P H O T O © M A A R T E N H O L L
P H O T O © D O U G L A S M C B R D E
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The REALIST
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MUSIC Kid Canaveral
The Edinburgh-based quartet get themselves firmly into the spirit of the season to put on their sixth annual festive extravaganza with a 3pm- late shindig featuring lovely decorations, a bar and some very special guests. Will you last the distance? Pilrig St Paul’s Hall, Edinburgh, Sat 19 Dec.
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DANCE Scottish Ballet’s Cinderella
Choreographer Christopher Hampson has packed the emotion in to his new take on the classic tale of one lady and her missing slipper. Having produced it for the Royal New Zealand Ballet back in 2007, he has form. See preview, page 115. Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Sat 5–Thu 31 Dec; Theatre Royal, Glasgow, Tue 12–Sat 16 Jan.
THEATRE
The Lion, the Witch and the 5 Wardrobe From the team who brought you previous festive shows such as The BFG and A Christmas Carol comes a version of CS Lewis’ classic novel about snow, a faun and a magical bit of furniture. See Highlights page 120. Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, Sat 28 Nov–Sun 3 Jan.
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KIDS White
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FILM Sunset Song
Catherine Wheels’ superb show for pre-schoolers is still going strong after some 1000 performances since it debuted in 2010. Get your little ones along to see a world of colourless clothes, bird boxes, tents and spectacles. See preview, page 97. Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, Sat 12–Thu 24 Dec. Lewis Grassic Gibbon’s epic tale of early 20th century rural Aberdeenshire life is brought to the big screen by Terence Davies whose touch has never been less than elegant. Agyness Deyn stars as Chris Guthrie. See feature, page 59 and review, page 91. Selected release from Fri 4 Dec.
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THEATRE Ali Bawbag & the Four Tealeafs
Dave Anderson and Gary McNair are the sharp minds behind this year’s panto for ‘grown- up children’ featuring a greedy brother, his aspirational wife and a band of robbers. See Highlights, page 120. Òran Mór, Glasgow, Mon 30 Nov–Wed 23 Dec.
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CHOSEN BY COMEDIAN MARK NELSON It’s a Wonderful Life
The event I most look forward to every single December is the showing of It’s a Wonderful Life at the Grosvenor cinema in Glasgow. It’s one of the simplest yet most beautiful films ever made, and watching it truly defines Christmas for me. I cry at the majority of things so naturally this has me in floods of tears every single time I watch it. What I love is the darkness the film manages to address whilst still maintaining that feel- good tone. And the Grosvenor is the perfect place to see it on the excellent Ashton Lane, relaxed and with a beer. I defy anyone to leave this film not feeling better about themselves and the world in general. Attaboy Clarence. It’s a Wonderful Life, Grosvenor, Glasgow, Fri 11–Thu 24 Dec; Mark Nelson is at The Stand, Glasgow, Mon 14–Sat 19 Dec, Thu 7 Sat 9 Jan; The Stand, Edinburgh, Wed 18 Nov, Wed 20 Jan.
5 Nov 2015–4 Feb 2016 THE LIST 9