So much culture, so little time

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A L E X H A R V E Y - B R O W N

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COMEDY EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL IMPROV FESTIVAL

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FILM PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE

The second annual EdImprovFest adlibs its way through a long weekend, with a gala opening event headlined by those genial Showstopper! folks. See feature, page 23. Assembly Roxy and Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Thu 27 Feb–Sun 1 Mar. Her nation’s reviewers might not be keen, but French director Céline Sciamma appears to be hitting all the right notes with her 18th century-set love story about a painter and her subject, starring Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel. See feature, page 28 and review, page 69. General release from Fri 28 Feb.

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C A M E R O N M C C O O L

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MUSIC ANGEL OLSEN

The Missouri-born indie-folk, pop- art singer-songwriter tours with her fourth album, All Mirrors, which, according to Official Charts figures, actually fared best in Scotland. A warm welcome is assured, then. See feature, page 26. Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, Fri 14 Feb.

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DANCE SCOTTISH DANCE THEATRE

Antigone, Interrupted has SDT’s artistic director Joan Clevillé in fine form with solo dancer/actor Solène Weinachter taking on Sophocles’ Greek tragedy and winning. See preview, page 95. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 20–Sat 22 Feb.

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FILM FEMSPECTIVES

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MUSIC NIXON IN CHINA

The Glasgow Feminist Film Festival provides a platform for storytelling and safe spaces for conversations. Among the movies are Sung-A Yoon’s Overseas about Filipinos training to be domestic workers. See feature, page 24. Civic House, Glasgow, Thu 20–Sun 23 Feb. John Adams’ epic debut is given the Scottish Opera treatment with its story of the disgraced president bonding with Mao having a modern resonance. See feature, page 29. Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Tue 18, Thu 20, Sat 22 Feb; Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 27, Sat 29 Feb.

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: J A M E M C F A D Y E N

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CHOSEN BY PLAYWRIGHT KIERAN HURLEY THICK SKIN, ELASTIC HEART

There’s always lots happening across Edinburgh and Glasgow so it’s hard to choose just one thing. There’s the tail end of Celtic Connections, I’m looking forward to the Glasgow Film Festival kicking off, and I’m really intrigued by an animated lecture about the amazing Nan Shepherd that’s happening at the Traverse. There’s script-in- hand readings of the newest theatre writing on either end of the M8, with Stage to Page and Tandem Writing Collective. But I’d give a particular shout out to Thick Skin, Elastic Heart, a new play by Drew Taylor-Wilson who is a fantastic artist and top gadgie. It’s co-produced by spoken-word stalwarts Sonnet Youth with support slots from some genuinely excellent poets, which is a pretty cool and exciting way of billing a theatre show I think. Mouthpiece, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Thu 6–Sat 15 Feb; Thick Skin, Elastic Heart, The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow, Tue 4– Thu 6 Feb; Perth Theatre, Fri 7 Feb; Macrobert, Stirling, Sat 8 Feb.

1 Feb–31 Mar 2020 THE LIST 7