AN ALL-male production by Sasha Regan of one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most famous operettas The Mikado arrives at the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh this month.

The director has had previous success with all male productions of H.M.S Pinafore and The Pirates of Penzance, an idea inspired by her time at a single-sex school.

Regan has said she is looking forward to seeing her play at one of the country’s most beautiful theatres. “2017 is going to be a great year for us as we bring a brand new staging to our audiences,” she said.

The production runs from May 9 to May 13 at 7.30pm, except for May 10. There is a matinee on Saturday at 2.30pm.

edtheatres.com/themikado

THE WORK of performance artist FK Alexander’s is characterised by her willingness to push body and mind to the limit. This week Alexander, pictured, has moved into the Veneer Gallery in Glasgow’s Finnieston, where, until Friday, she will live and work in the space creating I Cannot Cope With The Future. Using repetitive action, meditation, and coal, Alexander will explore methods of survival in a time of instability and fear. The concept was already decided on before the forthcoming election was called, but FK Alexander’s tactics couldn’t be more timely. The gallery is at 1184 Argyle Street.

fkalexander.com

ONE of the most hotly-tipped duos on the American roots music circuit, The Lowest Pair, have been making their UK debut this week with a run of Scottish dates including the Shetland Folk Festival and Edinburgh’s Tradfest celebration of the traditional arts. A double banjo pairing, Kendl Winter and Palmer T. Lee met on the banks of the Mississippi in 2013 and have won critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic since signing with New York’s Team Love Records, home to popular Americana acts including The Felice Brothers. The duo appear at Shetland Folk Festival until today before going on to The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen on Wednesday; Acoustic Music Club, Kirkcaldy, Thursday; Summerhall, Edinburgh, Friday; Performing Arts Centre, Kilbarchan, Saturday, and Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine, Sunday, May 7.

thelowestpair.com

SOUTH Dakota-born singer-songwriter Rachel Ries returns to Scotland for three concerts during May with a new name. Having expanded her sound from the homespun style familiar from previous visits, Ries, who has become known for selling newly made jams and craft goods while on tour, has released a new EP, To Gentlemen, under the name Her Crooked Heart in advance of an album she recorded over the winter in Wisconsin. She plays the State Bar, Glasgow on Friday, May 12; String Theory, Hawick, Monday, May 15; The Open Book, Wigtown, Wednesday, May 17.

rachelries.com