Arcadia Scotland

Art and Culture

Bloody Trams: A Rapid Response: 19-20 March, Traverse Theatre, 8pm

Verbatim theatre piece created in response to the infamous Edinburgh tram 'network'. Directed by Joe Douglas.

Bruno Munro: Field of Light: Throughout the End of March, St Andrew Square

Installation artist Bruce Munro sets up 9500 glass spheres and then turns on the lights to make us all ohh and ahh.

Citizens of the World: David Hume & Allan Ramsay: Throughout the End of March, Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Too few Scots are aware that Scotland has its own Enlightenment, and a hugely influential one at that, with a world-class philosopher in David Hume, an equally heavy-hitting economist in Adam Smith, an outstanding painter in Allan Ramsay, plus less well-known intellectual giants like Hutcheson, Ferguson, Reid and others.

David McClure: The Art of Picture Making: Throughout the End of March, The Scottish Gallery

A retrospective of the work of distinguished artist and teacher David McClure.

Louise Bourgeois: A Woman Without Secrets: Throughout the End of March, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art One

Louise Bourgeois (1911–2010) was one of the great artists of the 20th century, who drew on her own private demons and made them into works of art. This major exhibition focuses on her sculptural work, including pieces such as Spiral Woman, Avenza and Cell (Eyes and Mirrors). It complements the Fruitmarket Gallery's exhibition of Bourgeois' drawings, which is running at the same time.

Edward Lear in Greece: Throughout the End of March, Scottish National Gallery

Edward Lear, pioneer of Victorian nonsense, was a highly talented artist and a lifelong traveller who published many illustrated journals of his own trips to mainland Europe. This exhibition reflects his special love for the rocky and spectacular landscape of Greece, with watercolour images of Athens, Mount Atlas, Corfu, Sparta, Zante, Ithaca and Marathon painted between 1848 and 1864, recently restored and on show as a group for the first time.

Playing for Scotland: The Making of Modern Sport: Throughout the End of March, Scottish national Portrait Gallery

A major exhibition examining the way sport was transformed by wider social and infrastructural changes between the 19th and 20th centuries.

Reformation to Revolution: Throughout the End of March, Scottish National Portrait Gallery

A major exhibition covering the transformation of Scotland from an independent nation ruled by Catholic monarchs in the beginning of the 16th century, to a part of the Union with Protestant England at the end of the 17th. Among the portraits included are Adrian Vanson's brilliant depiction of the then James VI of Scotland as a hood-eyed melancholic and Marcus Gheeraerts' touching portrait of James' fool, Tom Derry.

Music, Comedy and Dance

Aida: 15 March, The Edinburgh Playhouse, 7.30pm

Ellen Kent's large scale production of Verdi's opera featuring temple dancers, cages of exotic birds, 40 local dancers, children and adults, and a pyrotechnic display consisting of a wall of fire bursting across the stage.

Northern Ballet: Cinderella: 20-22 March, Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 7.30pm

Fairy tale ballet choreographed by David Nixon.

West Side Story: 18-29 March, The Edinburgh Playhouse, 2.30pm or 7.30pm

The classic tale, based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, packed with memorable songs including 'I Feel Pretty', 'America' and 'Tonight'.

Scottish Opera: Turandot: 30 March, Usher Hall,  4pm

Puccini's last opera, Turandot is the tale of an ice-queen princess and her (some think, startlingly fast) defrosting. It features probably the most famous aria in all opera, 'Nessun dorma'; hear it in its remarkably alarming context and you'll never associate it with football again. This is a concert performance with the unfinished third act completed by Franco Alfano, conducted by Francesco Corti, with Claire Rutter as the princess, Ryland Davies as Timur, Eleanor Dennis as Liu and Jose Ferrero as the Unknown Prince.

Tap Factory: 31 March, The Edinburgh Playhouse, 7.30pm

A mixed programme of contemporary dance styles including urban, tap dance, hip hop, comedy and acrobatics, accompanied by a live band.

Lectures, Sports and Local Festivals

Ruth Ewan: Oberservers' Walks: Throughout the End of March, Calton Hill

Ruth Ewan and Astrid Johnston have created a downloadable audio guide to the history, geography and geology of Calton Hill and its environs, which you can get from the Collective Gallery website as an MP3 file and listen to as you explore the hill. Tam Dean Burn and Ruth Milne are the narrators. Bring stout footwear and suitable clothing for outdoors.

Italian Film Festival Scotland: Through 20 March, Filmhouse Theatre

This festival celebrates the best of Italian cinema, bringing it across the waters and all the way up to Scotland. As usual, a mix of classic and contemporary cinematic delights makes up the programme