WHAT’S ON

What’s on in May

Holburne Plant Sale

LIVE MUSIC AT GREEN PARK BRASSERIE

n Green Park Brasserie, Green Park, Bath Enjoy live jazz/funk/soul/swing at Green Park Brasserie on Wednesday and Thursday from 6.30–8.45pm and Friday and Saturday from 6.30–9.45pm. Music varies in style from dynamic duos to modern trios to a Hot Club style quintet. The Brasserie kitchen will be open from 5–10pm Wednesday–Friday, and 12–10pm on Saturday, serving up local produce including steak, fish, chicken and burgers. greenparkbrasserie.com

TOUCHED 4–7 May, 7:30pm

n The Rondo Theatre, Bath It’s 1945 – meet a Nottingham family of women over the 100 days from VE Day on 8 May to VJ (Victory in Japan) Day on 15 August. A story of celebration, love, gutwrenching grief, and that great British Institution, a pot of tea. Momentous events, including the landslide victory of the Labour party, are seen through the everyday experience of ordinary people. They dreamed of a New World and a better future. How have those dreams turned out? By Stephen Lowe, presented by Bath Drama. £14/£12. ticketsource.co.uk

U3A: LANDSCAPE DESIGN IN AN AGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE 5 May, 10.30am–12.30pm

n Bath Pavilion, North Parade Road Andrew Grant is a director of pioneering Bath-based Landscape Architecture Firm, Grant Associates. He will explain that one of his firm’s aims is to steer people towards nature-based solutions to landscape design problems, reconnecting them with nature in insightful, delightful and distinctive ways whilst addressing the global challenges of urbanisation, the climate crisis and biodiversity extinction. Admission to the talks is free for members and asks for a donation of £2 for non-members. u3ainbath.org.uk

THE CLARIDGE LECTURE: ADRIAN TINNISWOOD Thursday 5 May, doors 6.15pm, lecture 7pm

n American Museum & Gardens,

Claverton Manor, Bath

Join Adrian Tinniswood OBE FSA, renowned social and architectural historian, for a talk about his new book Noble Ambitions: The Fall and Rise of the PostWar Country House. As the sun set on the British Empire in the years after the Second World War, the nation’s stately homes were in crisis. Capturing the spirit of the age, Tinniswood proves that the country house is not only an iconic symbol, but a lens through which to understand the shifting fortunes of Britain in an era of monumental social change. Tickets £10 (includes welcome drink). americanmuseum.org

HOME AID Thursday 5 May, 6.30–9.30pm

n Bath Assembly Rooms This unique charity auction, organised by photography and journalist duo Newton & Worthy, will feature an abundance of beautiful and distinct interior items and experiences, donated for free from companies such as OKA, Holloways of Bath, Home Front Interiors and Coco & Wolf, with all profits going to UK for UNHCR’s Ukraine Emergency Appeal to support refugees. Comedian James Acaster will host the event, former Sotheby’s auctioneer Ed Rising will conduct the auction, with musical entertainment provided by the Claire Martin Quintet. newtonandworthy.com; @homeaid_ukraineauction

Katherine Rundell on John Donne at The Bath Festival

CHILDREN’S YOGA Saturdays from 7 May, 11–11.45am

n American Museum & Gardens,

Claverton Manor, Bath

Children (ages 4+) can enjoy the uplifting surroundings of the gardens in the museum, with these classes, organised in partnership with Bath YMCA, designed to introduce yoga and mindfulness around a story or a theme that changes each week, ending with relaxation. £7.50 per session. americanmuseum.org

HOLBURNE PLANT SALE 8 May, 10.30am–2.30pm

n Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney

Street, Bath

The Holburne’s annual plant sale in the museum's grounds will raise money in support of the Holburne. Includes stalls from expert nurseries and has plants and herbs for sale, a beehive display, homemade produce and tea, coffee and cakes. holburne.org

SPARKFEST 9 May–11 June

n Various locations across Bath Now in its fifth year, this festival of theatre, music and dance is set to take over our beautiful city once again. SparkFest promises

Harriet Evans at The Bath Festival Catch Me if You Can, Theatre Royal Bath

four weeks of bright and brave performances from Bath Spa University graduates, in partnership with The Bath Festival. Take a fresh look at how young talent engages with the region’s artistic community. Tickets: bathspalive.com or bathboxoffice.org.uk; sparkfest.co.uk

HENRY V 9–14 May, 7.30–9.30pm

n Bath Abbey Award-winning Bath-based theatre company Antic Disposition present their critically acclaimed First World War adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry V in the awe-inspiring setting of Bath Abbey, celebrating the rich and turbulent relationship between Britain and France, from the Hundred Years War to the Entente Cordiale. With original songs inspired by the poetry of AE Housman. £25/£35. ticketsource.co.uk

GENTLE YOGA IN THE GARDENS Thursdays from 12 May, 6–7pm

n American Museum & Gardens, Claverton

Manor, Bath

In partnership with Bath YMCA yoga experts, the museum is delighted to offer wellbeing sessions in this beautiful setting, listening to the sounds of nature. There is no better place in the city to practice yoga, relax and to calm the body and mind.. £10 per session. americanmuseum.org

ISABELLA BIRD – BRITAIN’S FEARLESS VICTORIAN ADVENTURER & HER MAGIC LANTERN SLIDES 12 May, 7.30–9pm

n BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath and online On 10 May 1897 Isabella Bird was engaged to lecture on Western China at the RGS in London.Jacki Hill-Murphy, who has recently published The Life and Travels of Isabella Bird, will recreate that lecture, using some of her original magic lantern slides, and talk about the rest of Isabella’s solo world travels and how she survived many dangers. £2–£5. brlsi.org n Theatre Royal, Bath Dallas legend Patrick Duffy and Linda Purl fly in from Hollywood to star alongside Gray O’ Brien, leading the cast in this exciting new production of the classic Broadway thriller. Directed by Bob Tomson. Tickets from £28; theatreroyal.org.uk

Celebrating music and books, The Bath Festival runs from 13–24 May. Some of the events are listed here, but refer to the festival website for the full range of events and performances: bathfestivals.org.uk

PARTY IN THE CITY 13 May, 5–11pm

n Queen Square, Parade Gardens Free live music and entertainment at various venues across the city. bathfestivals.org.uk

HARRIET EVANS 14 May, 10–11am

n Literature Lounge Harriet Evans has written 13 bestselling novels and worked for many years as an editor with authors such as Marian Keyes and Sue Townsend. She will be talking to writer and broadcaster Francesa Beauman about her latest novel, The Beloved Girls, being labelled a ‘women’s fiction’ author, the secrets of a long writing career, and living and writing in Bath. Tickets £9. bathfestivals.org.uk

PITCH PERFECT: MARIAN KEYES, NINA STIBBE AND LUCY MANGAN 14 May, 5.30pm

n Assembly Rooms Three witty, wise and wickedly funny writers Marian Keyes (Again, Rachel), Nina Stibbe (One Day I Shall Astonish the World) and Lucy Mangan (Are We Having Fun Yet?) explore female friendship, old flames, family chaos and the absurd pitfalls of modern life with Claire Armitstead, The Guardian journalist and editor. bathfestivals.org.uk

Party in the City

MARTIN BELL: WAR & PEACEKEEPING 15 May, 10.30am

n Assembly Rooms Over six decades, Martin Bell, the finest war reporter of his generation, has stood in 18 war zones as a soldier, a reporter and a UNICEF ambassador. He looks back on our efforts to keep the peace since the end of the Second World War and considers the current darkening political landscape with broadcaster and journalist Mark Lawson. £10. bathfestivals.org.uk

GEORGE MONBIOT 17 May, 5pm

n Komedia, Bath Writer and environmental campaigner George Monbiot talks to Max Porter about his inspiring vision of a new future for agriculture and how we could grow more food with less farming, transforming our relationship with the living planet. His book Regenesis is a breathtaking vision of a new future for food and humanity. Tickets £12. bathfestivals.org.uk

KATHERINE RUNDELL ON JOHN DONNE 18 May, 10.30am

n BRLSI, Queen Square, Bath In his myriad lives John Donne was a scholar of law, a sea adventurer, a priest, an MP – and perhaps the greatest love poet in the history of the English language. Join celebrated author and scholar Katherine Rundell as she introduces us to SuperInfinite, her sparkling and very modern biography that brings him and his poems to life. £8. bathfestivals.org.uk

EMPIRICAL 18 May, 7.30pm

n Walcot House, Walcot Street, Bath Empirical are one of the most admired and unique bands in contemporary jazz and will be bringing their award-winning sounds to this year’s festival. The ensemble features Nathaniel Facey alto sax, Tom Farmer double bass, Lewis Wright vibraphone and Shane Forbes drums. £15. bathfestivals.org.uk

GRICE –ONE THOUSAND BIRDS 19 May, 8pm

n Chapel Arts, Lower Borough Walls Critically acclaimed art rock musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist GRICE performs songs from his latest album One Thousand Birds – recently featured on BBC Radio 6 Music and described by Tom Robinson as “gorgeously epic music of exquisite beauty.” £12. chapelarts.org

BELLE NASH AND THE BATH SOUFFLE 21 May, 4.30pm

n The Holburne Museum, Bath Hailed by Matthew Parris as a work of “genius, part Dickensian, part modern; incisive, outlandish and hilariou”, Belle Nash and the Bath Soufflé is the first of The Gay Street Chronicles. Author William Keeling, a former Financial Times foreign correspondent, talks to Alasdair McWhirter about his entertaining new series of satirical historical novels set in Bath. Tickets £9. bathfestivals.org.uk

WALK OF LIFE 21 May

n Start points: the Crown Inn in Bishops

Cannings, Devizes (marathon) and Victory Field in Bradford on Avon (10-mile route)

Enjoy a walk along the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal –walk the marathon (26.2 miles) or take the 10-mile route. Either way you’ll be giving the extra mile for people in our community. Both walks cross the finish line at the Holburne Museum. Forever Friends is the fundraising charity at the Royal United Hospitals, Bath. £15/£8. Sign up at: foreverfriendsappeal.co.uk

COOL BRITANNIA: A RIDE THROUGH THE SWINGING 60s 26 May, 8pm

n Chapel Arts, Lower Borough Walls Relive the heady 1960s as this unforgettable live band whirls you through the decade of the British Explosion, from early 60s kitsch to rooftop rock and everything in between. Sixties Britain created a style and sound all its own – and made the world sit up and take notice. £20. chapelarts.org

WELLS COMEDY FESTIVAL 27–29 May

n Wells Comedy Festival, Somerset Over this weekend, England’s smallest city will play host to 40 comedy shows at venues across the city. This includes four gala night performances, each with their own surprise line-ups. Acts include Harry Hill, Phil Wang, Al Murray, Shaparak Khorsandi, Isy Suttie, Mark Watson, Mike Wozniak, Lou Sanders, Reginald D Hunter, Spencer Jones, Mark Thomas and Nick Helm. Tickets from £9. wellscomfest.com

LAVENDER BAG MAKING 28 May –5 June

n No. 1 Royal Crescent, 1 Royal Crescent During May half-term come and make lavender bags in the museum gallery. This drop-in craft activity is free with your museum ticket (£11/£5.50). no1royalcrescent.org.uk

THE GOLDEN COCKEREL 30 May, 7.30pm

n Theatre Royal, Bath English Touring Opera returns to Bath with a poetic production of the most popular of operas, and a lively new production of a comic Russian fantasy by Rimsky-Korsakov. Tickets from £25; theatreroyal.org.uk

LOOKING AHEAD:

GARDEN GROOVES 3 June, doors 5.30pm, music from 7pm

n American Museum & Gardens,

Claverton Manor, Bath

Enjoy a summer’s evening of mellow music in the museum’s spectacular gardens. Top musicians will entertain while you enjoy the stunning views across the Limpley Stoke Valley. For line-up information see the website. Treat yourself to one of the museum’s specially curated hampers or bring your own picnic to savour alfresco. Tickets from £12.50. americanmuseum.org

GRICE at Chapel Arts Shaparak Khorsandi at the Wells Comedy Festival

LITTLE THEATREHIGHLIGHTS

Met Opera Live: Turandot 12A –206 mins –from 7 May

Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska stars as Puccini’s icy princess. Tenor Yonghoon Lee is the bold prince determined to win Turandot’s love, alongside soprano Ermonela Jaho as the devoted servant Liù and legendary bass Ferruccio Furlanetto as the blind king Timur.

Marco Armiliato conducts Puccini’s stirring opera, which takes the stage in the company’s dazzling, ever-popular production by Franco Zeffirelli.

Camille Pissarro is rightfully known as the father of Impressionism. Pissarro followed a dramatic path, documented in letters to his family. Using these intimate and revealing letters this gripping film reveals how he found his passion in paint as a young man in Paris, and by the age of 43 had corralled a group of enthusiastic artists into a new collective called the Impressionists.

EOS: Pisarro - The Master of Impressionism 90 mins –from 24 May

Please confirm with organisers that events are running. See our website for updates and new events added throughout the month: thebathmagazine.co.uk