Suzanne McLaughlin serves up a week of delights...
1 The Circus of Horrors – The Witch, Ayr Gaiety Theatre, Thursday
FOR the first time in more than two years, the Circus of Horrors is back … with its latest incarnation, The Witch. This is a sensational new phantasmagoria encompassing amazing and bizarre circus acts with an original rock score and a sinister story of witchcraft, the darkest of magic.
2 Zique’s at SWG3, Glasgow, opening Thursday, then Mondays-Fridays, 8.30am-6pm
ZIQUE will take up residency in SWG3’s renowned Acid Bar over the coming months. The menu will focus on breakfast, lunch and an all-day deli, offering a greatest hits of Zique’s classics from the past 21 years. A shared love of Scottish produce will be at the heart of the residency through a variety of curated pop-ups and events with restaurateurs, musicians, DJs and artists including comedian Michael Redmond of Father Ted fame, who will host on Sundays with a legendary roast chicken dinner serviced with a side of laconic wit.
3 Slam Tent, May Day bank holiday weekender, April 29-May 1, Hopetoun House, Edinburgh
OK, it’s not until May ... but tickets go on sale this weekend for the standalone return of the legendary Slam Tent. After a six-year hiatus, Slam and Edinburgh promoters FLY join forces across one unmissable three-day event. The line-up at one of the biggest dance tents on the European festival circuit will create the greatest dancefloor that Scotland has ever seen. Tickets at www.skiddle.com
4 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, National Theatre, Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Tuesday-Saturday
SIMON Stephens’s adaptation of the darkly humorous book by Mark Haddon is presented by National Theatre. This is the winner of seven Olivier Awards and five Tony Awards and brings the novel to thrilling life on stage, as 15-year-old Christopher stands beside Mrs Shears’s dead dog with a mystery to solve.
5 Edinburgh Short Film Festival 10th Anniversary Weekend, Filmhouse, ends Sunday, 3pm-5pm and 8.30pm-10pm
FOUR hand-picked programmes of the best films from 10 years of the Edinburgh Short Film Festival, from Vietnamese drama to Croatian comedy and from American indie filmmaking to comedy featuring Johnny Vegas – and more. Find further details at www.edinburghshortfestival.com
6 Hot Milk and Pale Waves, Glasgow O2, tomorrow
HOT Milk have just been added to this intriguing bill. The band were formed in 2018 by the vocalist and guitarist duo Han Mee and Jim Shaw, two friends who met working behind the scenes in the Manchester music scene – yet they yearned to be in a band themselves. That sense of not letting life slip through your fingers is at the core of Hot Milk’s punk-indebted ethos. The band, completed by bassist Tom Paton and drummer Harry Deller, have quickly made their mark, including with a sold-out UK headline tour.
7 Legends of Acid: Billy Nasty, The Tunnels, Aberdeen, Saturday, 10pm-3am
BILLY Nasty has never been just a DJ and has enjoyed an extensive recording career. He runs two record labels highly regarded by a broad range of DJs and record-buyers alike. After a career spanning 25 years, he continues to travel the world as one of the most in-demand DJs.
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