The Pleasure Ground Wood is always a lovely place to view a stunning carpet of snowdrops, a sure sign that spring is on the way.

This February, we will celebrate Shrewsbury as “The Origin of Independent Thinking” and birthplace of Charles Darwin – the most independent thinker of them all.

From free guided tours to brainteasing lectures and dance performances – join in the host of interactive events being staged in and around the town.

This two and a half week programme is the first of its kind and cements Shrewsbury’s rightful position as not only the birthplace of Charles Darwin but the inspiration behind his independent thinking which went on to change the story of evolution around the world.

For more information about the festival visit

https://originalshrewsbury.co.uk/darwin-shrewsbury-festival

Here’s your opportunity to see newborn lambs and even to see a live birth. From 16th Feb 2019 our huge indoor animal barn will be home to our lovely ewes waiting to have their babies
There will be lots of farmyard friends waiting to meet you too: Honey the Shetland pony, Rio and Pluto the heavy horses, and adorable rabbits and guinea pigs Don’t forget the massive indoor playbarns which ensure non stop play whatever the weather

The Harry Hooligan’s are recruiting potential tribe members at SHDC. You will be judged at the end as to whether you will be able to go forward into the Dragon Initiation Program. Make a horned hat and practice your yelling, start your own ‘Incomplete book of Dragons’ notebook with the dragons that visit Shropshire. Learn some dragonese (if you swear never to let Gobber the Belch know who you learned it from). Practice catching sheep launched from a catapult.
£4 per accompanied 4-11 year old, booking advised.

Special return fair of £9.00 and £4.00 for children

Portraiture can be a difficult subject matter to draw accurately and successfully. On this introductory workshop to charcoal portraiture, you will learn techniques, methods and process that are critical to achieve life-like portraits. You will learn the Riley method of drawing human faces, how to use measurement to increase accuracy, how tonal values can help in making charcoal portraiture more realistic and how different materials can be used to provide different effect. During the workshop their will be demonstrations as well as the opportunity to practice the techniques yourself.

Materials you will use include compressed charcoal, vine charcoal, charcoal pencil, blenders and putty erasers.

Live demonstrations and tuition will be given throughout by Bakhtiar Umataliev.

Cost £60 including parking and refreshments

Contact us to book https://www.myartshack.co.uk

Telford Repair Cafe forms part of our popular Junk to Jewel event
Confirmed repairers:
Sewing, woodwork, IT and logistical challenges.
Keep up to-date with others that join the repair cafe by liking this event:
This event is part of Junk to Jewel – tackling environmental issues we will also have a table top and flea market.

The Telford Repair Cafe is at Forge at The Wakes on the last Saturday of every month. At our January Telford Cafe we will have people who can look at helping repair fabric, wood, bikes, sharpening and that logistical problem.

If you have a skill to bring to the Telford Repair Cafe then let us know, together we can make such a difference

Snowdrops crop up all over the estate at this time of year to remind us that Spring is round the corner. Enjoy a walk through the Dingle and spot the earliest signs of Spring. Warm up in the tearoom afterwards with a light snack or tea and cake.

All Stretton Amateur Dramatic Society proudly presents Jack and the Beanstalk: A Giant of a Pantomime! Tickets from Burway Books and John Thomas Florist in Church Stretton, or online from ticketsource.co.uk
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on?q=jack%20all%20stretton

Clare Summerskill is a playwright, an actress, a singer-songwriter and a lesbian comedienne. She regularly performs her own one-woman comedy shows and tours them to theatres in England and the US.

Rights of Passage is a play by Clare Summerskill which toured to theatres nationally in 2017. Clare was in the production herself, acting alongside fellow cast members of her theatre company, Artemis. The play focused on the stories of three contributors, a gay man from Iran, a lesbian from Uganda, and a gay man from Malaysia, and tells their moving and courageous stories.

In this presentational talk Clare discusses issues which the play addresses, including the situation of LGBT rights internationally, legal criteria which allow LGBT people who are persecuted in their home country to seek asylum in other nations, and Home Office interview questioning methods which ask people to ‘prove’ that they are gay. She reads extracts from the play highlighting some of these matters, and she also presents a selection of character monologues. The presentational talk concludes with an original song which Clare sings with guitar, pertinent to the content of the play.

The presentation will be followed by discussion and a panel session.

February half term at Attingham is all about spotting the signs of spring, and brightening up the last of the winter days and evenings!

Join us on Saturday 23 February for our Lantern Lit Procession.

Bring your lantern and join us for an evening procession through the Attingham woodland at night. Keep an eye out for our snowdrops around the walk -it’s a great time of year to see them in a different light.

Arrive from 6.30pm with the procession starting at 7pm, tickets cost £4 per adult and £2 per child, and booking in advance is essential. Dogs on short leads are welcome.

If you’d like to make a lantern for the procession we’re holding four lantern making workshops over the half term, for details and to book a place visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/attingham-park/whats-on

For more information on all events taking place during February half term at Attingham visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/attingham-park/features/have-fun-this-february-half-term-

Pick up our half term planner from Visitor Reception for more ideas for exploring Attingham this February half term!

‘Dean Atta’s debut poetry collection, I Am Nobody’s Nigger, was shortlisted for the Polari First Book Prize. His poems deal with themes of race, gender, identity and growing up, and have appeared on BBC One, BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service and Channel 4. Dean was named as one of the most influential LGBT people in the UK by the Independent on Sunday. He regularly performs across the UK and internationally. His debut novel, The Black Flamingo, will be published in August 2019 by Hodder Children’s Books.

‘Dean Atta’s poetry is as honest as truth itself’ – Benjamin Zephaniah.

Dean Atta is a rare talent in contemporary poetry. His poems speak like we think. He shows us thought as those thoughts happen, that is, powered one conviction at a time by an emotional intelligence. His poems originate in a cleared in-between territory. His multi-valence approach to poetry elegantly combines the inward/personal and outward/ political. Dean Atta keeps his readers and listeners leaning forward into a troubled world that he sensuously invokes and by those terms it is a world that he makes anew’ – Fred D’Aguiar, poet, novelist and Senior Professor in Creative Writing, UCLA, USA..

All Stretton Amateur Dramatic Society proudly presents Jack and the Beanstalk: A Giant of a Pantomime! Tickets from Burway Books and John Thomas Florist in Church Stretton, or online from ticketsource.co.uk
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on?q=jack%20all%20stretton

Steve Tilston, BBC award-winning singer-songwriter

Special return fair of £9.00 and £4.00 for children

Giovanni Pernice – Dance is Life
The smash hit dance spectacular DANCE IS LIFE, directed and choreographed by Jason Gilkison, Strictly Come Dancing’s creative director, returns in 2019…..and Giovanni is ready to raise the temperature just a little bit more this time round!
The action packed production combines the Italian’s wit and charm, with outstanding music, sensational choreography, and stunning costumes by DSI.
DANCE IS LIFE features 7 other world class professional dancers, including Strictly’s newest pro, Luba Mushtuk, who returns as Giovanni’s leading lady once again, to continue their alluring partnership.
A showcase of wonderful Ballroom and Latin dances like the Paso Doble, the Waltz, the Rumba, and the Jive, to name just a few, with a beautiful Italian theme running throughout the show.
So sit back, let yourself be transported to Sicily, and enjoy the story…
***** “Giovanni brings the house down!” Review of Dance is Life 2017

duo show

Exhibition

Cervantes’s story of the bumbling knight Don Quixote has inspired countless artistic interpretations. Marius Petipa choreographed this sparkling ballet about the encounters of the man from La Mancha and his faithful squire Sancho Panza.
Don Quixote is a ballet as full of uplifting emotion as it is of astonishing ballet
technique.

Barbara Dickson is back on tour for the first time in two years with her full band singing a selection of her hits, songs from the theatre and some of her own favourites.

In her recording career, Barbara Dickson has earned 6 platinum, 11 gold and 7 silver albums. She was awarded an Olivier Award for her work in the theatre in ‘Blood Brothers’ and won a second Olivier and Best Actress in a Musical award from The Variety Club of Great Britain for her role as Viv Nicholson in ‘Spend, Spend, Spend.’ Further acting awards have included Best Actress in a Musical from the Liverpool Echo for her own show, ‘The Seven Ages of Woman’.

“Dear mum, things are a bit tough right now. But don’t worry – I’m ok. I’ll tell you about it when I get back.”

Afghanistan: 2009. Under bright blue skies, a small girl stands and watches the soldier. She smiles, just like his sister…
Ryan is there to see the world, learn a trade, get a life. Training is complete, combat is a buzz; he’s part of a team, and knows his job. But on one particular hot and desperate tour of duty, Ryan sees things he can’t talk about, to anyone. And then, when he returns home, the trouble really begins.

Created from two years of research with ex and serving soldiers, families and health professionals, A Brave Face explores Post-Traumatic Stress, an unseen and often unrecognised injury of war, and the impact it can have on even the closest of families. With compassion and fearlessness, Vamos Theatre brings its trademark, wordless, full mask style to a story that needs to be told.

A Brave Face is suitable for audiences aged 12 years and upwards, and is accessible to hearing and d/Deaf audiences alike

The Banff Mountain Film Festival features an exhilarating selection of short films that will take you to the most captivating places on earth. Through the big screen be transported to the world’s last great wild places, follow the expeditions of some of today’s most incredible adventurers, see amazing footage of adrenaline-packed action sports and be inspired by thought provoking pieces shot from the far flung corners of the globe.

Age Rating – 12A

Films start at 7.30pm. There is a bar that will be open from 7pm serving drinks.

FILM PROGRAMME – RED (27 Feb) BLUE (4 Apr)

Special return fair of £9.00 and £4.00 for children