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Thursday 30 April 2026

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Two actors comforting a distressed colleague on stage.

Drama festival kicks off with four well received performances

12 March 2024

Wild shetland through the seasons.

A love affair with the natural wonders of this northern outpost

Local naturalist Brydon Thomason’s new book Wild Shetland through the seasons has received rave reviews since it was published at the end of last year. Here wildlife broadcaster Simon King, well known to the Shetland audience, offers his take on a book that can be marvelled at over and over again.

8 January 2024

A group of women in clothing.

Do I love panto now? You can shout ‘Oh yes you do!’

11 December 2023

Two women standing in an alleyway, looking away from the camera with curious expressions.

What next? Will Ruth return for Shetland 9?

Our reviewer Tom Morton shares his views after watching the latest Shetland crime drama for six consecutive Wednesday nights

6 December 2023

Nelson mandela and a woman posing for a photo.

A Midwife in Africa – the incredible story of a 30-year adventure

Mona McAlpine’s new book to be launched in the Sound Hall on Saturday

28 November 2023

Promotional image for a dramatic series featuring two female leads, with a somber coastal background and a solitary figure walking away.

‘Roll on the next episode’: new Shetland series makes promising start

1 November 2023

The love and wonders of Scottish sea produce

With the Taste of Shetland festival on this weekend, Erin Rizzato Devlin delves into the pages of a new book that celebrates Scottish seafood

27 October 2023

A group of musicians with various instruments standing on stage, smiling and taking a bow after a performance.

‘What a fantastic evening’ – and there is a hunger for more

23 October 2023

Two men in formal wear: one in focus holding a handgun, looking at the camera; the other out of focus, standing with a hand to his forehead.

Screenplay: A blessing and a curse – how it feels to be the ‘real’ James Bond

4 September 2023

A group of people, mostly children, sit and stand on a decorated stage in costumes, likely performing a play. The backdrop includes trees and decorative elements.

A magnificent feast of talent

Drama teacher Peg Young reviews a local production of Kenneth Graham’s classic ‘The Wind in the Willows’

9 August 2023

“Peatlemania” takes over Holmsgarth for Peat & Diesel concert

29 July 2023

Four dancers in intense, dynamic poses on a dark stage with dramatic lighting; one dancer is knelt over while the others support and interact around her. A table is visible on the right side of the stage.

Music-meets-dance performance ‘mesmerising’

27 June 2023

Two musicians perform on stage, one playing a traditional drum while the other plays a handpan. The backdrop features patterned tapestries, and various musical instruments are visible in the background.

Sidiki shines in Scalloway at final JAWS gig

19 June 2023

An elderly woman with short white hair, glasses, and a green shirt sits on a green sofa during an interview. She faces the interviewer, who holds papers and sits at a table with a glass of water.

Shetland Noir – wonderful storytelling with a dark undertone

18 June 2023

Two musicians perform on stage, one playing a drum set and the other playing a handheld drum, in front of a stained glass window.

‘This is awesome’- Asaf Sirkis and Renzo Spiteri delight audience at town hall

8 May 2023

Black and white photo of three people posing with musical instruments: one holds a small keyboard, another smiles with an accordion, and the third carries an acoustic guitar, all facing the camera.

Mareel on Saturday: what a super night!

1 May 2023

A four-member band performs on stage with instruments and a female vocalist under dim lighting and spotlights.

Sunday afternoon at the Legion – ‘just beautiful singing’

1 May 2023

Five musicians perform on stage under blue lighting. They play various instruments including a piano, a flute, a violin, an accordion, and a double bass.

Young Trad Showcase: ‘you should have been there to hear it’

30 April 2023

A man wearing a red patterned shirt plays a percussion instrument while smiling into a microphone on stage.

Friday Fusion: where folk music boundaries are ‘well and truly’ blown apart

29 April 2023

Two men play violins on stage under dramatic lighting. The man on the left wears a blazer, and the man on the right is in a striped shirt.

Ringing Strings – the future of fiddle music in safe hands

28 April 2023

A group of six musicians performs on stage, with members playing a violin, mandolin, and guitar. Two female vocalists sing at the center. The setting appears to be an indoor venue with wooden decor.

What a great way to start the festival!

28 April 2023

Cover of the book titled "Boat Lines: Scottish Craft of Sea, Coast, and Canal" with an illustration of a rope and a hook.

A special book for everyone drawn to the sea

Ian Stephen’s book Boatlines is a unique celebration of the maritime life of Scotland

11 April 2023

A group photo shows about 30 people of various ages arranged in rows on a stage. Some individuals are holding trophies and awards. All are facing the camera and smiling.

‘Hats off to all the players’: drama festival returns to the Garrison in style

16 March 2023

Two musicians performing on stage; a woman singing and playing a banjo, and a man singing and playing an electric bass guitar. A guitar is placed on a stand between them, with blue spotlights overhead.

Baiman shines in Mareel concert

11 March 2023

A four-member jazz band performs on stage with guitar, saxophone, double bass, and drums, in front of an audience.

‘A rising star in the jazz firmament of not just Scotland’

After the low numbers at the last jazz gig at Lerwick Town Hall, I was not expecting the turnout on Saturday night, writes our reviewer Carol Jamieson.

27 February 2023

‘Astounding and virtuosic’ – a night at the jazz club that is Lerwick Town Hall

Our reviewer Carol Jamieson enjoyed every note of Saturday night’s concert but would have liked more people attending

16 January 2023

Collective action to yield better results for fishermen

Shetland Fishermen’s Association celebrates its 75th birthday this month with the publication of a tome of a book that charts its remarkable history. Former SFA secretary John Goodlad has already had a chance to read it.

15 December 2022

Hurrah – panto is back!

Our reviewer Kathy Hubbard thoroughly enjoyed a ‘rambunctious and cheerfully anarchic’ production of the panto classic ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’, which had its opening night on Tuesday

8 December 2022

Shining a light into the darkness

Helen Kerr reviews Pollyanna Paradox, an original audio play exploring the felt impact of coercive control on a family, with creative input from survivors of domestic abuse.

29 November 2022

Some slippery plot lines, but love in the end

Shetland News TV critic Jordan Ogg on the final episode of Shetland 7

14 September 2022

What exactly lies beneath the waves, we wonder as Shetland returns to our screens

10 August 2022

Plastic Fantastic: ‘sheer hard work’ pays off for youth theatre group

8 August 2022

‘Even the weather improved’ – Simmer Dim Song event hailed for its positivity

21 June 2022

Food for the soul: Scottish Ensemble mesmerises audience with ‘astoundingly beautiful’ music

28 May 2022

‘Well done again Shetland Folk Festival’

2 May 2022

Peerie Spang gives bairns a Sunday to remember

1 May 2022

Great harmonies and flawless instrumental skills

30 April 2022

Della Mae rounding off a splendid night of music at Cunningsburgh Hall. Photo: Lieve Boussauw.

Cunningsburgh welcomes back Shetland Folk Festival with glee

High quality tunes across the board during opening night concert

29 April 2022

Calendar Girls play ‘amateur dramatics at its funniest and finest’

5 April 2022

Emotional moments as Shetland sets the scene at Celtic Connections festival

24 January 2022

‘An intriguing account of Wills’ exploits and encounters’

13 December 2021

Papering over cracks and why it’s time to stop

3 December 2021

Hope for a brighter tomorrow

Helen Kerr reviews ‘Cast Out’ – a melancholy tale of Shetland’s darker history, written by Lesley Leslie, performed by Islesburgh Drama Group and directed/produced by Jennie Atkinson

26 November 2021

Beautiful and terrifying: Shetland serves up great finale

24 November 2021

‘A bloody good start’ – and more to come

Shetland News’ very own television critic Jordan Ogg is full of praise after enjoying part one of the new Shetland crime drama

20 October 2021

Wordplay 2021: Identity, creativity and a strong sense of place

Shetland’s annual literature festival Wordplay, celebrating its 20th birthday this year, comes to an end later today (Sunday). Alex Purbrick went along for Shetland News and spoke to local and visiting authors

19 September 2021

Welcome back to Screenplay – ‘we’re still here!’

Celebrating life amongst dark times is a powerful theme running through this year’s Screenplay film festival, writes Alex Purbrick.

4 September 2021

Packed Mareel crowd laps up sparkling performance from Reader

Singer marks 40 years on stage in her own inimitable style

26 August 2021

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