Spotlight on . . .

THEATRE

GOING DARK

MULTI-MEDIA, that’s one way of describing Going Dark, a new show devised by Sound&Fury, which tours to the Traverse next week.

Using immersive surround sound, moments of total darkness, imaginative lighting and projections, the piece tells the story of Max, an astronomer who works in his local planetarium.

When he is diagnosed with an eye condition that is causing him to lose his sight, he must re-evaluate his relationship with the world around him.

A one-man show performed by RSC actor John Mackay, Going Dark explores parallel separations: one of a man from his world and another of a modern society from an appreciation of the cosmos and the world around them. How do we actually perceive the world? How might losing our sight allow us to understand the world better? How indeed?

Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, tomorrow and Saturday, 7.30pm, £17, 0131-228 1404

MUSIC

BILLY BRAGG - LEFT FIELD IN MOTION

BILLY BRAGG is as well known for his politics as he is for his music and on Sunday he brings his distinctive brand of agit prop performance to the Queen’s Hall when he appears as part of the Left Field in Motion Tour.

Since taking over the running of the Left Field at the Glastonbury Festival in 2010 Bragg has made an effort to showcase young artists who, like him, mix pop and politics.

The Left Field in Motion Tour takes that concept on the road as the singer presents the genre-defying hip-hop poetry of Sound of Rum as they continue their quest to make everyone hear what they are saying.

Explaining his passion for the tour Bragg says, “Music helped me to make connections when I was growing up between the situation I found myself in and the powerful people who put me there. Artists need to start engaging in this debate again and Sound of Rum are an inspiring example of those prepared to push against the power.”

Check out the musical rebel with more than one cause on Sunday.

Queen’s Hall, Clerk Street, Sunday, 7pm, £13, 0131-668 2019

THEATRE

KIN

AN exploration of the fear, sorrow, anger, guilt and frustration but also the love, trust and laughter to be found as middle-aged children negotiate the changes in their relationship with their parents also comes to the Traverse this week.

Donna Rutherford’s Kin finds performers revealing to camera their concerns about their own ageing while dealing with their parents’ increasingly glacial pace of life.

Tim Ingram, Richard Gregory, Cathy Naden, Claire Marshall and local actress Alison Peebles are all linked during the live performance by Donna Rutherford.

A touch experimental? Perhaps, but then that is something at which the Traverse excels.

Traverse Theatre, Cambridge Street, tonight-Saturday, 8pm, £15- £17, 0131-228 1404

OPERA

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

A TALENTED ensemble cast check into the Festival Theatre next week to bring to life the revival of Scottish Opera’s hugely popular production of The Barber of Seville.

Scottish-born tenor Thomas Walker leads the way as the lovelorn Count Almaviva and is reunited with Tiziano Bracci - they both appeared in Scottish Opera’s The Italian Girl in Algiers - who takes on the role of Doctor Bartolo. Claire Booth, meanwhile, plays Rosina, with Ville Rusanen as the irrepressible Figaro.

Traditionally told the piece is set among the bright colours of southern Spain with an 18-strong male chorus, period styling, a witty libretto and Rossini’s typically glorious music. Sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Festival Theatre, Nicolson Street, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7.15pm, £16.50-£67.50, 0131-529 6000