Leisure

The summer holidays are fast approaching – but don’t panic as Willows Farm Village near St Albans is holding their Summer Spectacular event with plenty to keep children busy from the 18th July to 6th September.

Touring theatre company Peppermint Muse has made a bold choice with its next production, Death and Dancing, which is coming to St Albans in the first week of February. Written by Claire Dowie, who based the play on some of her original stand-up comedy material, Death and Dancing is set against the backdrop of eighties sexual politics. It is a fast and furious comedy that attacks conventional notions of gender and labelling.

St Albans is the city where it all happens! Who needs London’s West End when we have it all here at home. In the coming months, there is a lot on offer to those who love entertainment and a few hours of escapism!

To celebrate their 10th year anniversary and 30 years since The Beautiful South released ‘Song For Whoever’, The South are back this Spring, with a March 2019 - UK Tour playing shows up and down the whole of the UK. The South are an impressive 9 piece band who feature former members of The Beautiful South including singer Alison Wheeler and lifelong sax player Gaz Birtles.  Since Dave Hemingway, the original singer, left the group at the end of 2016, Gaz has moved across to front the band with Alison and taken on vocal duties. They play the songs made famous by The Beautiful South and bring back the full flavour and arrangements with this exciting live band.

Romantic Russian music comes to St Albans Abbey on Saturday June 25th with performances of some of the most colourful and passionate scores ever composed for orchestra (7.30pm).

Regarded by many as one of the best live bands of the 80s, Sad Café are back. Original members Ian Wilson and bassist Des Tong are joined by long-time associate, singer/songwriter Sue Quin, the exciting vocal talent of Barry James Thomas and lead guitarist Dave Day along with multi-instrumentalist Neil Shaw-Hulme, keyboard player Matt Steele and drummer Bryan Hargreaves to once again perform their catalogue of great songs including the unforgettable Every Day Hurts, My Oh My, Strange Little Girl and many more. Support comes from Sunbirds. The man who once told us he loved us from the bottom of his pencil case, founder Beautiful South member Dave Hemingway returns with his new band.

Pineapple Performing Arts School has been delivering first class tuition at the world famous Pineapple Studios for over 10 years. They are now bringing our unique formula to St Albans.

Another strong production by The Company of Ten. Well acted and staged. High quality theatre. This is a play that The Company of Ten should be highly suited to and indeed they are! All the main characters are credible and well-acted by the cast. The costumes and scenery are spot on in achieving a look and feel of a pre-war English country house. A very enjoyable and entertaining evening. Highly recommended, running till October 20th.

All human beings have questions. Philosophers are people who explore them. Learn how philosophy can expand your world and the view you have of yourself, and help deal with the challenges of everyday life. Join us (and some of the all-time great philosophers) for a course of ten evening sessions in timeless, practical wisdom.

St Albans families are in for a huge treat when one of Europe’s biggest circuses comes to town. The Netherlands National Circus will set up its Big Top at WESTMINSTER LODGE, HOLYWELL HILL for performances from TUESDAY 24th to SUNDAY 29th APRIL. The huge all-human circus will be in Hertfordshire as part of a major British Tour.