Five things you need to know today

March 19, 2025 7:00 am

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Jodie Comer is en route to Edinburgh

The one-woman play, Prima Facie, is coming to The Royal Lyceum theatre next year, and actor, Jodie Comer, is reprising her Oliver and Tony-Award winning performance for a limited national tour.

Lìam Rudden writes: “For those unfamiliar with the piece, the buzz surrounding it since it premiered in 2019 at The Stables Theatre, Sydney, Australia, before going on to take the West End and Broadway by storm has been monumental. In the legal drama, emotion and experience collide with the rules of the game as Tessa, a brilliant young barrister who has battled her way up from her working class origins to be at the top of her game, defending, cross-examining and winning until an unexpected event forces her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof, and morals diverge.

“On sale now, Prima Facie is only in Edinburgh for a week, 3-7 February 2026. Book now at lyceum.org.uk as this is one piece of Must See Theatre you don’t want to be guilty of missing.”

Treasure Hunt on bikes

A community event organised by Cargo Bike Movement will be held on Friday 21 March.

The Treasure Hunt will involve teams completing challenges around the Meadows and solving clues to lead them around the city. The event is family-friendly and will end with a prize ceremony, one for families at 4pm on The Meadows and a celebration in the evening at the Cargo Bike Movement hub.

The Cargo Bike Movement is winding up its operations, but is not disappearing completely. It is handing everything over to The Bike Station at the end of March. Friday’s event will be a celebration of the Cargo Bike Movement community and the work that has been accomplished over the past four years, as well as a chance to look with excitement to the future of its work with The Bike Station.

Water of Leith Walkway

This is being improved which means the path will be temporarily closed during this week and next. It will be closed 24/7 including the evenings and overnight to allow the new path time to set.

The surface will be KBI Flexi Pave for a “smoother more durable path”. The drainage will be improved and a new handrail will be added to the steepest section for safety.

Marie Curie volunteer says her costumes help with fund-raising

Stephanie Wint, 68, is the top fundraiser during the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal. She says the secret to her success is due to her great costumes.

She said: “Look a little funny and you’ll raise a lot of money is my motto. I’ve been fundraising for different charities since 1977, raising over £60,000 with half of that amount for Marie Curie, and if I’m in fancy dress, I find that my costume will attract people who are keen for a chat and will end up popping a few pounds in my bucket.

“Every year I think what can I dress up as? I’ve been a flamenco dancer, a nurse and even a lady bird. I started doing fancy dress collections for Marie Curie in 2004 and have never looked back. At first I couldn’t keep a straight face, but as the years have went on, I see it as part of my collection.

“It’s not every day you can give people a laugh and they give you money in return, but as it’s for a great cause, I’ll never stop wearing costumes.”

Every five minutes, someone dies without the care they need. The Great Daffodil Appeal, now in its 39^th year, encourages everyone to wear their daffodil pins and donate to the end of life charity through the month of March to help Marie Curie bring expert end of life care to more people.

Stephanie, who has volunteered for Marie Curie since 1991, said: “I find fundraising very rewarding as I am helping people less fortunate than myself. My philosophy is: ‘Do good and you will feel good’. Seeing the difference Marie Curie makes to people living with a terminal illness and their loved ones, whether in the two Scottish hospices, in the comfort of people’s homes, or through the information and support services, is what keeps me going. I am in awe of the amount of people they help at such a difficult time.

“I am coming up for 69 years old and no way will I hang up my bucket. I plan to keep fundraising for as long as I can and I love it. Helping people and good are acts of kindness. I never say to myself I’m going to raise a certain amount of money – I raise as much I can.

“I am so proud to volunteer for Marie Curie and next year will be the 40^thGreat Daffodil Appeal. I better start thinking about my costume as that will be a momentous milestone.”

YWCA Scotland need you

Do you have memories from the old YWCA centres in Edinburgh, Penicuik and Dalkeith?

The Young Women’s Movement, formerly known as YWCA Scotland, is looking for stories from its 100-year history in Scotland, as part of an oral history project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The charity, which is Scotland’s national organisation for young women’s leadership and rights, is hoping to speak to people who were involved with the YWCA in Scotland from 1924 to present-day. This could include those who worked or volunteered with the YWCA; stayed in a YWCA hostel or residence; or delivered or took part in activities or events with the YWCA. The YWCAs in the area included the Edinburgh Morningside club, the Roundabout Centre on Gayfield Place, and the Lochend, Edinburgh, Penicuik and Dalkeith centres and residences. The charity are hoping to hear from people with memories of these.

The stories will be collected into a digital archive, which will continue to grow with new stories as the organisation’s work continues. The archive will serve as a record of our 100-year history and how life has changed for young women and girls in Scotland, and a source of inspiration for the next generation of young women.

This project, called Young Women Remember, is a participatory research project being co-produced by The Young Women’s Movement and a group of volunteer researchers from across Scotland.

Jenni Snell, CEO of The Young Women’s Movement, said: “We’re thrilled to be marking our centenary by uncovering and celebrating the work people put into our movement in its first 100 years. We know there are stories of activism, support, and community linked to our organisation all over Scotland, and we’re excited to bring those to life to inform and inspire our next 100 years of re-imagining Scotland for young women and girls.

“If you have a story about the YWCA in Scotland to share, please do get in touch. Our thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for making this project possible.”