Community Cinema (Local Resistance): 'Heroin' + community lunch/discussion

Local Resistance

This film screening is part of the Local Resistance film programme. The Local Resistance programme is a celebration of local stories of self-organising and solidarity that will tour community spaces in Leith (Duncan Place Community Hub), Wester Hailes (Whale Arts), Pilton/Muirhouse (North Edinburgh Arts), and Craigmillar (Craigmillar Now) from September – December 2025. The Local Resistance touring programme is supported by Film Hub Scotland.

About the film:

In April 2025, North Edinburgh Arts held the first screening for more than 40 years of Heroin, a series of three films by Peter Carr made in North Edinburgh in 1983. Originally shown over successive nights on prime time national UK television, Heroin is an unflinching fly on the wall glimpse at an often forgotten part of Edinburgh’s social history.

Film synopsis (credit to NEA):

As poverty, crime and drug use in Scotland’s capital was ripping forgotten communities apart, Peter Carr was introduced to Edinburgh’s hidden underbelly by co-founder of the Gateway Exchange, Jimmy Boyle. Boyle also introduced Carr to SHADA – Support Help and Advice for Drug Addiction – the grassroots organisation set up by what Carr calls “two remarkable women” – Heather Black and Morag McLean – as a lifeline and support network for drug users. This became the basis of Heroin, which over its three episodes reveals a powerful and moving portrait of a community surviving in the face of institutional neglect and contempt from local authorities who would rather keep it out of view.

Mid-screening lunch + discussion

Originally screened as three 50-minute episodes, the film runs for 2.5 hours. We will take a break at a midway point, to share some soup, bread, and discussion with each other.

• The soup will be Roast Red Pepper & Lentil (both vegan, and gluten free).
• Along with regular bread or rolls, we will have gluten free bread also available for those that need it.

Donation Tickets

Please support our Duncan Place community events programme by donating based on what you can afford. Suggested donation £2 to £4. Includes free hot/soft drinks and biscuits, and a mid-screening community lunch of soup (VG + GF) and bread.

Donation ticketing on Eventbrite means that you can only order for one person at a time. Please order a separate ticket for each person coming along.

We have a limited number of free tickets available for this screening for those that really need it. Contact us on events@duncanplace.org if this applies to you. No questions asked.

Timings

11:30am - Doors open. Come along and get yourself a cuppa, a biscuit, early pick of a seat, and get yourself comfy before the film starts.

12 noon - Film starts.

1:20pm - Break for soup and bread.

1:50pm - Film recommences.

3:10pm - Time for discussion

3:40pm(ish) - Afternoon ends.

Thank you to Morvern Cunningham, Francesca at STV and Cheryl at ITV for their help in sourcing the rights and copies of archive material for the programme.

Heroin (1983)

• BBFC rating: Unrated.
• This screening is strictly for adults (min age 16).
• Film running time: 150 mins. The film will be broken into two halves, with soup and bread served in between.
• Directed by: Peter Carr.
• Genre: Documentary, Archive.
• Language: English.
• Subtitles: HOH subtitles will be shown onscreen.
• Heroin was originally produced by Granada Television and screened on the ITV network on November 7th, 8th, and 9th 1983.

Heroin BBFC Content Advice

Drug Use

Images and descriptions of drug use.

Death and Illness

Descriptions of death and dying, HIV/AIDS.

Access Info

• English descriptive subtitles will be onscreen during the screening.
• There is ramped access into the building. The event will be held on the ground floor of Duncan Place Community Hub and is wheelchair accessible.
• There are two individual toilets on the ground floor with one being wheelchair accessible.
• Seats are a mix of hard plastic and cushioned. Seats with arm rests are also available if needed. We also have a limited supply of padded chair cushions available. Just let us know when you arrive.
• There is foyer space and outdoor space for those that might need to break away to a quieter area during the film.

If there is anything we can do to help you attend, please get in touch with Drew by emailing events@duncanplace.org or phoning 0131 364 4351.

Getting Here

We can be found on Google Maps here > https://goo.gl/maps/qNZeEKWL1uhdQRBd7

Duncan Place is a few minutes’ walk from Leith Walk, Duke Street, Great Junction Street and Easter Road. This area is very well served with buses, including 1, 7, 14, 16, 21, 25, 34, 35 & 49.

www.lothianbuses.com has a journey planner.

Bike racks are available in our outdoor space. Please bring a secure lock. We do not have any to loan out & bikes and scooters are not allowed in the building. Bikes and scooters are left at your own risk and Duncan Place will not accept any responsibility for any damage or theft. CCTV does cover the bike racks.

Duncan Place has 1 disabled parking space inside the building gates.

On-street parking outside the building is free after 5:30pm.