Five Things To Do In Edinburgh: Friday 23 November

1 EXHIBITION: John Bellany Born in 1942 in Port Seton, east of Edinburgh, Bellany is one of Scotland’s most outstanding contemporary artists, and to celebrate his 70th birthday year, works from a career spanning over 50 years have been brought together. On display are paintings, watercolours, drawings and prints, many of which have rarely been exhibited. Beginning with works produced studying at Edinburgh College of Art in the early 1960s and ending with his most recent landscape paintings, the show plots key periods within Bellany’s life: a deeply religious upbringing, his rebellious beginnings and important artistic influences, his unwavering belief that art should show the realities of life, his use of symbols, as well as the reflection in his art of his own personal tragedies and triumphs. During a period in Europe and America when expressive realism has not always been fashionable, Bellany has been one of the key standard bearers for this strand of modern art. This is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of Bellany’s work since the National Galleries organised a retrospective in 1986.

Scottish National Gallery, The Mound, 10am-5pm, £7/£5, 0131-624 6200

2 OPERA: Scottish Opera - The Magic Flute Sir Thomas Allen and Simon Higlett return to take on Mozart’s most inventive opera, Set in a spectacular visual world inspired by ‘steam punk’ Victoriana.

Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Nicolson Street, 7.15pm, £17.50–£74.50 (£10–£71.50), 0131-529 6000

3 REVUE: Edinburgh Gang Show The Gang Show is an Edinburgh institution, starring over 250 young people from Scouting and Girlguiding, featuring topical comedy, dance routines and songs.

King’s Theatre, Leven Street, 2.15pm, 7pm, £9–£16, 0131-529 6000

4 SHOW: An Evening of Musicals and Movies at Christmas Smash hits and well known themes and signature tunes from the movies and musicals. Starring Ruthie Henshall, John Owen Jones and Keith Jack, with a 65-piece orchestra.

Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 7.30pm, £20–£60, 0131-228 1155

5 MUSIC: We Were Promised Jetpacks One of the best young bands in the Capital.

The Liquid Room, Liquid Room, 7pm, £12.50, 0131-225 2564