Dogstar returns with Hamish MacDonald

Dogstar returns with Hamish MacDonald

Highland-based Dogstar Theatre Company is just back from Sweden and Denmark with their production of Hamish MacDonald, Factor 9, produced in association with Swedish company, Profilteatern and Umea 2014 European Capital of Culture. MacDonald's play, directed by Ben Harrison, tells the real life story of two Scottish haemophiliacs, and how their lives were devastated when they were prescribed blood-clotting products. Factor 9's Scottish tour, which begins in Strathpeffer Pavilion on Tuesday April 8, anticipates the results of the Scottish Government's Penrose Inquiry, the UK's first ever public inquiry into contaminated blood products. The report is published in May, shortly after Factor 9's final performances at Edinburgh's Traverse Theatre following dates across the country.

l dogstartheatre.co.uk

Orlando on stage at CCA

Cryptic revives the multi-media take on Virginia Woolf's novel Orlando for three performances at the CCA in Glasgow this weekend before travelling with the show to New Jersey in America. Performed by Judith Williams with musical input from Craig Armstrong and German electronicist Antye Greie, Orlando has already been seen in Finland and Mexico. To accompany the Glasgow dates, this Saturday afternoon at 2pm Dr Jane Goldman, Reader in English Literature at the University of Glasgow, hosts a talk called Unlacing Orlando.

l cca-glasgow.com

New Madrids go Nice 'n' Sleazy

l Perthshire Americana band the New Madrids venture down to Glasgow this Sunday to play at Nice 'n' Sleazy on Sauchiehall Street. Featuring former members of popular country rock band Southpaw and blues rockers the Revivals, the band released their first album, Through the Heart of Town, in January and were greatly praised for their contribution to the recent Scottish Americana compilation Caledoniaville.

l thenewmadrids.com