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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