Arts and Entertainment

Several music festivals near Newbury have announced what bands, artists and DJs will be rocking the crowds next summer.

Festival celebrating the life of Caroline Flack and raising funds for mental health charities is moving to the Crystal Palace Bowl in south London.

‘The programme was generously long, but we eventually piled out into the dark December evening feeling suitably smiley and festive’.

‘Newbury is very fortunate to have a choir of this calibre and a director able to put together such an interesting evening’.

Review of Dear Evan Hansen, an intimate musical about the visibility of young people with mental health conditions.

Our free What’s On newsletter gives you six top stories, plus our pick of what to see in the coming week.

A medieval Mystery Play, Christmas singalongs, magical musical show and a bit of hiss and boo.

A children’s and teen author Leon Mitchell’s next two children’s audio books Spidersaurus and Finn Flux will be released next week.

Find out why debut author Chloe Dalton’s Raising Hare is being called Book of The Year by so many when she comes to talk about it at The Croft Hall.

The top lot was Happy, a rare large-eyed brown tipped Steiff teddy bear c.1926 which sold for £55,800 at Special Auction Services.

14 year old Mieke Brown stepped up with three weeks to go to mime the part of Mary.

Back to the 50s for a flight of frivolity, outrageous farce Boeing Boeing is set over the course of one night.

Tickets are now on sale for its visit to New Theatre Oxford in July 2026.

Dick Whittington opens at the Corn Exchange.

The festival will be a unique gathering for fans of post-punk music, fashion and literature, with a line-up unlike any other in the UK.

Marcus asks: What are men for? Are we fellas of any use at all? More will be revealed at Corn Exchange stand-up gig.

The Arts Society Newbury hears a fascinating lecture on Alchemy and Adventure: A history of exotic colours and poisonous pigments.

Oxford Botanic Garden Christmas Fair offers artisan products, unique food and drink and lively entertainment in beautiful surroundings.

Visitors to Un/Common People will also experience a new folk song and story map, reimagining five traditional regional folk songs.

Presale booking next week for first Heritage Live concert in the grounds at Englefield House in July.