1. Spectra, Aberdeen
This free illuminations festival is pulling out all the stops for its tenth anniversary, with ten local artists premiering work plus talking trees and rainbow bridges linking artworks. One radiant piece, a large-scale sound and 3D projection called Winds of Change, will dominate the Sculpture Court at Aberdeen Gallery, charting the city’s maritime history.
Wander through the city centre and you’ll find many other captivating installations, among them mirrored and luminescent sonic monoliths on Broad Street and an oversized ball of radiant wool in Union Terrace Gardens. Look out too for Affinity, a huge interactive sculpture with light globes that mimic connections in the human brain.
Details Feb 8-11, city centre and various venues, Aberdeen; spectrafestival.com
2. Jesus Christ Superstar, Edinburgh
Take a look at the tracks from this bombastic Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera, and you may be surprised by how many you know. For the uninitiated, the plot focuses on the weeks leading up to Judas’s betrayal of Jesus and his crucifixion. Don’t worry if you can’t make it to the capital: this big-budget production is heading for Inverness’s Eden Court Theatre too. And if you’re on the fence, just listen to Hosanna, Everything’s Alright and I Don’t Know How to Love Him.
Details Feb 6-10, Edinburgh Playhouse, atgtickets.com; Mar 5-9, Inverness Eden Court Theatre, eden-court.co.uk
3. MACH2, Stirling
You may well know the Turner prize nominee David Mach, the Fifer who makes large-scale, imaginative sculptures, often using material such as matches, pins, coat hangers and magazines. But do you know his brother, Robert, best known for wrapping everyday objects in Tunnock’s teacake foil?
Now the brothers are putting on their first joint exhibition to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum. Expect the unexpected with works created just for this show.
Details Until Apr 7, Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Stirling; smithartgalleryandmuseum.co.uk
4. Two Sisters, Edinburgh
Who hasn’t dreamt of going back to their childhood happy place? In this new play from David Greig, a pair of siblings played by Shauna Macdonald and Jess Hardwick do just that, returning to a cherished seaside caravan park — only, naturally, it has changed. The sisters spend their weekend reflecting on adult preoccupations and the ways their lives have evolved. When a DJ from their adolescence appears, further recollections are triggered. Two Sisters is directed by Wils Wilson, whose recent hits include Life Is a Dream and Cockpit.
Details Feb 10-Mar 2, Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh; lyceum.org.uk
5. Winter Words Festival, Pitlochry
A constellation of writers and thinkers will head to Perthshire this week to mark the festival’s 20th anniversary. Come along to its Studio space to listen in to thoughtful conversations between people including Sally Magnusson and Magnus Linklater, and the former national poet Jackie Kay and the theatre’s artistic director Elizabeth Newman. The actor James Cosmo will be there too, chatting about his career and hosting a tasting of his whisky brand. There will also be a session with Allan Radcliffe discussing his moving new book, The Old Haunts. Among several authors talking about nature and the great Scottish outdoors are Catherine Moorehead (Mountain Guru: The Life of Doug Scott) and Neil Ansell (The Last Wilderness: A Journey into Silence).
Details Feb 8-11, Pitlochry Festival Theatre; pitlochryfestivaltheatre.com/winterwordsfestival
And one to book ahead … Elbow
The indie rockers will be supported by the Waeve, who feature Blur’s Graham Coxon and the Pipettes’ Rose Elinor Dougall.
Details May 11, Ovo Hydro, Glasgow; elbow.co.uk
