Our guide to the best events in and around Lancashire during March
THEATRE & DANCE
1st-4th
Teechers by Blackburn Drama Club
“20 characters, 3 actors and 1 classic Godber play... Fast-moving and highly entertaining, Teechers evokes life at a modern school. Using the format of an end-of-term play, the new drama teacher’s progress through two terms of recalcitrant classes, synical colleagues and obstructive caretakers is reviewed. With only three cast members playing twenty characters, there are a multitude of rapid character changes that will keep the audience enthralled and entertained.”
Thwaites Empire Theatre, Blackburn 01254 685 500
2nd
Ventoux
2Magpies Theatre present the story of Lance Armstrong and Marco Pantani’s drug-fuelled race up the fearsome mountain in the 2009 Tour de France.
Lancaster Arts, Lancaster University, 01524 594151
2nd-4th
The Tempest
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre Company present a night of fun, fantasy and sorcery. This edited story of how love and reconciliation can conquer fear and control is an ideal first experience of Shakespeare for anyone aged eight and above.
The Grand Theatre, Blackpool, 01253 290190
3rd-12th
Words By The Water
This year’s literature festival includes several well-known names such as Harriet Harman, Vince Cable, Alan Johnson, John Simpson, Peter Snow, Melvyn Bragg and Sally Vickers.
Theatre By The Lake, Keswick, 017687 74411
5th
Cinderella
Vienna Festival Ballet presents the tale of Cinderella, probably the best known rags-to-riches fairytales of all time.
St Helens Theatre Royal, 01744 756000
5th
A View from the Edge
Owdyado Theatre Co present this play. Private eye and troubled sleeper Charlie Daniels is hired by the seductive Elise Hillerman to investigate the disappearance of her husband – a prominent gallery owner. Meanwhile writers Charlotte and Dan struggle to write their new noir-inspired theatre show about an art forgery ring.
Arnside Educational Institute, 01524 762254
7th-11th
Anita and Me
Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street) stars in this show, which is a poignant coming of age tale following Meena, a young girl growing up in the only Punjabi family in a 1970s Black Country mining village. Then one day the impossibly cool Anita enters her life.
The Grand Theatre, Blackpool, 01253 290190
10th-25th
Grease
The Wanted’s Tom Parker stars in Grease – voted the number one greatest musical – a love story, bursting with denim, cheerleaders, slick hairstyles, rock ‘n’ roll, 1950s pop culture and an irresistible mix of teenage angst and young romance.
The Palace Theatre, Manchester, 0844 871 3019
16th
You Win Again – The Story of The Bee Gees
Immerse yourself in the brothers’ hits through the sixties, seventies and eighties, topped off with a glittering array of iconic artists they wrote for. Follow the band and their lives, through the early charting triumphs and fall from grace onto their meteoric climb back to the top.
The Charter Theatre, Preston, 01772 804444
16-18th & 23-25th
Holmes
Longton Players perform, for the first time, a play written by one of their members. It’s about Conan Doyle’s iconic Victorian detective and the performance will raise urgently needed money to repair the hall where they perform.
St Andrew’s Church Hall, Longton
01772 612766
21st-25th
The Pajama Game
Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company present this smash-hit classic comedy musical. At the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory, love is in the air as handsome new Superintendent Sid Sorokin falls head-over-heels for firebrand union rep Babe Williams. But sparks fly during an industrial dispute over wages.
Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, 01282 863210
23rd
Brendan Cole: All Night Long
Star of Strictly Come Dancing, Brendan Cole is on tour with another high energy show with scintillating guest dancers and a scorching 14-piece band and singers, superb choreography, stunning lighting and amazing special effects.
Blackpool Opera House, 0844 856 1111
24th
Sing-a-Long-a Dirty Dancing
Brand new sing-a-long interactive screening of the classic film staring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey.
St George’s Hall, Liverpool, 0844 800 0410
24th
The Circus of Horrors
The Circus of Horrors celebrates its 21st anniversary with its latest show The Never-ending Nightmare. The spectacular features an amazing amalgamation of bizarre, brave and beautiful acts all woven into an Alice in Horrorland type story driven by a mainly original soundscape and performed with a forked tongue firmly in cheek.
The Charter Theatre, Preston, 01772 804444
27th-April 8th
The Commitments
Coronation Street legend Kevin Kennedy stars as Jimmy Da in this show, packed with more than 20 classic soul songs performed live on stage and which tells the tale of Jimmy Rabbitte, a young, working class music fan who shapes an unlikely bunch of amateur musicians into an amazing live act.
The Palace Theatre, Manchester, 0844 971 3019
30th-31st
The Tiger Who Came To Tea
The ideal introduction to theatre for children aged three plus. When Sophie and her mummy welcome the hungry tiger to tea he proceeds to eat all the sandwiches, buns, biscuits and more. He even manages to drink all the water in the tap! Join Sophie, her mummy and daddy in this musical slice of teatime mayhem with sing-a-long songs, oodles of magic and interactive fun.
The Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, 0844 888 4411
30th-April 1st
Searching for Doctor Branovic
The Hall Players present this play by David Tristam. Emma Tyler mourns the sudden and unexpected death of her husband. But all is not as it seems and, deep in the bowels of a nearby hospital, something stirs. Enter Detective Monroe, who soon finds himself in the middle of another mystery, which threatens to unhinge his sanity.
The Parish Hall, Fulwood, Preston, 01772 863801
30th-April 22nd
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Anne Bronte’s classic tale has been adapted for the stage. In 19th century Yorkshire a mysterious young widow Helen Graham and her son arrive at the desolate estate of Wildfell Hall. Isolating herself from the village, she soon becomes the subject of local gossip and speculation.
The Octagon Theatre, Bolton, 01204 520661
Until April 29th
Bat Out Of Hell
Spectacular new musical – a romantic adventure about rebellious youth and passionate love, set against the backdrop of a post-cataclysmic city adrift from the mainland.
The Opera House, Manchester, www.batoutofhellmusical.com
MUSIC & CONCERTS
1st
The Musicke Companye
Baroque music with Philippa Hyde’s The Musicke Company, presented by Clitheroe Concerts Society and featuring soprano Philippa Hyde, Tim Carleston, counter-tenor and natural trumpet, Daisy Vatalaro,
baroque cello and Helen Rogers on harpiscord and chamber organ.
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School Sixth Form Centre, www.clitheroeconcerts.org
3rd
Chatburn Concert
The 2017 Ribble Valley Music Festival opens with an international flavour when award-winning Wingates Band and guest vocalist bring music from around the world to Christ Church.
Christ Church, Chatburn, 01254 384893
11th & 19th
The Armed Man (Jenkins)
Bury Choral Society present this concert featuring In Terra Pax (Finzi), Piano Concerto No 4 (Mozart). A longer concert will be performed at All Saints, Stand, Whitefield, on 11th and a shorter concert at St Mary’s Gate, Rochdale on 19th.
www.burychoral.org
18th
Spring Concert
Blackburn Music Society perform Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius with Wilmslow Symphony Orchestra accompanying the choir and soloists Emily Howard Cobley, Benjamin Sweeney and Thomas D Hopkinson, all conducted by musical director Tom Newall.
Blackburn Cathedral, 0844 847 1664
DAYS OUT
3rd-26th
Litfest 2017
Lancaster Literature Festival - Litfest offers a wealth of literary treats for everyone.
The Storey Gallery and Lancaster Library, 01524 582394
25th
Season opening at Holker Hall & Gardens
As the gardens re-open for the 2017 season, visitors can enjoy both the glorious spring planting and a fine selection of seasonal events taking place in the Holker courtyard.
Holker Hall, Cark-in-Cartmel, www.holker.co.uk
EXHIBITIONS
Until March 1st
Lost & Found
A major exhibition of abstract and semi-abstract work by seven artists from Green Door Studios.
Storey Gallery, Lancaster, 01524 582394
Until 11th
George Shaw: My Back to Nature
Art inspired by mythological woodland landscapes by Titian and Poussin.
Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal, www.abbothall.org.uk
Until 19th
Cecile B. Evans
Solo exhibition of artist Cecile B. Evans featuring two humanoid robots and a robot dog performing in the gallery.
Tate Liverpool, 0151 702 7400
Until April 9th
Tom Mellor Exhibition
Photographs and perspectives of the buildings Tom Mellor designed in Lytham, Liverpool and Lancaster plus furniture, fabrics and paintings.
Lytham Heritage Centre
Until April 29th
Contemplating a Legacy
Julia M. Swarbrick’s work produced during her seven month residency at Blackburn Museum.
Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery, 01254 667130
OUR FAVOURITE FOUR
2nd
Posting Letters to the Moon
The daughter of Brief Encounter actress Celia Johnson takes to the stage to tell the story of her mother’s war years, through letters to her father, peter, brother of James Bond creator Ian Fleming. Lucy Fleming and real-life actor husband Simon Williams star in this funny and touching account of life during the war and highlighting the problems a dual life of domestic problems and being a film star.
Carnforth Station Heritage Centre, www.postingletterstothemoon.com
10th-11th
Gin Festival Blackpool
The first ever Gin Festival Blackpool in will be serving up over 100 gins (including many new and exclusive brands). There will also be masterclasses with distillers, variety of gin based cocktails, live music and entertainment plus delicious food.
Blackpool Tower Ballroom, 01274 888588
21st-25th
Silver Lining
A new comedy written by Sandi Toksvig, telling the tale of five extraordinary, yet forgotten women, who come together one treacherous night as storm floods threaten their retirement home. With no rescue team in sight, the ladies are faced with the sudden realisation that in order to survive they are going to have to what they have done for their whole lives – do it themselves!
Theatre By The Lake, Keswick, 017687 74411
27th
Rick Astley
Pop icon and multi-million selling artist Rick Astley, who was born down the road in Newton-le-Willows, is on tour with a new show.
The Guild Hall, Preston, 01772 804444
