Magic, live music, dance, theatre, photography and an evening with a celebrity chef, our pick of the week ahead
Magic
THE Greatest Magician: An Evening of Wonders, a dazzling, five-star rated magic show at the Corn Exchange on Saturday (7.45pm) will leave you aching with laughter and dizzy in disbelief. Directed by the late Paul Daniels in his final theatrical project you’ll see why The List magazine called this show ‘one to watch in the world of magic’. Following a completely sell out run in 2022 - James Phelan, the magician most infamous for jamming the BBC switchboard after correctly predicting the lottery, presents an all new show. https://cornexchangenew.com/
Come & Sing Rossini
“COME and Sing events are so important,” says composer and conductor Bob Chilcott. “Singing together has all sorts of benefits including improving both mental health and the immune system, releasing endorphins and developing a sense of community. “How great that there’s the opportunity to come to a performance of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle in the small village of Kintbury. It’s a wonderful demonstration of a community being brought together in music. On Saturday, local chamber choir Opus2 will be joined by another 35 singers from the local community to rehearse and perform this amazing piece in a joint project with the Friends of St Mary’s Church, Kintbury. They’ll be supplemented with an impressive line-up of professional soloists including singers Jacqueline Pischorn, Serenna Wagner, Gordon Fry and Peter Lidbetter along with Ben Giddens on organ and the pianist Susan Norman. The conductor on the day will be pianist and percussionist Chris Lambert, who is no stranger to this work, having performed it twice before – once as a singer and once as the pianist. The performance starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £15 and are available at the Kintbury Corner Stores, ticketsource.co.uk and on the door.
The Mumford & Sons Story
ON Thursday, March 28, Awake My Soul: The Mumford & Sons Story comes to the Corn Exchange. This incredible live concert celebrates Mumford & Sons unique sound - one of the most famous British folk-rock bands of the 21st century. Audiences will be taken on the journey of their musical story from West London dive bars to sell-out stadium tours, multi-platinum albums and a private performance for Barack Obama. The spectacular live four-piece band will bring to the stage Mumford & Sons' distinct sound with all their very best songs, including Little Lion Man, I Will Wait and Awake My Soul. This is stomp and holler promises to be the perfect evening out for any folk lovers. Matthew Emeny from The Production Garden is very excited to invite everyone along to follow the journey of the early success of Mumford & Sons: ‘We are so excited to have created this show celebrating the first two albums of Mumford & Sons. We can’t wait to share their story and perform their songs and stomp and holler across the UK!’.
Strictly Dance
FOLLOWING his sixth consecutive year on the hit BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, Graziano Di Prima and his wife Giada Lini take to the stage in a brand-new show. Before the sequins and sparkles of Strictly, Sicily’s very own Billy Elliot grew up working in the vineyards with his father. He hoped and believed that one day, dancing would be his career. Believe - My Life On Stage, Graziano’s first solo tour, tells his story in his distinct style. This new show is a tribute to his Italian ancestors and an electrifying evening of Latin and Ballroom dancing. Including a special thank you to a family who never wavered in their belief that their son would one day be a professional dancer. Experience Graziano’s life story at Oxford Playhouse on Wednesday (7.30pm) https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com
An Evening with Rick Stein
ENJOY An Evening with Rick Stein at The Anvil, Basingstoke, on Wednesday (7.30pm) A feast for the mind! Multi-award winning chef, restaurateur, writer, and presenter Rick Stein delves into his lifelong love affair with cooking and his unwavering devotion to the brilliance of great British produce in this brand-new UK tour. From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of culinary success, Rick's story is one of perseverance and passion. Discover how this self-taught chef, with no prior experience, went on to establish a thriving restaurant business that's become a national institution. Revelations from the kitchen, musical delights, poetic interludes, and stories of global adventures are all on the menu, so secure your seats for an evening of entertainment with a culinary master like no other. www.anvilarts.org.uk
Watermill Youth Theatre
WATERMILL Theatre Youth Ensemble perform Wendy & Peter Pan, adapted from the novel by JM Barrie by Ella Hickson, from Saturday through to Saturday 30. Times vary. When the Darling family’s world is rocked, a window opens into a world of opportunities and adventure that may help Wendy find the answers she seeks. Taking a leap of faith, Wendy and her brothers follow Peter Pan to Neverland, where they discover the extraordinary home of the Lost Boys. Amongst the fun and hijinks, Wendy embarks on a quest to find one more lost boy, her brother Tom. With the help of the fearless Tiger Lily and spirited Tink, Wendy finds the courage to follow her own path, discovering her true self and that, sometimes, where one story ends, another adventure begins. Creating a world of wonder through storytelling, puppetry, and physical theatre The Watermill Youth Ensemble invites you to join them on an unforgettable journey celebrating the enduring power of friendship and the unique parts we play in our own stories. A youth theatre production by arrangement with Nick Hern Books. https://www.watermill.org.uk
Natural History Museum Wildlife Photographer of the Year,
THE 59th instalment of the world-renowned exhibition Wildlife Photographer of the Year, on loan from the Natural History Museum, iis showing at The Base at Greenham until April 14. The world’s most prestigious photographic event of its kind celebrates the very best nature photography and photojournalism, using the unique emotive power of photography to inspire wonder and create advocates for the natural world. Truly stunning images allow visitors to experience nature in vivid detail and get up close to some of the world’s most extraordinary species, the lives they live and the challenges they face. book your slot at https://thebasegreenham.co.uk/ Tickets £10.95 (conc £9.25), groups of 10+ £8.75, under-16s £6.75, under-5s & Base Pass holders free,
