WHAT’S ON

What’s on inJanuary

Aladdin at Theatre Royal Bath | Credit Freia Turland

Belly Laughs | Credit: Julian Preece

MUSIC AT GREEN PARK BRASSERIE

n Green Park Brasserie, Green Park, Bath Enjoy live jazz/funk/soul/swing at Green Park Brasserie on Weds and Thurs from 6.30–8.45pm and Fri and Sat from 6.30–9.45pm. Music includes dynamic duos, modern trios and a Hot Club style quintet. greenparkbrasserie.com

BELLY LAUGHS Throughout January

n Locations across Bath Belly Laughs is a comedy and food festival that brings smiles to faces, punters to independent venues, and money to local grassroots charities. After five years in Bristol, the festival has been expanded to cover Bath this year, where it will be raising money for Julian House. Tickets available at yuup.co/belly-laughs

A WINTER WALKING SAFARI Until 8 January

n Wild Place Project Grab your hats and gloves and head to Wild Place Project to go on a magical adventure on the Winter Walking Safari. Experience the beautiful nature trails across the 50-acre site, while spotting amazing animals from around the world. wildplace.org.uk

ALADDIN Until 8 January

n Theatre Royal Bath Wishing for the best family pantomime this Christmas? Your wish is the Theatre Royal Bath’s command! The amazing story of a boy, a lamp, and a genie returns to spread magic across Bath. TV and West End star Tom Lister (Emmerdale, 42nd Street) stars as the wicked Abanazar, with awardwinning Bath pantomime legend Jon Monie and dame extraordinaire Nick Wilton (EastEnders). Tickets from £9, available at theatreoyal.org.uk

JAZZ SUNDAYS AT IFORD MANOR January, Febuary, March

n Iford Manor Estate Enjoy fantastic, live jazz from top musicians alongside a delicious lunch prepared by award-winning head chef Matthew Briddon and team. Food sustainably and locally sourced, much reared, grown and foraged on the Iford Estate. The 2023 line-up is currently being finalised; visit the Iford website to book. ifordmanor.co.uk

U3A MONTHLY TALK: THE IMPACT OF THE POOR LAWS OVER THE CENTURIES | PETER MARTIN 5 January

n The Pavilion, Bath Monthly talks start at 10.30am. Doors open at 9.45am for coffee. Admission is free for members but a donation of £2 for non-members. If you join U3A in Bath at the meeting then your admission fee is refunded. u3ainbath.org.uk

NEW YEAR CONCERT: A CEREMONY OF CAROLS 7 January, 7pm

n Bath Abbey To mark the church festival of Ephiphany, Abbey Girls’ choir sing Benjamin Britten’s beautiful and challenging work A Ceremony of Carols in the magical setting of Bath

Beauty and the Beast

abbey, accompanied by harp. Tickets from £15. bathboxoffice.org.uk

THE ART SOCIETY BATH: JOSUHA REYNOLDS, THE CREATION OF CELEBRITY LECTURE 9 January

n Widcombe Social Club / Zoom Joshua Reynolds wanted to establish a new golden age for British art in the grand style of Italian History painting; he raised portraiture to the top rank of art whilst simultaneously elevating the reputation of his patrons as well as his own. Become a member of The Art Society Bath at theartssocietybath.com

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 12–15 January

n The Rondo Theatre A tale as old as time about a fearless young Beauty, who bravely ignores Count Danton’s advances, and goes on a quest to save her sick father, no matter the cost! Bath Drama’s Beauty and the Beast offers a festive treat for all the family with song and dance, suspense and romance. Show times vary. Tickets from £8, available from rondotheatre.co.uk

TALK: BEN PRESTON –YORK GATE THROUGH THE HEAD GARDENER'S EYE 16 January, 7.30–9pm

n University of Bath Gardening Club Ben Preston will be giving an insight into maintaining and developing an historic garden with one eye on the past and one eye on the future, as he has done at Perennial’s beautiful Arts and Crafts inspired garden at York Gate near Leeds. ubgc.org

17th century stumpwork, silk and metallic thread picture depicting David & Bathsheba, Aldridges of Bath Fine Art & Antiques Sale

CINDERELLA 18–21 January | Wednesday –Friday 7.30pm, Saturday 1pm & 5pm

n St Philip and St James Church, Odd Down Based on the traditional story, the St Philip & St James Church Drama Group present a show packed full of music, dance, largerthan-life characters and a few surprises –so it’s not one not to be missed! Tickets £10 adults and OAPs, £6 children (under 18), available from ticketsource.co.uk/spsjdrama

GRAN HALEN 26 January

n Komedia, 7pm Introducing Gran Halen, probably the best pensioner rock band in the world. Playing smash hits like Bingo Inferno, Hit Me With Your Walking Stick, Old Age Dirtbag, Purple Rinse, Granarchy In The UK, Nan In The Mirror and many, many more. £10. komedia.co.uk

IFORD MANOR BURNS NIGHT SUPPER 27 January

n Iford Manor A wonderful evening full of delicious Scottish food, including homemade Iford haggis, and of course the Great Highland Bagpipes to celebrate Burns Night. £60 per person to include a welcome glass on arrival. To reserve your spot, visit ifordmanor.co.uk

LAWRENCES AUCTIONEERS FREE HOME VISITS 27 January

n Bath Specialist Andy Sagar will be available to value your objects and antiques, including Silver, vertu, pictures, 19th/20th-century Design Ceramics, furniture, clocks, rugs and more. lawrences.co.uk

SOIRÉE CONCERT 27 January

n Bath Abbey An intimate evening of music in the Bath Abbey Song School. A chance to meet the Abbey musicians at an exclusive recital of solos followed by a tour of the music facilities. Hosted by Huw Williams, Director of Music. Tickets from £5, available at bathabbey.org

TIM BAKER 28 January

n Chapel Arts, Lower Borough Walls, 8pm Tim Baker –best known as the songwriter and leader of Hey Rosetta! –is a prolific wild-eyed dreamer. In 2022, he returned with The Festival, a sonic embrace, a call in for love, and a cry out for connection. Baker wants us to bring our pain and suffering, and align it all with melody. £15/£17 bathboxoffice.org.uk; chapelarts.org

ALDRIDGES OF BATH: FINE ART & ANTIQUES SALE 31 January

n Aldridges of Bath (online) Including silver, jewellery, porcelain and glass, paintings and prints, European and Asian works of art, clocks, antique furniture and furnishings. Open for public viewing Saturday 28 January, 9am–12pm and Monday 30 January 9am 5pm. aldridgesofbath.com

BATH FILM SOCIETY

THE SEVENTH SEAL 6 January, 7.30pm

n BRLSI, 16–18 Queens Square, Bath Sixteen years before battling Satan in The Exorcist, Max von Sydow was taking on Death in a game of chess – one of the most striking images in the history of cinema. The Seventh Seal announced the arrival of Bergman as a giant in the world of motion pictures.

THE SERVANT 20 January, 7.30pm

n BRLSI, 16–18 Queens Square, Bath The Servant is the first of three classic Joseph Losey adaptations of his friend Harold Pinter’s scripts. The film’s focus is on the shifting relationship between the socialite Tony (James Fox) and his manservant Barrett (Dirk Bogarde).

To join Bath Film Society, contact the Membership Secretary: mail@bathfilmsociety.org.uk | bathfilmsociety.org.uk

Bath Film Society: The Servant (1963)

LOOKING AHEAD

STARGAZING TOURS Select Fridays (see Bath Abbey website for more details)

n Bath Abbey Join the Bath Abbey team for live stargazing at the top of Bath Abbey’s tower, with the opportunity to see the Threads Through Creation exhibition after hours. Tickets via Eventbrite or through the Bath Abbey website. bathabbey.org

WORKSHOP: HOW TO MAKE SOURDOUGH 3 February

n Iford Manor Award-winning Head Chef Matthew Briddon will teach you all you ‘knead’ to know about getting started, or improving, your sourdough skills. £120pp (includes a three course lunch); reserve your spot at ifordmanor.co.uk

THE ARTS SOCIETY BATH: FEBRUARY LECTURE 6 February

n Widcombe Social Club

| Zoom

This lecture explores the achievement of the masters of Art Nouveau glass –Émile Gallé, Louis Comfort Tiffany and René Lalique –and their outstanding contribution to one of the most important movements of the last century. To book a place as a guest (£10 in venue or £7 on Zoom) and for payment details, contact the society on bath@theartssociety.org. The Society welcomes new members; learn more at theartssocietybath.com