FILM
The Luna Cinema
Until 2 January
Town Hall, Liverpool
Need something to shake off the new year hangover? There’s just enough time to experience the magic of The Luna Cinema. Pioneers of the UK open-air cinematic experience, The Luna Cinema’s winter programme promises to encapsulate the magic of this enchanting season with over 100 screenings that are sure to provide some welcome holiday cheer.
THEATRE
Jack and the Beanstalk
5-14 January
Parr Hall
Still yearning after the Christmas spirit? Then you’ll be delighted with this panto that starts in January. Parr Hall will be celebrating the festive season in style with a giant of a panto this January. The historic venue, run by the charity Culture Warrington, has once again teamed up with Tony Peers Ltd to present family favourite Jack and the Beanstalk. With all the costumes, comedy, catchy songs and calamities these traditional pantos have become renowned for, families are invited to find out what happens when Jack gets in big trouble with his mother for selling their hapless cow for a handful of beans.
parrhall.culturewarrington.org
ART
Winter in the Window
5 January-5 February
VAC Gallery
Visual Arts Cheshire (VAC) is a Northwich based arts organisation and Community Interest company. Our aim is to promote visual arts in Northwich through a variety of initiatives and events including exhibitions and workshops. On the back of their community event in December 2023, where the public were invite to exhibit their own work, January opens with work from VAC artists and friends with a distinctly wintery feel.
EVENT
An Evening with Laurel and Hardy
18 January
Storyhouse
Join Neil Brand – composer, writer, broadcaster, musician – with his all-new show about the immortal comedy duo. Neil is acclaimed as the leading world expert on silent film and silent comedy, with his original composed music. From their earliest days on opposite sides of the Atlantic in Music Hall and on the stage, to their individual comedy films before they were paired up by Hal Roach, and on to their silent masterpieces before the arrival of sound, Neil will tell the touching story of the world’s greatest comedy team, who could not have been two more different men.
EVENT
David Suchet: Poirot and More
24 January
Crewe Lyceum Theatre
Here is a rare opportunity to spend time with one of the world’s most celebrated and fascinating actors of our time. For over 25 years David Suchet captivated millions worldwide as Agatha Christie’s elegant Belgian detective. Beyond Poirot, this Emmy award-winning actor has been celebrated for his portrayal of iconic roles such as Lady Bracknell, Cardinal Benelli and Freud. David has also graced the world’s stages bringing literary greats to life, including Shakespeare, Wilde and Albee. Meet the actor behind the detective and the many faces he’s portrayed on stage and screen over a career spanning five decades.
DANCE
Strictly Come Dancing
30-31 January
M&S Bank Arena Liverpool
The first three celebrities who will be joining 2024’s highly anticipated Strictly Come Dancing Live UK Tour have been announced: former Coronation Street actress Ellie Leach; legendary award-winning broadcaster Angela Rippon; and Bad Education and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie actor and singer Layton Williams. All three celebs will don their dancing shoes in January and take to the road dazzling arena audiences up and down the country. They will be joined by Strictly legends Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood.
Industrial era
We take a closer look at Pete Regan’s much anticipated new exhibition
An exhibition chronicling the changing face of Warrington amid the town’s fading industrial backdrop is open now until 18 February. Pete Regan’s We’re All Alone in this Together has launched at Warrington Museum and Art Gallery. The artist and photographer spent 18 months drawing inspiration from Warrington’s rich industrial heritage and, in particular, the poignant closures of iconic giants like Fiddler’s Ferry and Unilever Through an array of mediums, including striking images, immersive installations and multimedia elements, the exhibition promises a multi-sensory experience that encourages self-reflection and conversation about the town’s changing character and what it means to the community.
On the exhibition, Pete says: “A notable highlight of the exhibition is the homage paid to Warrington’s distinguished wire industry through a striking neon and wire installation. Moreover, the imminent demolition of Fiddler’s Ferry, the town’s historic coal power plant, scheduled for 3 December, serves as a poignant backdrop to the changes afoot in the town, adding depth and importance to the narrative.
“Having dedicated 18 months to this project, the work has continuously evolved, responding to the dynamic landscape shaped by the rapid advancements in technology. The exhibition serves as a testament to the ever-changing relationship between art, technology and the evolving societal perspectives.”
