The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
WHAT’SON EVENT LISTINGS
AROUND TOWN
Remembering Dundee’s Music Halls: Entertaining Dundee from the 1840s to the Great War
Central Library, The Wellgate, Dundee, DD1 1DB, 01382 431500, until Fri May 31, Mon-tue & Thu-fri 9am-6pm.
Wed 10am-6pm.
Sat 9.30am-5pm, free. From Springthorpe’s to the Gaiety, the People’s Palace to Mcfarland’s Theatre of Varieties, Dundee has a long and rich history of music hall entertainment. This exhibition sheds light on this vibrant aspect of the city’s past and features rare posters from the era. dundeecity.gov.uk
Perth Festival of the Arts
Various venues, Perth, 01738 621031, until Sat Jun 1, various times and prices. A vibrant celebration of visual and performing arts, connecting leading artists from around the world with the rich cultural life of Perth. With performances in Perth Theatre, Perth Concert Hall and other venues, the festival features internationally renowned artists and showcases emerging talent. This year’s line-up includes Mozart’s The Magic Flute from Scots Opera Project, the Hebrides Ensemble, and more. perthfestival.co.uk
Unicorn
Perth Museum, St John’s Place, Perth, PH1 5SZ, 01738 621031, until Sun Sep 22, Fri-wed 10am-5pm. Thu 10am-7pm, £10
(£8; under 10s free) .Be enchanted by Unicorn, the debut exhibition at Perth Museum, exploring the story of Scotland’s national animal. Learn the rich significance of this beloved mythical creature throughout history in four themed galleries. perthmuseum.co.uk
Fair City Wrestling
Tulloch Institute Club, 2 Tulloch Terrace, Perth, PH1 2PF.
Fri May 24, 7pm, £10 (children/care service users
£7). Scotland’s premier pro wrestling experience Fair City Wrestling returns to the Tulloch Institute. Featuring Heavyweight Champion Dickie Divers and Women’s Champion Sirena Rose defending their titles against Caleb Valhalla and Brodie Adler. faircitywrestling.com
Tree in the Park: Dunfermline Wellbeing Festival
Pittencrieff Park, Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline, KY12 8QH, 03451 550000.
Sat May 25, 11am-3pm, free. Festival filled with free activities promoting healthier lifestyles for the whole family. Take a ride in a trishaw, blend up a smoothie using pedal power, join an exercise class, follow a guided walk, relax and unwind with an Indian head massage, listen to children’s stories, and much more. In addition, there’s a market to browse, while local groups and organisations will be providing advice on health and wellbeing. fife.gov.uk/treeinthepark
The Yard Market Dundee
The Old Steeple Church, Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4DG, 07841887825.
Sat May 25, 11am-4pm, £2 (children free). Market featuring independent makers and creatives from across Scotland, alongside guest street food businesses and stalls from local community groups/ charities. Dog and kidfriendly. theyardevents.co.uk
Guided Tour of Ancient Dundee Howff Cemetery
The Howff, 4 Meadowside, Dundee, DD1 1AA.
Sat May 25, 2.30-3.50pm, £11.55 (£10.46). Since being gifted to the people of Dundee by Mary Queen of Scots, The Howff has been the burial place of both the rich and poor of the city. Hear all about Dundee’s links to the slave trade, the Scottish Witch Trials and more. There is a lot to cover in 80 minutes. dundeewaterfrontwalks. scot
Battle of the Badges
Brechin City Football Club, Glebe Park, Trinity Road, Brechin, DD9 6BJ, 07384 819879.
Sun May 26, 11am-3pm, £10 (children £5; under 5s
free). The annual Battle of the Badges tournament, organised by The Archie Foundation, is a fundraising football tournament where teams from the police and fire service battle it out. archie.org
Sherpas Speak Plus Talk
Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Port Na Craig, Pitlochry, PH16 5DR, 01796 484626. Wed May 29, 2-3.30pm & 7.30-9pm, £12. Speakers, Cameron Mcneish, Fiona Valpy and James Lamb discuss their connections with the Himalayas. Included alongside the talks is Lamb’s groundbreaking documentary Sherpas Speak, about Sherpa culture. pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com
Zine Club at the DJCAD Zine Library
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, University of Dundee, 13 Perth Road, Dundee, DD1 4HT, 01382 345330. Wed May 29, 3-6pm, free. Join Coin-operated Press at the DJCAD Zine Library for their monthly zine club. Browse and donate to the zine collection, make your own zines from the available supplies, and get advice and help on any works in progress. Chloe from Coin-operated Press will be on-hand. coinoperatedpress. com
ART
Artay Visual Arts Exhibition
Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ, 01738 621031, until Sun May 26.
Fri 10am-7.30pm, Sat 10am6pm, Sun 12-7.30pm, free. The large artay marquee outside Perth Concert Hall has become one of the most popular events during the Perth Festival of the Arts. This exciting, curated exhibition features more than 300 works of art, with established Scottish artists and fresh new talent woven together in an unmissable pop-up gallery. All the artworks are for sale. perthfestival.co.uk
Perthshire Photographic Society Exhibition
St John’s Shopping Centre, King Edward Street, Perth, PH1 5UB, until Sat Jun 1, Fri-sat & Mon-thu 10am5pm. Sun 11am-5pm, free.
Perthshire Photographic Society is delighted to bring a photographic exhibition to the centre of Perth. Featuring landscapes, wildlife and portraits, to night, street and still life, and fine art. Part of Perth Festival of the Arts. perthfestival.co.uk
Photo City: How Images Shape the Urban World
V&A Dundee, 1 Riverside Esplanade, Dundee, DD1 4EZ, 01382 411611, until Sun Oct 27, daily 10am5pm, free. This exhibition brings together iconic images from the V&A’S collections, as well as works by contemporary photographers, architects and digital artists to explore how photography and cities have influenced each other. vam.ac.uk/dundee
Craft Sunday: Hand Felted Handbags with Syrah Jay
Dundee Contemporary Arts, 152 Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4DY, 01382 432444. Sun May 26, 12-5pm, £45. Join local textile maker Syrah Jay for an afternoon of relaxed crafting and create your own summer accessory. Syrah will show you how to hand felt your own handbag using soft merino wool, soap, water and some elbow grease. dca.org.uk
BOOKS Letitia Clark
Topping & Company Booksellers, 7 Greyfriars Garden, St Andrews, KY16 9HG, 01334 585111.
Fri May 24, 7.30pm, £8-£30
(£6). Chef Letitia Clark stops by Topping Books to discuss her enticing new cookbook Wild Figs and Fennel: A Year in an Italian Kitchen in which she brings together simple Italian flavours and lighter, modern interpretations with the aim to put the best of each season’s ingredients centre stage. Includes a live cookery demonstration. toppingbooks.co.uk
Kat Hill
Topping & Company Booksellers, 7 Greyfriars Garden, St Andrews, KY16 9HG, 01334 585111. Wed May 29, 7.30pm, £8-£16.99 (£6). In Bothy, writer and academic Kat Hill explores one of Scotland’s most alluring landmarks. Leading us on a gorgeous, erudite journey around the UK, Kat reveals the history of these wild mountain shelters and the people who visit them. Hear more in this Topping Books event. toppingbooks.co.uk
Creative Writing with Open Book and Linda Cracknell
Breadalbane Community Library, Crieff Road, Aberfeldy, PH15 2DU, 01887 822405.
Thu May 30, 5.30-7.30pm, free, drop-in. Join the Highland Perthshire Creative Writing Group. They’ll be reading stories and poems aloud with local author Linda Cracknell and using them to inspire their own writing. This monthly event is suitable for ages 16+, and you are welcome to attend all sessions or just one or two. culturepk.org.uk
Nicola Lamb
Topping & Company Booksellers, 7 Greyfriars Garden, St Andrews, KY16 9HG, 01334 585111. Thu May 30, 7.30pm, £8-£30 (£6). Celebrate the craft and comfort of baking with chef Nicola Lamb. In this event she’ll be discussing her delectable and comprehensive baking guide, Sift: The Elements of Great Baking. In this new baking bible, Nicola takes the fear out of failure and offers up an inspiring collection of more than 100 delicious bakes. toppingbooks.co.uk
COMEDY An Evening with Rory Bremner
Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ, 01738 621031.
Sun May 26, 7.30pm, £32.50
(£29.50). Edinburgh-born Rory has been one of Britain’s top impressionists for more than 40 years, starring in his own satire series, Bremner, Bird & Fortune, as well as Whose Line Is It Anyway, Mock The Week and many more. In this show, he’ll perform stand-up and look back at his long and varied career in conversation with host Fred Macaulay and the audience.perththeatreandconcerthall.com
Tom Davis: Underdog
Whitehall Theatre, 12 Bellfield Street, Dundee, DD1 5JA, 01517 094776. Sun May 26, 8pm, £21. Sweet soul Tom Davis is best-known for hit shows King Gary, Murder In Successville and popular podcast Wolf and Owl with Romesh Ranganathan. Embarking on his biggest tour to date with his brand new show Underdog, Tom will be exploring life as the longshot. From leaving school with no qualifications to years working on building sites, to acting in blockbuster films and yet still being told he’s punching by a waiter. whitehalltheatre.com
DANCE
The Flock & Moving Cloud
Dundee Rep Theatre, Tay Square, Dundee, DD1 1PB, 01382 223530, until Sat May 25, Fri-sat, 7.30pm, £20-£27 (£14-£25.50).
This spring, Scottish Dance Theatre set the stage
on fire with two of their most physically daring and dynamic works, in an unforgettable evening of dance. Dancers embark on a fascinating journey inspired by the migration of birds in The Flock, then experience the fusion of contemporary dance and traditional Celtic music in Moving Cloud. dundeerep.co.uk
Tuflamenco Classes
Dudhope Multicultural Centre, Bharatia Ashram, 3-5 St Mary Place, Dundee, DD1 5RB.
Tue May 28, 5-6pm (children), 6-7pm
(beginners), 7-8.30pm (high intermediate /
advanced), various prices. Classes from Tuflamenco, an academy based in Edinburgh who also deliver classes in other Scottish cities and perform shows themselves. Their flamenco activities are designed to inspire confidence, improve co-ordination, agility and fitness, and encourage positivity and joy. tuflamenco.com
FAMILY
Singing and Rainbows: Under the Sea
Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ, 01738 621031, until Sat May 25.
Fri 10am (ages 0-2) & 11am (ages 2-4).
Sat 10am & 11am (ages
0-2), 1pm & 2pm (ages 2-4), adult & child £8 (additional
adult £2). Join opera singers Colleen and Katie for a magical underwater adventure with your little one. Enjoy some of classical music’s best loved arias and duets combined with singing games, sensory play and puppet friends. Each show lasts 40 minutes. perththeatreandconcerthall. com
Drop in and Play
Dundee Contemporary Arts, 152 Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4DY, 01382 432444. Sat May 25, 1-4pm, free, drop-in. Try out a range of new games and meet the creatives behind them at this free event in partnership with Ninja Kiwi. Local game developers will be showcasing their newest phone, desktop, console, and VR games. Be among the first to try brand new games, meet the creatives behind them, and find out more about what it takes to be a game designer. Suitable for ages 10+. dca.org.uk
Big Top Brass: Children’s Classic Concerts
Perth Theatre, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5UW, 01738 621031.
Sat May 25, 1-2pm & 3-4pm, £15 (£13; children
£8); Laidlaw Music Centre, University of St Andrews, Queen’s Terrace, St Andrews, KY16 9QF, 01334 475000.
Sun May 26, 3-4pm, pay what you can: £10-£15. Children’s Classic Concerts present a carnival of musical acrobatics and live magic. Performed by brass quintet Thistle Brass and presented by Owen Gunnell alongside a Magic Circle magician, Big Top Brass should entertain the whole family. Aimed at ages 4-12. perththeatreandconcerthall. combyretheatre.com
Cardboard Carnival: The Carnival of the Animals
Byre Theatre, Abbey Street, St Andrews, KY16 9LA, 01334 475000.
Sat May 25, 2-3pm, pay what you can: £4-£8. Lempen have taken fantastic music by Camille Saint-saens and an exploration of the material of cardboard to make a fun, visual production with no text, focused on the simple magic of puppetry. Providing inspiration and delight for everyone aged 4 to 104. byretheatre.com
MUSIC
Connor Clark & The Matador Kings + Support
Roots Music Venue, 51-53 Meadowside, Dundee, DD1 1EQ, 01382 228260.
Fri May 24, 7-11pm, £7. Hailing from Aberdeen, Connor Clark & The Matador Kings will be bringing their high-energy, fast-paced electronic rock tunes to Dundee in their first show in the city for five years. Joining them for the ride are History of Concrete and Roomfore. visitscotland. com
Big Girls Don’t Cry
Rothes Halls, Kingdom Centre, Glenrothes, KY7 5NX, 01262678258.
Fri May 24, 7.30pm, £25-£32. Oh what a night you’ll have at this tribute
to Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, featuring all the hits from Sherry and Walk Like A Man to Grease. o nfife.com
Budapest Café Orchestra
Birnam Arts, Station Road, Birnam, PH8 0DS, 01350 727674.
Fri May 24, 7.30-9.20pm, £18. Recreating the stirring sounds of their hometown, the band mix violin, accordion and balalaika to bring to life Hungarian, Russian and Ukrainian folk songs and dances. birnamarts.com
Rumours of Fleetwood Mac
Alhambra Theatre, 33-35 Canmore Street, Dunfermline, KY12 7NX, 01383 740384.
Fri May 24, 8pm, £30-£45. Rumours of Fleetwood Mac perform the ultimate tribute to one of rock ’n’ roll’s most remarkable groups. alhambradunfermline.com
Rituals
Church Dundee, 15 Ward Road, Dundee, DD1 1ND. Sat May 25, 7-10pm, £9.05. Rituals will headline Church Dundee as part of their
Scottish tour. This follows a wildly successful year for the Newcastle metal crew, including winning Kerrang’s The Deal competition, playing Download Festival, releasing a new EP, and delivering a successful UK tour. Trauma Bonds and War Within will complete the line-up. churchdundee.co.uk
Mixed Methods – Supported by Guano & Strange Affair
Roots Music Venue, 51-53 Meadowside, Dundee, DD1 1EQ, 01382 228260.
Sat May 25, 7-10pm, £8. Mixed Methods perform live at Roots, Dundee with support from Guano and Strange Affair. visitscotland. com
The Magic of Motown
Reid Hall, Castle Street, Forfar, DD8 3HX, 01307 463001.
Sat May 25, 7.30pm, £31. Seen by more than a million people, The Magic Of Motown returns with a new show. Get ready for all the hits alongside glittering costumes, dazzling dance routines and outstanding musicianship. angusalive.scot
The Sensational 60s Experience
Rothes Halls, Kingdom Centre, Glenrothes, KY7 5NX, 01592 612121.
Sat May 25, 7.30pm, £30. Boasting a real feelgood factor, this show will transport you back to the magical decade that was the 1960s. These legends of the 60s will deliver a night of sensational entertainment. onfife.com
Artists of the Year
St Matthew’s Church, Tay Street, Perth, PH1 5LQ, 01738 636757.
Thu May 30, 7.30pm, £17.50 (£14.50; children
£1). The Artists of the Year concert returns with three outstanding Scottish musicians who benefited from Cross Trust support, and who will be delivering a rich programme of classical piano, pop/jazz vocals and saxophone. Featuring rising Scottish pianist Eleanor Pugsley, Edinburgh-born multidisciplinary artist Tallulah Rose, and Scottish singer-songwriter Ailsa Black. perthfestival.co.uk
Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers
Perth Theatre, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5UW, 01738 621031.
Thu May 30, 7.30pm, £24.50 (£21.50). Having temporarily put down their pens and picked up guitars, this crime-writing supergroup – Mark Billingham, Val Mcdermid, Chris Brookmyre, Luca Veste, Doug Johnstone and Stuart Neville – happily murder much-loved songs by The Clash, The Beatles, Talking Heads, The Jam and many others. This event is part of Perth Festival of the Arts. perththeatreandconcerthall. com
THEATRE The Bar at the Edge of Time
Rothes Halls, Kingdom Centre, Glenrothes, KY7 5NX, 01592 612121, until Sat May 25, Fri-sat, 11am & 1.30pm, £12. Leave the hours, minutes and seconds behind, step across the threshold and meet the bar’s maestro mixologists, crooners, and hosts. But a mystery lies at the heart of this place, a mystery hidden even from them. A multi-sensory spectacular for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities. onfife.com
Sunshine on Leith
Gardyne Theatre, Gardyne Road, Dundee, DD5 1NY, 01382 434940, until Sat May 25.
Fri 7.30pm.
Sat 2.30pm & 7.30pm, £18
(£16). Set to the songs of renowned Scottish hitmakers The Proclaimers, Sunshine on Leith follows the highs and lows of two friends as they search for normality after returning from a tour in Afghanistan. gardynetheatre.org.uk
Scottish Opera: Pop-up Opera 2024
St Matthew’s Church of Scotland, Tay Street, Perth, PH1 5LQ, 01412 484567. Sat May 25, 2pm & 4pm, £7 per show – booked separately. Experience opera on a miniature scale, with specially created 30-minute performances brought to life by two singers, instrumentalists and beautiful illustrations. A Little Bit of The Merry Widow and A Little Bit of Don Giovanni are two cleverly rewritten versions of beloved classics. Sung in English. scottishopera.org.uk
Mozart’s The Magic Flute
Perth Theatre, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5UW, 01738 621031.
Sun May 26, 2.30pm, £24.50-£29.50 (£21.50£26.50; children £5; carers
free). In this groundbreaking production, the classic opera unfolds within the confines of an asylum, injecting new life into the timeless narrative. What sets this adaptation further apart is the use of Scots language. Part of Perth Festival of the Arts. perthfestival.co.uk
Afghanistan Is Not Funny
Perth Theatre, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5UW, 01738 621031.
Mon May 27, 7.30pm, £19.50
(£16.50; children £8) .A close shave with landmines, being abducted by the Mujahideen and nearly shot by the Americans, this is the extraordinary, true story of a comedian and a photographer in war-torn Afghanistan – a trip which changed both their lives and their art. perthfestival.co.uk
Maggie & Me
Dundee Rep Theatre, Tay Square, Dundee, DD1 1PB, 01382 223530, until Sat Jun 1.
Thu 7.30pm, £22.50£25 (£15-£23). Past and present collide in the stage adaptation of Damian Barr’s acclaimed memoir Maggie & Me. Barr, James Ley and director Suba Das have teamed up for this new National Theatre of Scotland production, featuring an incredible cast. Come along on an explosive quest that tells the story of a particular place and time through Damian’s 1980s Lanarkshire \