Choose Life: Edinburgh's Battle Against AIDS, a film by Stephen Bennett
- Tickets
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Free - ticket required
- Box office telephone
- Dates and times
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Thursday 17th Sept 2026
7:00pm
A screening of Stephen Bennett’s landmark documentary Choose Life: Edinburgh's Battle Against AIDS (2019), introduced by Wendy Cooper (Waverley Care).
The film examines the decade between 1979 and 1989, when Edinburgh was dubbed the "AIDS capital of Europe," meeting the doctors, drug users, police and locals caught up in a frightening new epidemic they could barely understand.
The screening is followed by a late night exhibition opening for Glasgow Art Weekend.
This event is part of a public programme curated by Steven Grainger to accompany the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt exhibition at Tramway.
Audience note
Contains archival material and testimony relating to the AIDS epidemic in 1980s Edinburgh, including intravenous drug use and needle-sharing, bereavement and loss, and depictions of police conduct towards drug users. Some viewers may find 1980s news coverage of the epidemic distressing.
ACCESS
Tramway is fully wheelchair accessible. See more information about venue access on our Access page
Film still courtesy of Stephen Bennett
Accessibility guides
Read the Accessibility Guide for Tramway on AccessAble
Large Print and Braille programme material available upon request.
Some performances may also be BSL interpreted, audio described or have further assistance available. Access information for individual events is included in their event listing.
Accessible toilets
Accessible toilets are available on all three levels of Tramway, and come equipped with handrails and emergency pull cords. Please contact Tramway prior to your visit if you have any additional requirements
Assistance dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome. We can provide a bowl of water for an assistance dog. The assistance dog toilet area is located to the rear of the building.
Assistance dogs are allowed in the auditorium.
Wheelchair access
There is level access to all Tramway spaces and the cafe, with lift access to the upper spaces.
There are designated spaces for wheelchair users in the theatre.
Baby changing
Baby changing facilities are available on the ground floor
Baby feeding
Breastfeeding is welcome at Tramway
Cafe or restaurant
Full table service is not available. Food or drinks can be ordered at the counter and will be brought to the table.
No tables are permanently fixed. No chairs are permanently fixed.
Menus are hand held only, but are clearly presented in contrasting colours. Menus are not available in Braille.
Parking
On street only
Photography and video recording
At times, Glasgow Life will be on the premises to film and take photos.
The public are only permitted to record and take photos where explicit permission has been granted in advance.
Free wifi
There is free Wi-Fi available at Tramway, which you can access by registering through Facebook or an online form. Once registered, you can access free Wi-Fi whenever you are at Tramway.
Please note, Tramway does not offer a cloakroom or bag storage service. During large-scale and busy events bag searches may be in operation and bags larger than A3 size will not be admitted to the venue.
Location Map
Tramway is a post-industrial venue with a range of unique and versatile spaces, popular with private and corporate clients looking for a venue ‘with a difference’. Tramway is an ideal space for performances, exhibitions, private viewings, seminars, meetings and smaller scale functions.
Visit Tramway's venue hire web page to find out more.