Crewe

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

4TH JAN – 24TH FEB

BLOOMIN’ MARVELLOUS!

e Floral Pavilion hits it out of the park yet again with an awesome selection of entertainment…

Wrestling Superstars Return, 22nd January Boo the villains or cheer on your heroes in this two-hour spectacle of non-stop action. 3pm. Tickets £17. musical adventure. Based on the bestselling book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Sche er. Various times. Tickets £19.50.

DID YOU KNOW?

Barry Reed, who wrote The Verdict, was a medical lawyer

A Country Night in Nashville, 27th January

Hits from the legends are showcased by Dominic Halpin and the Hurricanes. 7.30pm. Tickets £29.

e Smartest Giant in Town, 3rd & 4th February

A heart-warming tale about friendship and helping those in need, brought to life in a puppet- lled

e Verdict, 7th-11th

February Frank Galvin is a washed-up lawyer and an alcoholic, when he’s presented with a last chance to redeem himself. A gripping courtroom thriller starring Jason Merrells (Emmerdale, Casualty, Agatha Raisin). Various times. Tickets £28-£34.

oralpavilion.com

We are sailing… Making a splash

Mersey Ferries’ fascinating Manchester Ship Canal Cruises sail from Woodside Terminal, travelling under bridges mostly unchanged since they were built over 125 years ago. Spend a day taking in the rich legacy of Victorian architecture and engineering masterpieces such as the Grade II-listed Runcorn rail bridge and the Latchford high-level bridge. Tickets are £46 for a ve to six-hour cruise. For a full programme see merseyferries.co.uk

Follow the science

Created for children and young people aged up to 14, Eureka! Science + Discovery at Seacombe includes hundreds of hands-on, innovative and interactive activities and experiences based on things you experience in your daily life, including zones exploring the wonderful uniqueness of our bodies, our homes and nature. Open Friday to Sunday 10am-5pm. Tickets £15.95 per person (children aged 1-2 £6.95, under-1s free). Book at eurekadiscovery.org.uk. Make a resolution to get outdoors more, and visit Wirral Watersports Centre in West Kirby to nd great ways to enjoy the sea. ere’s a range of watersport activities, with courses for all ages and levels of experience, and boat trips exploring the beautiful Dee Estuary and Hilbre Islands. Call 0151 929 7707 for prices, dates and details. activewirral.com

Into the new

Take a pinch of a romantic song cycle, stir in some studio theatre and a touch of jazz, then lter the whole thing through a hessian sack of deep, dark central European folklore… Bag of Bones is Alice Zawadzki’s bewitching new project for Manchester Collective – hear this thrilling performance at Future Yard, Birkenhead on 9th February at 7pm. Tickets from £5. futureyard.org

•4th & 18th January, 1st & 15th

February, The Irby Club, Irby

Listen and dance to the best live Dixieland/Chicago-style jazz from the Original Panama Jazz Band, plus guest musicians. 8pm. Free.

•17th January, ‘Edwardian

Extravagance’, Lady Lever

Art Gallery Discover how wealthy women dressed in 1901-1911 with Pauline Rushton, National Museums Liverpool’s Head of Decorative Arts, using depictions of costume in art. 1pm. Free.

•19th January, Ceramics for

Beginners, The Barn Wirral,

Heswall Learn a variety of handbuilding techniques including using moulds and underglaze transfers, stamping and glazing. All materials provided. 10am. £75.

•5th February, The Kilkennys, Gladstone Theatre One of the fi nest folk groups in the world, boasting an array of instruments and all four members singing; the result is a dynamic powerhouse. 7.30pm. £20.

•Daily, Mermaid

Trail, New Brighton

Based on the legend of the Black Rock Mermaid, who was reported to have appeared to a local sailor. Great fun for families; buy a map guide at various locations in New Brighton. Free.

•24th February, Classic Doubles

– A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac,

Heswall Hall An homage to one of the world’s most revered bands. 8pm. £22.

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

6TH-20TH JANUARY

FESTIVAL OF FUN

•6th January, Ludlow Races

Beat the winter gloom with all the fun of the races, at the friendliest racecourse around. Walk-in admission starts from £10, with premier badges from £21. Group discounts available. Time of fi rst race tbc.

•12th January, Big vs Small, Sparc Theatre, Bishops Castle

This documentary fi lm follows champion Portuguese surfer Joana Andrade as she faces her biggest waves and deepest fears, supported by Finnish free diver Johanna Nordblad. 7pm. £7 (student/ child £4.50)

•13th January, MR James Horror Stories, Whittington

Castle, near Oswestry Escape the winter weather and enjoy chills of a di erent kind as Justin Soper begins a monthly series of readings of classic ghost stories from the master of horror. Tonight: ‘Lost Hearts’ and ‘The Mezzotint’. Age restrictions apply. 7.30pm. £12.

•19th January, Storytelling: The Last Dragons, Ludlow Brewery

Enjoy this collection of traditional and original dragon myths from Britain and Asia, brought to life by award-winning storyteller Jason Buck. Suitable for adults and children over 10. 7.30pm. £7.50.

•20th January, World Cinema: Charlatan (cert 15, with subtitles), The Hive Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury Film Society presents this 2020 CzechPolish-Irish-Slovak drama, based on the true story of healer Jan Mikolasek, who cured hundreds of people using natural, plantbased remedies, attracting the interest of the Czech government. The fi lm won fi ve awards at the 2021 Czech Lions including Best Film. 8pm. £6. Shropshire Kids Festival returns to Telford International Centre on 18th-19th February, bringing fun and activities for children aged 0-12 all under one roof. Expect obstacle courses, in atables, giant games, dancing, space hoppers, have-a-go music and science, go karts, crafts, musical theatre, circus, Nerf Wars, martial arts and more!

A dedicated under-5s zone caters for younger children, and there’s also a quiet zone for those who prefer a calmer environment. A family ticket is £59.50; check for early bird discounts at shropshire-

kidsfest.co.uk ONE TO TRY!

Human Table Football – be a player in this classic game brought to life!

A regular half-term highlight is Bishops Castle Arts Festival, which this year begins on 22nd February. e festival has been going for more than a decade now, and always o ers a varied and exciting programme of events and activities, most free (althought donations are welcomed!). Expect workshops, talks, exhibitions, music, dance, competitions and open studios. For a full programme see bishopscastleartsfestival.com

PURE GOLD

Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp will be taking to the decks at e Buttermarket, Shrewsbury on

4th February

to spin the biggest and best hits of the ’80s. e pop icon, who went on to star in EastEnders and numerous lm roles, is renowned on the club scene for his euphoric party nights. So dig out your ’80s garb, grab your dancing shoes and prepare for a night of pure ‘Gold’! From 7pm. Tickets from £15 (over-18s only). thebuttermarket.co.uk

Nature’s voice

On 7th February Booka Bookshop in Oswestry welcomes author Marc Hamer to talk about his new book Spring Rain, a life-a rming memoir about gardens and what they mean to us throughout our lives. Marc’s previous books A Life in Nature; or How to Catch a Mole and Seed to Dust were both longlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing. Spring Rain encourages us to tune in to the natural world for consolation and a happier life. Doors 7pm. Tickets £7 (£17 with signed copy). bookabookshop.co.uk

LOTS TO LEARN

Friends of Ironbridge Gorge Museums host a series of talks each year by local historians, museum sta and visiting experts, and the 2023 programme is out now. Topics range from the life of local people to the impact of their work, while on 15th February the debate is ‘What can dialectologists learn from oral history archives: the case of Ironbridge’. www.ironbridge.org.uk

Food for thought

Prue Leith, seen gracing our screens on Great British Bake O , has had a distinguished culinary career. In her rst live show, ‘Nothing in Moderation’, which is at eatre Severn on 1st February, she will take the audience through the spills and thrills of life as restauranteur, novelist, businesswoman, TV personality, cooking for royalty and more. e second half will include an audience Q&A, for a chance to ask everything you want to know! 8pm. Tickets £33. theatresevern.com

Charles the Great

Shrewsbury’s most famous son, Charles Darwin, was born on 12th February 1809, and every year a crowd gathers at Morris Hall Courtyard, beside the Bellstone, to raise a glass to the great man on his birthday. Join Darwin Festival founder Jon King at noon, and he’ll lead a guided walk around the scientist’s home town. It’s free, but please book in advance. eventbrite.co.uk

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

20TH-26TH JANUARY

DID YOU KNOW? Prue has written seven romance novels including A Serving of Scandal

Return to Fawlty Towers

Classic comedy comes to the Telford Mercure Hotel on 28th January with the Fawlty Towers Weekend Show. Basil, Sybil and Manuel will greet guests on arrival and serve afternoon tea – expect some mishaps! More entertainment follows with the Fawlty Towers Dinner Show, and the evening nishes with dancing. Tickets £245 for two include overnight stay and breakfast. comedy-dining.co.uk

•20th January, Needle Felting Workshop, Bayston

Hill Memorial Hall A one-day workshop hosted by Shropshire textile artist Maxine Smith. Learn how to combine needle felting and embroidery to create a stunning piece to take home. 10am. £45, includes all materials and refreshments, bring your own packed lunch.

•20th January, Sounds and Storytelling, Silvester Horne Institute, Church Stretton

Ranagri is an energetic festival band that combines voices and instruments to create unique and contemporary folk sounds. 7.30pm. £15 (under 18s £7.50).

•21st January, Shrewsbury Repair Cafe, United Reformed

Church, Shrewsbury Bring renewed life to old items lying

around the house by dropping them o for repair. The service is free but donations are appreciated. From 10am.

It’s Tom off the telly!

He’s host of e Apprentice: You’re Fired and on our screens with Like Minded Friends and regular slots on Bake O : An Extra Slice. Now Tom Allen brings his stand-up show to Market Drayton! Expect life updates and riotous stories delivered with acerbic wit. 3rd February 7.30pm. Tickets £23 from

festivaldraytoncentre.com

ROLL UP, ROLL UP!

Take your seats for a magical afternoon at the circus on 11th February. Circus Spectacular presents a range of international acts, from traditional circus skills to big production numbers and plenty of comedy. e show ends in a slosh-style nale – so if you’re seated in the front four rows, be sure to take up the o er of a rain mac! e fun starts at 3pm, and tickets are £18.50 (child £17.50, family £68). telfordtheatre.com

•23rd January, Wildlife Talk – Butterfl ies, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Craven

Arms With support from Age UK, this talk is for visitors age 60-plus. 10.30am. £3, please book in advance.

•26th January, Shropshire Chamber Business Awards Launch, Salop Leisure,

Shrewsbury The search for the best businesses in Shropshire begins! Entrepreneurs welcome – fi nd out how to apply, sponsorship opportunities and tips from past winners. 5.30pm. Please register in advance.

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

27TH JAN - 5TH FEB

•27th January, Tim Garland and Jason Rebello, The Maidment Building, Shrewsbury School

The ‘Life to Life’ tour showcases two of the UK’s most eminent musicians as they present an evening of new compositions spanning the worlds of jazz and contemporary music, performed with stunning artistry. 7.30pm. £16 (concessions £8).

•27th January, Whisky Tasting, The Prince Rupert Hotel,

Shrewsbury Keep the Burns Night spirit alive as you enjoy an evening sampling some of Scotland’s fi nest single malts. 7.30pm. £25, advance booking only.

•28th January, Bee Keeping Workshop, Dorothy Clive

Garden, Market Drayton Head gardener Zdenek leads this introductorylevel workshop on the care and keeping of bees, in the new Wildlife Hub. A practical session will follow in spring. 10am. £50.

•1st February, Jam Night,

Albert’s Shed, Southwater A weekly jam session in Telford hosted by some of the best musicians in town. Backline provided, just turn up and play your heart out! All skill levels welcome. 8pm.

•5th February, Historical Shrewsbury Lecture, Bear Steps

Hall, Shrewsbury The latest in a series of lectures dedicated to the history of Shrewsbury from 1154-1485, focusing on some of the key personalities, including Joan, Lady of Wales, Dafydd, Prince of Wales, and the arrival of Henry Tudor. 4.30pm. £5 including refreshments.

INCREDIBLE INK

A buzz will ll the air at Telford International Centre as Tattoo Freeze gets underway on 4th-5th February. e event attracts top international and homegrown tattoo artists, making it a fantastic opportunity to get inks from some of the very best in the industry.

Trade stands will o er all things tattoo-related and more besides, and the days are designed to be family friendly, with entertainment and music to add to the atmosphere. Open 10am-8pm (Sunday to 6pm). Day ticket £15, weekend £25. tattoofreeze.com

DID YOU KNOW?

A quarter (26%) of the British public have tattoos, and most of these are women

On 4th February, Alice in Shrewsburyland Ghost hunters the heart of Shrewsbury will be transformed in residence into an Alice in Wonderland escape-room style experience, in conjunction with Clued Upp Games. Teams will receive clues sent to their phones as they dash around town to solve a mystery, undertaking mad and Shrewsbury Prison is one of the top-rated ‘dark mischievous challenges along the way. Teams can tourism’ sites in the country, thanks to its rich include up to six adults, tickets are £60 (check for history. On 24th February Yvette Fielding and discounts online). Children go free! cluedupp.com Karl Beattie of TV’s Most Haunted will lead a paranormal investigation there, starting at 9pm and lasting until the early hours. Each experience is as unique as it is spine-tingling. Advance tickets only, £82. mosthauntedexperience.com

BRING ON THE BARGAINS

Hunt for treasures at Oswestry Antique and Collectors Fair on 11th and 12th February. is large fair in the heart of Shropshire o ers a fantastic mix of antiques, vintage, collectibles, architectural salvage, mid-century and decorative items. It regularly attracts over 200 dealers, and is often featured on BBC’s Bargain Hunt. Dogs on leads welcome, free parking, free entry for children, and a reasonable £3.50 (cash only) for adults – what more could you want! jos-events.co.uk

FIGARO!

With vocal reworks, scheming lovers and one very busy stylist, Rossini’s Barber of Seville is packed with fun and mischief. From the instantly recognisable cries of Figaro! Figaro! at the start, you’ll thrill to this top-rate production, screened from the Royal Opera House to Sparc eatre, Bishops Castle on 19th February at 2pm. Tickets from £8. sparctheatre.co.uk

It’s going to be gym-tastic!

Team GB gymnasts have had an excellent international run over the past 18 months, and with the 2023 English Men’s and Women’s Artistic Championships taking place at Telford International Centre on 24th-26th February, the opportunity to spectate at a live national event is right on the doorstep! Competition categories include under-18s as well as senior in both men’s and women’s, so there’s a chance to watch the rising stars of the sport as well as seasoned professionals. Tickets start from £18 for adults, £10 for children, and can be purchased from gymdata.co.uk

DID YOU KNOW? Tokyo 2022 was the fi rst Olympic medal win for the GB women since 1928

WHO DUNNIT?

When Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Doctor Watson are asked to help a music hall performer in distress, they nd themselves confronted with a dastardly plot of national importance. Rain or Shine eatre presents this family-friendly performance at Bridgnorth’s eatre on the Steps on 3rd and 4th February. Expect music, mishaps and plenty of comedy. 7.30pm. Tickets £14 (child £9, family options available).

theatreonthesteps.co.uk

A special appearance

Ex-Special Forces, star of TV’s SAS: Who Dares Wins and Inside e Real Narcos, and author of chart-topping bestseller Battle Scars, Jason ‘Foxy’ Fox will regale the audience with his remarkable story on 2nd February at Telford eatre. ‘Life at the Limit’ is a story of Special Forces soldiering and courage on and o the battle eld. 7.30pm. Tickets £29. telfordtheatre.com

Running up that hill…

Dedicated marathon runners can tackle one of Shropshire’s most epic routes with the Icing on the Cake trail run on 4th February. e run, which has an elevation rating of 5/5, begins in Carding Mill Valley and continues over the Shropshire Hills and the Long Mynd. Due to the terrain, runners are expected to carry certain essential supplies. Details and entry information at codrc.co.uk

WESTON WINTER WANDER

Enjoy some fresh air on a stroll around Weston Park on 8th January. is seasonal guided walk o ers the opportunity to appreciate how artfully Capability Brown and his fellow landscapers used coniferous and deciduous trees to create a spectacular year-round setting. e event starts at 10.30am, and tickets can be bought online for £10 or on the gate for £15. weston-park.com

WHAT’S ON IN BRIEF

5TH-19TH FEBRUARY

•5th-7th February, Cinderella,

Shawbury Village Hall Shawbury Village Players present their winter pantomime to delight audiences young and old. Have a ball as you follow the adventures of Cinderella, Buttons and Prince Charming, and not forgetting those Ugly Stepsisters! 7.30pm, plus Saturday 2pm. £10 (child £5).

•12th February, Ellesmere Farmers’

Market This independent market is held on the second Sunday of each month. A small group of local food producers are committed to o ering the benefi t of shopping locally, and with a delicious array of food and drink.

•15th February, ‘My Shropshire Year’ – Photography by Andrew Fusek Peters, The Cut Visitor

Centre, Shrewsbury Admire nature in all its glory with an inspiring display of work by the renowned wildlife and landscape photographer, followed by book signing. 7-9pm. £5 (Shropshire Wildlife Trust members £3).

•18th February, The Jeremiah’s, Ludlow Assembly

Rooms The four-piece Irish folk band perform a wonderful mix of new songs and a well-chosen catalogue of traditional tunes. 7.30pm. £20.

•19th February, Tree Planting, Severn Gorge Countryside

Trust Join in this free, fun family activity in the beautiful woodlands. Bring suitable footwear! 10am-1pm.