The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (12A)
Five months after we last saw Dr Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) casting an ill–advised spell in Spider–Man: No Way Home, causing fissures in the multiverse and bringing together some of the web– slinger’s most fearsome adversaries, the sorcerer is back for an action–packed sequel to his 2016 origin story.
Written by Michael Waldron and directed by Sam Raimi, who (fittingly) helmed the Tobey Maguireera Spider-Man trilogy, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness begins with Strange haunted by nightmares of impending doom.
He seeks out former Avenger Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) – and he’s in dire need of her help, particularly with the arrival of teenager America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez).
Chavez has the unique power to open doorways between dimensions, and she’s being hunted down by sinister forces who want to take her magic for themselves.
Strange and co start tumbling through various universes, meeting old foes such as Master of the Mystic Arts Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Strange’s lost love, Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams), and even versions of Strange himself.
The visuals of the film are overwhelmingly over the top – it seems as though every shot is laden with some kind of special effect, making for a slightly nauseous ride through the multiverse.
Strange himself doesn’t bring a lot of charisma to proceedings, but this is more than made up for with the big personalities of his quixotic mentor Wong (Benedict Wong), Chavez and Wanda – who has a particularly standout performance.
It won’t go down as the most groundbreaking Marvel film out there – the studio seems to have settled quite comfortably into exploring the multiverse narrative – but the framework does bring with it plenty of opportunities.
Fans of the franchise will be thrilled to see old favourites returning as well as some new faces, appearing for the first time as well-known characters.
The film is most lacking a sense of humour running throughout – something that’s become a hallmark of irreverent modern Marvel movies.
Instead, it’s darker, more violent and brings elements of the horror genre into proceedings, which is perhaps unsurprising as director Raimi made his name with chilling films.
While the film is a lot of fun – the action races on at a blistering pace, the fight sequences are impressive and the ending will leave your head spinning – it’s not quite as original or memorable as some of the other additions to the franchise.
what you can £4-£12 (free). Offering a diverse line-up of performances, Destinations is a vibrant showcase of the best youth dance companies from across Scotland. edencourt.co.uk
FAMILY
Bookbug Storytime 2022 Mareel, Shetland Arts Development Agency, Mareel, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0WQ, 01595 743843. Thu May 5, 10.30-11am, free. Shetland Arts and Shetland Library present Bookbug Storytime for under 5s with stories being told in the upper café. shetlandarts.org/venues/ mareel
Art Labs
An Lanntair, Kenneth Street, Stornoway, Isle Of Lewis, HS1 2DS, 01851 708480. Fri May 6, 2-4pm, free. An Lanntair Art Labs in Stornoway and Tarbert are places for young people to explore their own creative ideas supported by a lead artist. There are also lots of activities based on exhibitions and events held at An Lanntair. lanntair.com
Family STEM Club
The Rockfield Centre, Rockfield Brae, Stevenson Street, Oban, PA34 5DQ, 01631 701921.
Sat May 7, 2-4pm, £3 (children £2).
Become inventors, scientists, engineers, or mathematicians with the whole family in this monthly club. therockfieldcentre. org.uk
Clàr/Platform
An Lanntair, Kenneth Street, Stornoway, Isle Of Lewis, HS1 2DS, 01851 708480. Wed May 11, 5.30-7pm, free. Join An Lanntair’s youth production platform, Clàr, for our weekly sessions in which you’ll be honing your music and video production skills to create a collaborative visual album, culminating in a live showing and online release. lanntair.com
Lorn Drama Festival
Corran Halls, The Esplanade, Oban, PA34 5AB, 01631 567333, until Sat May 7, Tue-Thu, times and prices vary. A festival of one-act plays performed by drama groups from all over Argyll. liveargyll.co.uk/event/lorndrama-festival/
Big Kid Circus
Grant Park, Victoria Road, Forres, IV36 3BN, 07766 552211, until Sun May 8, Thu-Sat 10am-8pm, £8. Big Kid Circus brings us MAYHEM, a new show full of excitement for the whole family and loads of surprises to keep everyone on the edge of their seats. bigkidcircus.co.uk
MUSIC
The Elephant Sessions The Lemon Tree, 5 West North Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AT, 01224 641122. Thu May 5, 8pm, £15.40. Elephant Sessions transcend boundaries and shake the very foundations of expectation. Exploding onto the indie folk scene to unparalleled effect with their last album All We Have Is Now, the band have since appeared at some of the world’s most notable venues and festivals. aberdeenperformingarts. com
Songs And Stories
The Rockfield Centre, Rockfield Brae, Stevenson Street, Oban, PA34 5DQ, 01631 701921.
Thu May 5, 2-4pm, £2.50. A casual afternoon session listening to music or sharing songs and memories. Feel free to bring your own instrument and play a tune. therockfieldcentre.org.uk
True North Sessions: Razz Mattreezy
Music Hall, Union Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1QS, 01224 641122.
Thu May 5, 6pm, £11 (£8.80). Razz Mattreezy is the moniker of 23-yearold Aberdonian Matt Read whose four singles released throughout 2021 received continued support from BBC Introducing in Scotland on the genre mixing magic’ and pop out’ shows. aberdeenperformingarts. com
Deacon Blue
P&J Live, East Burn Road, Aberdeen, AB21 9FX, 01224 824 824.
Fri May 6, 6pm, £45. Scottish pop-rock band formed in Glasgow in the 80s and led by the revered Ricky Ross. pandjlive.com
Elsa Jean McTaggart: When The World Stood Still
The Rockfield Centre, Hill Street, Oban, PA34 5DE. Fri May 6, 7.30pm, £8£12. Elsa Jean and Gary McTaggart present a tuneful account of survival through a Celtic fusion of Hebridean Melody celebrating life, sorrow, uncertainty, joy and laughter. therockfieldcentre. org.uk
Fergus McCreadie Trio
An Tobar Arts Centre, Argyll Terrace, Tobermory, Isle Of Mull, PA75 6PB, 01688 302211.
Fri May 6, 7.15-9.30pm, free (pay what you decide). Young award-winning pianist with trio partners David Bowden (bass) and Stephen Henderson (drums). antobarandmulltheatre. co.uk
Jenny Sturgeon: The Living Mountain
The Barn, Burn O’Bennie, Banchory, AB31 5QA, 01330 825431.
Fri May 6, 8pm, £15; Minginish Community Hall, Portnalong, Isle Of Skye, IV47 8SL, 01478 640354. Wed May 11, 11am, £10
(£5; members £8; children free). The Living Mountain is a solo audio-visual performance inspired by Nan Shepherd’s celebrated book of the same name. The meditative experience of the combined audio and imagery will offer a soothing and poignant exploration of what it means to connect with a landscape and to find a sense of place. thebarnarts. co.uk/minginishhall.co.uk
Juice Vocal Ensemble
Belmont Filmhouse, 49 Belmont Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1JS, 01224 343500. Fri May 6, 8pm, £10 (£6). Highly rated experimental vocal trio of Anna Snow
(soprano), Sarah Dacey
(soprano) and Kerry Andrew
(alto), mixing alt-classical with folk, jazz, world music, pop and electronica. belmontfilmhouse.com
The Shee
The Lemon Tree, 5 West North Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AT, 01224 641122. Fri May 6, 7.30pm, £15.40. Cross-border folk multiinstrumentalists and festival favourites, The Shee met on the Folk and Traditional Music Degree course at Newcastle University in 2006. aberdeenperformingarts. com
Elgin City Band
St Giles Church, Elgin, IV30 1DS, 01343 545414.
Sat May 7, 7.30pm, £5-10. Elgin City Band is proud to present a Spring Concert featuring Tom Hutchinson, principal cornet with the Cory Band. The musical repertoire contains a variety of styles and includes fantastic cornet solos which show off Tom’s technical and musical skills. ticketsource.co.uk/elgincity-band
Glass Monkey
The Tunnels, Carnegies Brae, Aberdeen, AB10 1BF, 01224 211121.
Sat May 7, 7-10pm, £5. Glass Monkey make their return to Aberdeen with a headline gig at Tunnels, featuring support from one of Glasgow’s finest bands, Wrthless, and up and coming alt rockers, Vulpine. facebook.com/ tunnelsaberdeen
Roddy Woomble
The Lemon Tree, 5 West North Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AT, 01224 641122. Sat May 7, 7.30pm, £19.68. Ayrshire-born singer who came to prominence as the frontman in indie rock band Idlewild. aberdeenperformingarts. com
Lizabett Russo & Baobab
The Lemon Tree, 5 West North Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AT, 01224 641122. Mon May 9, 7.30pm, £13.20. Baobab are a brother and sister duo from Japan who utilise instruments both modern and Medieval, while Scotland-based singer-songwriter Lizabett Russo merges her native traditions with elements of contemporary jazz, avant garde folk and world music. aberdeenperformingarts. com
Twin Atlantic
The Ironworks Live Music Venue, 122b Academy Street, Inverness, IV1 1LX, 0871 789 4173.
Wed May 11, 7pm, £20. Twin Atlantic are an alternative rock band from Glasgow whose latest album, Transparency*2, has the band covering everything from marriage, male friendship and the absurdity of social media to parenthood, medication and mums. ironworksvenue.com
THEATRE Julius Caesar
Universal Hall Promotions, The Park, Forres, Findhorn, IV36 3TZ, 01309 690110. Sat May 7, 7pm, £11 (£8.80; children £6.60). The superb physical theatre ensemble Company Of Wolves return with one of Shakespeare’s most renowned Roman tragedies. Five actors immerse us in this troubled time in history, creating a world on the brink of crisis, teeming with crowds and politics, exposing the thin line between trust and deceit, conspiracy and reality, civilisation and mob rule. universalhall.co.uk
Keepers Of The Light
Aberdeen Arts Centre, 33 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AA, 07554 447792.
Sun May 8, 7pm, £12-£14. Real-life mystery about three lighthouse keepers who disappeared in mysterious circumstances. aberdeenartscentre.com
One Mississippi
An Lanntair, Kenneth Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2DS, 01851 708480. Tue May 10, 8-10pm, £12 (£9). A hard-hitting verbatim play that explores how the impact of childhood experiences shape men’s adult lives, and the journey it takes them on. Blending humour and storytelling with powerful elements of physical theatre,
One Mississippi is an uncompromising insight into what takes us to breaking point. lanntair.com
Derren Brown: Showman
His Majesty’s Theatre, Rosemount Viaduct, Aberdeen, AB25 1GL, 01224 641122.
Tue May 10-Sat May 14, Tue-Thu 7.30pm, £25£57 (£23-£52). A brand new live show by the award-winning magician who has done everything from playing Russian Roulette to convincing people they needed to commit armed robbery. aberdeenperformingarts. com
Friends! The Musical Parody
The Tivoli Theatre, 34-48 Guild Street, Aberdeen, AB11 6NB, 01224 641122. Tue May 10, 7.30pm, £31.50. Friends! The Musical Parody celebrates and pokes fun at the wacky misadventures of the group of 20-something pals we love from the hit TV show as they navigate the pitfalls of work, life, and love in 1990s Manhattan. thetivolitheatre.com
A Play, A Pie And A Pint: Absolute Bowlocks! By Graeme Rooney
The Lemon Tree, 5 West North Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AT, 01224 641122. Tue May 10-Sat May 14. Tue & Wed 6pm; Thu 1pm & 6pm, £11. When pompous President Maxwell of the Bowling Club belittles the skills of Ladies Champion, Ailsa McKay, she decides to disguise herself and enter the Gentleman’s Championship. The straightforward plan soon becomes more complex when her alter ego, Alistair, is entered into other tournaments. aberdeenperformingarts. com
Sunshine On Leith: The Musical
Duthac Centre, Shandwick Street, Tain, IV19 1AA, 01862 894422.
Wed 11-Sat 14 May, 7.30pm, £8-£12. With a soundtrack from world-renowned Leithers The Proclaimers, Sunshine On Leith is both a funny and moving story about Davy and Ally, two soldiers from Edinburgh returning to their hometown after serving in war-torn countries and questioning what home’ really means. facebook.com/duthaccentre