Gorgeous dogs enjoying the attention. Photos by Rob Tysall Pro Photography. As life gets back to normal for all the canine competitors and their owners and handlers who were involved in Crufts, Elementary WhatsOn looks back on our visit to this world famous dog show held over the four-day period of 5-8 March at the Birmingham NEC. We’ve put together a roundup of dogs and events that caught our eye, including some gorgeous dogs who may not have achieved Best in Show, but were

ORWELL: The Road to 1984. Photo credit Macready Theatre. Orwell: The Road to 1984, at Macready Theatre, Rugby on Tuesday 24 March at 7.30pm. Preview. George Orwell is perhaps the most influential English writer of the twentieth century. His classic tales  Animal Farm  and  Nineteen Eighty-Four  which warn of the dangers of totalitarianism - erosion of free speech, abuse of power, increasing control of all aspects of our lives - resonate now more than ever. But where did his v

Cathryn Bowler (Debbie), Christine Evans (Elsa), Jon Elves (Peter). Photo courtesy of The Criterion. The Unfriend By Steven Moffatt at the Criterion Theatre, Earlsdon, Coventry from 21 – 28 March 2026. Review by Annette Kinsella.    The “stranger at the feast” is a well-worn literary device. From Shallow Grave and Single White Female, to the clinical yet deadly agents of domestic terrorism The Tiger Who Came to Tea and The Cat in the Hat, writers can't get enough of the unexp

Harvey Brough and Choir. Photo credit Vanessa Swann. Vox Populi. The Bells of Paradise. Performed at Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa, Saturday 21 March 2026. Review by Charles Essex.   Vox Populi thrilled an almost full audience at Holy Trinity Church in Leamington with four varied pieces that continue to demonstrate Harvey Brough’s community choir’s versatility and talent.   The first half featured two of Fauré’s pieces.  Cantique de Jean Racine, written by Fauré when he

The Blue Morpho Butterfly. Photo courtesy of The Butterfly Farm. Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm is proud to support its sister conservation and breeding project, ‘Fallen Stones Butterfly Farm’ in Belize this Easter. During the holidays from 28 March – 12 April, visitors can experience the breathtaking beauty of hundreds of Blue Morpho butterflies, which have been sourced directly from the project.   Known for their iridescent, shimmering wings, the Blue Morpho is one of t

(L-R) Cheryl Laverick, James Proctor, Tracey James. Photo by Richard Smith Photography. Leamington Spa's Loft Theatre Stages Bryony Lavery’s Frozen. Running from Wednesday 1April to Saturday 11 April. Directed by Dave Crossfield. Preview Frozen  follows the disappearance of ten‑year‑old Rhona, whose mother, Nancy, retreats into a state of suspended hope. Over subsequent years, three characters come to terms with this in very different ways: her mother, her killer, and the cr

A Grain of Sand by Elias Matar at The Belgrade Theatre, B2 Venue from 23 to 25 March 2026. Directed by Elias Matar; performer and co-deviser – Sarah Aghar. Preview   Renad, a young Gazan girl, embarks on a dangerous journey. Carrying only the echoes of her grandmother’s tales and the spark of her own imagination, she searches for her family and the ‘Anqaa’ – the mythical Palestinian Phoenix. A Grain of Sand is a one-woman show that takes an intimate look at war through the ey

War of the Worlds at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry. 18 March until the 21 March 2026. Adapted by imitating the dog. Review by David Court Photo courtesy imitating the dog It is generally considered poor form to invoke one’s own experience in a review, yet here it provides useful context. Some years ago, I attended a stage adaptation of Berberian Sound Studio  at the Donmar Warehouse - one of the most remarkable pieces of theatre I have seen. For those familiar with the film,

David Walters, (Col. Pickering), Ben Munday, (Prof. Henry Higgins), Ella Kenrick, (Eliza Doolittle). Photo courtesy of LWMS.   Leamington And Warwick Musical Society present My Fair Lady. Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Music by Frederick Loewe. Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s play and Gabriel Pascal’s motion picture “Pygmalion”. Original production directed and staged by Moss Hart. At the Royal Spa Centre, Leamington from 24 – 28 March 2026. Evenings 7.30pm: Saturday

Vitamin String Quartet at Warwick Arts Centre. Photo by Sundeep Watkins.. Vitamin String Quartet, Warwick Arts Centre, 16 March. Review by Hilary Hopker   You may have heard of this quartet or you might not, but one thing’s for sure, if you’re a Bridgerton fan you will have already heard their music. Most string quartets specialise in classical music, but the Vitamin String Quartet take top classical talent and apply it to popular music. Their string versions of modern pop so

Educating Rita by Willy Russell presented by YPI+ in the Dorothea Mitchell Hall, Claverdon CV35 8HF. Directed by Pete Davis. Performances on Friday 27 March at 7pm. Saturday 28 March at 7pm and Sunday 29 March – 2pm. Preview   Audiences in Warwickshire will soon have the chance to enjoy a much-loved British theatre classic as YPI+ present Educating Rita at the Dorothea Mitchell Hall in Claverdon. The production runs for three performances only:   Written by Willy Russell, Ed

Ampleforth Abbey. Photo by Rob Tysall Pro Photography. It’s always good to discover new places, so if you’re travelling to York, you might want to take a trip to Ampleforth Abbey, situated in the foothills of the North York Moors National Park, just 19 miles from York. Ampleforth Abbey is set within 1,200 acres of peaceful countryside, with stunning views of the Yorkshire countryside. It’s a perfect place for those who enjoy being outdoors and there are routes and nature tra

Frankenstein at the Albany Theatre, Coventry. 11 March until the 14 March 2026. Adapted by Nick Dear and directed by Alex Shinnick Review by David Court Frankenstein Poster Considering the source material — originally published anonymously — is now more than two centuries old, there has been a notable resurgence of interest in this cobbled-together collection of dead parts. Last year saw Guillermo del Toro release his own take on what is arguably one of the earliest works of