Brian Ferguson’s diary

It has been ten long years for Leithers since Argentine theatre show Fuerza Bruta was staged inside a huge black tent, the last time the port hosted anything of real note during the main festival season despite boasting a heritage dating back to the 1960s.

Back then, Leith Theatre was a linchpin of the Edinburgh International Festival and it was still being used for the event until the late 1980s when its declining condition forced its closure.

The neglected building finally returned to the festival fold in style on Friday, thanks to arts collective Neu! Reekie! and Irvine Welsh, who had spent months cooking up a 21st birthday bash for the first Trainspotting film.

It might have been something to do with a noticeable shortage of bar staff, or the number of people sitting on the bare floor in order to relive Danny Boyle’s groundbreak film, but it was a bit more civilised than I had been expecting.

However several scenes prompted outbreaks of cheering from the 1,000-strong audience.

Along with Renton’s iconic Rannoch Moor rant, there seemed to be particular affection for The First Day of the Edinburgh Festival, which depicts the downfall of an American tourist who is