Our guide to the best events in and around Lancashire.

THEATRE & DANCE

4th

Brave Folk

This production is a mystical Nordic tale fizzing with humour and suspense about love and courage and knowing when to act. Performed by Surrey based Farnham Maltings.

Arnside Educational Institute, 01524 762254

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8th - 11th

Les Miserables: School edition

Performed entirely by students from Lancaster grammar schools, this is a musical by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. Inspired by the 1832 Paris uprising, it re-tells the timeless, epic tale of prisoner 24601, as he journeys through love, redemption and revolution.

The Dukes, Lancaster, 01524 598500

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Until March 10th

Hamlet

Hamlet returns from his life studying abroad to find his home utterly changed. As we find ourselves in an increasingly uncertain world, Shakespeare’s great tragedy resonates as never before in this startling production about trust, loyalty, and one man’s struggle to control his destiny.

Octagon Theatre, Bolton, 01204 556505

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13th - 17th

Blood Brothers

Southport Dramatic Club youth theatre perform their version of Willy Russell’s classic tale of two brothers separated at birth.

Little Theatre, Southport, www.littletheatresouthport.co.uk

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16th until April 7th

Whisky Galore

The spring-summer 2018 season opens with a new adaptation of Compton Mackenzie’s comedy classic. The islanders of Great and Little Todday are dismayed to find their whisky supply dwindling as the government diverts the precious stuff to the Americans.

Oldham Coliseum Theatre, 0161 624 2829

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18th

The King Lear!

Shifting Sands Theatre present a playful and moving retelling of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy King Lear, set in a pub. When he announces his retirement and the division of his kingdom between his daughters, Mr Lear imitates his famous namesake and demands to know which of them loves him the most.

Arnside Educational Institute, 01524 762254

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19th - 24th

Fat Friends: the Musical

Cricket star Freddie Flintoff will play Kevin Chadwick opposite Jodie Prenger as his fiancée, Kelly. Packed full of warmth, life and weight loss, this brand new stage show reunites the foodie friends from ITV’s hit TV show.

Manchester Opera House, 0844 871 3018

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19th until May 3rd

Spring Awakening

Hailed as ‘one of the great musicals of the last decade’ and the winner of eight Tony and four Olivier Awards, Spring Awakening is based on Frank Wedekind’s controversial play. The show follows a group of teenagers in late-19th-century Germany navigating the struggles and virtues of blossoming youth.

Hope Mill Theatre, Ancoats, www.hopemilltheatre.co.uk

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20th - 24th

Spamalot

Pendle Hippodrome Theatre Company present their take on the hilarious spoof musical lovingly ripped off from ‘Monty Python and The Holy Grail’. Join King Arthur as he travels around the land gathering his Knights of the Round Table.

Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, www.phtheatre.co.uk

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20th - 24th

Son of a Preacher Man

This heart-warming new musical features the soulful music of Dusty Springfield, with a book by Warner Brown and directed and choreographer by Craig Revel Horwood.

The Grand Theatre, Blackpool, 01253 290190

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21st

Bill Bailey: Larks in Transit

This show is a compendium of travellers’ tales and the general shenanigans of twenty years as a travelling comedian. Bill Bailey tackles politics, philosophy and the pursuit of happiness.

Preston Guild Hall, 01772 804444

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21st - 24th

Talking Heads

The Garrick Club’s latest production by Alan Bennett and directed by Marilyn Crowther.

ACE Centre, Nelson, www.acecentre.co.uk

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22nd - 24th

Any Other Business

This production by Andy Bennison follows the lively and funny meeting that occurs after Roz Patterson (secretary of The Forsythia Crescent Residents’ Committee) posted a reminder through all the neighbours’ doors about the upcoming meeting.

Parish Hall, Broughton, www.hallplayers.org.uk

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MUSIC AND CONCERTS

3rd

BBC Philharmonic

Ben Gernon’s first Bridgewater Hall concert as the orchestra’s principal guest conductor is marked by a pair of firsts – the UK premiere of Anna Clyne’s intensely atmospheric nocturnal miniature, and Mahler’s debut symphony.

The Bridgewater Hall, 0161 237 7008

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4th

Allegri

Allegri perform Palestrina’s glorious Pope Marcellus Mass for six-part choir. Written in 1562, it has often been sung during Papal inauguration services. Allegri also perform celebratory anthems by Gibbons and Sweelinck, modern examples by Collins and Lauridsen, ending with three anthems by Romantic composers Mendelssohn, Bruckner and Rheinberger.

St Thomas Church, Milnthorpe, 01539 621261

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4th

ARRIVAL: The Hits of ABBA

Over four decades after Swedish pop legends ABBA swept to stardom, their music remains as popular as ever and the magic of the era is being brought to stages across the country courtesy of Arrival.

Charter Theatre, Preston, 01772 804444

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9th

Edgelarks

The new project of BBC Folk Award winning duo Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin, they take the roots of their previous work: traditional music of the UK, Indian classical slide guitar and the stomping roots party of Phil’s beatbox harmonica, adding a strong stem of original writing.

Ellel Village Hall, near Lancaster, 01524 840539

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10th

Faustus

A well established trio on the English folk scene, Paul Sartin, Benji Kirkpatrick and Saul Rose embark on their latest tour.

Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, 0161 9075555

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14th

David Gest’s Soul Legends: The Legacy Tour

For the past decade, music lovers have enjoyed performances from soul legends in a unique show created by David Gest. Each year he brings together a host of music icons who sang the songs which made them famous.

Preston Guild Hall

01772 804444

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24th

Haydn: The Seasons

Ramsbottom Choral Society and Concert Orchestra present this concert featuring soloists, Andrew Masterson, Jessica Hope and Samuel Jackson, led by conductor Barry Sugden.

Bolton Road Methodist Church, Bury, www.ramsbottomchoralsociety.com

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30th

‘Come and Sing’ Requiem

This is an exciting opportunity to sing the beautiful John Rutter Requiem under the direction of Marc Murray, director of music. No previous knowledge of the music is necessary and music will be provided.

Bury Parish Church, www.buryparishchurch.com

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COUNTY DAYS OUT

1st - 4th

Manchester Film Festival

The 4th edition of the festival, it will showcase world and UK premieres of the best independent films from all over the world.

Odeon Great Northern, Manchester, www.maniff.com

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2nd - 4th

Spring Steam Gala

A real steam dream for loco lovers. There will be an intensive all steam timetable running throughout the whole weekend and featuring favourites from the East Lancashire Railway’s own home fleet and a couple of surprise special guests.

East Lancashire Railway, Bury, www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk

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2nd - 25th

Lancaster Literature Festival

Litfest 2018 develops writers, engages readers and audiences and celebrates literary excellence through a series of events.

Various Lancaster venues, www.litfest.org

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5th

Worlds in Transformation

Hunter Fraser presents his lecture, ‘Worlds in Transformation: Celtic Art and Roman Conquest in Central Britain’. Part of Kendal Historical & Archaeological Society’s lecture programme.

The Shakespeare Centre, Kendal, www.khassite.wordpress.com

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9th

The Manchester Theatre Awards

Hosted by actor and comedian Justin Moorhouse, the annual awards has been a major fixture of the North West cultural calendar since 1981 and will honour productions seen in Greater Manchester during 2017.

The Lowry Quays Theatre, Salford, www.manchestertheatreawards.com

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9th until April 29th

Ruth Barker & Hannah Leighton-Boyce

As part of Manchester’s Wonder Women Festival, this exhibition will include newly commissioned work by Ruth Barker and Hannah Leighton-Boyce.

Castlefield Gallery, Manchester, 0161 832 8034

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10th - 11th

Scotsman on Show at East Lancashire Railway

Find out what makes Flying Scotsman so special with an engaging expert led talk, meet the crew and climb into the cab with our ‘Scotsman on Show’ experience with the opportunity to sit in the driver’s seat and walk through the famous corridor tender.

East Lancashire Railway, Bolton Street, Bury, Lancashire BL9 0EY 0333 320 2830 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Until 11th

Charles Whinney and Beatrix Baker

In this furniture exhibition, Charles and Beatrix present a selection of sculptural works and objects for the home. Working from an ancient barn in Witherslack, both artists use locally sourced steam-bent green wood as a way to create curved forms.

Brantwood, Coniston, 015394 41396

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13th

Picasso, his Mistress and a Year to Remember

South Lakeland Decorative & Fine Arts Society present their latest lecture led by Ms Nirvana Romell BEd, discussing the inspiration for the Tate Modern exhibition opening March 2018.

Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, 01229 4668525

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20th

Equinox stargazing

Local astronomer Robert Ince will be your guide you on an incredible journey through the constellations and along the Milky Way, while also showing you how to find heavenly objects for yourself. There will be colourful talks, videos and hands on help with telescopes.

Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston, www.brockholes.org

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