Warwick Folk Festival 2025 brought in £1million!
The beer tent, Warwick Festival 2025. Photo John Wright Photography. The 2025 Warwick Folk Festival brought in just under £1million to the town in terms of additional economic benefit which has been revealed in an ‘Economic Impact Analysis’ report. It has also been revealed that the festival days in 2023, 2024 and 2025 averaged a footfall uplift of +46% in the town centre, compared to the average footfall on the same non-festival days. Data also showed that 2025 had the large
Tanya Aspinwall
6 hours ago3 min read
The Unfriend a sell out at The Talisman
Mark Plastow as Peter and Esther Riggs as Debbie. Photo by Robert Warner. The Unfriend by Steven Moffat, at the Talisman Theatre and Arts Centre, from Monday 9 February - Saturday 14 February 2026. Directed by Vanessa Comer, Assistant to Director Connor Bailey. Review by Ashley Hayward. This play has been accurately described as a cross between a farce and a sitcom and it was certainly given a massive thumbs up by the first night audience as they collectively rose to give
Ashley Hayward
17 hours ago3 min read
Crown of Blood at The Belgrade
Kehinde bankole and Deyemi Okanwalo. Photo credit Diva Creative. Crown of Blood, a new Yoruba adaptation of Macbeth. At the Belgrade Theatre from Wednesday 11 to Saturday 14 February. Written by: Oladipo Agboluaje. Directed by: Mojisola Kareem. Crown of Blood was developed with the support of the National Theatre’s Generate programme. Preview ‘Of what use is a good man without ambition?’ Following on from the success of Death and The King’s Horseman (February 2025), Utopia
ann-evans
2 days ago1 min read
Nostalgic evening of a bygone era
Oliver on piano and Samuel standing. Photo courtesy of Oliver Hancock. An evening of Flanders and Swann performed at St Mary’s Church Warwick, on Saturday 7 February 2026. Review by Charles Essex Brothers Samuel and Oliver Hancock treated a very knowledgeable audience to a wonderfully nostalgic evening of the songs of Flanders and Swann at St Mary’s Church in Warwick. Although the demographic of the audience reflected that this appealed to a particular generation who recal
Charles Essex
3 days ago2 min read
York Ice Trail this weekend
Follow the York Ice Trail. Photo courtesy of Make It York. York Ice Trail returned this morning with the Enchanted City theme bringing 36 mystical and magical ice sculptures, interactive experiences and photo opportunities leading you across the city. The York Ice Trail is a free event open to all from 10.30am to 4pm over the weekend on 7 and 8 February. Pick up the official trail map from the Visit York Visitor Information Centre to tick off all the sculptures and, upon
ann-evans
4 days ago1 min read
Shakespeare on Love at The Bear Pit
Some rehearsal pictures courtesy of Second Thoughts Drama Group. Second Thoughts Drama Group present Shakespeare on Love, at the Bear Pit Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, from 11-14 February 2026. Preview From A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s plays are filled with love, lust and longing. The bickering Beatrice and Benedict, the star-crossed Romeo and Juliet, the controversial Kate and Petruchio: Shakespeare explores love in all its many forms, some ideal
ann-evans
4 days ago1 min read
Full casting announced for the RSC's Henry V
Full casting has been announced for the RSC’s forthcoming production of Henry V, Shakespeare’s great history play, directed by RSC Co-Artistic Director, Tamara Harvey. The production runs in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon between Saturday 14 March and Saturday 25 April 2026. Preview Henry V will be the first play Tamara has directed in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre since becoming Co-Artistic Director and follows her critically acclaimed productions of Pe
ann-evans
5 days ago2 min read
Nine Sixteenths at Warwick Arts Centre
Nine Sixteenths cast. Photo by Christa Holka. Nine Sixteenths: Inspired by Janet Jackson, created by Paula Varjack, a fast, fun, multimedia examination of iconic black female role models featuring the rise, fall and rise again of Janet Jackson. Runs 60 mins. At Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry on Thursday 12 February 2026 at 7.45pm. Preview At the 2004 Superbowl, Justin Timberlake exposed Janet Jackson’s breast and nipple to a huge live TV audience for n
Dave Freak
6 days ago3 min read
My Fair Lady
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 from 24 – 28 March 2026. Evenings 7.30pm: Saturday Matinee 2.30pm. Preview Leamington and Warwick Musical Society (LWMS) has had a fabulous time recently bringing modern-era musicals to t
ann-evans
7 days ago2 min read
Pinball Wizardry
Rosalie Armstrong and Samuel Koppel. Photo courtesy of the Criterion. The Who’s Tommy, written by Des McAnuff and Pete Townshend, at the Criterion Theatre Earlsdon from 31 January – 7 February. Director Debra Relton Elves, Musical Director Rob Parish, Production Assistant Timothy East. Review by Hilary Hopker There was an excited and busy hubbub in the newly renovated foyer of the Criterion Theatre as show goers explored the renovation changes. There’s now more space and ligh
Hilary Hopker
Feb 12 min read
