Arcadia Scotland

Art and Culture

The Mousetrap: 1 and 2 May, His Majesty's Theatre

Agatha Christie's play has been performed over 25,000 times. Now celebrating its diamond anniversary in the London West End, it's finally embarking on a UK tour.

Fiona MacDonald: Woodland Portrait Project: Through 23 May, Peacock Visual Arts

An exhibition about place, connectedness, imagination and human-nonhuman relationships, developed from the artist's engagement with a small wood in Kent.

Murder on the High Seas: 15 May, Aberdeen Maritime Museum, 6:30pm

Bless me barnacles, there be a Murder on the High Seas! Things are looking decidedly murky down on the SS Maritime and we are in serious need of some super sleuths to unravel this tangled tale of deception, dishonour and (gulp!) death. We are opening the museum up for a nautical night of tracking down clues, interrogating a motley crew of suspects - and to point the finger at the crafty culprit. The Cap'n has pledged glittering pieces of eight to the talented team who uncover the dasterdly plot the fastest! Why not capture your triumph with your best pirate's pose in the themed photo booth or get all arty and inky with a spot of screenprinting to capture your own 'life on the ocean waves'. See you there, me hearties!

Night at the Museum-An Ancient Egyptian Adventure: 16 May, King's College University of Aberdeen, 5pm

Should we be scared of the Rise of the Mummies or do they just want to cuddle a meerkat? We know we do! Join us for this family-friendly Egyptian adventure down at the Zoology Museum, which is appropriately crawling with live animals… Scary scorpions, hissing snakes, and those cheeky meerkats are all loose and looking to see who wants to get a little closer! 

Music, Comedy and Dance

Scottish Ensemble: From Russia with Love: 15 May, Music Hall, 7:30pm

Music from Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich, the two most irrepressible funsters of Russian music: Tchaikovsky's Andante Cantabile, Op 11 made even Tolstoy burst out crying, and Serenade for Strings in C Major Op 48, was owing to radio interference the accidental background music to the first atomic bomb test. Plus Shostakovich's Chamber Symphony No 1 in C minor, Op 110a, adapted by Rudolf Barshai from the remorselessly bleak String Quartet No 8; and Two Pieces, Op 11.

Paul Merton's Impro Chums: 16 May, Music Hall, 8pm

TV comedy favourite Merton and his talented group of 'impro chums' (read: show offs) magically weave laughs from audience suggestions.

Kurt Elling Swings Sinatra with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra: 22 May, Aberdeen Music Hall, 7:30pm

The great Kurt Elling and the great Scottish National Jazz Orchestra come together in an epic great-a-thon to celebrate the greatest of all swing singers: Frank Sinatra.

Breabach: 22 May, The Lemon Tree, 7:30pm

Blending double bagpipes, whistle, fiddle, song and Scottish stepdance with Celtic flair and frenzy.

Emily Smith: 28 May, The Lemon Tree, 7:30pm

The top folk singer and a former winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year award performs live.

Daimh: 29 May, The Lemon Tree, 7:30pm

Taking its name from the Gaelic word for 'kinship', Dàimh includes members from Canada, the US, Ireland and Scotland.

Lectures, Sports and Local Festivals

The University of Aberdeen May Festival: 29-31 May, Various venues and times

Aberdeen University's May Festival attracts thousands of visitors to the Granite City. The programme features a diverse range of cultural activities, including music, film, literature and food-related events for the whole family.