Our pick of the top events during November

THEATRE

1st

Sean Lock

Purple Van Man is a hilarious new stand up show by Sean Lock. We all know what the ‘white van man’ thinks about the world in which we live, but it’s time to hear a new point of view from purple van man.

The Charter Theatre, Preston, 0844 844 7710

1st-30th

Sweeney Todd

Heart-poundingly entertaining musical thriller about a man driven mad by injustice. A razor sharp tale of vengeance and true love, featuring some of the finest music ever written for the theatre.

Royal Exchange, Manchester, 0161 833 9833

Until 2nd

Long Day’s Journey Into Night

American drama classic by Eugene O’Neill. There’s shattering revelations as the Tyrone family hurl accusations and allegations at each other over the course of a single day.

Bolton Octagon Theatre, 01200 520661

Until 2nd

Life of Riley

Grange Drama present this amateur production of Alan Ayckbourn’s play.

Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands, 015395 36762

Until 3rd

Cirque Du Soleil

Alegria is a classic Cirque du Soleil production that features gravity-defying acrobatics which will dazzle and astound audiences of all ages.

Echo Arena, Liverpool, 0151 475 8888

4th-9th

Dr Dolittle

Walmsley Church A.O & D.S present their autumn production this classic tale by Leslie Bricusse.

The Parish Hall, Egerton, Bolton, 01204 305812

5th-9th

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

A musical comedy that centres on the lives of six quirky adolescents who have entered into a ‘bee’, a competition that asks the contestants to spell a variety of words, usually with a broad degree of difficulty.

Royal Court, Liverpool, 0870 787 1866

Until 6th

An Inspector Calls

A celbratory dinner party at the Birling family home is shattered by the arrival of an inspector investigating a young woman’s suicide.

Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, 017687 74411

6th

Company Chameleon

Contemporary dance troupe Company Chameleon perform a double bill including Eden, a poetic piece with an original score by John Matthias.

Live at LICA, Lancaster University, 01524 594151

6th-9th

See How They Run

Preston Drama Club present this farce by Philip King. Penelope Toop, once and actress, now the wife of the Rev Lionel Toop meets her former acting partner Clive Winton, now serving in the army.Clive invites her out for a reunion, borrowing Lionel’s clerical garb as the town is off limits to him. When the local gossip catches them re-enacting a scene from Private Lives, she grasps the end of a very long stick.

The Playhouse Theatre, Preston, 01772 744771

Until 8th

The Shape of Things

Black American comedy set in a liberal arts college all about the contemporary obsession with appearances.

Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, 017687 74411

9th-30th

Singin’ In The Rain

Starring stage and screen leading man Maxwell Caulfield as studio boss R.F Simpson, pop legend Faye Tozer as starlet Lina Lamont and Stephanie Anelli as Cosmo Brown.

The Opera House, Manchester, 0844 0871 3018

12th-16th

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake

Thrilling, audacious and totally original, Matthew Bourne’s modern day classic makes a welcome return.

The Lowry, Salford, 0844 815 4873

13th-16th

Player’s Angels

The Club Players present this play by Amanda Wittington, set in Coronation year and following the hops and dreams of a group of friends who work on the production line of the John Player Tobacco Factory. The play is a warm hearted look at their everyday lives, with spectacular sets and fascinating scenes.

Broughton Club, Whittingham Lane, Broughton, Preston, 01772 774208

15th-January 11th

Robin Hood

A captivating festive treat that will transport you to another world.

Octagon Theatre, Bolton, 01204 520661

Until 16th

Wicked Manchester

The global musical phenomenon that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz begins a major tour in Manchester.

The Palace Theatre, Manchester, 0844 871 3038

16th-Janury 4th, 2014

Jack and the Beanstalk

Traditional pantomime with all the trimmings with the retune of Fine Time Fontayne as Dame Trott and Richard J Fletcher as Simple Simon.

The Coliseum Theatre, Oldham, 0161 624 2829

22nd-30th

Old Actors Never Die

Southport Dramatic Club present this hilarious comedy by Lynne Brittney.

Little Theatre, Southport, 01704 530521

25th-30th

The Mousetrap

Agatha Christie’s British classic on its first ever tour of the UK.

The Grand Theatre, Blackpool, 01253 743339

29th- January 4th, 2014

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

30th-January 5th, 2014

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

CONCERTS

6th

Clitheroe Concerts

Clitheroe Concerts society present this programme of work by Biber, Mozart, Bartok and Brahms with Alicja Smietana on violin and Grzegorz Mania on piano.

CRGS 6th Form Centre, Clitheroe, www.clitheroeconcerts.org

8th

Marillion

One of the UK music scene’s best kept secrets, Marillion are purveyors of soulful, powerful and often deeply moving music, with a long standing reputation for blistering live shows.

Manchester Academy, www.seetickets.com/event/marillion/manchester-academy

9th

Lancashire Hotpots

Get your flat caps and weskits ready because the Lancashire Hotpots are on tour with their seventh album, Crust For Life.

King George’s Hall, Blackburn, 0844 847 1664

17th

Handel’s Messiah

Handel’s most joyous and thrilling work performed by full chorus, orchestra and organ with a quartet of brilliant young soloists.

Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, 01767 74411

19th

Britten

Bury Choral Society present Britten Rejoice in the Lamb, Vaughn Williams Te Deum and Chilcott Requiem.

Bury Parish Church, www.burychoral.org

21st

Julian Joseph Trio

A relaxed evening of jazz featuring Jospeh’s own composistions and works by Gershwin, Porter and Ellington.

Live at LICA, Lancaster University, 01524 594151

22nd-23rd

Three Towns Operatic Society in Concert

The Three Towns Operatic Society, strike the right note for everyone with a variety of songs from the shows, Broadway, popular and classical music.

The Rose Centre, Lowton, 01942 883722

22nd-23rd

Christmas Craft Fair

Three day annual craft fair with high quality crafts on offer.

Dacre Hall, Brampton, 01697 741803

23rd

Autumn Concert

Lancaster and District Choral Society present Brahms’ Requiem and Bizet’s Te Deum with full orchestra and soloists.

The Great Hall, Lancaster University, 01524 594151

27th

Dante Quartet

Clitheroe Concerts society present this concert marking Benjamin Britten’s centenary.

CRGS 6th Form Centre, Clitheroe, www.clitheroeconcerts.org

COUNTY DAYS OUT

2nd

Lancaster Fireworks Spectacular

The skies above Lancaster will be ablaze with colour at this annual firework spectacular.

Various locations, Lancaster, 01524 582906

9th

Christmas Craft Fair

Dallam School PTA is holding a craft fair with all proceeds in aid of the school.

Dallam School Hall, Milnthorpe

15th

Ghost Tours

Your chance to tour the third most haunted house in Britain if you dare, before dining in warmth and comfort.

Hoghton Tower, near Preston, 01254 852986

16th-24th

Annual Arts Crafts and Gifts Fair

One of the biggest arts, crafts and gifts fair with over 100 exhibitors selling thousands of gifts for that special Christmas or birthday gift, or just to treat yourself.

Pendle Hippodrome Theatre, Colne, www.phtheatre.co.uk

Until 17th

Kendal Mountain Festival

Celebration of mountain film, literature, art, athletics and legends that aims to inspire more people to explore, enjoy and represent mountains, wilderness and their cultures.

Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, www.mountainfest.co.uk

24th

Christmas Fayre

With stall holders, craft activities, Father Christmas and more.

RSPB Discovery Centre, Fairhaven Lake, St Annes, 01253 796292

EXHIBITIONS

Until 11th

Impress

Exhibition of 12 printmakers coming together to celebrate printing, Lino prints, etching, collographs, monoprints, all hand printed by the artists.

Up-Front, Unthank near Hutton in the Forest

16th-17th

Art and Clay 2013

Exhibition of 12 artists; Tina Balmer, Rebecca Callis, John Calver, Libby Edmondson, Nigel Edmondson, Judy Evans, James Hake, Alvin Irving, Jan Huntley-Peace, Philomena Taylor, Amy Williams and Frances Winder, showing paintings, jewellery and pottery.

The Athenaeum, Leasgill

23rd-24th

Ulverston Dickensian Festival Arts Sale

During the bustle of this year’s Dickensian Festival take a look at the quality arts and crafts for sale by members of the renowned Ulverston Society of Artists.

Coronation Hall, Ulverston

FUNDRAISING EVENTS

8th

Fashion Fusion

Extravaganza of new and used clothing, fashion show and music of the eighties with DJ and MC Peter Sweetmoore in aid of Rossendale Hospice. Tickets £5.

St Mary’s Chambers, Rawtenstall

OUR FAVOURITE FIVE

4th

The Nutcracker

One of the greatest ballets of all time, set to a beautiful score of music by Tchaikovsky, telling the story of a little girl whose godfather gives her an enchanted doll for Christmas.

The Coliseum Theatre, Oldham, 0161 624 2829

7th-9th

Curtain Up

The Hall Players present this comedy by Peter Quilter. A farcial comedy – telling the story of a group of women who inherit equal shares in an old ruined theatre and have to get involved in all kinds of chaos and madness to try to save it from destruction.

The Parish Hall, Broadway, Fulwood, Preston, 01772 863801

9th

Medieval Christmas Fair

250 stalls selling a fabulous range of delicious festive foods, artisan/handcrafted gods and beautiful giftware.

Abbot Hall Park, Kendal, 01754 876936

15th-17th

20th Annual Rock & Roll Weekendop class live bands.

A three day residential weekend of dining and dancing featuring mainstream 50s rock n roll music to seven

Imperial Hotel, Blackpool, 01332 872320

29th-1st Dec

Christmas Craft Market

Annual showcase of everything that is outstanding about Cumbrian arts and crafts, with the opportunity to buy gifts for those special people in your life.

The Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, www.breweryarts.co.uk