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
1 day ago2 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...
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2 days ago2 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
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3 days ago3 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
6 days ago2 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
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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
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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
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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
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Dec 22, 20251 min read
The ultimate celebration of Bon Jovi is coming to Coventry!
Image courtesy of The Albany Theatre. The Bon Jovi Experience at The Albany Theatre, Coventry, on Friday 6 February at 7.30pm. Preview Get ready to rock out to all of the classics in this tribute endorsed by Jon Bon Jovi himself... Direct from London’s West End, get ready to rock your way through an unforgettable journey with the only show to be endorsed by Jon Jovi himself! Immerse yourself in a phenomenal celebration of Bon Jovi’s timeless classics as The Bon Jovi Experienc
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Dec 21, 20251 min read
The Archers are going live on stage!
The Archers: Live at 75. Photo courtesy of the BBC. BBC Radio 4’s long-running drama ‘The Archers’ celebrates 75th anniversary and steps out of the studio for a new live theatrical experience. The Archers: Live at 75 will be touring the UK from June–November 2026. Preview First airing on 1st January 1951, BBC Radio 4’s The Archers is the world’s longest-running drama. Today Fane is delighted to announce that the programme will mark its 75th anniversary in 2026 with a national
ann-evans
Dec 20, 20253 min read
Goldilocks and the Four Bears
Goldilocks and the Four Bears community pantomime presented by The Henley in Arden Drama Society (HADS) at Henley Memorial Hall from 18 – 21 December 2025. Directed by Laurence Marshall. Review by Ashley Hayward This was my first visit to the annual Henley in Arden pantomime and on arrival you could tell from the warm welcoming atmosphere that it was eagerly awaited by the local community. It was a complete sell out and HADS had even laid on an additional performance to meet
Ashley Hayward
Dec 19, 20252 min read
First rate performances raise the bar in this terrific panto
Matt Rousseau and Elysia Sully. Photo by FuzFilmz. Cinderella, performed by Tread the Boards at The Attic Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon. Running from 14 December 2025 until 4 January 2026. Written by John-Robert Partridge. Directed by Andy Woolley. Review by Charles Essex. A humorously painted backdrop of Cinderella’s kitchen is almost the only prop in this familiar pantomime. Being devoid of furniture, director Andy Woolley was able to use the Attic’s relatively small stage a
Charles Essex
Dec 18, 20252 min read
Goldilocks and the Three Bears - Audience lapped up this delightful gentle pantomime
Jo Banbury, Robert Bateman, Rose Bird and ensemble. Photo by James Calver. Goldilocks and the Three Bears, performed at The Priory Theatre, Kenilworth, from Wednesday 17 December 2025 until 4 January 2026. Director: Mike Brooks. Review by Charles Essex. The Priory’s version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears was a novel take on a well known story. The plot was that a circus owned by Dame Sadie (Paul Sully) was in financial difficulties and being threatened by Baroness Winkl
Charles Essex
Dec 18, 20252 min read
Delightfully engaging production for many at their first panto
Jon Kerr and Abigail Drennan. Photo by FuzFilmz. Sleeping Beauty performed by Tread the Boards at The Cidermill Theatre, Chipping Camden, from 13 December to 31 December 2025. Written and directed by John-Robert Partridge. Review by Charles Essex Tread the Boards theatre company once again showed the depth of their talent running two pantomimes concurrently over Christmas, both written and directed by John-Robert Partridge (JP). Cinderella is being performed at their base
Charles Essex
Dec 18, 20252 min read
