10 things to do in Scotland this week

THIS week’s arts, entertainment and leisure picks from across Scotland, including cult comedy from Wil Hodgson, poetry at StAnza festival, the live return of My Bloody Valentine, a touring production of My Name Is Rachel Corrie and Scotland v Wales in the Six Nations.

For more events near you, visit our new what’s on website, WOW247.co.uk.

Comedy: Wil HodgsonThe Stand, Glasgow

Monday 4 March, 8.30pm, £10; more info

Cult storyteller Wil Hodgson is a Fringe favourite whose tales of small-town life go beyond the normal one-liner, stand-up routine. In this new confessional show he talks about the crushes, fantasies and desires of a geeky 80s/90s childhood.

Books: StAnza FestivalSt Andrews

Wednesday – Sunday, more info at www.stanzapoetry.org

The loss of the Byre Theatre has hit St Andrews hard, but the StAnza poetry festival is boldly carrying on, with the town hall now serving as its main venue. Liz Lochhead, Ron Butlin, Robin Robertson and John Hegleyare among the well-known names in this year’s programme, which runs from Wednesday until 10 March.

Theatre: My Name Is Rachel CorrieOn tour across Scotland this week

Various times; full listings on WOW247

Mull Theatre’s well received production of My Name Is Rachel Corrie, based on the diaries of an American student killed by Israeli bulldozers, is now in the final week of its nationwide tour. You can catch the production at Dundee Rep on Tuesday and Wednesday; Eden Court, Inverness, on Thursday; Crathes Hall near Banchory on Friday; and Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline, on Saturday.

Theatre: Slick

Dundee Rep Theatre

Thursday and Friday, 7.30pm, £12 – £17; more info

Slick is a dark and dirty exploration of greed, corruption and loss of innocence. It combines absurd comedy, visual storytelling, puppetry, object theatre and physical performance to create an ensemble performance with comic-strip visuals. The world is seen through little Malcolm Biggar, a boy with a passion for his skateboard and a growing fear that perhaps his parents do not always have his best interests at heart.

Film: Side Effects

Cinemas nationwide

From Friday 8 March; find screenings

A new psychological thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Scott Z Burns, who worked with Soderbergh on his recent film Contagion. Jude Law is a therapist who prescribes a new kind of drug, Ablixa, to Rooney Mara. Channing Tatum is her husband. Someone gets murdered. Things don’t work out too well for Jude. Catherine Zeta Jones is lurking in the background too, looking vaguely villainous.

Music: Tenement Trail

Various venues, Glasgow

Saturday 9 March; full timings and more info

Glasgow has played host to several multi-venue music events over the years, including Stag & Dagger, Hinterland and the Sauchiehall Crawl. So locals have a rough idea of what to expect from Tenement Trail, an all-day event being staged at five venues this Saturday by video bloggers Tenement TV. Among the line-up of up-and-coming bands are Discopolis, Bwani Junction and Kassidy.

Music: My Bloody ValentineBarrowland, Glasgow

Saturday 9 March, 7pm, £25; more info

News of a My Bloody Valentine gig isn’t quite as momentous as their first new album in 20 years, but it’s a long time since they’ve played in Scotland. MBV, showcased at Barrowland on Saturday, adds a few new tricks to the band’s signature mix of transcendental and queasy, including some unexpected drum and bass.

Music: Conquering Animal SoundThe Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh

Saturday 9 March, 8pm, £7; more info

Monthly gig/club night Limbo returns this weekend, with a headline show from Glasgow duo Conquering Animal Sound. Their second album, On Floating Bodies, is released on Chemikal Underground this month, and they are just back from supporting fellow fast-rising Scots, CHVRCHES, on tour. Support comes from Pumajaw and Plum.

Sport: RBS Six Nations – Scotland v Wales

Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Saturday 9 March, 2.30pm kick-off, £35 / £17.50 child; more info

After back-to-back home wins over Italy and Ireland, Scotland coach Scott Johnson will be hoping to make it a stunning hat-trick on Saturday when the Welsh come to town. Reigning Grand Slam winners Wales will pose Scotland a tough test, but the atmosphere in Murrayfield could make the difference.