Butterfly Owner Clive Farrell (centre) with David Bellamy (L) and Sir David Attenborough (R). Photo courtesy of the Stratford Butterfly Farm. Stratford-upon-Avon Butterfly Farm is delighted to announce a very special celebration on Friday 8 May, marking the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough, one of the world’s most treasured naturalists. Sir David Attenborough, who has previously visited the Butterfly Farm, has long been an inspiration to the team and to millions aroun

Sara Johnston, Christine Cherry, Penny Roberts and Jill Price. Photo by Tim Greenway. Ladies’ Day by Amanda Whittinghton, presented by Kineton Amateur Dramatic Society (KADS), Warwickshire, from 22-25 April 2026. Director Catherine Jones. Review by Charles Essex. Philip Larkin, librarian at Hull University, said, “Nothing happens everywhere”. In a neat irony, four women at a Hull fish factory feel as if nothing happens in their lives, yet Anada Whittington’s clever, funny an

Nia Gwynne as Titania. Photo by Chris Clarke. Titania – A new one-woman show by D R Hood. Performed by Nia Gwynne at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 24 – 25 April. Other dates and venues: 8 May: The Tolmen Centre, Constantine, Cornwall; 25 June: The Lyric Theatre, Bridport, Dorset. Running time: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes (no interval). Review by Ann Evans ‘Run towards things that scare you, so I am running full pelt. Why wouldn’t you want to play the

Poor, coming to the Belgrade Theatre. Poor by Katriona O'Sullivan at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry from 1 May - 9 May. Adapted by Sonya Kelly. Directed by Roisin McBrinn. Preview Based on Katriona O’Sullivan’s best-selling memoir, Poor charts her extraordinary journey as she emerges from her childhood in Coventry and Birmingham marked by poverty, addiction and homelessness. Moving to Dublin as a teenager, Poor follows O’Sullivan as she overcomes seemingly insurmountable obst

Polka Sisters. Photo by Tasha Best. Sisters 360 written by Asif Khan at The Belgrade Theatre from 22 to 23 April. Review by Amanda Burden. It isn’t often you encounter a bat in a theatre outside of Dracula. It’s even rarer to find one that looks like it wandered out of a rave, reconsidered its choices, and opted for a new life as a thespian. Yet, this is precisely where we are with Sisters 360. A day-glo skateboarding bat in the mix immediately signals that we are not in Char

T he Tempest by William Shakespeare presented by Caramba Theatre Company at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon from 6 – 9 May 2026 (evenings 7.30pm and matinee on 9 May 2pm). Directed by Mollie Taylor. Musical Directors Jackson Pentland and Andy Taylor. Preview Cast out and betrayed by his own sister, Antonia, Prospero, once the Duke of Milan, has spent the last twelve years in exile on a remote, enchanted island with his daughter Miranda. Far from civilisation, the is

L-R: Grant Mazzy (Mark Roberts), Dr Mendez (Connor Carson), Sydney Briar (Juliet Swan Seaton). Photo by Richard Smith. Pontypool by Tony Burgess at The Loft Studio, Leamington Spa from 21 – 25 April. Directed by Hannah Brown. Review by Ann Evans The Loft’s intimate studio theatre felt like the ideal venue for this play. The action takes place in a radio station in the basement of the local church. So, for the Loft’s audience filling the two rows of seats either side of the ‘s

The cast of Murder She Didn't Write. Photo credit Degrees of Error. Murder She Didn’t Write. Performed by Degrees of Error, presented by Wildpark Entertainment, at Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry on 6-7 May. Director Lizzy Skrzypiec. Preview   Don your deerstalker, grab your magnifying glass and get your ‘finger of suspicion’ at the ready because Edinburgh Fringe favourites, Degrees of Error, are bringing back their multiple sell-out show for your sleuthing pleasure. They’ll c

There’s lots going on behind the scenes at the newly refurbished Criterion Theatre, Earlsdon, as preparations get underway for their fourth incarnation of the Springboard Festival. Running from Saturday 9    May to Saturday 16 May the Springboard Festival will be showcasing a wide variety of local artistic talent with writers, poets, performers, musicians, both amateur and professional entertaining audiences over the week. Amongst the great line-up of nightly entertainment wi

Transatlantic Hot Club: Adrien Chevalier, Ashley John Long and Ben Creighton Griffiths. Photo © Frederic Landes. The Transatlantic Hot Club at The Cidermill Theatre, Chipping Camden, Saturday 18 April.. Review by Charles Essex   Probably the most renowned proponents of French chanson and swing and Latin jazz were Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli but the very accomplished quartet of the Transatlantic Hot Club (THC) delighted this knowledgeable audience with music styles

Nia Gwynne as Titania. Photo courtesy of John Hoare. Titania – A new one-woman show by D R Hood. Performed by Nia Gwynne at The Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 24 – 25 April. Other dates and venues: 8 May: The Tolmen Centre, Constantine, Cornwall; 25 June: The Lyric Theatre, Bridport, Dorset. Running time: Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes (no interval). Preview Do you still believe in fairies? More than four centuries after the events of A Midsummer Night’s Dream,

Portrait Print and Best in Show: Angles and Extensions by Ester Riordan. Fittingly, a new trophy awarded for the judge’s choice of Best in Show at Leamington Spa Photographic Society’s end-of-season competition has been won by an arts-related image. It is presented in memory of long-standing LSPS member Keith Roberts, who was the LSPS membership secretary for many years and was also chairman of the Leamington Spa Arts Society. The Best in Show trophy, chosen by judge John Hai

Sir Nick Varney. Photo courtesy of the artist. The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) has announced the appointment of Sir Nick Varney as Trustee and Governor and Baroness Martha Lane-Fox as Governor. All appointments are subject to ratification at the Annual General Meeting. RSC Chair Shriti Vadera said: “On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome Nick and Martha to the RSC. Their commercial, digital and innovation experience and commitment to access and excellence will

Folk duo Harper's Dove (Campbell Perry and Ruth Noble) at the venue for the new folk club, Oak House Sports and Social Club. Photo credit: Sybella Perry. Leamington is experiencing its very own Folk Revival as 28 April sees the relaunch of The Heart of England Folk Club, where acclaimed singers such as June Tabor and Polly Bolton first started out in the 1960s. Local folk duo Harper’s Dove are working in partnership with Oak House Sports and Social Club to create a place wher

Ed McVey (Centre) at Tom Ripley with the cast. Photo by Mark Senior. The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith, adapted and directed by Mark Leipacher, at the Belgrade Theatre from 13 to 18 April.  Review by Amanda Burden In many ways But Is It Cake? is the clearest illustration of the post-truth era we find ourselves lurching about in, like a drunk person heading to the bar on a Friday night. For the uninitiated: BITC? Is a game show that involves earnest contestants squ

Billy (Michael Seeley) and the Queen Mother (Gill Halford). Photo by Rob Warner. Backstairs Billy by Marcelo Dos Santos at The Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre, Kenilworth from 13 - 18 April 2026. Directed by Steve Smith. Review by Ashley Hayward. Much of the action in this delightful comedy takes back in 1979 when the so called ‘winter of discontent’ with all its divisions and industrial strife finally ended with Margaret Thatcher sweeping into power. The script concerns th

Henry Salmon, photo courtesy of the artist. Elton's Song, at Rother Street Arts House, Stratford-upon-Avon on Saturday 18 April. Preview Rother Street Arts House will host the premiere of Elton’s Song on Saturday 18 April, unveiling an electrifying new tribute show performed by a collective of local musicians. Led by Stratford-upon-Avon based pianist, piano tuner and teacher Henry Salmon, the production celebrates the timeless music of Elton John and his long-time collaborat

The people of Salem in court. Photo credit Martin Pulley. The CRUCIBLE By Arthur Miller. Presented by In The Round Theatre, directed by Robert Sloan and Darren Pratt, choreography and movement by Daisy Jones, original musical score by James Grady. In collaboration with Rugby Theatre. from 11 – 18 April 2026. Review by Ann Evans Rugby Theatre is currently enjoying a successful collaboration with the young actors and team from In The Round Theatre , opening on 11 April and run

It's chaos at the radio station. Photo credit The Loft Theatre. Live on Air… and Under Siege: Pontypool by Tony Burgess at The Loft Theatre Studio, Leamington Spa, from 21 - 25 April 2026. Directed by Hannah Brown. Preview   It’s Valentine’s Day in the remote town of Pontypool, Ontario. Beacon Radio’s morning show team are about to go viral in a way DJ Grant Mazzy could only have dreamed of, until he realises that this might be his worst nightmare. Local weatherman Ken Loney