened for sale to the public on Thursday 27 March.
Charity Starlight highlights the need for play to reduce healthcare-induced trauma
Only one in four (25%) health boards in Scotland report having budgets for essential mental health play services for seriously ill children, according to a freedom of information request carried out by Starlight, the national charity for children’s play in healthcare.
Areas with the most children living in areas of highest deprivation tended to have less or no resourcing. As noted in Starlight’s recent report2, these children are most at risk of trauma.
Cathy Gilman, chief executive of Starlight said: “Play services, which include evidence-based activities, games and toys, are one of the most effective ways to reduce trauma in children undergoing healthcare treatment.
“It can explain complex procedures in child-friendly ways, distract children from pain and help professionals do their jobs by reducing children’s stress.
“The lack of budget for this vital support in Scotland is as shocking as it is sad, with so many children facing incredibly harrowing circumstances without support.”
Starlight’s research also revealed that even those trusts with budget for play services did not extend support to evenings and weekends – quiet periods that can be hardest of all for children to face.
Claire’s daughter Lucy, 12, has had a rare condition affecting her oesophagus and trachea since birth. Claire said: “We live two hours away from Aberdeen and Lucy’s dad is in the RAF, so it’s hard for him and Lucy’s two siblings to visit when we are staying there, and other family are five hours away.
“This means it’s usually just me there, so having the play workers in hospital organising fun things to do, for example face painting and having visits from exotic animals, means that Lucy can have some fun, and I can do things such as have a shower, and not have to worry about her being alone in hospital, as I know she is with the play workers and having fun.”
Heather Beattie, play service manager at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, said: “I genuinely believe that a paediatric hospital couldn’t function properly without a solid, well-trained play team.
“Play is such a vital component of creating a positive experience for both the child and their family and is an inseparable part of their treatment journey.
“You can’t separate children from play, it’s inherent to who they are. But it’s crucial that this play is appropriate and provided by trained professionals who understand the unique needs of these young patients.”
In October 2024, Heather’s team won Play Team of the Year award at Starlight’s annual Play in Healthcare Awards.
A poll commissioned recently by the NSPCC has revealed that more than eight out of 10 UK parents believe in-person play has a positive impact on children’s wellbeing.
The YouGov survey of over 1,000 UK parents, with children aged 18 or under, also found that 62 per cent of respondents would like their children to have more time to play and almost a third (32 per cent) said playing with peers is the best way to enhance their child’s experience and promote learning and development.
Play is central to thriving childhoods.
This data highlights the benefits of all types of play, whether in-person or online, as children spend weeks away from school during the summer holidays.
The NSPCC-run service, Childline, is hearing first-hand about the challenges that some children face during this time.
Some young people tell us that they struggle to cope being out of their school routine, whilst others feel disconnected from their friends and, for some, home is not a happy environment.
Childline’s trained counsellors promote play as a helpful tool that children can use to support their wellbeing, reduce anxiety and release stress.
Ensuring your child has a variety of different types of play, will help them cope in difficult times, connect with others, build confidence and learn more about the world around them.
Whether it be playing a board game, football or visiting the Childline website and playing a game in our online toolbox, all types of play can be beneficial.
Children can get in touch with Childline 24/7 every day of the year on childline.org.uk or by calling 0800 1111.
Girlguiding shows the true face of four-year-old girls with stereotype-challenging portrait series
To mark International Day of the Girl, Girlguiding collaborates with award-winning photographer Emily Stein, to celebrate girls now being able to join Rainbows from four-years- old
Girlguiding – the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK – today announces, on International Day of The Girl, that they are officially opening the doors to four-year-old girls nationwide.
Rainbows, the charity’s youngest section, will now welcome girls from the age of four up to seven years old, providing more opportunities for more girls to experience the fun, friendship and adventure of Girlguiding.
Rainbows has been running for 35 years and to celebrate this achievement, Girlguiding has collaborated with award-winning portrait photographer Emily Stein on a photo series entitled ‘Girls Are Made Of…’, celebrating the true face of four-year-old girls, challenging the dated stereotype that little girls should be ‘sugar and spice and all things nice’.
International Day of The Girl
Launched to coincide with the annual International Day of the Girl, selected images from the series will be on display at Girlguiding’s London headquarters on Buckingham Palace Road, both in the windows and a gallery open to the public. The bold images perfectly capture what girls are made of, from strength and joy, to mischief, courage, and curiosity.
Free to be four
For the photo series, Girlguiding invited existing Rainbows and girls keen to start their own Girlguiding journey to a photoshoot, designed to showcase their individuality — representing the many faces, qualities and quirks embraced by the organisation.
Photographer Emily Stein is known for her bold aesthetic and documentary approach to shooting children and young people; capturing authentic emotions and real ‘moments’ that bring a sense of intimacy and honesty to her subjects.
Emma Guthrie, Assistant Chief Guide, said: “Four-year-old girls have spent a huge portion of their lives in a pandemic, missing out on essential play, exploration, confidence building and friendships, and parents are keen for them to make up for lost time.
“Too often girls are still expected to be sugar and spice and all things nice, but working with girls and young women for over 100 years, we know they are made of so much more. We’re extremely happy to warmly welcome four-year-olds to the organisation and start them on their Girlguiding journey – opening up a community where girls can always be free to be themselves. Free to be four.”
Rainbows focuses on developing self-confidence, building friendships, learning new things and having fun through games and activities. When asked what they enjoyed about Rainbows, four-year-old Mia-Belle, said, “We get to play, play, play!” – a sentiment echoed by Neylah, also four, who added that she “loves going to Rainbows” because “we play fun games”. Adah-Rose added that she “can’t wait” to be a Rainbow and is “really excited” that she can now join her local unit.
Girls can work towards badges throughout their Girlguiding journey, with Rainbows and the other sections following a diverse and engaging programme built around six themes1 offering girls a broad range of experiences. In Rainbows, girls are encouraged to gain skills in areas such as exploration, story-telling, construction and nature, and even explore at a young age what it means to have a healthy mind.
Rainbows is all about developing self-confidence, building friendships, learning new things, and having fun. Members get their hands dirty with arts and crafts, get in touch with nature and play games. It’s all about learning by doing.
Emily Stein, Photographer, said: “For this special collection of images, I really wanted to capture all the behaviours, contradictions, energy, purity, beauty and emotions of being four.
“It’s a really significant time in a girl’s life; sitting between the ‘toddler’ years and just before the structure of school begins, with the world opening up a little more every day, in all of its exciting glory. It’s a magical year in time, that was truly a joy to document.”
#GirlsAreMadeOf…
Girlguiding is encouraging its community and members of the public to join the charity and celebrate all the incredible things that they were made of at age four, by sharing their own ‘face of four’ photos on Instagram and Facebook, using the hashtag #GirlsAreMadeOf… and adding their own word, to best describe their image.
The ‘Girls Are Made Of…’ exhibition will run for two weeks from Tuesday 11th October, with free admission to the general public.
You can follow the #GirlsAreMadeOf… campaign, view the online gallery or share a picture of yourself at four by visiting Girlguiding on Instagram.com/girlguiding, and at facebook.com/girlguidinguk.
The cast has been announced for Hiya Dolly! ahead of its Fringe 22 run at the Space @ Surgeons Hall.
The true story of how a cute, attention-seeking lamb became the most famous sheep in history, the world’s first cloned mammal. Lab created and born at the Roslin Institute outside Edinburgh, Dolly lived the good life.
A worldwide celebrity who never left her farm. Mother to six lovely lambs. She changed biology forever – and irrevocably changed the lives of all her human parents. Who were they? How did they do it? Where are they now? Come find out how to clone a sheep in this new play by Vince LiCata, laced with Dollified Scottish tunes and plenty of woolly humour.
Hiya Dolly! is a play with live music that explores the science, human relationships, and public reaction surrounding the remarkable cloning of Dolly the sheep at the Roslin Institute outside Edinburgh. At the time many high profile scientists had declared that cloning a mammal was impossible.
It’s a whirlwind excursion through the creation of the world’s most famous sheep and the story of the people who made it happen. Itmixes science, human drama, music, humour and a talking sheep. Its songs are set to traditional Scottish folk tunes arranged by Edinburgh based musician Ciaran McGhee.
Writer Vince LiCata says, “The explosion of publicity about the cloning of Dolly the sheep was outrageous: scientific advances just don’t get that type of public hype.
“And yet all that mania included little about the actual cloning. So Hiya Dolly! is an attempt to tell the story of the cloning itself, but in a way that retains the atmosphere of the runaway circus that surrounded it.”
Director Andy Jordan comments: “I am delighted to be directing Hiya Dolly!, a highly unusual play about a truly remarkable animal. Dolly is an Edinburgh icon who was created, lived and died just outside the city, so I feel honoured to be involved in telling her truly astonishing story.
“This play brings a talking Dolly to the stage with chutzpah, wit and charm, in a way that can only happen in theatre. I can’t wait to meet her.”
Hiya Dolly!
Written by Vince LiCata,
Directed & Produced by Andy Jordan
Music Direction by Ciaran McGhee
Designed by Robbie McDonnell
Listings info
Venue: theSpaceUK @ Surgeons Hall (Grand Theatre)
Dates: Friday 5 to Saturday 27 August No performance 14 Aug
A new play about two remarkable women in the WW2 Special Operations Executive
Dates: 19-27 Aug at 11.30 am
Vera Atkins and Noor Inayat Khan were exceptional women who worked for the S.O.E (Special Operations Executive) tasked with espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance during World War Two.
As a wireless operator Noor’s life expectancy is six weeks. Under the codename ‘Madeline’ she is flown by moonlight to occupied France with a bicycle, briefcase and a pistol. But with the Gestapo on her trail, and the net closing in, her life is in great danger.
Atkins trained Madeline and sent her to her position as a wireless operator in France. But now the war is over she is haunted by what happened to the ‘Indian princess’ and intent on uncovering the truth.
Highlighting the sorely-neglected role that ethnic minorities played in the war effort S.O.E aims to right a wrong and celebrate the contribution of these incredibly brave individuals.
“Minorities such as Noor have been sponged out of history quite deliberately,” said the play’s writer, Deborah Clair. “We’ve got to reverse and challenge that and I believe it is our duty to remember them.”
As well as playing the role of Vera Atkins Deborah runs Clair Obscur – a female led-theatre company dedicated to placing inspiring women of the past centre-stage.
Their last play, “A Necessary Woman”, – based on the suffragette Emily Davison – drew sell-out crowds to venues across the country and received coverage on national TV and radio.
Venue: Assembly Rooms Front Room George Street, EH2 2LR
Time: 11:30 Running Time: eg: 60mins
Dates:19 – 27 August
Tickets: £13 (£12)
Bookings: assemblyfestival.com, 0131 623 3030 or Assembly box offices at Assembly Hall and Assembly Roxy, Assembly George Square, Assembly Checkpoint and Assembly Rooms
WATSON previewed at Edinburgh Fringe last year, being enthusiastically received and achieving sell out shows. Now, refreshed and revised, Tim Marriott returns as Watson to Edinburgh before touring in the UK and internationally.
The play is a classic Sherlock Holmes tale of long buried secrets, betrayal and death. There is a shadow in the gutters, a spider’s web of poisonous intrigue plagues the city and Watson must face his greatest ever challenge.
The year is 1894. Watson is alone. Sherlock Holmes and his beloved Mary are both gone. London seethes with false reports and rumour. It is time to set the record straight. So Watson tells his tale and the intrepid detectives must face their nemesis, the Napoleon of Crime, Professor Moriarty. But as Watson takes us on a journey across Europe to the Reichenbach Falls, is the game really over?
“Impressive! A damn fine play” – Weekend Notes
“Brilliant. A must see” – Edinburgh Review
“A grippingly fine display… outstanding” – Broadway Baby
Watson: The Final Problem is created in collaboration with and directed by Bert Coules, the BBC’s head writer on adaptations of the Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, who says “Watson is often overlooked, but is more than Conan Doyle’s alter ego. Deeply affected by the effects of war in Afghanistan and appalled by dishonesty and falsehood, he is a remarkably contemporary character to bring to life on stage.”
90s sitcom star Tim Marriott played ‘Gavin’ in 7 seasons of the BBC sit-com The Brittas Empire. After a second career in education, he returned to the stage in 2018, travelling to festivals around the world with acclaimed productions of his PTSD awareness play Shell Shock and Holocaust themed Mengele.
BOOKING DETAILS
Time:13.10
Venue 20 – The Drawing Room, Assembly Festival, George Street
Dates: Aug 3-15, 17-28
Running Time: 60 mins
Tickets and Info: https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/watson-the-final-problem
If you are an active member of The Yard, you can once again drop in to any of our weekend family sessions in Edinburgh, Dundee and Kirkcaldy without booking.
All of our sites are open to new members – get in touch to join
While we were celebrating our 35 Years of Play and planning our Christmas celebrations, we didnt know we had yet another challenge coming our way this year.
On the 7th of December, The Yard Edinburgh was a victim of vandalism. On Tuesday, a fire was deliberately initiated in the boardwalk, damaging the grounds, outdoors electric systems and the door of the Solar Dome.
We are devastated and currently doing our best to have affected areas repaired as soon as possible, which will be a costly process. Luckily, no one was harmed and damage was contained.
Services were suspended on Tuesday, but we reopened the following day. We are still going ahead with our Christmas celebrations as scheduled, but families will not be able to access some areas for a while which will reduce the quality of play experience we pride ourselves for at The Yard.
Despite this heartbreaking news, we are confident that we’ll come out to the other side stronger, as we always have.
Please support us today if you can and donate as much or as little as you can. Every donation will help us rise stronger and continue to be there for the families that use The Yard.
BPS survey reveals high level of parents’ fears about effect of pandemic on primary school playtime
A survey for the British Psychological Society (BPS) has revealed that more than three-quarters of parents of primary-aged children believe play is now more than or just as important as academic catch-up, amid fears the pandemic has reduced opportunities for their children to engage in playtime at school.
Almost all parents who responded to the BPS survey said access to playtime in the primary school day was important for their children (96 per cent).
Yet research shows that since 1995, children’s break times in the school day have been reduced by 45 minutes a week, resulting in eight out of ten children now having less than one hour of physical activity per day.*
As a result of the findings, the BPS is launching a Time to Play campaign to put more play back in the school day, restore the playtime eroded and reverse the negative impact on children’s wellbeing and development.
The YouGov survey, commissioned by the BPS, had more than 1,500 respondents from across the UK. Key findings include:
96 per cent of parents surveyed said access to playtime in the school day was either very important (79 per cent) or important (17 per cent) for their children
79 per cent of parents said play was more important or equally as important as academic catch up for their children post-pandemic.
69 per cent were very or fairly concerned that the pandemic has impacted on the opportunities their children have for unstructured playtime at school.
61 per cent ranked social development as the most important benefit of play to their child.
Dr Dan O’Hare, co-chair of the BPS Division of Educational and Child Psychology, said: “It’s clear from the survey findings that play is valued highly by parents. We now need the government to take bold action and prioritise school playtime for our children’s development.
“This isn’t an ‘ask’ for more playtime, it’s about reclaiming what has been lost. There needs to be adequate support, funding and resources for teachers who are already under increasing pressure to deliver the curriculum.”
The campaign will urge the government to put back 10 minutes each day onto school playtime, effectively reversing the years of decline by restoring 50 minutes spread over a week.
In June this year, in a Statement to Parliament on the education recovery programme, the previous Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the next stage of the government’s recovery plan would include a review of time spent in school and college. The findings of the review are scheduled to be set out this year.
Against this backdrop, the BPS is calling for a focus on unstructured, child-led play in school, highlighting its benefits including aiding social development, problem solving and physical development as vital priorities alongside academic catch-up.
Dr O’Hare added: “We know that pre-pandemic children’s playtime has been eroded and now, against the landscape of ‘academic catch up’ after lockdowns, closures and pressure on children and schools, this issue is even more urgent.
“Reduced opportunities to play will likely have a negative impact on the wellbeing and development of children, and it is vital that we don’t forget that children have also missed out on play with their friends, physical activity and fun.
“It’s important to understand the role play has in children’s development to really understand why we are campaigning to get more play in the school day. Play is fundamental to children’s health and wellbeing. It can develop children’s skills in coping with challenge, facing uncertainty and how to be flexible and adaptable to different circumstances.
“The intrinsic value of play is that it brings entertainment, enjoyment and freedom to children. It is important that there are opportunities for all children to have high quality play throughout the school day, regardless of their needs, skills and abilities.”
