The former Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan is to head the cast in Rachel Wagstaff's acclaimed stage play Birdsong which comes to His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen next month.
Starring alongside Edmund Wiseman and Emily Bowker he will play Jack Firebrace in the stage version of Sebastian Faulks's novel, which begins a week-long run at the city theatre on February 10, on the first Scottish date of the UK tour.
Although perhaps best known as a Blue Peter presenter, Duncan began his acting career in the 1970s when he joined the National Theatre.
His recent theatre credits include Denry Machin in The Card - for which he received an Olivier nomination for Best Actor in a Musical - Alan Ayckbourn's Things We Do For Love, the twins in Corpse, Stan Laurel in Laurel and Hardy, Macduff in Macbeth and Fantastic Mr Fox, both at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park, and the title role in Charlie Peace - His Amazing Life And Outstanding Legend at Nottingham Playhouse and Coventry Belgrade's B2.
www.aberdeenperformingarts.com
The King's Theatre in Edinburgh is holding a showcase of the city's amateur dramatic companies.
The Amateurs Showcase will take place on January 26.
The Bohemians Lyric Opera Company's will promote its production of Sister Act, there will be Southern Light Opera's Oliver!, The Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society's Pirates of Penzance and Showcase's Showcase 25.
The Bohemians are one of Edinburgh's major amateur musical companies.
Southern Light Opera is the oldest theatre group in Edinburgh, founded in 1897.
The Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society was founded in 1924 to perform and appreciate the works of W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan.
Showcase is a musical theatre company that has performed annually since 1990 raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
www.edtheatres.com
Big Burns Supper 2015 is a nine-day festival of contemporary and traditional culture as well as a celebration of the birthday of Scotland's national Bard, Robert Burns in Dumfries.
It is also part of Scotland's Winter Festivals - a programme of events managed by EventScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Among the traditional music performers this year will be is BBC Radio Scotland's Young Traditional Musician of the Year Robyn Stapleton, from Stranraer, the Border Strathspey & Reel Society Fiddlers and The Gallovidians.
Other acts taking part in the festival include Nina Nesbitt, Hue and Cry and the Undertones.
BBS features 140 events which are taking place during BBS from January 23-31.
Another highlight will be the Burns Night street carnival on January 25 which will feature bands, huge interactive puppets and hundreds of costumed performers.
www.2014.bigburnssupper.com
The biggest comedy festival in Europe returns to Glasgow from March 12.
Now in its thirteenth year, the Glasgow International Comedy Festival is offering nearly 106,000 tickets for 400 shows at 46 venues all over the city.
Jimmy Carr, Dylan Moran and Stewart Lee will all perform at the Clyde Auditorium, Radio Scotland star Fred MacAulay leads the King's Theatre programme including Al Murray, Tom Stade, Michelle McManus and Al Murray. Another event in the King's Theatre line up is a gala benefit to raise in support of Gordon Aikman's campaign to raise funds for MND Scotland, featuring Frankie Boyle and Stewart Francis.
At the Citizens Theatre, the comedy festival will take over for a full two week run with a top line up including Shappi Khorsandi, Paul Chowdhry, Mark Steel and John Shuttleworth.
Scottish comedians include Jerry Sadowitz at the King's Theatre to Susan Calman and Des Clarke in the Citizens Theatre, Craig Hill, Hardeep Singh Kohli and Phil Differ in Oran Mor plus Eleanor Morton, Davey Connor, Ashley Storrie, Susie McCabe and Matt Winning.
www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com
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