Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) has announced that Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Vol. 0 – its acclaimed original production created by Hamish Hawk and band, commissioned for the 2025 Festival – will tour major UK venues in spring 2026, marking a significant new chapter for one of the Book Festival’s most distinctive recent commissions.
First developed for EIBF, Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Vol. 0 blends music, storytelling and performance into a sharply observed, darkly funny and deeply Scottish meditation on class, domestic life and identity.
Following its inaugural performance in August 2025, the production will now reach new audiences across the UK, with dates confirmed for Manchester, Bristol, London and Glasgow.
Tour dates (2026)
Wednesday 30 April – O2 Ritz Manchester
Thursday 1 May – The Lantern, Bristol
Friday 2 May – Bloomsbury Theatre, London
Sunday 10 May – Òran Mór, Glasgow
Tour dates were announced on Monday 23 February 2026, with pre‑sale access for the Hamish Hawk mailing list opening on Wednesday 25 February, ahead of general sale on Friday 27 February.
The tour announcement reinforces EIBF’s growing reputation as both the world’s leading festival of words and ideas and a commissioning force that nurtures bold, genre‑defying work with a life far beyond the Book Festival itself – a reputation recognised when it won ‘Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival’ at the Scottish Thistle Awards in late 2025.
Hamish Hawk said:““Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Vol. 0 grew out of a very particular moment and place at EIBF, and it’s been extraordinary to see it resonate so widely.
“Taking it on tour feels like an expansion of that original invitation – into new rooms, new cities, new conversations.”
Jenny Niven, Director of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said:“Commissioning original work is at the heart of what EIBF exists to do. From the beginning, Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Vol. 0 felt like a project with a life beyond the Book Festival – bold, playful, and rooted in a distinctly Scottish sensibility while speaking to much wider audiences.
“We’re thrilled to see this commission tour the UK and reach new stages and communities.”
The tour brings together music fans and theatre audiences, underscoring EIBF’s distinctive place at the crossroads of live performance, storytelling and contemporary culture.
With Hamish Hawk fresh from a sold‑out, show‑stopping Barrowland Ballroom gig, a headline support slot at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations, and a recent SAY Award shortlist nod, the Book Festival clearly joined forces early with one of Scotland’s most compelling rising artists.
Have you ever considered how a single weapon could change the course of history? What stories lie behind the guns that shaped empires, wars, and even criminal underworlds? How did these firearms influence not just battles, but entire societies?
Acclaimed TV historian David Olusoga, known for his powerful BBC series A House Through Time and Black and British: A Forgotten History, has announced 2026 dates for his A Gun Through Time show.
As he is currently appearing on Celebrity Traitors, and fresh from interviewing Barack Obama on stage at The O2 in London, David is preparing to take this brand-new show on tour for the first time through November, asking the question of how a single weapon can change history.
Further dates have been added throughout April & May 2026, with tickets for all shows on-sale now via www.fane.co.uk/david-olusoga.
In A Gun Through Time, David takes audiences on a gripping journey into the hidden stories behind three firearms that changed the world. Each gun carries a complex legacy, entwining conquest, survival, and social upheaval.
This show couldn’t be timelier. With Europe witnessing the return of mechanised warfare, the echoes of past conflicts feel all too present. Young Ukrainians are now fighting in trenches eerily like those from a century ago, and here in Britain, politicians discuss rearmament and a potential expansion of the military—history, it seems, may be poised to repeat itself.
David explains his fascination: “My first passions as a boy—when I first got into history—were the First and Second World Wars. But I was always much more interested in the experiences of ordinary people caught up in those great events than I was in the speeches and strategies of politicians and generals.
“So this is not a show about guns and how they work technically, nor is it about the tactics of battle. It’s about the cultures that emerged from the millions of people for whom these weapons became part of their lives.”
Why now? David continues: “I come from a generation that, unlike our ancestors, has had little contact with firearms. This makes us incredibly fortunate and unique, living in a rare era of peace.
“In the last century, two generations were conscripted into massive armies, with millions bearing arms in wars. Today, most of us have never even seen a gun, thanks to strict gun laws and a smaller military.
“This show explores how guns were once integral to life, shaping our history and culture. Yet, as conflicts re-emerge, the peace we’ve known feels fragile, with echoes of the past returning to modern battlefields and a renewed call for defence readiness in Britain”.
David will bring four legendary firearms onto the stage, each with its own world-changing story: the Thompson Sub-Machine Gun, which transformed from a WWI “wonder weapon” to the notorious “Tommy Gun” of Prohibition-era America; the Maxim Gun, used to subdue African territories and later causing unimaginable devastation on the Western Front – a weapon still seen on today’s battlefields in Ukraine.
The Lee-Enfield Rifle, the soldier’s companion in both World Wars and a legacy passed through two generations of British families. And going back to the 18th and 19th Centuries the British Brown Bess flintlock musket – the weapon British soldiers took to Waterloo and that American rebels used to win independence for the United States.
In this powerful live experience, you’ll get to see these historic artifacts up close, understand their hidden social histories, and ask David your own questions about the stories behind them.
Don’t miss this chance to experience history like never before, one weapon, one story at a time.
TOUR DATES 2025
2 November Beacon Hall Bristol 3 November Barbican Hall, London 4 November Theatre Severn, Shropshire 7 November Liverpool Philharmonic Hall 9 November Storyhouse, Chester 10 November Lyric Theatre, Lowry, Salford 13 November The Apex, Bury St Edmunds 15 November Corn Exchange, Cambridge 16 November Norwich Theatre Royal 20 November Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle 22 November Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh (Matinee) 22 November Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh
*NEWLY ANNOUNCED 2026 DATES
14 April Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells 16 April Charter Hall, Colchester 19 April Leeds Grand Theatre 20 April Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow 21 April Town Hall, Birmingham 22 April Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham 26 April Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury 27 April G Live, Guildford 28 April Anvil Arts, Basingstoke 5 May Derngate Theatre, Northampton 7 May Richmond Theatre, Richmond 11 May Cadogan Hall, London 12 May The Alban Arena, St Albans 15 May Grand Opera House, York 18 May Hall for Cornwall, Truro 19 May New Theatre, Cardiff.
A replica of the Hungarian Horntail dragon which featured in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire is coming to Edinburgh
Complete with a moving head, mouth and eyes, the hydraulic dragon roars and bares its teeth to visitors and was created to celebrate the new Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions feature at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter
The dragon will stop off in Edinburgh as part of a UK tour, aiming to take a piece of filmmaking magic from Warner Bros. Studio Tour London to fans across the country
People visiting Castle Street, Edinburgh will be able to get close to an iconic movie moment and have the opportunity to win tickets to see the full feature at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
Edinburgh will have a rare chance to interact with a piece of Harry Potter filmmaking magic history later this week (30th and 31st May).
A Hungarian Horntail dragon will be landing at Castle Street, Edinburgh in a special appearance outside of its rightful home at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter. Visitors will be able to get up close and personal with the magical creature, which fans will recognise from Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, experiencing its ability to roar, move and even give passersby a delightful wink of its eye.
The huge animatronic dragon, which weighs 1.3 tonnes, brings to life the fan favourite, nail-biting scene where Harry Potter’s Hungarian Horntail breaks free of its chains during the first task in the Triwizard Tournament.
The dragon was created to mark the launch of the new ‘Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions’ feature at the Studio Tour, running from 15th May to 8th September 2025. The new feature celebrates the 20th anniversary of the cinematic release of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and invites visitors to go behind-the-scenes of the Triwizard Tournament to discover how filmmakers created the iconic competition we see and love on-screen.
As well as having the rare opportunity to come face to face with a legend of the wizarding world, fans seeing the dragon on tour will have the chance to win tickets to ‘Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions through an exclusive competition.
Harry Potter filmmaker and Animatronic Designer, Joe Scott, designed the dragon , replicating the creature in the fourth film, complete with a moving head, mouth and eyes and sound effects.
The skilled recreation of the famous dragon was carefully crafted over 750 hours, using materials that included 40 metres of fiberglass. The team first created a series of detailed sketches and CGI mock-ups, before Sculptors, Carpenters and Scenic Artists meticulously built the dragon’s head, which was 3D printed using a scan of the original Hungarian Horntail from the film.
A total of 119 spikes were individually applied to garnish the dragon’s head and tail, taking 265 painstaking hours, whilst 38 razor-sharp teeth were 3D printed in resin to create bite in the creature’s animatronic mouth.
The stunning creature will give visitors a preview of the new summer feature at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, where for the first-time ever, fans can explore the Backlot Stage, showcasing the Secrets of Special Effects. This new, dedicated indoor space, offers visitors the opportunity to discover how filmmakers brought the action-packed scenes from the Triwizard Tournament to life.
Comprising a digital screen, a stage and tiered seating, it promises to uncover secrets that not even the most knowledgeable Muggle will know. From creating the Hungarian Horntail dragon to understanding how Harry Potter held his breath for so long underwater, all will be revealed as part of the feature.
Visitors can also witness a mesmerising demonstration reminiscent of the Beauxbaton and Durmstrang students’ arrival, featuring Beauxbaton’s iconic blue dresses as seen in the film.
Geoff Spooner, Senior Vice President at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London says: “We’re excited to launch our brand-new summer feature, Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions, where visitors can learn behind-the-scenes secrets of the fourth Harry Potter film.
“To celebrate and bring the magic of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London to fans across the UK we recreated the iconic moment of the escaped Hungarian Horntail dragon 20 years on from ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.”
Further additions to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London summer feature include Mad-Eye Moody’s arrival into the Great Hall and wizarding journalist Rita Skeeter, best known for her poison pen articles.
The dragon will land at Castle Street, Edinburgh at 1pm on the 30th and 9am on the 31st May. For those wanting to see more, the Triwizard Tournament – Making of Champions is a special feature at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London running from 15th May – 8th September and all new additions are included in the ticket price.
Hungarian Horntail National Tour details
Location: Castle Street, Edinburgh
Date and Time: 30th May from 1pm until 9pm, 31st May from 9am until 8pm
John Cooper Clarke celebrates 50 years in showbiz with the Get Him While He’s Alive Tour
Tour coming to Queens Hall in Edinburgh on 12th & 13th April 2024
John Cooper Clarke released brand new poetry collection -”What” published by Picador on 8th Feb 2024
Literary phenomenon John Cooper Clarke is back and better than ever, returning with a brand new tour and poetry collection this 2024. John will be performing at Queens Hall in Edinburgh on 12th & 13th April 2024.
John’s new show will take fans on a completely one-of-a-kind journey through poetry and comedy. John’s live touring career has gone from strength to strength, with John recently returning from an epic North America tour in September 2023.
This year he’s back on home turf, as he continues to sell out theatres and halls across the UK, with a stretch of shows in Ireland also recently added.
It’s a chance to see one of the world’s most important and entertaining spoken word artists at his bold and brilliant best.
‘WHAT’ is the new collection from Britain’s “Poet Laureate of Punk” and will be published on 8th February to coincide with John’s 2024 national theatre tour celebrating 50 years of showbiz.
Venues for the “Get Him While He’s Alive” tour include the Edinburgh Queens Hall, a reunion show with very special guest Linton Kwesi Johnson at the London Palladium and three nights at Salford’s Lowry Theatre.
John’s new collection “What”, which will be published by Picador, is full of John’s much-loved sardonic wit and hilarious ponderings on modern life and follows on from John’s bestselling The Luckiest Guy Alive.
The original people’s poet, John’s cultural influence spans literature, music, and fashion, and his unique poetry and delivery style transcends generations.
From creating some of the most iconic poetry of the modern era, including “I Wanna Be Yours” (recently celebrating over a billion streams in its incarnation as a hit record by the Arctic Monkeys) to sharing his life story through his 120k selling memoir of the same name, John is still as relevant as he was when he shot to prominence in the 1970s.”
Three former EDA pupils return to Edinburgh for UK tour of Romeo and Juliet
Three aspiring Edinburgh dancers who landed dream roles with the internationally-renowned New Adventures Dance Company are back in the capital this week as cast members of the group’s production of Romeo & Juliet.
The local performers, Rory McLeod, Carla Contini, and Leonardo McCorkindale, all former pupils of leading dance school Edinburgh Dance Academy (EDA), are performing in the Scottish capital this week as part of the show’s international tour.
The Scottish trio have all been recruited by the iconic and ground-breaking New Adventures, set up by one of Britian’s most innovative choreographers, Sir Matthew Bourne.
22-year-old Rory joined the company in 2021 after attending Laine Theatre Arts dance school in Surrey and made his cameo appearance in New Adventure’s Nutcracker! in April last year.
Meanwhile, Leonardo, aged 20, and Carla (19) were taken on by the company earlier this year after graduating from Tring Park School for the Performing Arts in Hertfordshire. Their performance in Romeo and Juliet, which is currently on a UK tour before moving on to Europe and the US early next year, marks their New Adventures debut.
New Adventures has received numerous international awards and has won six Olivier Awards which recognise excellence in London’s professional theatre circuit. The company’s repertoire has inspired and thrilled millions of people worldwide.
During their five-day at the Festival Theatre, the three Edinburgh dancers were reunited with EDA’s Julie Mitchell and Jenny Inglis, both of whom were former dance teachers to the trio while they were growing up in the city.
Julie Mitchell said: “We are so delighted with the progress of our three former pupils, who are now part of this international production being staged by one of the world’s leading dance companies.
“While Rory, Carla, and Leonardo all developed their dance talent as youngsters, it has been their drive and commitment that has led them to becoming part of Matthew Bourne’s prestigious New Adventures company.
“We’ve very proud of all three and we wish them every success with their careers going forward.”
This April will see TV star Trent Maxwell, more commonly known as ‘Lifeguard Maxi’ swap Australia’s world famous Bondi Beach for the waters of the UK and Ireland on a tour to spread the message about water safety.
To kickstart the tour, Maxi will be joined by former Olympian, Sports Scientist, Physical Activity Expert and trainer to the stars, Professor Greg Whyte OBE for an open water sunrise swim at Caversham Lakes in Reading on April 8th.
For the rest of his trip Maxi will be working with national charity and leader in lifesaving and lifeguarding training across the UK and Ireland, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) to volunteer his time to deliver the important water safety messages to children across the UK and Ireland.
On his open water sunrise swim, Maxi said: “An open water swim with the legend Greg Whyte will be a brilliant, but chilly start to my tour! I can’t wait to then set off and meet with children across the UK to spread the word about water safety.
“Delivering these key messages might mean that lives can be saved this summer and beyond.”
Greg added: “’As a result of lockdown 2 million children missed the opportunity to swim leading to 1 million children leaving primary school unable to swim.
“Maxi’s campaign, in collaboration with RLSS UK, to deliver his water safety message has never been more important. I can’t wait to swim at sunrise with Maxi, it will be a few degrees colder that Bondi!”
Open water swimming has seen a rise in popularity over recent years with its benefits well documented.
Charity Director at RLSS UK, Lee Heard said: “There are numerous fantastic benefits to participating in open water swimming such as boosting your immune system; activating endorphins for a natural high; improving your circulation; reducing stress; as well as being a great form of exercise.
“To ensure that open water swimming can be enjoyed safely, we at the Royal Life Saving Society UK, have worked with Professor Greg Whyte to devise a cold water exposure 2 week home plan – Sponge to Plunge. The plan is a safe way to reduce the impact of cold water immersion so please take a look if you are looking to take the plunge!”
Ahead of his tour, where Maxi will visit RLSS UK Lifesaving Clubs to meet as many children and Rookie Lifeguards as possible, he added: “I want to meet as many kids as I can throughout April so together with RLSS UK we can prevent drowning this summer.
“Lifesaving clubs are at the heart of a community, they support young people and their families, so we all enjoy water safely, and return home at the end of day. They have been hit hard in the pandemic so we want to deliver some smiles, fun and most importantly valuable water safety lessons around the UK and Ireland ahead of summer.”
Maxi will be visiting numerous clubs throughout the UK and Ireland as he travels from Cornwall to Devon to South Wales to Nottingham. He then travels across the water to Ireland before returning to visit Scotland and the North East before he heads home for Sydney on 2nd May.
Maxi and RLSS UK invite children from all communities to attend an event near them to learn more about water safety and discover a RLSS UK Lifesaving Club in their area.
Lee Heard added: “Delivering water safety education is vitally important and working with Maxi to speak to even more young people is something we are excited about.
“In July 2021 we had 49 accidental drownings in just two weeks in UK waters, so delivering water safety messages such as this will help to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy water safely in the future.”
To help deliver the message Lifeguard Maxi and RLSS UK are calling for donations to help fund the not-for-profit tour to deliver the message to as many children in the UK and Ireland as possible.
Maxi added: “We would love for you to give what you can and feel part of something special that is happening to prevent drowning this summer.”
All donors will be entered into a draw to win either: a chance to meet Maxi in person at an event in England, Scotland or Ireland; a signed book pack of Maxi’s four books with a Lifeguard Maxi pencil case and signed photograph; or a Maxis Rescue Squad T-shirt and one year’s membership to Maxi’s Rescue Squad online education program with pencil case and signed photographs.
SECOND LONDON DATE ADDED TO MEET PHENOMENAL DEMAND
To mark 20 years of The Sopranos, three of the biggest characters from the seminal hit show will visit the UK for a series of up close and personal ‘In Conversation’ style shows.
Iconic Mob Drama Stars Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti), Steven Schirripa (Bobby ‘Bacala’) & Vincent Pastore (‘Big Pussy’ Bonpensiero) were originally set to tour back in 2020 but the shows have been moved to June 2022 due to the pandemic.
Lockdown has only propelled the demand for The Sopranos with a huge surge of viewers. GQ called it the hottest show of 2020.
In the UK, NOW TV reported a 122% increase in views of the title, and in the US, America HBO reported a 200% increase in viewers
Not only have long time fans returned to the mob drama for some serious comfort viewing, but also a growing legion of first-time viewers — including a massive swath of Gen-Zers with the New York Times recently asking “Why Is Every Young Person in America Watching ‘The Sopranos’?
Such has been demand for the tour that and extra show has been added at the London Palladium on the 10th June 2022. Tickets went on sale for this show on Friday and tickets for all other 2022 shows are on sale now at BookingsDirect.com.
Michael Imperioli said: “I was so disappointed that we had to postpone our planned UK tour but I cannot wait to make it up to you!”
Vincent Pastore added: “I can’t wait to finally get to the UK to meet our fans there … and answer any questions. See you next year!”
Steve Schirripa concluded: “Watch out UK we are coming for you!”
In 1999 a guilt-ridden gangster walked into a psychiatrist’s office. What followed, over the course of eight years, 6 legendary series’ and 86 episodes was a TV revolution.
It’s hard to believe it’s been two decades since the world was introduced to Tony Soprano and his wild world of wise guys. To this day, The Sopranos is universally hailed as the most groundbreaking series of all time.
Ranked by Rolling Stone as “the greatest TV show of all time” the show remains a prominent, powerful cultural force. The Guardian called it ‘the most masterful show ever’ and GQ said, “The reach, influence and breadth of The Sopranos can’t be overstated”.
David Chase’s uncompromising vision of gangland New Jersey was so successful and so culturally significant that it won a coveted 21 Primetime Emmy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards. The shows fusion of cutting-edge, unpredictable writing and powerhouse acting has ensured The Sopranos remains a classic.
For the first time in the UK and to mark the show’s 20th anniversary, three of The Soprano’s biggest characters Steven Schirripa (Bobby ‘Bacala’), Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) and Vincent Pastore (‘Big Pussy’ Bonpensiero) will take to the road for live shows.
The legendary trio will take fans behind the scenes of the lauded gangster drama—the stories, the dramas, the laughs—not to mention the countless theories about the show’s controversial finale. Fans will be given the opportunity to ask anything and everything they’ve ever wanted to know about the show.
The self-effacing wise-guy banter and mercurial story telling between these iconic actors will reveal a multitude of on and off-screen drama. A family on-set and off, they’ll take a deep dive into the relationships formed during the show’s eight-year run, and the impact that their on-screen capo, James Gandolfini, had on their careers and lives. There will also be an opportunity to join the trio backstage at the show with meet & greet packages available.
Playing a mobster on The Sopranos, was a tough business. Anybody could get whacked. One minute, your character is a trusted confidante of Mafia boss Tony Soprano. The next, you’re sleeping with the fishes.
Michael Imperioli’s performance as Christopher Moltisanti, an up-and-comer within the crime family, created one of the show’s longest lasting and most vivid characters. Imperioli won an Emmy for supporting actor for his role on the show.
One of the big shocks of the series was when Salvatore “Big Pussy’ Bonspensiero played by Vincent Pastore got whacked for becoming an FBI informant in season one.
Bobby “Bacala” played by Steven Schirripa stood out as the shy, sweet-tempered soldier who took care of Uncle Junior, loved his model trains, and was averse to violence. In fact, Bobby managed to avoid the family’s brutal ways altogether until Tony vengefully forced him to commit his first murder in season six.
Nearly two decades after it faded to black in a Jersey diner with the jukebox playing “Don’t Stop Believin’,” The Sopranos remains the standard all ambitious TV aspires to meet. This is a unique one off opportunity to relive one of the most legendary shows of all time.
