This year's Citizen Winter Warmer is taking place across two of our partner venues, The Brunton Theatre in Musselburgh, and North Edinburgh Arts in Muirhouse. Read on to find out what treats are in store and to book your tickets.
As the air turns crisp and the nights get longer, join us for the second Citizen Winter Warmer — two days of heart-warming fun and fantastic events with authors and artists, celebrating local community voices and creating opportunities for new stories to be heard.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival has teamed up with The Brunton Theatre and North Edinburgh Arts to host inspiring creative activities and conversations, with events suitable for all ages in each venue. Keep reading to find out what’s on for you, from a fun-filled afternoon of art and stories for families, to an evening of celebration featuring local residents and professional writers side-by-side.
All events will take place live and in-person at each venue.
The Great Big Story Show
2.30pm – 4.30pm
£3
Ages 7+
Join the Edinburgh International Book Festival for an afternoon of excitement for all the family! Fun-loving duo Macastory bring their hilarious songs and stories to the stage, and you’ll learn how to stand up for the environment with author Christopher Lloyd and his gorgeous illustrated nature book It’s Up to Us. Chat with writer Luke Winter and give him ideas for a brand new story written live in front of you, then hear from much-loved children’s authors Maisie Chan and Elle McNicoll. They read from their new book The Very Merry Murder Club, full of Christmassy crimes, festive foul play and murderously magnificent mysteries – perfect for inquisitive kids!
Stories and Scran: Musselburgh
5.30pm – 7:30pm
£5
*Please note: due to unforeseen circumstances, Kirstin Innes is no longer able to appear in this event as previously advertised. Sara Sheridan will now join the other participants.*
Tuck into an evening of terrific tales and delicious food as the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Citizen participants share stories of life in Musselburgh and writers explore what community means today.
Savour a sumptuous three course meal provided by the Scran Academy (included with your ticket), and hear brilliant new writing inspired by the town from local people who have taken part in Citizen’s creative conversations over the past 18 months. They’re joined on-stage by The Fair Botanists author Sara Sheridan, and poets JL Williams and Andres Ordorica, who share their own powerful writing and discuss their views on community, identity and home
Visit thebrunton.co.uk to book your tickets.
The meal will be 3 courses. There will a be vegetarian/vegan option available. If you have any specific dietary restrictions, please email genevieve.fay@edbookfest.co.uk.
The Great Big Story Show
2.30pm – 4.30pm
£3 / £2 Good Neighbours
Ages 7+
Join the Edinburgh International Book Festival for an afternoon of excitement for all the family! Fun-loving duo Macastory bring their hilarious songs and stories to the stage, while illustrator-extraordinaire Eilidh Muldoon needs your help to make a beautiful map of North Edinburgh, featuring all your favourite places. Chat with writer Luke Winter and give him ideas for a brand new story written live in front of you, then hear from much-loved children’s authors Maisie Chan and Elle McNicoll. They read from their new book The Very Merry Murder Club, full of Christmassy crimes, festive foul play and murderously magnificent mysteries – perfect for inquisitive kids!
Stories and Scran: North Edinburgh
5.30pm – 7:30pm
£5 / £3 Good Neighbours
*Please note: due to unforeseen circumstances, Jenni Fagan is no longer able to appear in this event as previously advertised. Andrew O’Hagan will join the existing participants. *
Enjoy a nourishing night of writing and stories, discussion and delicious food as the Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Citizen participants share stories of local life and celebrate the impact North Edinburgh Arts has had on the community ahead of its refurbishment.
The brilliant Scran Academy team provide a three course dinner (included with your ticket) while you enjoy a tasty blend of local voices and professional writers, hosted by Scran Academy founder, social entrepreneur, youth leader and campaigner John Loughton. Hear from community writers of all ages who’ve taken part in Citizen’s creative conversations over the past two years as they present new creations, memories of the area and more. They’re joined on stage by the award-winning novelist and essayist Andrew O’Hagan as well as poets Courtney Stoddart and Ryan Hay, who share their own work and reflect on what community, identity and home mean today.
Visit northedinburgharts.co.uk to book your tickets.
The meal will be 3 courses. There will a be vegetarian/vegan option available. If you have any specific dietary restrictions, please email genevieve.fay@edbookfest.co.uk.
Who Lives In This Place?
Mon 15 – Sat 27 November
Free exhibition
In 2019, local photographers Karmen Bermudez and David Coxon took to the streets around North Edinburgh Arts to shoot the urban landscape, capturing incredible images which inspired short written responses from visitors to the Edinburgh International Book Festival. As part of the Citizen Winter Warmer celebration, these photos and the writing inspired by them return to the community that birthed them.
This free exhibition in the NEA Café also includes images and words created by young people from The Alternative School at Spartans Community Football Club. Their work, compiled in a zine by designer Emily Wylde with support from writer Leyla Josephine, combines disposable camera photos with poetry, rap, drawings and collages. From selfies and football action-shots to reflections on lockdown life and dreams for the future, their creativity offers a vital snapshot of the young people’s lives, a sense of their world and their community.
Thank you to our partners
The Citizen Winter Warmer is part of Book Week Scotland, in partnership with The Brunton Theatre and North Edinburgh Arts. Citizen is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and funded through the PLACE Programme, a partnership between the Scottish Government- through Creative Scotland - the City of Edinburgh Council and the Edinburgh Festivals.
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