Events in and around Derbyshire in April
1st April: Dine & Demo Evening
‘Fish Night’ – cookery masterclass with Ralph Skripek of The Butler’s Pantry followed by meal of Carsington Trout. Pickford’s House, Friar Gate, Derby, 7pm-10pm. See derbymuseums.org
2nd April: Jazz at the Cathedral
The Ben Holder Quartet and The Karen Lake Trio.
Derby Cathedral, 7pm. Tickets: £7.50 (inc refreshments) from Cathedral Bookshop or www.ticketsource.co.uk/derbycathedral
2nd-3rd April: Cavendish’s Horses
The 17th century equestrian world is brought to life through enthralling displays. Bolsover Castle, English Heritage. Tel: 01246 822844
7th-10th April: Anne of Green Gables
The best-selling 1908 novel and classic coming-of-age story, brought to life by Redhead Reach Theatre Co.
Bakewell Town Hall. Tel: 01629 810152, bakewelltownhall.co.uk
8th April: Quiz and Chips
A hugely popular quiz night with fish and chip supper, in aid of Padley.Little Eaton Village Hall, 7.30pm. Tickets £10, tel: 01332 774480
9th April: Belper Singers
European Sacred Music and Tallis’ Mass. Unitarian Church, Belper, 7.30pm. Tel: 07990 658071
9th April: Needwood Singers
Messiah extracts and Howard Goodall’s Eternal Light. St Mary’s Church, Tutbury, 7.30pm. Tel: 01283 716790
9th April: Hail the Heroes
Hallamshire Military Concert Band perform in aid of the R.N.L.I. Dronfield Civic Centre, 7.30pm. Tel: 01246-272460
10th April: Vintage Fair
A range of stalls selling fashion, homewares and other vintage items. Riding School, Calke Abbey NT, Ticknall, 11am-4pm.
Tel: 01332 863822
13th-16th April: Princess Ida
A rare, fully staged production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic by Melbourne Operatic Society. Duchess Theatre, Long Eaton, 7.30pm. Tel: 01332 863030
16th April: Alfreton Male Voice Choir
Derby Cathedral, 7.30pm. Tel: 01773 829248
16th April: Dalesmen Male
Voice Choir, St Matthew’s Church, Darley Abbey, 7pm. Tel: 07896 134962
16th April: New Orleans Z’Hulus
In association with Dove Jazz Club. Chapel-en-le-Frith Town Hall, 8pm. Tel: 01298 814722
21st-23rd April: Fame: The Musical
Centre Stage Theatre Arts. Robert Ludlam Theatre, Duffield Rd, Derby, 7.30pm. Tel: 0800 048 8659
23rd April: John McCusker
25th anniversary tour. Whitworth Centre, Darley Dale, 8pm. Tel: 01246 860022
23rd April: Kosmos
Violin, viola and accordion ensemble offering a ‘dazzling journey across the globe’ – from Celtic melodies to Arabic rhythms.
Ecclesbourne School, Duffield, 7.30pm. Tel: 01332 841503
23rd April: Shakespeare in Song
Voices choir and ChorAlchemy. VoiceBox, Kensington Mews, Derby, 8pm. Tel: 01332 295297
24th April: Shakespeare Songs and Speeches
Tenor Richard Roddis, pianist Clive Pollard and readers. VoiceBox, Kensington Mews, Derby, 3pm. Tel: 07791 360116
25th April: Brook Street Band
One of the UK’s foremost interpreters of Handel’s music presents ‘Signor Corelli’s Violin’. Abbotsholme School, 8pm. Tickets: 01543 263304
29th Apr-8th May: Derby Comedy Festival
Events designed to ‘tickle your funny bone’, produced by Derby LIVE. www.derbycomedyfestival.co.uk
30th Apr-1st May: Bakewell Food Festival
Celebrating the area’s wealth of produce with stalls, beer festival, wine tastings and food sampling. Visit www.whatsonbakewell.co.uk
30th Apr-2nd May: Great British Food Festival
Over 80 top food producers, cookery lessons and chef demonstrations. Hardwick Hall, NT, Chesterfield, www.greatbritishfoodfestival.com
30th April: Dalesmen Male Voice Choir
A special concert with Derwent Brass for the Mayor of Belper. St Peter’s Church, Belper, 7.30pm. Tel: 07896 134962
30th April: Hat Fitz and Cara
The ‘Aussie bluesman and Irish songstress’ – a stunning duo. Whitworth Centre, Darley Dale, 8pm. Tel: 01246 860022
30th April: Baroque to Rock
A musical mix of songs with Somercotes Choral Society. Alfreton Grange Arts College, 7pm. Tel: 01773 602335
THEATRE HIGHLIGHTS
Buxton Opera House (Box office: 0845 127 2190)
1st April: Ray Mears ‘Tales of Endurance’ from the survival expert
3rd April: Tell Me on a Sunday Musical charting the romantic misadventures of an English girl in New York during the 1980s
5th-9th April: Heartbeat The hit series is on tour, with David Lonsdale and Stephen Blakeley
10th April: The Three Degrees
The American vocal trio have delighted audiences since the 1960s
16th April: Russell Watson Performing a stunning collection of best-loved songs
22nd-24th April: English Touring Opera Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride, Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Donizetti’s Pia de’ Tolomei
Derby Theatre (Box Office: 01332 593939)
7th-16th April: The Damned United Charting Brian Clough’s journey from his beloved Derby County to ‘the team he hated most’ – Leeds
19th-23rd April: Flare Path Terence Rattigan’s epic wartime romance, portraying life in Britain for RAF bomber crews and their wives
Guildhall Theatre, Derby (Box Office: 01332 255800)
1st-16th April: The Ladyboys of Bangkok
Energetic, eclectic and completely unpredictable – the country’s most popular touring cabaret show
3rd-6th April: Anne of Green Gables The popular 1908 novel, brought to life by Redhead Reach Theatre Co
Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield (Box Office: 01246 345222)
19th April: The Importance of Being Earnest An anarchic take on Oscar Wilde’s comic masterpiece
20th April: The (Almost) Complete History of Britain Pantaloons Theatre Company race through the centuries in an inventive show
Winding Wheel, Chesterfield (Box Office: 01246 345222)
15th April: Beyond the Barricade A cast of past principal performers recreate West End and Broadway hits
16th April: Back to Bacharach Recreating Burt Bacharach’s timeless masterpieces accompanied by a 10-piece band
Theatre Royal Concert Hall, Notts (Box Office: 0115 989 5555)
4th-9th April: Toast Richard Bean’s acclaimed play set in a bread factory, starring Matthew Kelly and Simon Greenall
19th-23rd April: Sleeping Beauty Matthew Bourne’s dazzling show
Nottingham Playhouse (Box Office: 0115 941 9419)
9th-30th April: Noises Off A touring troupe desperately tries to hold its shambolic production together – with riotous results
20th-30th April: Kings Celebrating the friendships of men living in a Nottingham hostel
SOCIETIES & TALKS
Allestree Flower Group 19th April
AGM, Evergreen Hall, Cornhill, Allestree, 7.30pm. Tel: 01283 702601
Ashbourne Heritage Society 14th April
‘Derby Clockmaker John Whitehurst’ by Derby Museum Service, St Oswald’s Church Hall, Ashbourne, 7.30pm
Chesterfield Embroiderers’ Guild 7th April
Practical workshop, Parish Rooms, St Mary’s Gate, 7pm
Derbyshire Archaeological Society 15th April
‘Excavations of a Mill at Toton’ by Gill Morral, St Mary’s Church Hall, Darley Lane, Derby, 7.30pm
Derby & Sandiacre Canal Soc 26th April
‘Life in Derby in the 1950s’ by Paul Sturges, The Wilmot Arms, Derby Rd, Derby, 8pm
Derby Decorative & Fine Arts Society 5th April
‘Buckingham Palace: Its history, occupants, contents’ by Oliver Everett, Landau Forte College, Fox Street, Derby, 7.15pm
Derby Photographic Society 11th April
AGM, Activities Room, Eborn House, Broadway, Derby, 7.30pm
Derbyshire Embroiderers’ Guild 9th April
‘Unexpected Places’ by Bobby Britnell followed by workshop, St Mary’s Church Hall, Derby, 10.30am
Derby Poetry Society 8th April
Members’ poetry competition, Friends Meeting House, Derby, 7.30pm
The Hardy Plant Soc (DERBYS) 16th April
‘Irises for the Natural Garden’ an illustrated talk by Alun and Jill Whitehead from Aulden Farm, Shirland Village Hall, 2pm
Matlock Antiques & Collectables Society 8th April
‘Bess of Hardwick and her Hall’ by Judy Williams, Imperial Rooms, Matlock, 7.30pm
Matlock & District Embroiderers’ Group 25th April
‘Fashionable Stitches’ by Nicola Jarvis, The Whitworth Centre, Darley Dale, 7.30pm
Sawley & District Historical Society 25th April
‘Zeppelin attacks in WWI’ by Steven Flinders, Sawley Church Hall, 8pm
Spondon Historical Society 11th April
AGM and ‘The Co-Op from the Start’ by Jean Moss, Spondon Village Hall, 7.30pm
Ticknall Preservation & Historical Society 29th April
‘Sharpe’s Pottery – People and Pots’ with Tony Hurrell, Ticknall Village Hall, 7.30pm
Willington History Group 14th April
‘The Time-Travelling Tourist’ by Jo Golby, Old School, Castleway, Willington 7.30pm
