A round-up of events around Lancashire and the Lake District
3rd-4th
Blackouts - Twilight of the Idols
A visually beautiful show by maverick theatre maker Dickie Beau, with Dickie remembering Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe as he explores the world of lost souls.
Live at LICA, Lancaster University, 01254 594151
3rd-7th
Dick Whittington and His Cat
St Ambrose Players present the tale of Dick Whittingham and his Cat as their traditional pantomime.
St Ambrose Church Hall, Leyland, 07432 432586
3rd-31st
Cinderella
Ted Robbins once again tops the bill in Preston’s annual pantomime which he directs as well as stars in.
Charter Theatre, Preston, 0844 844 7710
5th-18th January
That Day We Sang
Big-hearted and nostalgic Manchester love story for all the family, written by Victoria Wood.
Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, 0161 833 9833
6th-5th January
Peter Pan
Emmerdale’s Tom Lister, BBC Radio Lancashire favourite Steve Royle, Radio Wave’s Hayley Kay and BBC The Voice’s Jordon Lee-Davies star in Blackpool’s annual pantomime.
The Grand Theatre, Blackpool, 01253 743339
7th-10th
Jack and the Beanstalk
Coronation Street singer Bruce Jones stars in this festive touring pantomime.
Knowsley Leisure and Culture Park, 0151 443 2200
10th-4th January
West Side Story
Based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and packed with unforgettable songs including Maria, Tonight, Somewhere, America and I Feel Pretty.
The Palace Theatre, Manchester, 0844 871 7660
12th-5th January
Snow White
Comedian and TV star Crissy Rock, Paul Danan (Hollyoaks) and Liverpool’s own Amanda Harrington star in this family pantomime.
Epstein Theatre, Liverpool
17th-21st
Dreaming of a Barry White Christmas
The first ever Christmas show from renowned Liverpool playwright Dave Kirby, described as a ‘scouse Scrooge’ comedy play and crammed full of original classic hits from soul legend Barry White.
Echo Two, Echo Arena Liverpool, 0844 8000 400
17th-24th December
The Night Before Christmas
A mnischievous elf is pretending to be hard at work in Santa’s workshop, but he is secretly hiding toys away for himself. When Father Christmas finds out he explains to the elf what Christmas is all about through song, poems and stories.
The Lowry, Salford, 0844 815 4873
18th-5th January
Aladdin
Southport Dramatic Club present this family friendly pantomime by Stephen Hughes-Alty.
The Little Theatre, Southport, 01704 530521
Until January 4th
Jack and the Beanstalk
Traditional pantomime with all the trimmings.
The Coliseum Theatre, Oldham, 0161 624 2829
Until January 4th
A Christmas Carol
Coronation Street scriptwriter Debbie Oates, turns her talents to Dickens famous festive story which she sets in Victorian Lancaster. Catchy songs, Northern humour and plenty of Bah humbug combine for the perfect Christmas treat.
The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster, 01524 598500
Until January 5th
Jack and the Beanstalk
Bolton panto favourite Stu Francis returns to his local theatre with Ben-Ryan Davies from Rochdale and Charlie Cairoli Jnr, son of the Blackpool Tower Circus clown.
The Albert Halls, Bolton, 01204 332064
Until January 5th
Dick Wittington
Pantomime telling the rags to riches tale of a man and his cat on an amazing quest for fame and fortune and featuring all the traditional pantomime ingredients.
The Opera House, Manchester, 0844 871 7660
Until January 11th
Robin Hood
A captivating festive treat that will transport you to another world.
Octagon Theatre, Bolton, 01204 520661
Until 11th January
Wanted! Robin Hood
Fun filled magical musical adventure for everyone aged six upwards.
The Lowry, Salford Quays, Manchester, 0843 208 6010
CONCERTS
1st
Elvis the Ultimate Performance
Chris Connor is on the road with this brand new show channelling the late, great Elvis Presley.
Lowther Pavilion, Lytham St Annes, 01253 794221
5th
Simon Bolivar String Quartet
A rare chance to see four of the lead players from an orchestra hailed as the future of classical music, performing work by Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and Brahms.
Live at LICA, Lancaster University, 01254 594151
6th
Carol Concert
Festive carol concert with The Stacksteads Brass Band in aid of Rossendale Hospice. Tickets £10, including hot buffet supper.
St Mary’s Chambers, Rawtenstall, 01706 226504
7th
Festival Concert
One of the UK’s leading Barbershop choirs’ The Cotton Town Chorus perform.
Kendal Parish Church, www.kendalparishchurch.co.uk
7th
A Festival for Christmas
Preston Orpheus Choir present this festive concert.
The Guild Hall, Preston, www.prestonguildhall.com
7th
Jingle Bell Sing-A-Long
Event for all the family with wonderful carols and evocative festive music, presented by Bolton Cancer Voices, an inspirational choir for cancer patients and cancer survivors, joined on stage by Besses o’ th’ Barn band.
Victoria Hall, Bolton, 01204 334400
7th
Graffiti Classics
Comedy cabaret string quartet aiming to make classical music wickedly funny and fantastically exhilarating.
Arnside Educational Institute, 01524 762254
8th
Christmas Brass and Voices
Besses o’ th’ Barnand Affetside Choir separately perform pieces from their repertoires and then performing Christmas music, songs and carols before joining together for their impressive festive finale.
Radcliffe Civic Suite, 01204 527974
13th
The South
Timeless tunes made famous by The Beautiful South performed in the covered amphitheatre by ex members Dave Hemingway and Alison Wheeler.
The Grand, Clitheroe
14th
A Candlelit Christmas Concert
Besses o’ th’ Barn Brass band and The Colne Orpheus Glee Union Male Voice Choir join forces to perform a spectacular brass and song Christmas concert in the candlelit church.
All Saints Church, Clayton le Moors, 01254 232354
14th
KPC Festive Favourites
Variety performance with Kendal Choral Society, the Millennium Youth Choir, Carnaffin Jazz and the Rock Band Strawberry Fields. Tickets include mulled wine and mince pies.
Kendal Parish Church, www.kendalparishchurch.co.uk
14th
Christmas Concert
Affetside Choir continue their popular Christmas concerts in aid of their building fund and Bury Deaf Society.
The Ancient Parish Church of St Mary, Radcliffe, 0161 723 2546
17th
Family Christmas Concert
Bury Choral Society present their festive family concert.
Bury United Reformed Church, www.burychoral.org
31st
Last Night of the Preston Proms
Bring in the New Year in style with Preston’s traditional celebration featuring classic after classic and midnight proms finale with fantastic indoor fireworks.
The Guild Hall, Preston, www.prestonguildhall.com
31st
New Year’s Eve Gala
Manchester Camerata present this programme of musical theatre favourites and a traditional Last Night of the Proms finale.
The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 0844 907 9000
COUNTY DAYS OUT
5th-8th
Christmas Tree Festival
Lowton St Mary’s Church Christmas Tree Festival.
Lowton St Mary’s Community Hall, Lowton, 01942 275507/01942 744502
6th-8th (13th-15th & 20th-22nd)
A Celebration of Christmas
Second annual Christmas tree festival, with 45 Christmas trees decorated by and in aid of local charities. £1 entry, refreshments available.
Kendal Parish Church, www.kendalparishchurch.co.uk
7th
G-Wizz It’s Christmas Again
Festive garden railway and narrow gauge exhibition, featuring G scale railways, trams and narrow guage railways.
St Margaret’s Church Hall, Lytham St Annes, www.g-wizz-group.co.uk
7th-8th
Christmas Crafts
Rekindle the true spirit of creativity and mid-winter celebrations using natural and recycled materials with Mel Gard.
Brantwood, Coniston, 015394 41396
8th
Christmas Market
Outdoor Christmas market with lots of food, drink and craft stalls, plus cakes, wreaths and Christmas decorations for sale and Santa’s grotto.
Askham Hall, www.askhamhall.co.uk
12th
Giant Ferris wheel in Bolton
A 100 foot Ferris wheel rolls in Bolton this festive season. Seating 144 people, it will give a bird’s eye view of the rolling Peninine countryside and joins the popular ice rink and Santa’s Grotto at Victoria Square.
Victoria Square, Bolton, www.visitbolton.com
15th
A Magical Meeting with Father Christmas
Father Christmas will be waiting in the beautifully decorated banqueting hall for children, next to the fire. Tell him what you want for Christmas and receive a present. Tickets £5 per child.
Hoghton Tower, near Preston, www.hoghtontower.co.uk
16th-18th
Lancaster Brewery Christmas Market
Lancaster Brewery hosts their first Christmas market with more than 30 food, drink. Crafts and gift stalls from local suppliers, Bavarian Oompa band, a visit from Santa and a mini fun fair.
Lancaster Brewery, 01524 848537
28th-29th
Winter Warm-Up
Come and see the rescued and restored old stationary steam engines, some of which once powered the cotton mills of Lancashire, most running in steam on these days.
Bolton Steam Museum, 01204 846490, www.nmes.org
EXHIBITIONS
Until 5th January
That Golden Stain of Time by Don Fitzpatrick
A series of Polaroid images inspired by John Ruskin’s The Lamp of Memory, specially assembled during a number of visits to Brantwood.
Brantwood, Coniston, 015394 41396
OUR FAVOURITE FIVE
1st
The Snow Queen
Magical theatre performance for the entire family as Quantum Theatre put their unique touch of magic and fun to Hans Christian Anderson’s story of The Snow Queen,
Hoghton Tower, near Preston, 0844 888 9991
1st
The Four Seasons by Candlelight
Concert tour celebrating the works of Vivaldi. The verve and virtuosity of an 18th century concert is brought to life by the Mozart Festival Orchestra, performing Vivaldi’s most revered work in full period costume in an evocative candle-lit style setting.
The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 0844 907 9000
7th-8th (and 14th-15th)
Santa Sailings
Windermere Lake Cruises’ special festive cruises, with Father Christmas and his elves, festive games and entertainment and individually wrapped gifts for children to take home.
Windermere Lake Cruises, 015394 43360, www.windermere-lakecruises.co.uk
12th
Justin Moorhouse
Manchester’s charming master of laugh-out-loud comedy entertains on his brand new Justin Time Tour.
The Octagon Theatre, Bolton, 01204 520661
Until 11th January
Swallows and Amazons
Based on the classic children’s book set on Coniston Water, this is a fresh and inventive new adaptation by Helen Edmundson, including original songs by Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy.
Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, 017687 74411
