What’s on this week
MON 8 – SUN 14 JAN
Winter walk, National Trust Cliveden, throughout 2018
If you’ve been cooped up for days at the relis or nursing a monumental NYE hangover, pop some pills get some fresh air at Cliveden. There’s s stonking 375 acres of gardens, woodland and riverside walks to explore. Plus the hotel is on hand for a coffee or hair of the dog.
Teddy, Watermill Theatre Newbury, Thurs 11 Jan – Sat 10 Feb
Come on January can be sooooo boring. Don’t make it an entirely no-fun zone. The Watermill is hitting 2018 hard with punchy new musical Teddy. After a successful run in London, Teddy is going on tour, first stop Newbury to unleash the teen rebellion. Let the good times rock ‘n’ roll.
The Case of the Frightened Lady, Theatre Royal Windsor, Wed 10 Jan
The Theatre Royal Windsor always kicks off the new year with a theatrical whodunit – and 2018 is no exception. The Case Of The Frightened Lady is a gripping crime story by the legendary Edgar Wallace, with a solid cast of actors including flame-haired firecracker Rula Lenska.
Friday Night Wine Club, Norden Farm Maidenhead, Fri 12 Jan
If you’re laughing in the face of Dry January, then pop your cork this Friday as The Wine Inspector is putting Prosecco in the spotlight. Discover where our fave sparkling wine comes from? Whether it is different to Champagne? Where to get best value and why? Or just nod at the education stuff and enjoy your Friday night fizz.
Decluttering Your Life and Mind Workshop, Sonning Common, Wed 10 Jan
Decluttering is all the range as we struggle to contain the craziness of life (fact: my house is a total hovel). Organisation guru Messy Moo and Lucy Cavendish Counselling have teamed up to help you dust away those post Christmas blues with this unique ‘Decluttering Your Life and Mind’ workshop. Book now to see things more clearly and turbo charge your 2018! messymoolifestyle.com
My Fair Lady, Mill at Sonning, until 27 Jan
Can you Adam and Eve it, it’s not panto, it’s not a Christmas show, but it is a classic. Eliza Dolittle will be breaking into song for the musical My Fair Lady at the Mill at Sonning. If Crimbo theatre doesn’t get your jingle bell ringing, then this just might. Make a date with your mum… Wouldn’t it be Loverly?
FURTHER AFIELD…
Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella, Sadler’s Wells, London, now until Sat 27 Jan
Matthew Bourne’s productions are always stunning and this is no exception. He transposes the story of Cinderella to London during the Blitz, rebooting it as a wartime romance between our heroine and an RAF pilot. The reviews have been of the rave variety, with Lez Brotherston’s sumptuous costumes and sets winning Olivier Award.
Sadlers Wells, Rosebery Av, London EC1, sadlerswells.com
Hogwarts in the Snow, Harry Potter Studios, now – 4 Feb
Hogwarts in the Snow – as regular as Christmas! The festive makeover will see Christmas trees line the Great Hall, the Gryffindor common room dressed for the season and a blanket of filmmaking snow covering the majestic Hogwarts castle model. Visitors will even be able to touch samples of the different types of ‘snow’ used during production, each selected for its ability to float like falling snow, crunch under foot or glisten in the light like ice. Trust me, your kids will love it.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, wbstudiotour.co.uk
The BFG in Pictures, River and Rowing Museum, Henley, now – 21 Jan 2018
Curated by Quentin Blake himself, the exhibition of everyone’s favourite giant includes unpublished illustrations that have never been exhibited in public before. The exhibition includes Blake’s first designs that weren’t included in the book, and provide a glimpse of a BFG that might have been in 40 original artworks. Don’t forget there’s the permanent John Piper exhibition at the museum too – that’s well worth seeing in its own right.
