Catherine Wheels and the National Theatre of Scotland present this ambitious, eagerly anticipated new stage production of Ray Bradbury’s powerful coming-of-age story, in which 13-year-olds Jim and Will find their lives changed forever when a strange
carnival rolls into town. Tonight is the show’s official first night, following previews in Easterhouse and St Andrews last month.
• Dundee Rep, 7pm, 01382 223530
SCOTTISH MENTAL HEALTH ARTS AND FILM FESTIVAL
Now in its second year, this festival focuses on music, art, film and theatre which addresses mental health issues. This year includes Mad About Football, a film about psychiatric patients using football as part of their treatment, plus discussions of issues raised by Macbeth and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, and gigs by Emma Pollock and the Twilight Sad.
• Venues across Scotland, today until 19 October. Full programme at
www.mhfestival.comTHEATRE: MARY POPPINS
Cameron Mackintosh’s production of PL Travers’s famous story is now touring the UK after three years on the West End. It has a dream team behind it – screenwriter Julian Fellowes, director Richard Eyre and choreographer Matthew Bourne. See feature, p44.
• Playhouse, Edinburgh, 7:30pm, 0870 606 3424
MUSIC: OMD
The last time OMD were in Scotland, they were trying to reclaim their reputation as electronic pop pioneers by playing their classic album Architecture and Morality in full. This time they’re just playing the hits, so expect an even mixture of the sublime (Enola Gay) and the ridiculous (Locomotion).
• Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 7:30pm, 0141-353 8000
MUSIC: ROYAL SCOTTISH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA
The RSNO kicks off its autumn season in the capital with Wagner’s Overture to the Flying Dutchman, Szymanowski’s Sinfonia Concertante and Mahler’s Symphony No5. Stéphane Denève conducts a concert featuring pianist Poitr Anderszewski. There is a pre-concert talk at 6:45pm.
• Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 7:30pm, 0131-529 6000
FILM: TAKEN
Morally indefensible but outrageously entertaining action fest, in which Liam Neeson stars as a government-trained agent whose daughter is kidnapped by sex traffickers. It’s throat-punching, skull-cracking action all the way as Neeson dons a leather jacket and sets about tearing Paris apart until he finds her.
• Cinemas nationwide. Listings, p50
THEATRE: DON JUAN
A 21st-century take on the legend of the man whose compelling sexual power over women makes him the ultimate outsider. Mark Springer plays Don Juan, with Neve McIntosh – last seen in Scotland in the Royal Lyceum’s Merchant of Venice – as Donna Anna, who resists his advances.
• Citizens’ Theatre, Glasgow, 7:30pm, 0141-429 0022
MUSIC: HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT
Once described by the late John Peel as a “national treasure”, the 1980s indie band soldier on into middle age, touring in support of their splendidly titled new album, CSI: Ambleside. Expect dry wit, clever lyrics and a warm reception from an audience of diehard fans.
• Liquid Room, Edinburgh, 7pm, 0131-225 2564
THEATRE: CHERRY BLOSSOM
The Traverse launches its autumn season with this bilingual show, performed by a Scottish and Polish cast and put together by writer Catherine Grosvenor and director Lorne Campbell. It promises a rich combination of devised, written and verbatim drama about migration.
• Traverse, Edinburgh, 8pm, 0131-228 1404
VISUAL ART: ALEXANDER GOUDIE
Goudie was a Paisley man born and bred, so his local art gallery is proud to present the biggest show of his work since his death four years ago. Its grand interior seems suited to a man who arguably felt more at home among the traditions of past centuries than his own.
• Paisley Museum and Art Gallery, 10am-5pm, 0141-887 1010
The full article contains 631 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
