What's On
The Brunton in Musselburgh and Haddington
It’s time to say goodbye to those January blues and get ready for another fantastic season of programming from The Brunton in Musselburgh and Haddington.
Midweek Movies continues at Loretto Theatre in Musselburgh with Song Sung Blue (12A). Starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, it tells the story of a Milwaukee husband and wife Neil Diamond tribute act as they experience soaring success and devastating heartbreak in their musical journey together. Highly anticipated Hamnet (12A) will also be playing at Loretto Theatre this February. Based on the 2020 novel by Maggie O’Farrell, Hamnet is a powerful story of love and loss that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, ‘Hamlet’.
Song Sung Blue (12A), Wednesday 4 February at 7pm, Loretto Theatre, Musselburgh
Hamnet (12A), Wednesday 18 February at 7pm, Loretto Theatre, Musselburgh
Craig Hill - Wait ‘til you see my entrance!, Saturday 21 February at 7:30pm, Loretto Theatre, Musselburgh
Join Scotland’s hilariously cheeky comedian as he returns to Musselburgh on Saturday 21 February at Loretto Theatre. Craig Hill promises a riotously effervescent evening of kilt swingin’ and hilarious frivolity. “A laugh-out-loud performance from beginning to end…absolutely hilarious!” **** List
Atelier Ensemble: Bite-Sized Concerts at Lunchtime, Tuesday 10 February, midday lunch, 1pm concert, Northesk Parish Church
Also, in Musselburgh this February, Northesk Parish Church hosts Bite-Sized Concerts at Lunchtime. Watch as this Scotland-based piano trio take you through an afternoon of jazz and tango influenced classical music.
Catherine Wheels: Lightning Ridge, Saturday 7 February at 2pm, Corn Exchange, Haddington
In Haddington, The Brunton welcomes Catherine Wheels – East Lothian based children’s theatre company and their production of Lightning Ridge. Winner of two CATS awards, Lightning Ridge is about the possibility of dreams, a community coming together, the preciousness of hope and how, sometimes, we must believe in the impossible. For ages 8 plus.
Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle, Friday 20 February at 7:30pm, Corn Exchange, Haddington
Michael McGoldrick, John McCusker and John Doyle are a rare musical treat not to be missed in Haddington this February. Key members of celebrated folk collective Transatlantic Sessions, and legends in their own right, McGoldrick, McCusker and Doyle bring their own blend of top-class folk songs, tunes and charming bonhomie.
Bombskare, Saturday 21 February at 7:30pm, Corn Exchange, Haddington
Whether headlining a festival stage or playing a packed club venue, Bombskare never fail to deliver a powerhouse performance guaranteed to leave a mark! In partnership with Haddstock, Bombskare are a must-see live act at the Corn Exchange this season, with support from one of the UK’s most exciting new bands Fright Years.
Keep up to date with The Brunton’s events at www.thebrunton.co.uk and follow @thebruntonmusselburgh on Facebook and Instagram
What's on in our museums
Drop in and doodle – February holiday fun!
Get creative this February holiday! Drop in any time and enjoy a relaxing doodle and collage session. Bring your own sketchbook or use our free drawing materials. Whether you love sketching, scribbling, collaging or simply trying something new, this is a fun, no‑pressure activity for all ages.
Come along, unwind, and let your imagination take over – no booking needed!
Saturday 14, Sunday 15 and Wednesday 18 to Sunday 22 February, 2pm to 4pm.
John Muir’s Birthplace, High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ.
Admission free but donations very welcome.
New exhibition
Earthscapes
Thursday 5 February to Saturday 28 March.
Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Free admission.
John Muir’s Birthplace, High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ.
Aerial landscapes of East Lothian and Scotland by Emma Duncan show both man’s impact and ‘wilder’ areas and feature a range of landscapes including moorland, forestry, highlands and coastal areas. The viewer is invited to explore the diversity of our Scottish landscapes when seen from a different perspective and consider the fragile balances upon which our landscapes are built.
Visions of Haddington
Friday 16 January to Thursday 2 April. Free admission.
John Gray Centre - Museum, 15 Lodge Street, Haddington, EH41 3DX.
An exhibition combining mixed media images by local illustrator Thomas Small, with artworks from the East Lothian Council collection. Dating from the 1700s to the present day, they show Haddington people and places and are brought to life with fascinating captions by Haddington’s History Society.
Winter season museum opportunities
Explore historic records and online exhibitions at www.johngraycentre.org
Revisit past exhibitions from John Muir’s Birthplace www.jmbt.org.uk
Explore the paths around Prestongrange Museums using the mobile phone tour as a guide through 400 years of local industry. www.eastlothian.gov.uk/prestongrange
Take a tour of Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery with Dunbar and District History Society on a Saturday afternoon. www.eastlothian.gov.uk/dunbar-town-house
East Lothian Council Museums
15 Lodge Street, Haddington, EH41 3DX.
Thursday and Friday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm
Saturday 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm
126 High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ.
Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm
Sunday 1pm to 5pm
High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1ER.
Wednesday to Sunday 1pm to 5pm
(from Wednesday 2 April to Sunday 28 September)
Morrison’s Haven, Prestonpans, EH32 9RX.
Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 4.30pm
(from Wednesday 2 April to Sunday 28 September)
School Road, North Berwick, EH39 4JU.
Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 4pm
(from Wednesday 9 April to Saturday 25 October)
65 High St, Musselburgh, EH21 7BZ.
Thursday to Saturday 10.30am to 4pm
(from Thursday 3 April to Saturday 27 September)
Getting everyone talking about East Lothian Reads
At the end of last year, we gave you a little teaser for the East Lothian Reads campaign. Now it’s getting underway, we want everyone in our communities to be talking about what they’re reading.
Whether it’s scrolling social media, checking the football scores, following a recipe or getting lost in a good book, there’s a reader in all of us.
Throughout 2026, the library service will be working with schools, groups and organisations to help as many people as possible find out more about what they love through reading. We’ll be looking to involve community members (readers and non-readers) in choosing the books we buy for our libraries and organising events to celebrate reading in all forms.
#EastLothianReads
Across the year you’ll also find three special collections of books available to borrow in each of our libraries. The first collection was chosen by our school librarians, public library staff and our social media followers and brings together classics, new titles and recommendations around the theme of Scotland. These will be available to borrow from early February. We’d love to know what you think of our choices so please join in the conversation on social media using the hashtag #EastLothianReads
The collection includes a mix of genres from classics like Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s Sunset Song; to Irvine Welsh’s follow-up to Trainspotting, Men in Love; a DCI Karen Pirie novel from Val McDermid and non-fiction titles to get the tastebuds tingling like The Scottish Food Bible by Claire MacDonald and The Scottish Soup Bible by Sue Lawrence. There are history books, fantasy novels, children’s books and much more to explore.
Visit the libraries page on our council website and follow East Lothian Libraries on social media to keep up to date with the latest activities, events and news about East Lothian Reads throughout the year. Full story on the campaign launch and Scottish collection is in our news section.
Our next collection will appear in early summer and will involve community members and partner organisations in the selection panel.
Special ticket offer - Doris Day's amazing career is celebrated at Haddington's Corn Exchange
Brunton Theatre Trust have set up a special colleague ticket discount for Que Sera Sera on Sunday 15 March at 5pm at Corn Exchange, Haddington.
This will appeal to those with a Doris Day fan in their lives!
Get you Doris Day fix with this fabulous early evening show, beautifully staged and full of nostalgia, with a hugely talented cast and wonderful cinematography.
‘Fabulous performance. Brilliant cast and a wonderful evening of song & dance! Not to be missed!' Audience review
Three international vocalists, supported by a team of professional dancers perform Doris Day’s much-loved songs, complimented by stunning choreography and video clips.
Wonderful music, great costumes and a nostalgic trip back to the good old days.
Treat the Doris Day fan in your life with this special ticket offer
We are offering two tickets for £32.40 (plus £2 transaction fee) using promo code ELC10.
When booking online select two full price tickets and then enter the promo code ELC10.
This is a limited offer, so we do recommend booking early.
If you have any questions please do get in touch with our box office Monday to Friday, 11am to 3pm at boxoffice@eastlothian.gov.uk / 0131 653 5245.