What's On Scotland 11-25 Dec: Dovecot Merry Makers Market & more

Our last newsletter of the year is out, full of festive treats! Dovecot Studios have put on a gorgeous Christmas Market, Dundee Rep have a theatrical advent calendar, and Scottish Ensemble are doing concerts by candlelight.

Feature by Anahit Behrooz | 11 Dec 2020
  • Dovecot Studios

The year is officially winding up, but there are still a few exhibitions, online shows, and festive frolics to keep the days, such as they are, full. First up, if you too have left your Christmas shopping until the last minute, Christmas markets are an ideal place to pick up a few last minute treats.

There's plenty of online Christmas markets this year, perfect for supporting local businesses, including Super Market Events and Summerhall Christmas Market, but if you get the sudden urge to see things in person or, I don't know, leave your house, the Merry Makers Market at the airy Dovecot Studios offers over 20 creative makers and booked time slots, while Out of the Blue Drill Hall have Makeshift, a temporary exhibition and sale of local handmade arts and crafts.

Elsewhere, we've got a theatre advent calendar, concerts by candlelight to set the mood, and lots more. Read on for more!

Advent
Dundee Rep, Online. Until 24 Dec
Forget the chocolates or tiny pictures, little morsels of theatre are the best advent calendar present. Every day in the run up to Christmas, Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre are releasing 24 theatrical vignettes, put together by their creative ensembles and released on Dundee Rep's YouTube. Image: Josh Hurley.

Virtually Happening
Online. Until 14 Feb 2021
Virtually Happening, the University of Stirling's Art and Design Degree Show, is taking place online, showcasing cutting-edge work from the university's most recent and upcoming graduates. There's everything from painting to ceramics, along with an Instagram with regular artist takeovers. Image: Brian Main.

ADVERTISEMENT | Citizen Winter Warmer
Free, Facebook and YouTube @edbookfest, 12 Dec
As the nights draw-in and the lights begin to twinkle, join the Edinburgh International Book Festival online for a day full of stories, music and creative fun. Get arty in illustrator DrawAlongs, hear powerful words from poet Courtney Stoddart, enjoy quick creative workshops with writers Leyla Josephine and Eleanor Thom, hear stories from authors Maggie O’Farrell, Alan Bissett and Nadine Aisha Jassat, and more – short events for every age to warm the coldest winter's day.

MALKA: Hidden Door Live
Online. 15 Dec, 7pm
The final 2020 live-streamed show from Hidden Door's digital programme, this artist-curated set sees musician MALKA welcoming a diverse and exciting line up, including Pictish Trail, Carla J Easton, Kapil Sheshasayee, to explore how music has survived the past year. Image: MALKA.

ADVERTISEMENT | Celtic Connections 2021
Online, 15 Jan-2 Feb 2021
Celtic Connections has announced the first artists who will be perform as part of their digital-first festival, every night between Friday 15 January and Tuesday 2 February 2021.

The line-up will include Admiral Fallow, Bassekou Kouyate & Amy Sacko, Blue Rose Code, Declan O'Rourke, Duncan Chisholm & Scottish Ensemble, Eddi Reader, Elephant Sessions, Georgia Cécile, James Grant, José González, Kris Drever, Roaming Roots Revue, and Rory Butler.

Early-bird festival passes are available to book now: https://bit.ly/34eyFCn

If you get the knees right the rest will follow
Collective Gallery, Edinburgh. Until 31 Jan
The latest in Glasgow-based artist Holly McLean's series of film portraits, this snapshot of artist Alice Vandeleur-Boorer continues McLean's focus on fertility, reproduction, and femininity, pushing the boundaries of artistic representation into the scientific. Image: courtesy of artist.

Concerts by Candlelight
Online. 16 Dec, 7:30pm
Scottish Ensemble are rounding up a season of online events with Concerts by Candlelight, perfect for bringing the seasonal mood to your home. Featuring music by J.S. Bach, Anna Clyne, and George Crumb, the concert will be streamed on the Scottish Ensemble’s website. Image: 0405 Photography.

ADVERTISEMENT | The Secret Theatre
Online, 21-24 Dec
This Christmas, Scottish Ballet will bring the magic of the theatre right into your home.

Starring characters from our most popular festive ballets, the worlds of the Snow Queen and the Sugar Plum Fairy collide when the theatre bursts into life. In this spectacular, feature-length film, you’ll be treated to an extraordinary show filled with acrobats, snowflakes, clowns, princes and – of course – beautiful ballerinas.

Tickets are FREE and must be booked in advance.

Makar to Cracker
Online. 17 Dec, 7pm
Beloved Poet Makar Jackie Kay is returning to our screens for a one-off festive special of her online show Makar to Makar, streaming on NTS' YouTube. The line-up includes previous Poet Makar Carol Ann Duffy, with music provided by the Mercury Music Prize-nominated Kathryn Williams. Image: Mary McCartney.