AROUND TOWN | Highlights

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Thu 1 Feb, nms.ac.uk The most prestigious wildlife photography competition in the world comes to Scotland. For over 50 years, the exhibition has showcased top nature photography.

BURNS UNBROKE: CONTEMPORARY ARTS INSPIRED BY ROBERT BURNS Summerhall, Edinburgh, Thu 1 Feb–Sat 10 Mar, artruist.com This multi-disciplinary arts festival aims to celebrate the different varieties of arts and performance in today’s Scotland through the life and work of Robert Burns. RSNO: THE MUSIC OF STAR WARS Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 3 Feb, glasgowconcerthalls.com We can all whistle them, right? Now you can hear John Williams’ scores for Star Wars, played live by the full RSNO. Richard Kaufman conducts. Also touring, see list.co.uk/music for full details.

H I T L I S T

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL Various venues, Sat 31 Mar–Sun 15 Apr,

sciencefestival.co.uk The top-notch annual hands-on science bonanza for adults, children and families takes place in venues all across the city with the programme ranging from the entertaining to the controversial, and the highly educational to, of course, the potentially icky. See preview, page 47.

AROUND TOWN HIGHLIGHTS

Events are listed by city, then date. Submit listings for your event at list.co.uk/add

GLASGOW

RUBY WAX: HOW TO BE HUMAN Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 10 Feb, rubywax.net Comedian Ruby Wax discusses her latest book How to Be Human: The Manual, where she sets out to answer life’s big questions about what makes us human and how our minds work. Also touring, see list. co.uk/comedy for details. COLONEL CHRIS HADFIELD Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Fri 16 Feb, glasgowconcerthalls.com Colonel Chris Hadfield (that astronaut fella who did a great David Bowie tribute) talks about his time in space.

CHINESE NEW YEAR 2018 Kelvin Hall, Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Riverside Museum, Sun 25 Feb, kelvinhall.org.uk Join Kelvin Hall, Riverside Museum and Kelvingrove Museum for Chinese New Year, where you can enjoy lots of activities including a fun family trail and a lion dance between all three venues.

SCOTTISH CYCLING, RUNNING & OUTDOOR PURSUITS SHOW SEC, Sat 3 Mar, scottishcycling runningoutdoorpursuitsshow. co.uk Test your fitness at interactive attractions including mini velodrome sprint trials, a bespoke mountain bike track, indoor running track, cycle track, Segway and triathlon challenges, climbing walls and ropes challenges.

BRITISH SCIENCE WEEK: EXPLORING GLASGOW’S WILDLIFE Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, Sat 10–Sun 18 Mar, beta. glasgowlife.org.uk RSPB Scotland look back at some of the species found in Glasgow over the years to encourage people to explore the wildlife of the city and report new discoveries. 48 THE LIST 1 Feb–31 Mar 2018

Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival

DISNEY ON ICE: WORLDS OF ENCHANTMENT SSE Hydro, Thu 15–Sun 18 Mar, disneyonice.com Ice skating frolics through the wonderful world of Disney. Watch as four of your favourite Disney stories Cars, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story and Frozen come to life on the ice. Also touring, see list.co.uk/ theatre for details. NASTY WOMEN: LAURA LAM AND MEL REEVE Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sat 17 Mar, glasgowconcerthalls. com Nasty Women, an anthology of writing examining what it means to be a woman in the 21st century, was the debut book from publisher 404 Ink. Contributors Laura Lam and Mel Reeve discuss what it’s like to part of this trailblazing project. Chaired by Chitra Ramaswamy.

SCOTLAND PAKISTAN FASHION WEEK Crowne Plaza, Sat 17 Mar, miraal. co.uk Leading designers from Pakistan, including Mr Deepak Pervani, and recently graduated Scottish designers showcase their designs. Closing date for designers’ registration is Thursday 15 February.

of all kinds, climbing, mountaineering, skiing and exploration are among some of the adrenaline-pumping activities represented. MEADOWS MARATHON The Meadows, Sun 4 Mar, meadowsmarathon.org.uk Take your pick of distances at this charity race with a 5k fun run, 10k, half marathon and full marathon all starting from the green, green grass of the Meadows. There’s also live entertainment and music to motivate you as you loop the park while, thank heavens, fancy dress is allowed at all levels.

EDINBURGH YARN FESTIVAL Corn Exchange, Thu 15–Sat 17 Mar, edinyarnfest.com A festival aimed at ‘yarn-enthusiasts of all flavours’, this woolly bonanza caters for all folk who knit, crochet, embroider, spin, haberdash or just appreciate a darn good yarn. EDINBURGH’S FESTIVAL OF IRELAND Various venues, Fri 16–Sun 24 Mar, edinburghsfestivalofireland.org A little bit of the Emerald Isle descends upon the Scottish capital around St Patrick’s Day. Edinburgh’s Festival of Ireland is a multi-arts, family-friendly celebration of the links between Edinburgh and Ireland, with storytelling, music, dance, talks and comedy. Last year it featured a topical talk by the Irish Ambassador, Irish Dance Concert with Siamsoir Irish dancers, and much more.

OUT OF TOWN SCOTTISH ALTERNATIVE MUSIC AWARDS: PAISLEY TAKEOVER 2018 Paisley Arts Centre, Fri 2 & Sat 3 Mar, officialsama.co.uk New music festival taking place in Paisley across Paisley Arts Centre and Feel The Groove record store, featuring live showcases, industry seminars, music workshops, in-store events and more over the two days.

P H O T O

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EDINBURGH THE INTERNATIONAL STYLE OF MURIEL SPARK National Library of Scotland, until Sun 13 May, murielspark100.com A virtual journey to the places Muriel Spark called home, with archive material and personal artefacts illustrating her life and work.

CAPITAL SCI-FI CON Corn Exchange, Sat 3 & Sun 4 Feb, capitalscificon.co.uk Science- fiction convention aiming to raise funds for CHAS. There will be large- scale props from Doctor Who, Star Wars, Terminator, Harry Potter and more, plus live special effects presentations, retro gaming consoles, trade stalls and a cosplay competition. Actors and voice-over artists make appearances over the weekend along with cult comic-book illustrators and writers. EDINBURGH MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL George Square Lecture Theatre, Sat 3 & Sun 4 Feb, emff.co.uk The majesty of mountains is captured on film in a series of screenings, lectures and exhibitions. Focusing on adventure