Top things to do this week Dec 7-15

Seven days of cultural highlights from around Scotland.

Beauty and the Beast

Gaiety Theatre, Ayr, until Jan 4

The historic theatre’s panto this year has been described as being full of music, magic and mayhem, special effects, breath-taking sets, loads of laughs and lavish costumes. It tells the classic story of Beauty, the beautiful daughter of the town inventor, Professor Crackpot. She longs for romance and adventure, but little does she realise they will come when she becomes the prisoner of a monstrous Beast in return for her father’s freedom.

Starring as Beauty is Katrina Bryan, Nina from hit CBeebies show, Nina and the Neurons.

Treasure Island

Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow, until Jan 18

One of Scotland’s great panto venues hosts Treasure Island, an adventure for young and old. Join Jim Hawkins (Stephen Purdon, better known as Shellsuit Bob from River City) as he inherits a long lost treasure map and embarks on an escapade on board the Hispaniola, with Captain Smollett (Clark Stewart) at the helm. Michelle McManus and radio DJ Cat Harvey play Bill and Check, the pirate twins, while Gary Tank Commander’s Leah MacRae is Black Dog and Pavilion veteran Douglas Sannachan is Blind Pew.

Scottish Ballet’s Nutcracker

Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, until Jan 3

Crafted by the company’s founding Artistic Director Peter Darrell, who is a famous storyteller and an incredible dancemaker, this Nutcracker is full of magical memories. After a Christmas party full of magic, Clara falls asleep and dreams she helps the Nut-cracker Prince defeat an army of giant mice. Peter’s magical world has been reimagined by Olivier Award-winning designer Lez Brotherston. The Scottish Ballet Orchestra accompanies live, performing the famous Tchaikovsky score.

Miracle on 34th Street

Pitlochry Festival Theatre, until Dec 21

Following the success of their previous winter musicals White Christmas and It’s A Wonderful Life Pitlochry Festival Theatre is staging the Scottish premiere production of another great musical adapted from a hit Christmas film, the feelgood Miracle on 34th Street. Based on the classic 1947 movie, this musical by the creator of The Music Man and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Meredith Willson, is a sparkling celebration of the festive season, featuring the classic It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.

From The Jam

Oran Mor, Glasgow, Sunday Dec 7

In November 1979 The Jam released their classic album, Setting Sons. To celebrate the 35th anniversary, From The Jam which features Bruce Foxton, original bass player from The Jam, and guitarist/vocalist Russell Hastings and drummer Steve Barnard will perform the seminal album in its entirety. Also expect a selection of tracks from The Jam’s back catalogue and songs from Bruce Foxton’s own solo career, including 2012’s Back In The Room, which featured Paul Weller on a selection of tracks.

RSNO: Hollywood Christmas

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Saturday Dec 13

Maestro Richard Kaufman has packed the greatest music from the most popular seasonal films of all time from It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street and A Christmas Carol, to new favourites like Home Alone, The Polar Express and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Richard has conducted for performers including The Beach Boys, Righteous Brothers and Art Garfunkel, and as a violinist performed on numerous film and TV scores including Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Saturday Night Fever.

Penguins of Madagascar

At cinemas now

The penguins from the Madagascar movies have at last been given their own feature length animation. Part of an undercover organisation known as The North Wind, Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private must stop the villainous Dr Octavius Brine, voiced by John Malkovich, destroying the world as we know it. Fast moving, with snappy gags, Penguins is a pleasure for the youngest of your colony but a bit too juvenile for the big children (otherwise known as adults).

Peter Gabriel

AECC, Aberdeen, Monday Dec 8

The only Scottish date on the latest leg of his Back to Front arena tour, the music legend performs at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre this week. Singer-songwriter, musician and humanitarian activist, who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of rock band Genesis, was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The 64-year-old has a huge back catalogue to choose from, including Sledgehammer, Steam and Games Without Frontiers, as well as his many Genesis classics.

MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards and Gala Concert

Inverness Leisure Centre, Saturday Dec 13

Also known as the “folkie” Christmas night out, the evening will feature 18 awards including album of the year, live act of the year, and Gaelic singer of the year. Among the top trad musicians performing will be Shooglenifty, Fiddlers’ Bid, Robyn Stapleton, Rura and Duncan Chisholm, in what is seen as Oscar night for traditional music. First held in 2003, the awards attract more than 100,000 votes from all over the world and are held at venues around the country.