MUSIC
Richmond Chamber Orchestra
March 3
Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond
The RCO consists of some of the best professional, semi-pro, and amateur musicians in the area and will give fresh, distinctive concerts in unexpected places, offering a platform to outstanding young players. They are thrilled that the distinguished violinist Philippa Mo has agreed to direct their first concert. Her recent tours have included Australia, Brazil and China, and a range of concerts in the UK. Her recitals are always Swaledale Festival highlights.
richmondchamberorchestra.co.uk
THEATRE
The Crucible
March 2-30
Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
Fear and hysteria grip a feuding community as a battle between innocence and guilt exposes the very darkest corners of human nature. When a group of young girls are discovered dancing and chanting in the forest, they are accused of witchcraft. With the threat of execution hanging over them, the girls draw the people of the town into a world of secrets, lies, and manipulation where the only goal is self-preservation.
ART
Yukihiro Akama
March 9 – June 30
YSP
Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) presents a new collection by Japanese woodcarver Yukihiro Akama. A display of 55 works, Basho no Kankaku – A Sense of Place – will be Akama’s largest exhibition. It will showcase a new collection of beautiful, intricately carved wooden houses of various sizes – from just 4cm (slightly bigger than a 50p piece) up to 106cm – alongside a series of architectural, and technical drawings and mini prints. All works will be for sale, ranging from £135 to £9,500.
THEATRE
Lines
Until March 9
Sheffield Playhouse
What connects five prisons over five decades in Uganda, Palestine, and the UK? A homeowner struggling to keep ancient land. A queer woman teaching in Kampala. The son of Idi Amin’s general. Lines looks through the bars of post-colonial life as told through stories in these diverging yet parallel worlds. Created by Junaid Sarieddeen, John Rwothomack, Fidaa Zidan, and Alexandra Aron, with additional writing by Asiimwe Deborah Kawe.
FILM
Hebden Bridge Film Festival
March 15-17
Hebden Bridge Picture House
The Hebden Bridge Film Festival team is full steam ahead with their 2024 incarnation, with over half of this year’s passes already sold. If you haven’t got your pass yet, visit Hebden Bridge Film Festival and join them in March for what is set to be their best festival yet. Just like last year, passes will give you access to all Film Festival events. The full programme is due to be announced on 1 March.
ART
Andrew Cranston
Until June 2
The Hepworth Wakefield
The Hepworth Wakefield is the first public gallery to present a solo exhibition of works by Andrew Cranston. Andrew Cranston: What made you stop here? features 38 new and recent paintings that range from large-scale canvases to intimate works painted on old linen-bound book covers, comprising subjects that include still life, landscape, seascape, portraits, and interior scenes.
EVENT
Print Fair
March 16-17
The Hepworth Wakefield
The Hepworth Wakefield’s Print Fair – the go-to place to buy and explore all things print – returns in March. The fair will take place at Tileyard North, the refurbished mill opposite the gallery, and is the perfect opportunity to support independent printmakers at all stages of their careers.
Visitors can buy work directly from over 60 emerging and established artists and collectives alongside a selection of galleries which specialise in selling prints.
COLUMN
100 years of awe
Hebden Bridge Little Theatre celebrates its centenary
Every thespian knows that ‘the show must go on’, but in 2024, Hebden Bridge Little Theatre is celebrating keeping it on for 100 years. Since being founded in 1924, the theatre has only ever suffered two brief periods of closure – the 2020/21 COVID lockdown and when building and relocating to its current 120-seater venue in Holme Street in 1992/3.
Not even the Second World War could prevent the curtain from being raised, with well over 70,000 seats being sold during the six-year conflict despite fears of air raids and gas attacks. Programmes even warned that patrons were expected to bring their gas masks to the performance.
And the same Blitz Spirit has been evident in overcoming the floods with which Hebden Bridge has unfortunately become synonymous. Although the Boxing Day Flood of 2015 covered the theatre two feet deep in foul water, the help of volunteers, the army, and the community ensured that everything was up and running again within a few weeks, and no shows had to be canceled.
Fittingly, as it was penned in 1924, the five-play Centenary schedule kicks off with Noel Coward’s Hay Fever, being staged between February 26 and March 2. Hannah Stow, President of Hebden Bridge Little Theatre and who is directing the production herself, says: “This play sees Coward at his hilarious best, and we have a highly talented and experienced cast who are already smashing it in rehearsals. I’m confident this will prove a cracking Centenary showpiece.”
Tickets for Hay Fever and other Centenary productions can be obtained online at hblt.co.uk
