Arcadia Scotland

Art and Culture

Fiji, Scotland and the Making of Empire: Throughout the Beginning of April, King's Museum

Artifacts displaying the connections between Northern Scotland the South Pacific.

The Amateur Eye: Photographs of 1930s Aberdeen: Throughout the beginning of April, Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Previously unseen photographs taken by chemistry teacher and talented amateur photographer, Martin F Bailey, around Aberdeen in the 1930s.

Anthony Schrag: Throughout the beginning of April, Aberdeen Art Gallery

Work by an artist who specializes in work that doesn't necessarily look like art at all; for a public commission in Hoxton, London, he got the locals to play an unwinnable (but still losable) game of five-a-side tug of war.

The Great Tapestry of Scotland:  Throughout the beginning of April, Aberdeen Maritime Museum

Potentially the longest tapestry in the world (beating the Kieskamma tapestry in the South African parliament by a cool 23 meters), the artwork has been worked on by people from all across the country since 2012. It tells the story of Scotland's history from the formation of the land in the prehistoric era to the re-convention of the Scottish Parliament in 1998, in 160 panels and 143 meters of stitching.

Music, Comedy and Dance

Thad Beckman, 2 April, Blue Lamp, 7.30pm

Original blues and folk from the singer-songwriter.

Dean Owens: 4 April, Blue Lamp, 7.30pm

The Americana-influenced Scottish singer-songwriter, endorsed by Irvine Welsh and Russell Brand, playing his new album Cash Back (Songs I Learned From Johnny).

Beyond the Barricade: 6 April, Music Hall, 7.30pm

A selection of the best-loved songs from new and classic West End shows like The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, The Lion King and Les Miserables.

Alan Davies: Little Victories: 11 April, Music Hall, 8pm

Sharp and inventive wit from the QI regular, award-winning actor and former Jonathan Creek and Whites star.

balletLORENT: Rapunzel: 11-12 April, His Majesty's Theatre, 2pm or 7.30pm

The classic fairytale in dance form, performed by balletLORENT. The brainchild of former poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, Doctor Who composer Murray Gold, and Game of Thrones costume designer Michele Clapton, the highly visual production conjures a dark beauty created to enthrall adults and children alike.

Benjamin Grosvenor and the Escher Quartet: 14 April, Music Hall, 7.30pm

Internationally recognized pianist is joined by the unique sounds of the Escher Quartet.

Lectures, Sports and Local Festivals

Resolution Run: 5 and 12 April, Beach Esplanade, 9.30am

An informal weekly 5k run along the Beach Esplanade. Everyone is welcome, no matter how fast or slow (you're welcome to walk the route, bring your dog or push a buggy), so you can use it as a one-off fitness test, a chance to get some fresh air or come every week to try to beat your personal best time.

Doug Allan: In the Company of Giants: 6 April, Arts Centre & Theatre in Aberdeen, 7.30pm

Illustrated talk from the award-winning cameraman, who has worked on the shows Blue Planet, Planet Earth and Ocean Giants.