THEATRE: Rough Crossing, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Mon 8 – Sat 13 Apr

EastEnders turned West End stalwart John Partridge stars in the hilariously absurd Rough Crossing, written by Tony and Academy award-winning writer of Shakespeare in Love, Tom Stoppard. The play follows two famous but desperate playwrights stuck on an ocean liner headed for New York- go see!

MUSIC: Daorí Farrell, Cambridge Junction, Tues 9 Apr

If you’re into proper Irish folk music, then you should definitely check out Daoirí (pronounced ‘Derry’). The electrician turned singer has worked with several big names on the folk scene, launched his solo career in 2016 and touring this year to promote his new album A Lifetime of Happiness. He also plays the bouzouki (don’t worry, we had to Google it too).

EXHIBITION: Oscar Murillo, Kettle’s Yard, Tues 9 Apr – Sun 23 June

That is one awesome shower curtain- only kidding! It’s actually part of a new exhibit, at the super cool central Cambridge gallery, of Columbian artist Oscar Murillo’s work. Oscar uses a variety of techniques and media including painting, performance, drawing, sculpture and sound, often using recycled materials and fragments collected from his studio. The exhibit will be accompanied by several workshops and a live performance by Oscar at the end of the month (30 Apr)- this is the artist’s first solo exhibit in the UK since his acclaimed 2013 exhibition at South London Gallery.

KIDS: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly, The Key Theatre, Peterborough, Mon 8 – Tues 9 Apr

Forget sweet little Peppa Pig, kids love a nursery rhyme with a macabre twist, the little devils! Pam Adams’ classic goes on tour to celebrate the story’s 45th anniversary.

COMEDY: Kieran Hodgson, The Key Theatre, Peterborough, Wed 10 Apr

Kieran Hodgson comes to Peterborough with 75 – one of the buzziest and best reviewed shows at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018. Following on from two consecutive Edinburgh Comedy Award nominations for Best Show for his genre-defining shows Lance and Maestro, Kieran claimed his third nomination. He was also the second performer to sell out his entire run by the end of the first week of the Edinburgh Fringe festival and then sell out 7 extra shows!

MUSIC: Heather Small, The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, Wed 10 Apr

The double BRIT Award winner (can’t think of her now without Miranda coming to mind) performs just across the border in Bury St Edmunds.

SCREENING: All About Eve, The Key Theatre, Peterborough, Thurs 11 Apr

I’m a huge fan of Gillian Anderson, and Lily James for that matter after her brilliant perforce in Mamma Mia 2, and you can catch them both at this National Theatre Live screening of All About Eve. This new production from director Ivo van Hove (Network, NT Live: A View from the Bridge) explores our fascination with celebrity, youth and identity. Plus music from double Mercury Prize-winner PJ Harvey.

THEATRE: Luca Silvestrini’s Protien: The Little Prince, Cambridge Junction, Thurs 11 Apr

Created by quirky dance/theatre group Protein’s artistic director Luca Silvestrini and using a blend of provocative original choreography, text, humour and music, this could be brilliant, but also could be absolutely bonkers. The Little Prince is retold in this live show by a pilot stranded in the desert, with asteroids, snakes, foxes and a businessman obsessively counting stars…

THEATRE: Zog, Cambridge Corn Exchange, Fri 12 – Sun 14 Apr

From the writer and illustrator team behind kid’s classic The Gruffalo (I can’t tell you how many times that’s been read in my house!) Zog is a young dragon eager to win a golden star at Madam Dragon’s school. If your kids have seen Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales and Tabby McTat, it’s a sure fire winner as it’s the same team behind the production.

EXHIBITION: Kip Gresham: The Art of Collaboration, The Heong Gallery, Downing College Cambridge, until Sun 19 May

This cool exhibit at the new(ish) modern and contemporary art gallery in central Cambs, displays over 40 years of work from master print maker and founder of The Print Studio, Kip Gresham. Pieces include prints from artistic partnerships with prevalent British and international artists including Elisabeth Frink and Paula Rego. On Wed 3 and Wed 17 Apr, curator of the show Dr Prerona Prasad is hosting free after hours tours from 6pm. The first date explores the history of Screenprinting, the second will look at originality and editioning of prints.

THEATRE: The Tin Foil Astronaut, Cambridge Junction, Sun 14 Apr

Can a rocket be powered by crisps? What’s past Pluto? Are there robots in Space? Questions that’ll all be answered at this short play for littlies 3-7 years old.

FURTHER AFIELD

EXHIBITION: Mary Quant, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, from Sat 6 Apr This is going to be awesome! The iconic 1960s fashion designer and mother of miniskirts, Mary Quant, gets her own exhibit at the V&A with over 200 garments, accessories and exclusive unseen pieces from the designer’s personal archive.

Tickets here

ART: Jeff Koons at The Ashmolean, Oxford, until Sun 9 Jun

Koons’ new print

This is well worth travelling to Oxford for (even though it’s our biggest rival!) Behemoth of the contemporary art world, Jeff Koons is curating his own exhibition in collaboration with Norman Rosenthal. Spanning Koons’ entire career and showcasing seventeen works, most of which have never been shown in the UK before, the show will include his popular series Equilibrium, Statuary, Banality, Antiquity and his recent Gazing Ball sculptures and paintings. To celebrate the Ashmolean’s exhibit, Koons has created a brand new limited edition print (oooh exclusive!), experimenting with different arty techniques, which you can buy, signed and dated, from the museum.

ashmolean.org

Warner Bros. Studios, Herts, from Sat 6 Apr

Just when you think the Harry Potter hype is finally over, Warner Bros. figure out another way to get us through the door. On Sat 6 Apr, the studios unveil their biggest expansion to date, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, full of with crystal chandeliers, original film props and, er, a gallery of goblins. The new set will be a permanent addition to the tour.

wbstudiotour.co.uk

KIDS: Legoland, Windsor

Kids rejoice! Legoland reopened last month and is launching its new ride this Easter, on Sat 13 April, called The Haunted House Monster Party. Man of the house Lord Vampyre, Mummy and Monster Rocker will also be there for photos.

Legoland is also running cool, themed holiday workshops at its brand spanking new pop-up iLab in Paddington where kids can become mini engineers for the three day workshops. The Wonders of the World camp runs Mon 8 – Wed 10 Apr whilst Planes, Trains and Automobiles runs Mon 8 – Wed 10 Apr and Mon 15 – Wed 17 Apr.

legoland.co.uk

Great Brick Safari, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, Beds, Sat 6 Apr – Sun 2 Jun

More LEGO! New for Easter, Whipsnade Zoo introduces its Brick Safari- there’ll be loads of LEGO brick beasts and animals around the mammoth zoo (it’s the biggest in the UK doncha know) made from over one million bricks, as well as hands on family activities. Included in entry price.

zsl.org

KIDS: Southbank Centre, London, Sat 6 – Mon 22 Apr

Free fun by the bucketful if you’re heading to Southbank Centre this Easter with music from Camp Bestival regulars Dizney Rascal, cool folk singer London Rhymes and comedy theatre group Mrs H and the Sing-Along Band. Paid events include giant musical sandpits, an immersive colourful performance called Kaleidoscope and the brilliant Tabby McTat (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler) Freckle Productions, the team behind Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales and Zog.

EXHIBITION: Van Gogh and Britain, Tate Britain, London, until Tues 27 Aug

This new major exhibition will be the first to explore the artist’s relationship with Britain and the literature, art and culture that inspired his work. Over 45 works by the artist from public and private collections including Starry Night on the Rhône 1888 from the Musée d’Orsay, Paris, and the rarely loaned Sunflowers 1888 from the National Gallery, London. There’ll also be work by British artist who were influenced by Van Gogh’s work including Francis Bacon ad David Bomberg.

tate.org.uk

EXHIBITION: Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, until Sun 14 July

This exhibit, the largest House of Dior collection ever staged in the UK, has been HUGE- it is sold out but there are a few first-come, first served tickets available from 10am (from the Grand Entrance) and it’s well worth trying your luck. Or you can see the exhibit by purchasing a membership for the V&A (plus you get loads of added extras like sneak previews, a magazine subscription and access to the members room). The exhibit traces the history of Christian Dior and the six artistic directors who succeeded him and is based on the major exhibition Christian Dior: Couturier du Rêve, organised by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, plus there’s a new section exploring Dior’s fascination with British culture. A highlight is the Christian Dior dress worn by Princess Margaret for her 21st birthday celebrations, on loan from the Museum of London.

vam.ac.uk

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