Libraries and leisure

Date: Wednesday 29th October to Saturday 1st November

Time: 7.45pm to 10.15pm

bigredfunbus | productions present...The Dresser by Ronald Harwood.

A perceptive, endearing and hilarious portrait of backstage life. In a war-torn provincial theatre an aging actor-manager is struggling to keep a grip on his sanity and complete his 227th performance of King Lear. Helping him is his dresser, Norman and together they defy age and Nazi bombs to produce a classic night of drama!

Box Office 01462 455 166
www.bigredfunbus.com

Date: Saturday 1st November.

Time: 3.00pm.

Enter the dark woods, where stories of witches are told. For ages 4+.

Tickets: £4.75.

Date: Sunday 2nd November.

Time: 2.00pm and 5.00pm.

Contact the box office for prices, 01707 357117.

Date: Sunday 2nd November.

Time: 3.30pm-4.30pm.

Sabre Dance from Gayane Aram Khachaturian
Pictures at an Exhibition Modest Mussorgsky, orch. Ravel

Conductor Robin Browning and the de Havilland Philharmonic join children’s author and illustrator James Mayhew to present a special children’s concert. The orchestra will perform thrilling Russian classics with narration and live illustration by Mayhew bringing the music to life in a joyous and unique presentation.

The concert opens with Khachaturian’s dynamic Sabre Dance, from his exotic ballet Gayane, followed by Ravel’s spectacular arrangement of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition - a wonderful series of musical pictures, based on paintings and drawings by the artist Victor Hartmann. Mayhew will reinterpret the music, turning it back into pictures, with narration created especially for this concert. There will be gnomes, castles, heroic knights and golden cities, a ballet of baby chicks and the terrifying Russian witch Baba-Yaga!

About James Mayhew:
James Mayhew is a children’s author, illustrator and storyteller, best known for the Katie’s Picture Show series. Mayhew’s other books range from Shakespearean anthologies, through to grand opera and most recently ballet, with the Ella Bella Ballerina series. His Tales From Russia has been adapted as a children’s concert, using the music of Stravinsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, he has illustrated for the Mariinsky (Kirov) opera, St Petersburg, and this year he participated in Prom performances for children at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Previously, Mayhew has collaborated with Robin Browning and the de Havilland Philharmonic on Peter and the Wolf and The Firebird. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and son.

There will be the opportunity to win an original Mayhew illustration as a part of this event by entering into the colouring in competition, which will be sent out with each ticket batch, and the charity raffle draw, which will be run on the night. Books can also be purchased for signing at the event.

Price: £8 full price / £4 children
Age Suitability: All ages.

Date: Monday 3rd November

Time: 7.30pm

The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band featuring, Rick Vito with special guest, Dave Kelly.

Celebrating 40 years of the Original Fleetwood Mac - including original hits and new blues.

Date: Tuesday 4th November.

Time: 7.45pm-10.00pm.

Celebrating the best of British musical theatre Green Room’s latest production is Billy, the musical comedy adaptation of Billy Liar, which runs at Wyllyotts from 4th to 8th November 2008.
The show is written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais (Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Porridge, The Likely Lads) and based on the play by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall. With music by John Barry and lyrics by Don Black the score is full of toe-tapping numbers, rousing choruses and lyrical songs. In 1960s Yorkshire, working class dreamer Billy Fisher tries to cope with his less than understanding Mum, Dad and Gran, his dead-end job as an undertaker’s clerk and his rapidly disintegrating love life. As he tries to juggle the demands of his family, his boss and three totally different girlfriends, Billy escapes into his fantasy land of Ambrosia. There he can become a war hero, a successful script-writer, a talented film star and anything else that occurs to him. But can Billy turn his fantasies into reality

Date: Thursday 6th November and Friday 7th November

Time: 7.30pm

One actor and one dancer explore the archetypal idea of 'soul' in a contemporary secular world with this powerful piece of dance theatre.

Directed and choreographed by Kate Flatt, best known for her large scale work choreographing opera and theatre for the West End (Les Miseables, Dr Faustus, Three Sisters), this imaginative new work paints an intimate portrait of a man on his ultimate journey, guided by an enigmatic companion in the guise of a dancer.

Soul Play is a Mercury Theatre Colchester and Trestle Arts Base co-production, supported by Arts Council England East and the Junction, Cambridge.

Tickets: Adults £10 / Conc £8.
Suitable for ages 13+ / Running time: 60 mins.

Date: Thursday 6th November.

Time: 12.30pm-1.30pm.

Could you meet the man who killed your father?

In 1984, an IRA bomb was planted in the Grand Hotel, Brighton, killing five people and injuring dozens more.

In 2000, Jo Berry, whose father was killed in the blast, met Patrick Magee, the man who planted the bomb, for the first time.

This gripping drama is inspired by these events and builds towards the meeting of these two extraordinary people; one who killed in the name of justice, the other who refused to be a victim forever.

As the clock ticks, a mother and daughter’s relationship is thrown into turmoil as they confront the past. Together, all three characters go looking for peace in a place beyond hatred and retribution.

“an emotionally explosive drama” – Lyn Gardner, The Guardian

* TMA Awards Nominee - Best Actor, Paul Dodds,The Bomb, October 2006

* TMA Awards Nominee - Best Director, Joe Sumsion, The Bomb, October 2006

Price: £10 full price / £8 concessions / £5 student and children
Age Suitability: 14+.

Date: Friday 7th November to Wednesday 12th November

Time: 10.00am to 5.00pm (Library opening hours permitting)

Primary Schools Art Exhibition sponsored by Bishops Stortford Art Society. For more information please visit: www.bsartsociety.co.uk

Date: Saturday 8th November

Time: 7.30pm

NYJO is well-known throughout the world as a glittering show-case for the country's best young musicians.

Date: Saturday 8th November

Time: 10.00am to 5.00pm

Jewellery designer Kathryn Parratt will be 'artist in residence' at the museum on the ground floor.

Come along and see displays and demonstrations of her work and have a go at the family fun gemstone quiz (free) or have a go at making a bracelet (small charge).

See fliers for more information. Kathryn is making some limited edition jewellery in aid of the museum's development project.

Date / Time: Saturday 8th November 7.30pm-8.30pm

Tickets: £5.00

During this evening, Max Arthur will discuss his new collection of first-hand accounts.

On 16 May 1943, nineteen Lancaster bomber crews gathered at a remote RAF station in Lincolnshire for a mission of extraordinary daring and high risk - a night raid on three crucial and heavily defended dams deep in the German industrial heartland.

Arthur brings together the recollections of RAF personnel and civilians, POWs and Germans, to paint a picture of one of the famous operations of the Second World War.

Date / Time: Sunday 9th November 2008 from 1.00pm

Tickets: £5.00/£2.00 students

George Walter is Lecturer in English at the University of Sussex and Editor of the Penguin Anthology of World War I poetry.

His accessible and satisfying collection of poetry ranges from the famous to the anonymous. It also includes women’s reflections and soldiers’ songs to show different experiences of war not just for the soldiers but for those left behind.

Date / Time: Sunday 9th November 2008 from 7.00pm

Tickets: £8.00

Kate Adie, an outstanding war journalist talks about her latest book ‘A Life Lived Dangerously’. She sets out to discover who is attracted to living dangerously and why. When some people cling to security and routine, why do others continually put their lives in jeopardy? Come to a very special evening of stories and analysis from this key UK writer and broadcaster.

Date: 11th-15th November.

Times:
11th-14th Nov 7.30pm;
15th Nov 2.30pm & 7.30pm.

Tickets £9.00; £7.00 concessions.

Date: Wednesday 12th November

Time: 8.00pm

In 2001 the boys were spotted by the producers of the BAFTA and Comedy Award winning Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and were invited to become the resident house band. Don't miss your chance to see them live in St Albans!

Date: Thursday 13th November to Saturday 15th November

Time: 8.00pm

Hoddesdon Players presents... A Touch of Danger by Francis Durbridge.

Tickets: Adults £9 / Concessions £7 / Family ticket £24.

Date: Friday 14th November to Saturday 22nd November

Time: 10.00am to 5.00pm (Library opening hours permitting).

Bishops Stortford Art Society: Annual Exhibition. Please visit the website for further information: www.bsartsociety.co.uk

Date: Friday 14th November

Master-farceur Ray Cooney, provides an action packed evening of hilarity and narrow escapes in another of his inimitable comedies. Take an MP behaving badly, an attractive scantily clad woman trying to avoid her irate husband, a mysterious dead body and lots of parliamentary spin - and there is the recipe for a superb drama filled evening of fun and frolics.
Sponsored by Gilberts Chartered Accountants

Date: Saturday 15th November

Time: 1.00pm

Join children's author Marcia Williams for a lively art workshop based on one of the best-loved stories in the English language, Oliver Twist.

Marcia Williams hs illustrated and rtetold many literary classics for children with her disctinctive cartoon-strip style. Described as breathing new life into the classic stories, capturing the tone of the original tales, but rendering them vivid and fresh, her innovative mix of comic style frames, decorative technique and gorgeous colour palette is bound to delight.

There will be the opportunity to buy a book for signing at the event.

Price: £4 (no concessions). Suitable for ages 8+

Date: Saturday 15th November.

Time: 10.00am-11.40am.

This one-off Saturday morning family film club proudly revisits this timeless fantasy of flying monkeys, dancing scarecrows, talking trees, wizards and witches.

We invite you to travel along with Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) and her companions: the sensitive Tin Man, the cunning Scarecrow and the not-so-Cowardly Lion, through the shimmering land of Oz to the Emerald City in the hope of returning home to Kansas City.

Fleming’s magical picture has fans old and new and now with the recent revival of the story in hit West End musical Wicked! (adapted from Geoffrey MacGuire’s novel) this digitally re-mastered presentation reinstates The Wizard of Oz’s enduring charm and proves that there really is ‘No Place Like Home’!

Price: £4 full price / £3 concessions

Age Suitability: U (film contains mild fantasy horror).

Date: Saturday 15th November.

Time: 1.00pm-3.00pm.

Join children’s author Marcia Williams for a lively art workshop based on one of the best-loved stories in the English language, Oliver Twist.

Marcia Williams has illustrated and retold many literary classics for children with her distinctive cartoon-strip style.
Described as breathing new life into the classic stories, capturing the tone of the original tales, but rendering them vivid and fresh, her innovative mix of comic style frames, decorative technique and gorgeous colour palette is bound to delight.

There will be the opportunity to buy a book for signing at the event.

"Williams is one of our very best retellers of the classics." - The Independent on Sunday

* The workshop is limited to 30 spaces.
Price: £4 (no concessions)
Age Suitability: 8+.

Date: Sunday 16th November

Time: 7.30pm

The Stylistics started as the innocent union of two ex-high school bands, developed into one of the longest standing, and most accomplished soul bands to grace the R&B scene. They continue to perform as only they can, bringing with them the sweet, soulful memories of year’s past.

Date: Monday 17th November to Wednesday 26th November

Trestle's international workshop residencies provide training and development opportunities for professional performers and theatre makers, led by renowned international artists.

This year Trestle is collaborating with physical and vocal theatre practitioners from renowned Polish companies Song of the Goat and Gardzienice to present a 10-day workshop on how the voice can be used as an instrument in physical storytelling.

Please visit the website for further information.

www.trestle.org.uk

Date: Saturday 22nd November and Sunday 23rd November

Time: 10.00am to 4.00pm

Willow Watercolours are please to invite you to join them for their annual winter show and sale of original watercolours. The exhibition will show a colourful and exciting range of new paintings from the group of local watercolour specialists.

Date: Sunday 23rd November

Time: 8.00pm

Fuelled by his huge voice and staggering guitar playing, there is always a near-religious intensity to a John Martyn show.

Don't miss this rare opportunity to see the legendary singer/songwriter genius.

Date: Thursday 27th November

Time: 7.30pm

Prepare to party this Christmas as the legendary, That’ll Be The Day, the nation’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll variety show, returns with a Brand New Christmas 2008 production.

Featuring an all new line up of knockout Christmas hits from the 50’s through to the 80’s, combined with new wacky comedy routines to produce a show with a real feel good Christmas party atmosphere.

Join in and treat yourself to an early Christmas pressie!!

Date: Friday 28th November.

Time: 7.30pm-9.00pm.

Enjoy an exciting night of theatrical performances penned by the four finalists of the University of Hertfordshire’s Writing Award.

The 2008 Writing Award competition gives young people aged 14-19 from the East of England the chance to celebrate their unique voices and stories through the magical medium of theatre.

The competition begins with the selection of twenty top entries and a script development day, resulting in the selection of four finalist pieces.

The award night will see these pieces taken from page to stage – performed by professional actors - alongside the return of the top twenty entrants for commendation and the announcement of the overall winner, who will receive the prize of a scholarship to study at the University of Hertfordshire.

For more information about the University of Hertfordshire’s Writing Award visit:
www.go.herts.ac.uk/writingaward

Price: FREE – reservation necessary

Age Suitability: All ages.

Date: Sunday 30th November

Time: 7.30pm

An expert at being himself, Stephen K. Amos is supremely warm and wickedly funny with an ability to charm onlookers right into the palm of his hand. He creates weird and wonderful connections within his audience who are drawn into his own personal world. His thoughts are brought to life through his chatty delivery, his ability to become the characters and his
fantastic energy.

Winner Best International Comedy Award Nz Comedy Festival 2007.