Arts and Culture

Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon will be appearing at a special festive Edinburgh’s Christmas In Conversation event, In The Company of Books, on 15 December at The Assembly Rooms on the Mound where they will be joined by Alan Cumming and bestselling author Paula Hawkins to discuss all things books.

Interview: Nicola Sturgeon and Val McDermid on bonding over books
A love of books brought Val McDermid and Nicola Sturgeon together and they've been talking about them ever since

The Jesus and Mary Chain

The Jesus & Mary Chain, Glasgow review: 'well-drilled, well-behaved'

The National Gallery is based on The Mound in Edinburgh.

Exclusive National Galleries warns attractions at risk over inadequate funding

A Christmas Carol

Theatre reviews: A Christmas Carol | Beauty and the Beast

Richard Rankin plays detective sergeant John Rebus in the new BBC TV series. Picture: Mark Mainz

Exclusive Rankin on doubts over new Rebus TV season and his 'young Rebus' plan

Amy Adams in Nightbitch

Film reviews: Nightbitch | Grand Theft Hamlet | Rumours

Ilumina - In the Light of Shadow

Arts industry thrown £34m 'better than expected' Budget lifeline

Installation view of the SSA's 126th Annual Exhibition

Art reviews: SSA Annual Exhibition | Hope/Dòchas

Author Irvine Welsh, pictured at Leith Theatre. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

Trainspotting characters will be looking for love in 1980s-set sequel

Artist Jasleen Kaur with her installation of a car covered in a giant doily

Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur who put doily on a car wins Turner Prize

Music

Sam Fender, pictured playing TRNSMT, has another couple of dates with Scotland lined up.

Sam Fender Glasgow Hydro set times, support, tickets, setlist

Slipknot have a date with Glasgow next weekend.

Slipknot Glasgow Hydro set times, support, tickets, setlist

Culture Club have a date with Glasgow.

Culture Club Glasgow set times, support, tickets, probable setlist

The Human League have a date with Glasgow.

Glasgow Hydro set times, support, tickets, setlist

Flair

Under the Radar: Flair

Did you know that these famous faces all have familial links with Scotland?

Stars With Scottish Roots: 10 famous faces with family from Scotland

Taylor Swift played three sold out shows at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium during the summer.

Looking back at Taylor Swift in Edinburgh: 49 songs in 49 pictures

Books

Edward Kane, Advocate in The Hanged Man. Chapter 6: ‘You Have Done Evil in Doing This…’ (Illustration: Lesley-Anne Barnes Macfarlane)

Edward Kane, Advocate in The Hanged Man. Chapter 6

Castle Stalker

Discover 111 hidden gems in new Scottish Highlands guidebook

Frederik Mayet as Jesus Christ performs on stage during the Oberammergau passion play in 2010

Book review: We Who Wrestle With God, by Jordan B Peterson

Illustration: Lesley-Anne Barnes Macfarlane

Edward Kane in The Hanged Man. Chapter 4: ‘He wants to see the dog…’

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The Scotsman app brings you exclusive, quality news and analysis from The Scotsman, Scotland’s National Newspaper.

Film and TV

Three of the Scots in contention for Golden Globes.

Golden Globe Nominations 2025: Full list and Scottish contenders

Sorcha Groundsell leads the cast of the UK's first high-end Gaelic language drama series An t-Eilean.

BBC reveal first look & cast of Gaelic drama An T-Eilean (The Island)

Scottish actor Brian Cox has said he will “try to spend as much time here” in the UK as he can following the results of the US presidential election.

Why Brian Cox says London represents 'freedom' after US election

Theatre and Stage

Mother Goose at Perth Theatre

Theatre reviews: Mother Goose | Weans in the Woodlands

The Citizens Theatre in Glasgow is set to reopen next summer after a seven-year closure

Exclusive Prestigious 146-year-old theatre to be fully revamped under £8m grant

Actor Sam Heughan. Picture: Robbie McFadzean

Outlander star Sam Heughan reveals backing for youth theatre company

Constant Vigier

The Scotsman Sessions #429: Constant Vigier

Grant Stott, Allan Stewart and Jordan Young star in Cinderella at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh PC: Douglas Robertson

Theatre reviews: Cinderella | Peter Pan

Ross Noble has six dates with Scotland.

Ross Noble Scottish Tour Presale: How to get tickets and ticket prices

Jade Chan as Jim and Amy Conachan as Lean Jean Silver in Treasure Island at the Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh

Theatre reviews: Treasure Island | Peter Panto

Art

A member of staff putting the finishing touches to the Christmas Tree in the Throne Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where the exhibition will run. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

The best images at the Royal Portraits Edinburgh exhibition

Glasgow’s Burrell Collection museum reopened in 2022 after a £68.25 million revamp.

Glasgow museum crowned Scotland's best building after £68.2m makeover

Edinburgh's Hidden Door festival will be using a former paper factory in the Maybury area for its next events. Picture: Chris Scott

Festival reveals transformation of former Edinburgh paper factory

Installation view of Barry Le Va: In a State of Flux at the Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh

Art reviews: Barry Le Va | Gabrielle Goliath | Guadalupe Maravilla

Edinburgh Festivals

My Mother's Funeral The Show at the Edinburgh Fringe

Scotsman Fringe First Awards: Our final five winners of 2024

Best Edinburgh Fringe Theatre 2024: All our four & five star reviews

The Best Edinburgh Fringe Comedy: All our four and five star reviews

Malin Byström leads a superb cast for Richard Strauss's final opera.

Capriccio EIF review - 'Accomplished and without garish flourishes'

The first night of their two-part gig, as The Magnetic Fields perform from their landmark concept album 69 Love Songs.

The Magnetic Fields: Part Two EIF review – 'Deliciously eclectic'

The Philharmonia Orchestra at EIF

Family Concert EIF review - 'Top-calibre classical music'

Endea Owens at the Edinburgh International Festival

Endea Owens EIF review – 'Rising star showed off explosive talent'

Virtual Royal Mile 2024

Nominees announced for The Comedians' Choice Awards 2024

Sian, as character 'Sooz' from Tick My Box

Misogyny and Sexism are still rife at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024

Madeleine Potter in The Sound Inside, Traverse Theatre

The Sound Inside at The Traverse Theatre "Truly extraordinary" says Graham Norto...

More Arts and Culture

Lost Shore Surf Resort

Kick Off 2025 with the Lost Shore Loony Dook – a New Year’s Day like no other

Rbe Awards photographs by Roman Kalans

Calling all Scottish artists: Showcase your talent on a global stage with the RB...

A handwritten manuscript shedding new light on Scottish history has been acquired by St Andrews University.

Exclusive Manuscript shedding new light on William Wallace made public

Sigourney Weaver is happy to appear in scary films, but not so keen on watching them (Picture: Carlos Alvarez)

Some scary movies are terrifying for actors as well as audience Scotsman comment

Plenty of Christmas films have been set in Scotland over the years.

Scottish Christmas Films: 10 festive movies filmed and set in Scotland

Festival fever can leave you vulnerable to fraudsters (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

SNP minister issues 'maximum' verdict to Creative Scotland over arts

Elio Pace - The Billy Joel Songbook 2025

Sensational show celebrating the music of Billy Joel coming to Glasgow and Perth

Fontaines DC

Fontaines DC, Glasgow review: 'a dynamic display'

Pantomimes are an essential part of the build-up to Christmas (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell)

No Christmas pantos?! Why actors, writers and artists are in trouble Dr Amy Thomas and Dr Arthur Ehlinger

Will Taylor Swift be putting her feet up after the Eras Tour comes to a close?

Taylor Swift Final Eras Show Announcement: 10 things she could reveal