Leisure

St Albans Festival 2010 has something very special to celebrate this year; the 'The Magna Carta'! Our city has played a central role in the drafting of this important document in 1215. This theme will be echoed in the Festival performances, museum activities and street events. The Rt. Hon.Lord Bingham and TV historian Dan Snow will be speaking and our own Mayor will lead the celebratory procession through the city centre.

After years of stalled plans and failed planning applications, St Albans Odeon is now in the hands of James Hannaway - the person who restored the wonderfully successful Rex cinema in Berkhamsted. If the money can be found, there is a fighting chance that we could have the Odeon up and running in similar style. There is nothing the people of St Albans would like better than simply to have their cinema back and this is the chance to do it.

Holly Road Productions (Ben Hill and St Albans local Alex Bell) are presenting 6 new short plays written in response to theme of "White Lies" which will premiere over two weekends in August. The plays will be directed by Stanley Walton (another St Albans local) and star just 4 actors. The actors Tom Crowhurst, Liam Hynes, Daisy May Parsons and Sarah Cullum will have one day to rehearse each play and will be playing all characters. The entire production will be designed by Wimbledon College of Arts graduate Lauren Woodward and will feature original music composed by Henry Mitton.

Just when parents thought that life was getting back to normal in this first week of the New Year, heavy snowfalls have turned St Albans into a winter wonderland once again. The children of St Albans have just returned to school after their Christmas break but today most of the local schools are closed. It is predicted that they may be shut for a few more days.

Someone Like You: The Adele Songbook - The Radlett Centre - 4th April 2019. With 2018 marking 10 years since the sensational debut album ‘19’ was released, Katie Markham brings an incredible performance to theatres across the UK, recreating the magic that the legendary Adele started a decade ago.

Things I Know to be True, by the critically acclaimed playwright Andrew Bovell in conjunction with Frantic Assembly theatre company, is the touching, funny and visceral next production by the Company of Ten. It is a complex and intense portrait of the mechanics of a family, and a marriage, through the eyes of four siblings struggling to define themselves beyond their parents’ love and expectations.

Fancy-dress, fun characters, free ice-cream, free T-Shirts and medals for the children, are all part of the day. From the age of 6 months to eighty, all ages turn up and simply have fun! This annual event takes place on Sunday 13th June 2010 and includes the 5k run, 1.5 mile Fun Run, Walking Half marathon and Healthy Hearts Jog.

This was the first time I had seen a performance in the studio part of the Abbey Theatre. I must say I liked the intimacy this created. Allowing the audience to feel a part of the production, almost. The play is quite short, in two acts of 45-50 minutes or so and this felt right. All the dialogue and action had meaning and impact.

Arriving at the Radlett Centre, there is a buzz of excitement as fans of all ages; including, parents, children and their grandparents, hang out in the auditorium waiting for the event to begin.CJ is one of the most experienced, dedicated and well-respected Michael Jackson tribute artists and he perfectly captures the electrifying energy of Michael Jackson’s live performances with the look, the voice and the moves!This evening, CJ, with his band, backing singers and incredible dancers, recreated a spectacular performance of his favourite Michael Jackson songs with great lighting display, visual imagery and audio clips taken from Michael’s professional life.

Passing our Fire Station on London Rd, St Albans last week, I noticed three large signs enticing me to get ready for upcoming active events in the area. Although, I am proudly partaking in the easiest one (see last post!),