THEATRE
The Importance of Being Earnest
March 1-16
Mercury Theatre
Jack Worthing is living a double life. To escape his dull country existence, he has invented a younger brother called Ernest, whose scandalous behaviour requires Jack to travel to London regularly. Once in the city, Jack becomes Ernest. Widely regarded as one of the greatest comedies ever written, The Importance of Being Earnest zings with contemporary relevance, subversively satirising the snobbery and hypocrisy of extreme wealth and excess.
EVENT
CIRQUE: The Greatest Show
March 2
Charter Hall
Welcome to a world where the best musical theatre showstoppers meet jaw-dropping circus spectaculars. A world that explodes into kaleidoscopic colour as everyone’s favourite West End and Broadway hits combine with breath-taking circus artists performing thrilling feats of agility and flair. The biggest hits from your favourite theatre shows are brought to the stage in unique, spellbinding style in an enchanting production that is charming and astonishing in equal measure.
EVENT
Professor Brian Cox
March 27
Charter Hall
Professor Brian Cox is back in regional theatres with Horizons after setting two Guinness World Records with his previous sell-out world tour. The show has taken over 250,000 people across three continents on a dazzling journey, a story of how we came to be and what we can become. Using state-of-the-art screen technology, venues worldwide, from New Zealand to the Arctic Circle, have been filled with images of far-away galaxies, alien worlds, supermassive black holes, and the latest theories of the origin of the Universe.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Owen Harvey
Until April 7
Beecroft Art Gallery
Last Days Of Summer is an ongoing photographic documentation of Southend-on-Sea. It aims to capture the multifaceted ways people representing various age groups, backgrounds, and cultures engage with the coastal environment. As a new resident of the city, this series of images has served as a means for exploration and connection to Owen’s new home.
EVENT
TJ Higgs
March 23
Playhouse Theatre Harlow
TJ Higgs’ passion is bringing peace of mind and resolution to those grieving for their departed and allowing those in spirit to demonstrate their continued love and caring. Those attending theatre events on her latest tour come away with a new perspective and often exclaim what presence, light, and love surrounded them during their time with TJ, who is based in Essex herself.
ART
Contemporary British Prints
March 16-24
Hayletts Gallery
Hayletts Gallery in Maldon is a well-established independent art gallery selling a wonderful collection of Contemporary and Modern British and European Masters and East Anglian art. Managed by Sally Patrick for over 25 years, the gallery has continued to surprise and delight art lovers with outstanding exhibitions of well-known artists and new emerging talent. In March, they will host Contemporary and Modern British Original Prints featuring the likes of Edward Burra, Barbara Hepworth, David Hockney (work pictured not in the exhibition), John Hoyland, and Paula Rego.
COMEDY
Ed Gamble
March 14
Charter Hall
Award-winning comedian, co-host of chart-topping Off Menu podcast, and judge on BBC2’s Great British Menu, Ed Gamble, announces his brand new national stand-up tour, Hot Diggity Dog, with 53 dates available, making it his biggest tour to date. Ed has minced a load of meat (thoughts), piped it into a casing (show) and it’s coming to a bun (venue) near you. All your classic Gamble will be ranting, raving, and spluttering, but he’s mentally fine. Promise.
COLUMN
Acting out
Damian Lewis showcases his musical talents on March 10 at Palace Theatre, Southend
‘Mission Creep’ is a thoughtful collection of rootsy, rock, and jazz-tinged songs that reveal a deep love of music and a deep need to communicate. The album’s origin story begins when Damian, after leaving school, swapped the rigorous day-to-day regime that had dominated his life for 10 years for something less structured. He took to the road with his guitar and busked through continental Europe. This experience has stayed with Damian ever since and is reflected in his debut album.
Acting, of course, took over and took off. Damian kept his hand in, playing the odd wrap party as part of a scratch band, but the idea of making a record only came to him during lockdown. With the time and space away from a busy acting schedule, the star could throw himself into playing and writing songs, and the ideas started to flow. Damian was taken back to the time he played the guitar daily, but with the additional maturity and experience that an eventful life has given him.
A festival appearance at Wilderness last year led to more live shows. Packed gigs at London’s Omeara, Koko, the Tabernacle, and Hoxton Hall resulted in glowing reviews from the crowds and the critics who described Lewis as “a compelling performer apparently in his element”
