Romance is in the air at Stratford Butterfly Farm
The Glasswing Butterfly. Photo courtesy of Stratford Butterfly Farm. As the half term holiday (14 – 22 February) falls over Valentine’s weekend, Stratford Butterfly Farm is inviting families to enjoy the magical experience of wandering through the tropical rainforest filled with colourful butterflies. With fish-filled pools, waterfalls and lush plants and blooms, the popular family attraction is the perfect place to share a moment of wonder. Being one of the most romantic set
Tanya Aspinwall
7 hours ago2 min read
Enjoy a gloriumptious glimpse behind the scenes of the RSC’s BFG
John Leader as The BFG backstage at the RSC. Photographer credit: Simon Hadley. Jaw-dropping giants, oversized snozzcumbers, iridescent dream jars and frobscottle fit for the Queen of Enger-land herself; these are just some of the incredible items currently to be found backstage at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in The BFG, a new co-production from the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Chichester Festival Theatre, the Roald Dahl Story Company, Singapore Repertory Theatre and Es
ann-evans
3 days ago2 min read
Full casting announced for RSC's Hamlet tour
Full casting has been announced for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s forthcoming touring production of Hamlet. The production, originally directed by Rupert Goold and directed on tour by Sophie Drake , visits eight venues in England in 2026 with a new cast, after originally opening in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon in 2025. These are: Truro, Bradford, Norwich, Nottingham, Blackpool, Newcastle upon Tyne, York and Canterbury between 24 February – 25 April
ann-evans
4 days ago4 min read
X Marks the spot at Rugby Theatre’s family panto!
Steve Bradnam as Nanny the Dame, Simon Burne as Longjohns Silver, Victoria Gillias as Jim Hawkins. Photo by Martin Pulley. Treasure Island at Rugby Theatre from 23 January to 1 February. Directed by Emma Bright. Script by Michael Read. Preview Ahoy me hearties! Set sail on a swashbuckling adventure with Rugby Theatre's family panto Treasure Island. With pirates, parrots and plenty of audience participation (oh yes there is!), join cabin boy Jim Hawkins and a cast of la
Rosie Fuller
5 days ago2 min read
BBC Radio 4's Dead Ringers 25th Anniversary - Tour extension 2026
Dead Ringers. Photo by Steve Ullathorne. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, BBC Radio 4’s legendary, multi-award-winning topical satire show Dead Ringers is hitting the road with a full UK tour for the first time. Due to phenomenal demand, extra shows have been added from 27 January, including an extra date in London, at the Palladium. Featuring much-loved long-standing cast members Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Lewis Macleod, and Duncan Wisbey, the live show promises a hilarious
ann-evans
7 days ago2 min read
The Bear Pit presents a double comedy bill
White Liars / Black Comedy written by Peter Shaffer at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 13 -21 March 2026. Directed by Richrd Sandle-Keynes. Preview This Bear Pit comedy double bill, coming in March brings us: White Liars We meet Sophie Lemberg, a disillusioned fortune teller who claims aristocratic lineage. She is visited by Tom, a rock singer, and Frank, his manager, who bribe Sophie to manipulate Tom’s romantic choices through staged clairvoyance. But as
ann-evans
Jan 111 min read
The Loft Theatre opens 2026 with Animal Farm
The cast of Animal Farm. Photo by Richard Smith Photography. Animal Farm by George Orwell, adapted by Peter Hall with lyrics by Adrian Mitchell and music by Richard Peaslee. At The Loft Theatre, Leamington Spa from Wednesday 21 Jan to Saturday 31 Jan 2026. Directed by Mark Crossley. Preview The Loft Theatre begins its 2026 season with a new staging of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, a sharp and timely retelling of the classic political satire. As part of The Loft's ongoing co
ann-evans
Jan 92 min read
Scotland Yard Investigates infamous true life19th century crimes
Scotland Yard Investigates infamous true-life nineteenth century crimes at the Anglican Chapel on Saturday 31 January at 7pm. Presented by Don't Go Into The Cellar. Preview During the course of this macabre performance, you'll encounter many nefarious individuals from late Victorian London. As Silent Witness - some of it filmed in Coventry - hits our screens in early 2026, we explore 19th century true crime in the setting of the 19th century Anglican Chapel. From the files...
ann-evans
Jan 82 min read
Playbox Theatre Announces a Landmark 40th Anniversary Season
Playbox celebrate their 40th Anniversary Season. Photo courtesy of Playbox Theatre. Playbox Theatre celebrate their 40th Anniversary Season — A Year of Unmissable, Live-Only Events at The Dream Factory in Warwick. Playbox Theatre — long recognised as one of Europe’s most adventurous and imaginative theatres for young people — launches its 40th Anniversary Season with a bold promise: every production will be a one-off theatrical event that can only be experienced live. What be
ann-evans
Jan 73 min read
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind - A New Musical!
A New Musical. Photo courtesy of the RSC. A New Musical The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind. Book and lyrics by Richy Hughes, music and lyrics by Tim Sutton. Adapted from/based on the book by William Kamkioamba and Bryan Mealer and Potboiler Productions film. At the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 10 February to 28 March 2026, and then at Soho Place, London from 25 April to 18 July 2026. Preview William wants to build a windmill. Nobody believes he can – not his father nor
ann-evans
Jan 42 min read
Leading the way to Crufts 2026
Utility and Toy will be highlighted on the Saturday. Photo by Rob Tysall Pro Photography. Tickets are now on sale for the world’s greatest dog show, Crufts, brought to us by The Royal Kennel Club, and taking place at the Birmingham NEC from Thursday 5 March to Sunday 8 March 2026. You may have noticed the ‘Royal’ prefix to the Kennel Club’s name. This is because King Charles recognised The Kennel Club’s 150 years of dedicated service to dogs back in April 2023. In November 20
ann-evans
Jan 22 min read
Anansi The Spider
Anansi The Spider. Photo by Helen Murray. Anansi The Spider, Presented by the Birmingham REP and Unicorn Theatre, at The Door, Birmingham Rep until 11 January 2026. Suitable for 4 – 8 years and their families. Created by Justin Audibert, Directed by Robin Belfield. Preview. The greatest tales ever spun… Sit under the canopy of the banyan tree and experience the laugh-out-loud West African and Caribbean tales of the infamous Anansi! People say that in a time long, long ago,
ann-evans
Dec 31, 20251 min read
Holmes and Watson and The Curious Case of the Masked Magician
Holmes and Watson. Photo courtesy of Macready Theatre. The Great Baldini and Peter Clifford present Holmes and Watson and The Curious Case of the Masked Magician, at Macready Theatre, Rugby on Saturday 21 February at 2pm. Preview It’s 1906, the Golden Age of Magic. London’s greatest illusionist, The Masked Magician, vanishes mid-performance. Dead? Kidnapped? In hiding? Baffled, Scotland Yard calls in Sherlock Holmes (with an excitable Watson in tow) to solve the mystery. Holm
ann-evans
Dec 30, 20251 min read
The Herbal Bed - A compelling tale rooted in Stratford's past
Poster image by Holly Gorne. The Herbal Bed by Peter Whelan A Bear Pit Theatre Company production at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 27 - 31 January 2026. Directed by Danny Masewicz. Preview This January, discover a story rooted in Stratford's own history. Set at Hall's Croft, The Herbal Bed tells the true tale of Susanna Hall, daughter of William Shakespeare. whose public reputation was put on trial when she was accused of adultery in1613. What followed was a
ann-evans
Dec 29, 20252 min read
National Theatre Live brings you the screening of Hamlet at Macready Theatre
At Rugby's Macready Theatre. National Theatre Live Screening of Hamlet by William Shakespeare at Macready Theatre, Rugby, CV22 5EH on Friday 30 January 2026 at 7pm. National Theatre Live together with Macready Theatre presents Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Preview Olivier Award-winner Hiran Abeysekera (Life of Pi) is Hamlet in this fearless, contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. Trapped between duty and doubt, surrounded by power and privilege, young Prince H
ann-evans
Dec 28, 20251 min read
Barry Potter Toy Fair - today!
Barry Potter will be welcoming toy collectors today. Photo by Rob Tysall Pro Photography. The Barry Potter Toy Fair takes place today 27 December 2025 at The Birmingham NEC Preview Whether you’re a serious toy collector, or you’re in a nostalgic mood and want to look back at the toys from your childhood, then the Barry Potter Toy Fair today at the Birmingham NEC is an event you won’t want to miss. Collector Barry has been running his toy fair shows since the early 2000s, br
ann-evans
Dec 27, 20252 min read
Vox Populi bring Christmas songs old and modern to an enthusiastic full house.
Vox Populi The Bells of Paradise. Performed at Holy Trinity Church, Leamington Spa, Saturday 20 December 2025. Review by Charles Essex Once again Vox Populi, Harvey Brough’s community choir, ensured a packed Holy Trinity Church in Leamington as they sang a wide selection of Christmas songs old and new. All 19 songs were arranged by the multitalented Harvey and accompanied by a harp, piano and some of the brass section of the prestigious Orchestra of the Swan, including th
Charles Essex
Dec 24, 20252 min read
Robinson Crusoe at The Talisman
The cast of Robinson Crusoe. Photo by Robert Warner. Robinson Crusoe by Stephen Duckham at The Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre, from Saturday 20 December 2025 to Saturday 3 January 2026. Review by Ashley Hayward. As I set out to watch the Talisman’s annual panto I was intrigued as at how a novel written over 300 years ago about a castaway who spent many years on a remote tropical island could be adapted for Christmas family entertainment. However, I can now reveal that those
Ashley Hayward
Dec 23, 20253 min read
Wham! The Show - get ready to party like it's the 80s!
Image courtesy of The Albany Theatre. Jake Quickenden - WHAM! The Show at The Albany Theatre, Coventry on Saturday 18 April at 7.30pm. Preview After appearances on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, Celebrity Masterchef, SAS Who Dares Wins, and of course winning Dancing On Ice, multi-talented Jake Quickenden returns to the stage to showcase his superb vocals and dynamic charisma that originally shot him to fame! Don’t miss WHAM! The Show. Featuring the biggest hits of the 80
ann-evans
Dec 22, 20251 min read
