Filmmaker Peter Carr who made three television documentaries in North Edinburgh in the 1990s will be back to attend the screening of his films at North Edinburgh Arts next week.
The films were called Heroin, and they were a fly-on-the-wall glimpse at an often forgotten part of Edinburgh’s social history at a time when poverty, crime and drug use in Edinburgh were ripping communities apart.
At North Edinburgh Arts next week the films will be shown again. Although sadly all dates are currently sold out. Heroin “Uncut” at North Edinburgh Arts Centre, 23–25 April it is possible to be put on a waiting list.
Peter will be looking back to the days when convicted murderer turned artist Jimmy Boyle and Sara Trevelyan ran the Gateway Exchange, providing workshops for recovering drug addicts, while Morag McLean and Heather Black established the self-help group Support, Help and Advice for Drug Addiction in a Pilton Portakabin.
EXHIBITION
An exhibition of production images from Heroin by Granada TV stills photographer Stewart Darby runs at North Edinburgh Arts alongside Heroin ‘Uncut’, from 23 April to 17 May 2025.A programme for Heroin ‘Uncut’ features a new essay by Peter Carr reflecting on the making of his films alongside Stewart Darby’s images from Heroin.
Heroin ‘Uncut’ is coordinated and produced by Zoë Black, Victoria Burns, Neil Cooper, Sarah Drummond, Graham Fitzpatrick and Kate Wimpress in collaboration with North Edinburgh Arts and Screen Education Edinburgh.
After four decades, Peter Carr revisits North Edinburgh for the screenings of his films to take part in a unique event by, for and about North Edinburgh. Each screening will be followed by a conversation between key figures around the making of Heroin and those around North Edinburgh then and now.
- Wed 23 April, 6.30pm-8.30pm: Heroin 1 – followed by Irvine Welsh in conversation with Zoë Black
- Thu 24 April, 6.30pm-8.30pm: Heroin 2 – followed by Dr Roy Robertson in conversation with Victoria Burns
- Fri 25 April, 6.30pm-8.30pm: Heroin 3 – followed by Peter Carr in conversation with Sarah Drummond
Running time: Each film is 50 minutes, followed by a short break and discussion
Age suitability: 16 +
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