10 unmissable events happening in Edinburgh and Glasgow this October

• The List
• 28 September 2018

credit: Johan Persson

Including Africa in Motion, Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake and Teenage Fanclub

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake
Thrilling, daring, funny and sad, Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake is perhaps still best known for replacing the female corps-de-ballet with a male ensemble, a move which only went and took the dance world by storm. With Lez Brotherston on set and costume duties and Paule Constable on lighting, you're in for a visual extravaganza.
Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Tue 16–Sat 20 Oct.

Sara Pascoe
With LadsLadsLads, Pascoe goes on a personal journey to reflect on her break-up with fellow comedian John Robins, while reflecting more broadly on the state of this mad ole world.
Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling, Sat 20 Oct; Tramway, Glasgow, Sun 21 Oct.

Teenage Fanclub
Norman Blake and co recreate their sublime Creation years across three gigs in a venue that has become like a home from home for the band.
Barrowland, Glasgow, Mon 29–Wed 31 Oct.

Document Human Rights Film Festival
This dedicated international human rights documentary film festival raises the profile of issues not exposed in the mainstream media and showcases everything from reportage to cinematic essays, investigative journalism to leftfield experiments.
CCA, Glasgow, Thu 18–Sun 21 Oct.

Children's Classic Concerts
In Owen and Olly's Children's Classic Concert swansong, Broomstick Ride features a Halloween-based selection of music, mirth and mayhem.
Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Sat 27 Oct; Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 28 Oct.

Ballyturk
Andy Arnold directs Enda Walsh's meditation on existence and its all-consuming brevity as two men wonder what might be outside of the four walls they inhabit.
Tron Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 4–Sat 20 Oct.

Africa in Motion
Now in its 13th year, Africa in Motion brings us more cinematic treats in a festival that is truly getting bigger and better every year.
Various venues, nationwide, Fri 26 Oct–Sun 4 Nov.

Little Drummer Girl
From the folk who brought you The Night Manager comes another John le Carré adaptation, this time starring Florence Pugh and Alexander Skarsgård, and directed by Park Chan-wook.
BBC One, date tbc.

Banksy
Restoration is underway on three murals by shadowy graffiti guru Banksy but the project might prove to be rather opinion-dividing.
The Arches, Glasgow.

Enterteasement (chosen by comedian Michael Redmond)
Over three years ago, I made my approach to the Admiral Bar in Waterloo Street in Glasgow city centre with a degree of trepidation. My sense of foreboding was increased because it was a dark, dank, rain-swept night in Glasgow in the middle of November. I had been booked to appear at the Enterteasement Club. This place is totally unique in Glasgow in that the bill is a mixture of magicians, burlesque dancers and comedians. The reason for my trepidation was because I thought comedy and burlesque couldn't possibly mix together, and that it would be really difficult for a comedian to follow a burlesque act. But that is not the case at all. I have performed there two or three times since and it has always been a fantastic night. The audience, who have been built up over the years by Chris Dinwoodie who founded the club, are amazingly responsive and supportive of all the acts.
Enterteasement Club, Glasgow, Sat 13 Oct (featuring comedians Jay Lafferty and Ro Campbell); Michael Redmond's Sunday Service, The Stand, Glasgow, Sun 14 Oct.