GLASGOW GIRLS Those who think that deadly serious subjects shouldn’t be the terrain of musical theatre probably haven’t seen Glasgow Girls. Over- sentimentality and icky schmaltz are wholly absent from the 2012 show conceived and directed by Cora Bissett and written by David Greig. They retell the true 2005 story of a crew of Drumchapel schoolgirls who came together to fight off the might of British governmental bureaucracy by preventing a Kosovan pal from being deported. Uplifting, enthralling and with dashes of humour, the only downside to Glasgow Girls is that it may well remain depressingly relevant for a long time to come. Glasgow Girls, King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 15–Sat 19 Jan; King’s Theatre, Edinburgh, Wed 23–Sat 26 Jan.

OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL For the fifth year running, the Ocean Film Festival makes a stop-off in Edinburgh bringing along a showcase of evocative and dramatic films connected by their water-based adventures, featuring intrepid rowers, bold surfers and spectacular depths. Among the highlights are Kiwi Breeze about a man building a yacht in his London back garden ahead of voyaging home to New Zealand, while Touched by the Ocean features Latvian pals attempting to row across the South Atlantic Ocean, and The Big Wave Project tracks a crew of surfers seeking that next watery thrill. Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Sat 15 Sep.

BIG BIG PICTURE PICTURE 1 Nov 2018–31 Jan 2019 THE LIST 17 1 Nov 2018–31 Jan 2019 THE LIST 17