Entertainment

Calling all St Albans parents! The schools are about to set your treasured children free for six weeks. If you want some ideas on where to release some kid-energy, read on;

Rooftop Theatre Company are delighted to be performing their next production, The Winter’s Tale, in the stunningly restored 14thC Kingsbury Barn, St Albans. Shakespeare’s compelling drama The Winter’s Tale is a moving story of the consequences of jealousy and tyranny and the power of remorse. Leontes, King of Sicilia is thrown into violent rage and jealousy at the perceived affair between his wife Hermione and best friend Polixenes. The results resonate through 16 years and across the seas to Bohemia. After this the redemptive effects of time, love and forgiveness bring a surprising and bittersweet conclusion.

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.

Last week, I attended Playing Faustus, a play written and directed by local writer, Imogen de la Bere. Clever, funny and really well written, this 'play within a play' captivated me from start to finish.

James Hannaway, owner of the beautifully renovated Rex Cinema in Berkhamsted, is now in the final phase of purchasing The Alpha (previously the Odeon Cinema) in St Albans. It is hoped that the last £100 K will be pledged or donated in the coming week bringing it to a total of £1 million.

I was rather hesitant about going to this year’s Christmas Pantomime at the St Albans Arena. For the past few years, I paid over £100 to see the pantomimes with my family and had not come away feeling satisfied. Last night, however, my child and I were enthralled by The Little Mermaid from start to finish. I spoke to other parents who were equally as awed by this show.

We all know that Christmas is a magical time of year, everyone is more relaxed and full of good cheer. Well there are lots of things to see and do in St. Albans, so there's no excuse not to get out and enjoy a bit of stalbanslife!

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.

It's official, the Christmas lights of St Albans are switched on! Entertainment and fun started yesterday at noon.By the afternoon, the town centre was filled with hundreds of happy little faces who were all set for the countdown with Santa, Elvis Schmelvis, Sarah-Jane Honeywell and The Little Mermaid Pantomine Stars.

I love fireworks, simple as that. I can't get enough of them and the annual display at Verulamium Park is always excellent. Luck favoured the brave and the evening was still and crisp. The rain held off till later in the evening allowing for one of my favourite displays for some years.