Look Who's Coming to Warwick Arts Centre!

Frank Skinner. Photo courtesy of Warwick Arts Centre.

There’s a packed line-up of big names, exciting shows, entertaining performances, and more, heading to Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, for spring/summer 2024. Highlights include The Horne Section, Guz Khan, We’re Going On A Bear Hunt, Lucy Worsley, Frank Skinner, LORE, Jake Bugg and lots more.

Preview by Dave Freak.

Some of the very best comedians around bring their latest hit shows to the city, including Frankie Boyle (Tue 6 Feb), Aurie Styla (Sat 3 Feb), podcasting pioneer Richard Herring (Thu 14 Mar), Brum legend Frank Skinner (Sun 12 May), John Kearns (Sun 19 May), and Ria Lina (Wed 29 May), as well as Warwickshire's own comedy stars, Josh Pugh (Fri 16 Feb) and Guz Khan (Sat 24 Feb). And don’t forget Alex ‘Taskmaster’ Horne’s The Horne Section (Tue 18 Jun)!

Meanwhile, Chipping Norton celebrity farmer Kaleb Cooper (Sat 3 Feb) details his views on everything from farm animals to Jeremy Clarkson, while Lucy Worsley (Fri 16 Feb) explores the life of crime writer Agatha Christie, Caroline Quentin (Thu 22 Feb) ponders the therapeutic power of gardening, and former Sex Pistol John Lydon (Fri 10 May) reflects on his colourful life.

Lucy Worsley. Photo courtesy of Warwick Arts Centre.

As always, there's also loads for families to discover, including a classic Big Fish Little Fish rave with DJ Bobby Friction (Sun 28 Jan), and My First Concert (Thu 15 Feb and Thu 30 May), plus adaptations of popular picture books such as We're Going On A Bear Hunt (Sat 10-Tue 13 Feb) and Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Charlie Cook's Favourite Book (Thu 4-Sun 7 Apr).

My First Concert. Photo courtesy of Warwick Arts Centre.

Look out too for James Wilton Dance's LORE (Tues 30 Jan), a folklore inspired journey into a pagan world of gods, demons and humans, and Ad Infinitum Productions' much lauded Beautiful Evil Things (Tue 14 - Wed 15 May) is a comic and thrilling take on the Trojan War, while Ephemeral Ensemble's Rewind (Tue 30 April) draws on the science of Forensic Anthropology to piece together a crime secretly buried using music, movement, puppetry, projection and lighting.

James Wilton Dance's LORE. Photo courtesy of Warwick Arts Centre.

Inspiring concerts range from classical guitar superstar Miloš Karadaglić (Sat 9 Mar) and orchestral power-house The Hallé (Fri 10 May), to the celebratory The John Martyn Project (Sat 17 Jan) and Afrofuturist/jazz musician Camilla George (Fri 1 Mar). There are also appearances from reunited indie folk band Stornoway (Wed 14 Feb), singer-songwriter Jake Bugg (Sun 28 Apr), soon to be retiring '80s soul legend Alexander O'Neal (Sun 19 May), and the Fleetwood Mac-approved Rumours Of Fleetwood Mac (Wed 15 May).

Miloš Karadaglić Photo credit Lars Borges, Mercury Classics.

Warwick Arts Centre’s commitment to free activities and events also continues, with the increasingly popular Jazz Fridays gigs (from Fri 5 Jan), Mini Creatives sessions for 0-4 year-olds (from Tue 9 Jan), Workshop Wednesdays (from Wed 10 Jan), and drop-in Family Sundays (from Sun 14 Jan), plus Songwriting Workshops, Musical Picnics, and Mead Gallery’s adventurous modern/contemporary art show, Phantom Sculpture. Running until Sunday 10 March 2024, the exhibition re-opens with several exciting new additions, including works by Barbara Hepworth, Phyllida Barlow, and Turner Prize 2022 winner, Veronica Ryan.

Jazz Fridays. Photo courtesy of Warwick Arts Centre.

Over in Warwick Arts Centre’s plush three cinema screens, expect the best Hollywood blockbusters, latest art house releases, enticing documentaries and classic revivals. Among the movies coming up are Sofia Coppola's Elvis-related biopic Priscilla, Denis Villeneuve's eagerly anticipated epic Dune: Part 2, Emma Stone-starring Poor Things, and Anthony Hopkins’ One Life, which tells the dramatic true story of the ‘Kindertransport’ operation.  There’s also streamed specials that give you unprecedented access to some of the best performances and exhibitions in New York, London and beyond with NT Live, Met Opera and Exhibition On Screen.

Doreen Foster, Warwick Art Centre’s Director, said: “We have another packed programme of events and activities lined up to keep you entertained and talking including a raft of famous faces. There’s also lots for younger visitors, including the latest theatre adaptation based on a book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, and we continue to ensure there’s plenty of free activities too – from art activities to performances.”

To read the Spring/Summer 2024 Brochure, click here. https://issuu.com/warwickartscentre/docs/wac_spring-summer24_digital

For more information, and to book tickets, see: www.warwickartscentre.co.uk Box Office: 024 7649 6000.