Edinburgh Science Festival

With half a century having passed since the moon landings, the Edinburgh Science Festival are grabbing the moment to explore the theme of frontiers, and looking at the way it addresses the likes of technology, engineering and maths. Among the highlights across the month are the NMS exhibition Robots, some physics wizardry, and a look at virtual worlds, while The Life Scientific host Jim Al-Khalili discusses his debut novel.
Various venues, Edinburgh, Sat 6–Sun 21 Apr.

Puppet Animation Festival

Across 80 venues in Scotland are150 puppetry performances, animated films and workshops for this year's event which includes work from Visible Fictions, Jabuti Theatre, Modest Predicament and Theatre Fideri Federa.
Various venues, nationwide, until Sat 20 Apr.

Game of Thrones

Winter is truly coming, as HBO's blockbuster fantasy series draws dramatically to a conclusion, no doubt punctured by visceral violence and startling set-pieces. When the dust finally settles, who will be lording it in all of Westeros?
Sky Atlantic, Mon 15 Apr.

Northern Ballet

Cramming the life of Queen Victoria into a single narrative ballet is the tricky task which choreographer Cathy Marston has set herself for Northern Ballet's latest work.
Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Wed 10–Sat 13 Apr.

Counterflows

Curators Alasdair Campbell and Fielding Hope lay on another excellent and eclectic festival of avant-garde music featuring the likes of Ashanti, Nicole Mitchell, Michael LaCour and Viaduct Tuba Trio.
Various venues, Glasgow, Thu 4–Sun 7 Apr.

Edinburgh Comic Con

The usual array of special guests, talks, screenings and wild costumes are all in store for those popping along to the EICC for this year's Comic Con capital extravaganza.
Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Sat 6 & Sun 7 Apr.

Mo Amer & Guz Khan

On the face of it, an unlikely touring duo, but US-Arab stand-up Amer and Coventry's Khan will offer fresh and potent perspectives on current world affairs interspersed with moments of astute silliness.
Òran Mór, Glasgow, Thu 4 Apr.

Senga Nengudi

Originally organised by the Henry Moore Institute, no less, the Fruitmarket exhibits the first collection of Nengudi's work outside of the US, featuring sculpture and photography from the past half a century.
Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh, until Sun 26 May.

Eighth Grade

US comic Bo Burnham's directorial debut is a memorable coming-of-age tale about a 13-year-old girl trying to fit in with new friends while maintaining an online identity that is far from the way she acts IRL.
General release from Fri 26 Apr.

Hannah Lavery

(chosen by poet Hollie McNish)
The title of this event caught my eye: Finding Sea Glass – Poems from the Drift. I always come back with these softened glass shards in my pockets after being on the beach. Anyways, this is at the Scottish Poetry Library, which I love, and is the launch of Hannah Lavery's latest poetry collection with Stewed Rhubarb press, a great wee independent publisher. I really like listening to Hannah's readings and I'm in the mood at the moment for some calm(ish) nights: Hannah is a beautiful writer and performer. In all honesty, I probably most often enjoy music gigs, but it's so nice just to be read to sometimes as well. I don't think it happens enough in adulthood.
Hollie McNish, Mac Arts, Galashiels, Sun 14 Apr; Summerhall, Edinburgh, Thu 18 Apr; Hannah Lavery, Scottish Poetry Library, Edinburgh, Fri 5 Apr.