So much culture, so little time. We boil it down to 25 of the best events
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AROUND TOWN Edinburgh’s Christmas
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FILM The Florida Project
Your capital gets the full festive treatment with an array of the familiar (a maze, markets and ice skating) as well as brand new attractions such as the Ice Adventure and Giant Advent Calendar. See preview, page 93. Various venues, Edinburgh, Fri 17 Nov–Sat 6 Jan. Sean ‘Tangerine’ Baker moves away from digital for this new movie about the ‘motel homeless’ who live near Disney World. Some talented child actors join Willem Dafoe and Caleb Landry Jones for a memorable romp. See feature, page 48 and review, page 87. Out Fri 10 Nov.
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BOOKS 6
Book Week Scotland A week-long celebration of books and reading across the nation as top authors, poets, playwrights and celebrities get involved. Judy Murray, Tom Pow, Sue Lawrence and Graeme Macrae Burnet are among those spreading the word. See Highlights, page 77. Various venues, Mon 27 Nov–Sun 3 Dec.
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MUSIC The Divine Comedy
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VISUAL ART John Akomfrah
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COMEDY Margaret Cho
A true survivor of the Britpop boom, Neil Hannon has always gone about things his own way and his band’s latest album, Foreverland, continues on that path. Whether he comes dressed as Napoleon or not, you’ll be in the midst of a real leader. See preview, page 97. Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Wed 22 Nov.
With his video installation Vertigo Sea, the 2017 Artes Mundi Award-winner draws comparisons between slavery, whaling and the current refugee crisis, giving the viewer a rush of what it must feel like to be at the mercy of something so unfathomably deep. See review, page 124. Talbot Rice Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sat 27 Jan. The US-Asian comic who has broken down one or two barriers in her time is Fresh Off the Bloat for a small British tour, popping into Edinburgh to give us a night of taboo-busting fun and bigot- baiting humour. See preview, page 79. Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Sat 25 Nov.
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CHOSEN BY COMEDIAN JAY LAFFERTY Christmas at the Botanics
I love this time of year! The leaves have fallen, the nights draw in, summer clothes you optimistically bought in April are shoved relatively unworn to the back of the wardrobe to be replaced with your favourite cosy jumpers and novelty woolly hat. Unlike the tease of a Scottish summer you know where you are in autumn: cold and standing in the dark at four o’clock in the afternoon. Where better to do this than in the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh? From the 24th of November you can visit the garden after hours and follow a mile-long magical trail of lights, all part of the their Christmas at the Botanics. Go and spend an evening wandering amongst giant illuminated conifers while sipping mulled wine: it’s guaranteed to get you in the festive mood. Jay Lafferty is at The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 2–Sat 4 Nov, and she appears in Bona Fide, The Stand, Edinburgh, Tue 14 Nov, Tue 9 Jan; Christmas at the Botanics, Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, Fri 24 Nov–Sat 30 Dec.
1 Nov 2017–31 Jan 2018 THE LIST 7