WHAT’S ON

What’s on inAugust

Julie, Madly, Deeply, part of the Garden Theatre Festival The Herschel 200 Exhibition at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy

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. The kitchen will be open from 5–10pm Weds–Fri, and 12–10pm on Sat, serving local produce. greenparkbrasserie.com

GENTLE YOGA IN THE GARDENS Thursdays, 6–7pm

n American Museum & Gardens,

Claverton Manor, Bath

In partnership with Bath YMCA yoga experts, the museum offers wellbeing sessions in a beautiful setting, listening to the sounds of nature. £10 per session. americanmuseum.org

CHILDREN’S YOGA Saturdays, 11–11.45am

n American Museum & Gardens,

Claverton Manor, Bath

Children (ages 4+) can enjoy the uplifting surroundings of the gardens with classes designed to introduce yoga and mindfulness around a story or a theme, ending with relaxation. £7.50 per session. americanmuseum.org

AUGUST LATES AT THE ABBEY Thursdays throughout August (4, 8, 18, 25 August), 6.30–9.15pm

n Bath Abbey This is the perfect chance to visit Bath Abbey after hours and enjoy the music and culture that local performers and artists have to offer. There will be live music from 7–9pm, Tower Tours (at an additional cost) and a bar to purchase drinks. This year there will also be artwork on display by local artists. Tickets are available from the website. bathabbey.org

SUMMER SUNDAYS Sundays throughout August

n Various locations Take part in the events running on Sundays throughout the summer, including King Arthur at the Garden Theatre Festival on 7 August; Circus Antics Stilt Walkers on 14 August; and the Redland Wind Band on 28 August. Find out more at: welcometobath.co.uk/summer-sundays

FREE FAMILY TRAIL Throughout August

n Holburne Museum, Bath Explore the Holburne grounds and Sydney Gardens through David Hockney’s eyes. Pick up a beautiful trail from outside the museum entrance. holburne.org

THE TEMPEST Until 6 August, 7.30pm and matinees

n Ustinov Theatre, Saw Close, Bath Deborah Warner opens her inaugural season as Artistic Director of the Ustinov Studio with an epic new production of The Tempest. Nicholas Woodeson as Prospero and Dickie Beau as Ariel lead a stellar company of actors. Tickets from £24.50. theatreroyal.org.uk

THE GARDEN THEATRE FESTIVAL Until 13 August

n Gardens at the Holburne Museum, Bath This year’s festival will be your chance

Torchlit Summer Evenings at the Roman Baths

to make fantastic memories in the magical gardens of the museum. Featuring superb performances, music and comedy from renowned companies such as The Three Inch Fools, The Handlebards, Peoples’ String Foundation and Bath’s very own Calf2Cow. Includes an outdoor garden bar and BBQ, or bring your own picnic. See the full programme at gardentheatrefest.co.uk

BLACK SWAN ARTS OPEN 2022 Until 11 September

n Black Swan Arts, 2 Bridge Street, Frome This year’s Open Show features cuttingedge work from established art practitioners through to avant-garde young graduates. 190 artworks are on display covering a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, photography, sculpture, ceramics and video. Every piece is for sale, with a top price set at £1,000 to encourage collectors and first-time buyers. blackswanarts.org.uk

THE HERSCHEL 200 EXHIBITION Until 31 December

n The Herschel Museum of Astronomy,

19 New King Street, Bath

To commemorate the bicentenary of the death of astronomer William Herschel (1738–1822), Bath Preservation Trust is hosting a major exhibition to highlight the important contributions he made to our understanding of space. This exhibition, organised in partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society and the Herschel family, will reveal the family’s remarkable story through original artefacts. herschelmuseum.org.uk

Blood Wedding at the Egg Hayden Lloyd at Komedia

HATCHING THE PAST: AMERICAN DINOSAUR EXPLORERS Until 31 December

n The American Museum & Gardens,

Claverton Down

Take a rare and exciting look at the life of dinosaurs through their eggs, nests and embryos. A captivating experience for all ages, Hatching the Past invites visitors to touch real dinosaur bones and reconstructed nests, dig for eggs in the interactive dig pits, and view animated video presentations. This fully multi-media experience helps give credence t o long debated theories that dinosaurs and birds are closely related. americanmuseum.org

THE REALLY BIG CHORUS & BATH PHILHARMONIA CONCERT 6 August, 6.30–7.30pm

n Bath Abbey A monumental choral concert of musical illumination and deep humanity based in the glory of Bath Abbey. As one of America’s best loved modern composers, Lauridsen bases Lux Aeterna (1942) on references to light from sacred Latin texts. Haydn’s Harmoniemesse (1802) is full of infectious positivity and joy. The Really Big Chorus is the ultimate community choir, drawn from other smaller choirs and thousands of individual singers. Under 18s go free with a paying adult. £10. bathboxoffice.org.uk

JUDGES TALK – HOW TO VALUE ART 10 August, 6.30–8.30pm

n Black Swan Arts, 2 Bridge Street, Frome Join organisers and judges of the Black Swan Arts Open 2022 to discuss this challenging, baffling and often contentious issue. Limited places available, pre-booking essential. £10. eventbrite.co.uk; blackswanarts.org.uk

FAMILY CREATIVITY 10 and 12 August, 10.30am–12.30pm

n Holburne Museum, Bath Designed for families to enjoy creative making together, these 2-hour sessions will be led by Chrissie and Esther from Skylarks Creativity. Expect beautiful materials and inspiring activities (and even some singing!). £15 adult and up to 2 children (4 years +) holburne.org

PHAEDRA AND MINOTAUR 12–23 August, 7.30pm

n Ustinov Studio, Saw Close, Bath Following the success of Deborah Warner’s production of Phaedra and Minotaur at the Royal Opera House in 2020, music director Richard Hetherington and Olivier award nominee Christine Rice will re-imagine the piece in a piano version, specially developed for the intimate spaces of the Ustinov Studio. Tickets £36.50/£24.50 discounts; theatreroyal.org.uk

LUKE DE-SCISCIO LIVE IN SESSION 14 August, 2–4pm

n Komedia, Bath Luke De-Sciscio “found his song-writing voice the old-fashioned way: by writing (and mostly not releasing) dozens upon dozens of folk songs, spread out across a decade, often while living on a boat with no electricity or heat.” says NPR. A free event in Komedia Bath’s Electric Bar. All ages are welcome and food and drink will be available. komedia.co.uk/bath

INTO THE WOODS 17 August –10 September, 7.30pm, plus matinees

n Theatre Royal, Bath This imaginative and delightfully playful new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods sees a worldclass creative team led by iconic stage and film director Terry Gilliam and co-director and choreographer Leah Hausman. Tickets from £27; theatreroyal.org.uk

MOZART RECITAL 18 August, 7–8.30pm

n Holburne Museum, Bath The Schantz fortepiano, acquired in 1983, is one of the highlights of the Holburne’s collection –it was made in Vienna around 1795, and is exceptionally rare. Internationally respected keyboard artist Nathaniel Mander will play some of Mozart’s most appealing and enchanting sonatas and variations on the Schantz this summer. £20. holburne.org

Long for the Coast at Chapel Arts

HAYDEN LLOYD & THE SINGLE SOUNDS ‘IN MY SOUL’ EP LAUNCH 19 August, 6pm

n Electric Bar, Komedia, Bath Hayden Lloyd is a young guitarist and singer/songwriter from the Bath area. He is influenced by blues and rock musicians such as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Philip Sayce and Eric Gales. His music is a combination of blues, rock and funk alongside a vast list of genres. £6. komedia.co.uk/bath

LONG FOR THE COAST 19 August, 8–10.30pm

n Chapel Arts, Lower Borough Walls Long For The Coast is Jamie and Sophie Gould (with their full band). With a combination of sincere lyrics and beautiful harmonies, they sing stories about social change, spiritual adventures, and close friends lost and found. They’ve been championed by the BBC Radio 6 Music as well as playing at Nozstock, Greenbelt and Shambala festivals. Tickets £12. chapelarts.org

BLOOD WEDDING 25–28 August, 2pm and 7pm

n The Egg, Saw Close, Bath In the dry heat of the Andalucian sun a bride decides between love and duty, unleashing the wrath of ancient feuds set to tear her community apart.The TRB Theatre School Summer Company returns in signature bold style with Lorca’s epic tale of intimate fractured lives hurtling desperately towards the inevitable. Tickets £10, age 12 plus. theatreroyal.org.uk

GARDEN GROOVES 26 August, doors 5.30pm, music from 7pm

n American Museum & Gardens, Claverton

Manor, Bath

Head to the spectacular gardens for a summer’s evening of mellow music. Top local artists will entertain while you enjoy the stunning views across the Limpley Stoke valley, featuring a blend of jazz, folk and bluegrass music. Sip on an American inspired cocktail or two, enjoy a picnic on the lawn or pre-order an American-inspired hamper. Tickets from £12.50. americanmuseum.org

Black Swan Arts Open 2022, Villain by Malcolm Ashman Late nights at the Abbey on Thursdays in August

Black Swan Arts Open 2022, intaglio print by Alessandra Alexandroff

HARLEM RHYTHM CATS 26 August, 6–9pm

n Green Park Brasserie, Green Park, Bath This will be a big evening of alfresco dancing, live music, cocktails, fizz and more at Green Park Brasserie. The kitchen will be open from 5–10pm, serving local produce. greenparkbrasserie.com

ROCKNEY – A TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC OF CHAS & DAVE 26 August, 8–10.30pm

n Chapel Arts, Lower Borough Walls The feelgood show of the year! Rockney brings to the stage the best loved songs of the legendary Chas and Dave and reminds us all of their extraordinary ability to get any party started with their seamless medleys of songs from the decades. Tickets from £17. chapelarts.org

RSCM’S SING JOYFULLY! A CHORAL CELEBRATION 27 August, 7pm

n St Mary’s Church, Bathwick The Royal School of Church Music (RSCM)’s week-long summer training course for choristers aged 8–21 takes place in Bath every year. This showcase concert is a new part of the course for 2022, and in a varied programme of classic choral music, celebrates the achievement of the nearly 100 young people from across the UK and beyond who are participating this year. Led by RSCM’s Director, Hugh Morris, the evening promises to be a joyful and uplifting occasion – not to be missed. £15. bathboxoffice.org.uk/whatson/sing-joyfully-a-choral-celebration

WILD WONDER AT WESTONBIRT 27–29 August, 9am–5pm

n Westonbirt, The National Arboretum,

Tetbury GL8 8QS

Wild Wonder at Westonbirt is a new children’s book festival dedicated to nature, animals, and the outdoors. This 3-day event for families features some of the UK’s most famous children’s book authors, illustrators, wildlife presenters and storytellers. Includes authors Michael Morpurgo, Waterstones Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell, and Wild Child author and young naturalist Dara McAnulty. Young bookworms can come and meet their favourite authors and take part in activities, all surrounding stories set in and around nature. forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/wild-wonder

TORCHLIT SUMMER EVENINGS AT THE ROMAN BATHS Until 31 August

n Roman Baths The Roman Baths will stay open until 10pm until 31 August, offering visitors a chance to enjoy the special atmosphere around the torchlit Great Bath. Last admission at 9pm. There will be a pop-up bar beside the Great Bath selling champagne, sparkling wine and soft drinks. The museum will stay open late so that visitors can look around the fascinating displays about life in Roman Bath, long after the usual closing time. Admission is free for Bath & North East Somerset residents, and you can book your free tickets on the Roman Baths website. romanbaths.co.uk/torchlit

IF OPERA 2022 From 26 August

n Belcombe Court Bradford on

Avon and Holy Trinity Church, Church Street, Bradford on Avon

If Opera’s productions this summer include operas, a picnic prom and family show. August highlights include La rondine by Giacomo Puccini, a double bill of Rita by Gaetano Donizetti and Il segreto di Susanna by Ermanno Wolf-Ferrar and the Picnic Prom with The Clare Teal Seven. Call Bath Box Office: 01225 463362 or visit ifopera.com

LOOKING AHEAD

LECTURE: GARY BEST ON ‘SLAVERY EXPLORED’ 1 September, 10.30am

n The Pavilion, North Parade Road, Bath After studying history at Exeter College, Oxford, Gary became a teacher ending his career as headmaster. He is an internationally recognised authority on early Methodist history, was Warden at the New Room (John Wesley’s Chapel) in Bristol and was responsible for creating its new Visitor Centre and its awardwinning Museum. He is a published author of five historical novels, including his 2020 book Slavery and Bristol. Free for members, £2 suggested donation for non-members. u3ainbath.org.uk

WAG WALK 2022 4 September, 9.30am start

n Bath Cats and Dogs Home, Claverton, Bath, BA2 7AZ Join in the Wag Walk sponsored dog walk, open to all with or without dogs. Starts and finishes at Bath Cats and Dogs Home and features the stunning National Trust Bath Skyline with breath-taking views over the city. Two- or five-mile routes to choose from, followed by goodie bags, refreshments and activities to enjoy on the field. Entry £15pp or free for 16 years and under. bcdh.org.uk/wagwalk