What's on today

The top ten cultural events in Scotland today

1 THEATRE: EXCHANGE YOUTH THEATRE FESTIVAL

Now in its third year, this festival, organised by the National Theatre of Scotland, brings together youth theatres from across Scotland and gives them a chance to create and perform new pieces under the eye of stage veterans. This week, audiences can see the fruits of their labour, with shows set everywhere from Greenock to cyberspace.

• Eden Court, Inverness, today until 5 July, 01463 234234

2 THEATRE: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE

Glasgow's annual Bard in the Botanics season is one of the great survivors of Scottish theatre, undeterred by tempest, cash crises and the recent Kibble Palace refit. This year, under the direction of Gordon Barr, the intrepid outdoor company offers three plays, beginning with a version of The Merchant of Venice set in 1930s Europe, a time when, Barr says, good and evil came sharply into focus. Bring waterproofs, and coffee.

• Botanic Gardens, Glasgow, 7:45pm, 0141-276 1614

3 VISUAL ART: VANITY FAIR PORTRAITS – PHOTOGRAPHS 1913-2008

Many of these glossy celebrity portraits are breathtakingly narcissistic, but there are lots of striking, fascinating pictures in the SNPG's show, such as one of a young Einstein.

• Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh, 10am to 5pm, 0131-624 6200

4 FILM: IN SEARCH OF A MIDNIGHT KISS

Set on New Year's Eve, this hipster, low-budget comedy throws together an aspiring screenwriter, Wilson, and a wannabe actress, Vivian, and sends them on a rambling romantic odyssey around a secret Los Angeles, spouting witty, polished dialogue reminiscent of Woody Allen.

• Cinemas nationwide.

5 CHILDREN'S SHOWS: CBEEBIES AT THE THEATRE

Come and meet PC Plum from Balamory, Postman Pat and his black-and-white cat, Bill and Ben, Boo! and more, as a host of children's TV characters gather on stage for a summer show of sing-along songs and educational stuff about recycling.

• King's Theatre, Glasgow, 11am and 2pm, 0870 060 6648

6 THEATRE: OUR HOUSE

This musical based around the songs of Madness has had mixed fortunes since its opening in London back in 2002. It won the Laurence Olivier award for best new musical, but some critics' verdicts were harsh, and it closed after less than a year. It's back, though, heading off round the UK on a summer tour.

• Theatre Royal, Glasgow, 7:30pm, 0870 060 6647

7 MUSIC: FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND

Expect Glasgow's Emo community to gather in force for this gig by the Welsh rockers, who say they are planning to go back to their more hardcore, shouty roots with their fourth album, due out later this year. There's a new double A-side single out later in July.

• King Tut's, Glasgow, 8:30pm, 0141-221 5279

8 THEATRE: SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER

Oliver Goldsmith's comedy She Stoops To Conquer – a tale of arranged marriages versus true love, first performed in London in 1773 – is full of sunny reason and deft mockery of foolish pretensions. It's revived here as part of Pitlochry's summer season.

• Pitlochry Festival Theatre, 8pm, 01796 484626

9 MUSIC: AMY STUDT

Singer-songwriter Amy Studt shot to fame, aged only 16, back in 2002, with a single called Just a Little Girl. She was hyped at the time as a British Avril Lavigne, but instead disappeared from view. She is now making a comeback, however, with a new album and series of gigs. This one's free.

• Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, 7pm, 0131-220 6176

10 THEATRE: THE WEDDING SINGER

Based on the 1998 Adam Sandler movie, this is a dog's breakfast of a musical that does little more than go through the Hollywood rom-com motions, via terrible songs. On the plus side, there are good performances from Jonathan Wilkes and Natalie Casey.

• His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen, 7:30pm, 0845 270 8200