Omid Djalili
15 & 16 Mar, The Apex www.theapex.co.uk
After experimenting with a Zoom gig where he got muted by 639 people and a drive-in gig where Omid witnessed an audience member get out his car, attach a hose pipe to his exhaust and feed it through the window; multi award-winning comedian and actor Omid Djalili is now where he belongs – on a stage and bringing back the Good Times. Expect his usual onslaught of poignant, powerful and hysterically funny stand-up.
Private Lives
29 March-2 April, Norwich Theatre Royal www.norwichtheatre.org
Noël Coward’s gloriously entertaining Private Lives is the inaugural show from The Nigel Havers Theatre Company.
Elyot and Amanda, who were once married, find themselves on honeymoon with their new partners, in the same hotel on the French Riviera, admiring the view from adjoining balconies. Their initial horror quickly evaporates and soon they are sharing cocktails. Who knows what the future holds for them now?
The Olivier Award winning Patricia Hodge, one of the country’s most beloved actresses, plays Amanda. Nigel Havers, ever suave and thoroughly charming, plays Elyot, the role taken by Noël Coward himself in the original production in 1930.
Norfolk Makers Festival
9-20 March, The Forum, www.norfolkmakersfestival.co.uk
Get ready for 12 full days of free crafting activities, open exhibitions, demonstrations, workshops and talks. There’s something for everyone; from the curious beginner to the expert enthusiast. The Norfolk Makers Festival is a free, annual event which takes place at The Forum, Norwich and brings together tens of thousands of people in a celebration of creativity and making heritage. Visitors can engage with local crafts people, hobbyists and small businesses whose interests and expertise cover a variety of skills including embroidery, painting, knitting, printing, weaving, sketching, sewing, quilting, spinning, crochet, paper craft, cake craft, wood craft and much more. There are plenty of fringe events too, giving more people the chance to get crafty in Norwich and Norfolk.
Power of Stories
Running until 28 April, Moyse’s Hall Museum, Bury St Edmunds, www.moyseshall.org
Following its success at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich last year, the Power of Stories exhibition is set to tour museums across Suffolk throughout the year, and is currently at Moyse’s Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds. Power of Stories, which features three original costumes from Marvel Studios’ global blockbuster Black Panther, was originally produced by Christchurch Mansion and was designed to echo Black Panther’s inspirational call to millions of people around the world to think about where they came from and who they want to be. Continuing its legacy and theme, this small exhibition at Moyse’s Hall Museum includes the costumes of T’Challa (aka Black Panther), Shuri and Okoye, alongside historic museum objects, comic books, and photography. Now, thanks to Marvel Studios agreeing to extend the costume loans and the swift preparation by museums, more of the public can see the exhibition as it moves from location to location. Museums will also run related community events programmes. Entrance to Power of Stories also includes the rest of the museum.
Neck of the Woods
29 May, www.neckofthewoods.co.uk
If you haven’t already then it’s time to book your tickets for the region’s newest music festival. With acts appearing across three stages at Earlham Park, Norwich, music fans will be in for a day of incredible live music.
Headlining the Main Stage of the inaugural Neck of the Woods will be The Kooks. Over the years, The Kooks have proven themselves to be pillars of the UK indie pop world. Celebrating the 15th Anniversary of their iconic debut studio album, Inside In/Inside Out, this year the band will be reminding the Neck of the Woods’ crowd exactly why its songs are still the soundtrack to a generation.
Special guests across the Main Stage will be Sydney rock stalwarts DMA’S; a high-energy performance filled with jagged love songs from South London’s Sea Girls; a set of musically ambitious and dreamily intimate indie-pop from Dodie; plus momentous guitar pop melodies and wistful lyricism aplenty from The Lottery Winners.
If you want to boast to your friends that “I was there…” then now is the time to book your tickets before it’s too late.
Wired For Success
24 March, Trinity Park, Ipswich www.thecountywire.co.uk
East Anglian chartered accountants, Larking Gowen, is the headline sponsor for the first ‘Wired for Success’ Marketing Masterclass, hosted by The County Wire. Bringing together Suffolk entrepreneurs and business owners, eager to stay up to date with the latest trends and tech in marketing and business, explore innovative ideas and case studies, and network with their peers. The full-day event provides a series of keynote speakers, from companies including Microsoft, Larking Gowen and The Bridge Marketing, as well as a variety of bookable workshops aimed at generating valuable ideas and insights for delegates to take away and implement in their businesses.
Kate Humble
29 Mar, The Apex www.theapex.co.uk
Humble By Nature: an uplifting, inspiring, funny and emotional journey, full of warmth and passion for the natural world, with travel, adventure & animal stories throughout!
Kate Humble is a farmer, best-selling author, activist, entrepreneur and one of the UK’s best-known and loved TV presenters. She started her television career as a researcher, later presenting programmes such as Animal Park, Springwatch & Autumnwatch, Lambing Live and most recently the hit C5 series Coastal Walks and Escape to the Farm with Kate Humble.
Norwich Philharmonic Chorus
19 March, The Halls, Norwich, www.norwichphil.org.uk
The Norwich Phil’s concerts continue this month. Although the continuing pandemic means the Norwich Philharmonic Chorus is unable to sing with the orchestra, it does present an unusual opportunity for the choir to sing with a smaller group. So on 19 March the Phil Chorus realises a long-standing ambition to revive its performance of Duke Ellington’s Best of the Sacred Concerts, last given in the Norfolk & Norwich Festival in 1999. It’s a rare opportunity to hear an exciting large-scale jazz piece bringing together mixed chorus, star singers and big band, that really is not to be missed!
The music comes from three ‘Sacred Concerts’ which Duke Ellington performed in the 60s and early 70s and he described as “the most important thing I have ever done”. Pete Long and his renowned Echoes of Ellington Jazz Orchestra are coming from London to accompany the choir and the performance will also feature leading jazz and musical theatre singers Louise Marshall, Mary Carewe and Cleveland Watkiss on vocals. The narrator is the Vicar of Blakeney and former actor, Revd Richard Lawry and there is a virtuoso tap routine by a dance star of the future, Bradley Wray.
Totally Tina
5 March, Princess Theatre, Hunstanton www.thelittleboxoffice.com
Come shake a tail feather with the UK’s original, award-winning, Tina Turner tribute… aka Justine Riddoch. Supported by her super-talented band and dazzling sequined dancing girls, Justine is the ultimate Tina. Twelve years have passed since Totally Tina first sprang to life in the vibrant city of Liverpool, but a Lifetime Achievement Award and many other prestigious accolades along the way have earned Justine’s ‘Totally Tina’ a deserved top spot in the musical tribute world. She’s got the looks, she’s got the moves, she’s got the legs, but most of all, she’s got the voice.
Dom Joly’s Holiday Snaps
2 March, The Apex, www.theapex.co.uk
Dom Joly is best known as the creator of Trigger Happy TV and now the writer and broadcaster is undertaking his first UK tour since 2011, giving fans a rare opportunity to see him live.
Dom will be talking about his exploits as a serial globe-trotter and seeker of dangerous travel spots. From North Korea though the Congo and Syria to Chernobyl, he’s visited some of the most unusual places on the planet. Joly famously attended school with Osama Bin Laden and armed with a trusty powerpoint, fans can expect his holiday snaps to provide comedy and a sense of danger.
Ella Henderson
15-25 October www.ellahenderson.co.uk
Her first headline tour in seven years, spanning eight dates throughout October, the ‘Everything I Didn’t Say 2022 Tour’ will begin in Newcastle on 15 October, followed by shows in Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Oxford and Cardiff. The tour then concludes at London’s prestigious O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on 25 October.
Red Nose Day
18 March www.comicrelief.com
With msany local events planned there is plenty of opportunity to get involved. Other ways to help change lives in the UK and around the world is to check out the fantastic official Red Nose Day 2022 merchandise range; there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Some of the stand-out items are the tote bags featuring brand new exclusive drawings with a Red Nose twist by iconic illustrator Sir Quentin Blake. The bags are made from recycled plastic bottles (£4.99 with at least £1 going to Comic Relief). Sir Quentin Blake said: “I was honoured to be asked to make some drawings for this year’s special edition Red Nose Day tote bag. I find it amazing that something as small as a shopping bag can make a difference for people who are having a really tough time, and I love the thought of people across the UK purchasing one of them to help make a difference. I hope together we can raise money for some of the incredibly important issues that Comic Relief fund.”
The plastic free nose is back for a second year, and this time there are eight amazingly adventurous characters to find and collect – seven Red Noses called Chip, Dot, Dash, Flo, Lucky, Rocco, Sky and one ultra-rare nose; Cam. All the Red Noses are plant-based and made from a by-product of sugar cane, called Bagasse (£1.50 with at least 75p going to Comic Relief). Available to buy from: Sainsbury’s in store and online, Argos stores and www.argos.co.uk, and the Comic Relief Shop – www.shop.comicrelief.com. Two stylish water bottles also feature as part of this year’s offering (£8 with at least a £4 donation to Comic Relief). Must-have Red Nose Day Mugs for everyone to enjoy their favourite hot drink include slogans ‘Cup of Positivi-Tea’ and ‘Mug of Funny’ (£3.00 with at least a £1.50 donation to Comic Relief). Whether you fundraise, buy, or donate, you can help people live free from poverty, violence and discrimination. You can make a difference – because you have the power to change lives.