THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT – ARTS, CRAFTS & CULTURE IN SURREY
Looking for some fun, fun, fun? Our monthly feature ‘That’s Entertainment’ is a chronicle of all things arts, crafts and culture taking place in Surrey (and sometimes a bit beyond). It might be fun – depends on your disposition to ‘livin’ la vida loca’.
Live music, theatre, art exhibitions, yarn festivals, burlesque – you name, we might have it. You’ll just have to read more to find out…
THE VANITY OF SMALL DIFFERENCES BY GRAYSON PERRY / JANUARY 27 – JUNE 2 / THE LIGHTBOX, WOKING
Grayson Perry’s The Vanity of Small Differences – six large-scale tapestries exploring the British fascination with social class, created by the Turner Prize-winning artist as a result of his acclaimed TV series – go on display at The Lightbox this January. The tapestries, which are part of the Arts Council Collection, are touring the country and this will be their first public display in Surrey. Inspired by the characters, incidents and objects the artist encountered during the making of his Channel 4 documentary series, All in the Best Possible Taste, the tapestries evolved from drawings and photography Perry made whilst travelling around England in search of what is – or isn’t – deemed to be ‘good taste’.
For more information, visit thelightbox.org.uk
EVERYBODY’S TALKING ABOUT JAMIE / JANUARY 29 – FEBRUARY 3 / NEW VICTORIA THEATRE, WOKING
Following a record-breaking three-year West End residency, sold-out UK & Ireland Tour and Amazon studios award-winning film, the smash-hit and critically acclaimed musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie RETURNS to New Victoria Theatre, Woking. Jamie New is sixteen and lives on a council estate in Sheffield. Jamie doesn’t quite fit in. Jamie is terrified about the future. Jamie is going to be a sensation. Sixteen: the edge of possibility. Time to make your dreams come true. Catch a modern classic in Woking this month.
For more information, visit atgtickets.com/woking
JAGUAR SKILLS’ WEDDING CRASHERS / FEBRUARY 3 / THE BOILEROOM, GUILDFORD
The only disco in town where you get one of the worlds greatest turntablists dropping a mobile disco style wedding set!A million miles from Jags usual bass heavy rumblings, you can witness Jag taking it back to the 80s and 90s, dropping huge wedding disco anthems – from Prince and Frankie Goes To Hollywood, to Pet Shop Boys, Freez, Human league, Talking Heads, New Order, Spice Girls, etc, etc in a way only Jaguar Skills can do it. Get busy and book some tickets for a serious party at Guildford’s The Boileroom.
For more information, visit theboileroom.net
WALTON FOLK: FRANKE ARCHER / FEBRUARY 4 / RIVERHOUSE BARN ARTS CENTRE, WALTON
Ready for something different? Frankie Archer’s imaginative and bold mash of electro alt-trad shows her Northumbrian fiddle roots, her deep love of electronic music and her immersion in soulful folk songs from the North East of England and around the world. Mark Radcliffe (BBC Radio 2) described her music as “fascinating and intoxicating”. Book some tickets and expect a magical evening of innovative music.
For more information, visit riverhousebarn.co.uk
PRIDE & PREJUDICE / FEBRUARY 5 – 24 / HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, GUILDFORD
In Surrey’s largest Georgian church, three actors will bring to life a cast brimming with unforgettable characters – from the dry and doting Mr Bennet, the rakish Mr Wickham, to the sycophantic Mr Collin’s and of course the unstoppable Mrs Bennet and her fervent pursuit of husbands for her daughters. Join the highly acclaimed Guildford Shakespeare this February for a classic.
For more information, visit guildford-shakespeare-company.co.uk
ALTER EGO – DRAMA FOR ADULTS / TUESDAYS / RIVERHOUSE BARN ARTS CENTRE, WALTON
Develop acting and performance skills, tap into your dramatic creativity and unleash your alter ego! Through drama games and acting exercises our fun workshop-style sessions will give you the freedom to explore the process of making drama without the pressure of being in a production. Come along for a creative workout! No experience necessary, new members can join at any stage of the term following a free taster session. Hurrah for drama!
For more information, visit riverhousebarn.co.uk
QUEER PLANET WITH BI-CURIOUS GEORGE / FEBRUARY 8 / ELECTRIC THEATRE, GUILDFORD
London drag King Bi-Curious George presents Queer Planet, a raucous drag celebration of queerness and the animal kingdom. Queer Planet is a raucous romp through the animal kingdom which aims to shatter the heteronormative binaries through which we view the natural world. Combining stand up comedy, parody songs, drag and all manner of ridiculous behaviour, George takes the audience through some of the many animals who display queer behaviour; from dolphin orgies, to hermaphroditic snails; from transgender fish to gay giraffes.
For more information, visit electric.theatre
ORDINARY PEOPLE: THE MAIDSTONE MUSICAL / FEBRUARY 9 / FARNHAM MALTINGS
Extraordinary musicals about ordinary people, exploring how all of us have a story worth telling. Led by multi-award winning composer and lyricist Darren Clark (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Ordinary People is an extraordinary musical about the ordinary people of Maidstone. Based on true stories, it’s a show that explores the extraordinary nature of our everyday lives and reveals that all of us have a story that’s worth telling which paints a vibrant and beautiful picture of one town.
For more information, visit farnhammaltings.com
HUNDRED WATT CLUB – AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE & VAUDEVILLE / FEBRUARY 9 / ELECTRIC THEATRE, GUILDFORD
Hypnotic, Chaotic, and just the right amount of Erotic – Hundred Watt Club return to The Electric Theatre with their risqué and ridiculous evening of burlesque, vaudeville, comedy and cabaret! The Lowdown: Not for the fainthearted, this show employs and embraces adult themes, strong language and partial nudity with gusto. No refunds if it’s simply ‘not to your taste’!! Over 18s Only. Glamorous, vintage attire is encouraged (they love it when you dress up!) but not enforced; wear what you’re comfy in. Show starts at 8pm and includes an interval.
For more information, visit electric.theatre
BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH / FEBRUARY 9 / ST JOHN’S CHURCH, KINGSTON
Folk singer-songwriter Benjamin Francis Leftwich brings his blissful tunes to St John’s Church in Kingston this February, playing songs from his latest record as well as some blasts from the past. A master of his craft, enjoy a night of first-class music in intimate and atmospheric environs.
For more information, visit banquetrecords.com
ABSTRACT EMBROIDERY / FEBRUARY 10 / THE LIGHTBOX, WOKING
Suitable for complete beginners, this two hour workshop with artist Zoe Bateman will give you an introduction to embroidery, whilst also encouraging you to embrace your creativity by creating your own abstract art piece. Choose from a huge range of threads, yarns, sequins, beads and embellishments to create a completely unique stitched piece of wall art.
For more information, visit thelightbox.org.uk
FRIEND (THE ONE WITH GUNTHER) / FEBRUARY 12 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD
One man, one hour, ten seasons. The entire 236 episodes of the hit 90s TV show, FRIENDS, retold through the eyes of Gunther, Central Perk’s very own ‘seventh Friend’. Settle down in Gunther’s café to hear the true insider story of what happened to Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Monica and Joey from the FRIENDS character who kept them caffeinated through all the highs, lows, love affairs and failed auditions along the way!
For more information, visit trafalgartickets.com/g-live-guildford
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS / FEBRUARY 13 – 17 / NEW VICTORIA THEATRE, WOKING
Matthew Bourne’s magical dance production of Edward Scissorhands has carved a place in the hearts of audiences world-wide since its premiere in 2005. Based on the classic Tim Burton movie and featuring the hauntingly beautiful music of Danny Elfman and Terry Davies, Bourne and his New Adventures Company return to this witty, bittersweet story of an incomplete boy left alone in a strange new world.
For more information, visit atgtickets.com/new-victoria-theatre
GARETH GATES IN THE BEST OF FRANKIE VALLI / FEBRUARY 13 / YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD
‘Oh what a night’ is in store for you this month. Gareth Gates joins cast members from the smash-hit Tony award winning musical ‘Jersey Boys’ and other hit West End shows. The Best of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons is guaranteed to leave you with a big ol’ smile on your face.
For more information, visit yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
EAST 17 / FEBRUARY 14 / ESHER THEATRE
Head for Esher Theatre for a Valentine’s Day SPECTACULAR with East 17 and special guest Steve Brookstein. East 17 have sold over 18 million albums worldwide and they have been certified with sales of 1.8 million albums and 2.4 million singles in the UK. A staple of the 90s pop scene, Their biggest hit Stay Another Day was the Christmas No 1 in 1994. They scored 12 TOP 10 hits between 1992-1998 including House fo Love and It’s Alright. In 1996 The group hit No 2 with the track if I Ever. Get some tickets quick for an intimate night with some legends.
For more information, visit eshertheatre.com
TALES AFTER DARK: VALENTINES / FEBRUARY 15 / WEST HORSLEY PLACE
West Horsley Place has had her share of romance, heartbreak and everything in between! Join West Horsley Places’s resident storyteller Olivia and chanteuse Bity for a magical evening of love. Tales After Dark is our series of intimate evening storytelling experiences for adults, each with a different theme, new tales to experience and time for a tipple.
For more information, visit westhorsleyplace.org
GUILDFORD.GAMES FESTIVAL / FEBRUARY 16 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD
Attention budding game developers, gamers, tech enthusiasts, and all-round entertainment aficionados! Brace yourselves for an electrifying extravaganza as Guildford.Games proudly presents Guildford.Games Festival 2024! Mark your calendars for the ultimate celebration of gaming prowess and innovation in Guildford.
For more information, visit guildford.games
ALISON SPITTLE / FEBRUARY 17 / MILL STUDIO, YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD
Comedian du jour Alison Spittle is simmering with jokes and probably rage, she doesn’t know what the burning sensation is…This silly goose has appeared on Off Menu, You’re Dead To Me, Guilty Feminist, The Gargle. She’s the co-host of BBC Sounds’ hugely popular Wheel of Misfortune podcast with Kerry Katona.
For more information, visit yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
DJ YODA – 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIP HOP / FEBRUARY 17 / THE BOILEROOM, GUILDFORD
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, taste maker and turntables extraordinaire DJ Yoda comes to The Boileroom in Guildford this month. A multi-award-winning hip-hop DJ and producer, headlining festivals and clubs around the world, Yoda is no typical club DJ, his interests lie in finding fresh and unique ways to bring turntables out of the club and getting involved in bespoke collaborations. Working with classical composers to neuroscientists; brass bands to film directors; Dr Dre to Dame Evelyn Glennie; Banksy to Mark Ronson; BBC Radio 4 to the BFI, he reinvigorates his craft with wry invention and humorous intent
For more information, visit theboileroom.net
FAIRPORT CONVENTION / FEBRUARY 17 / FARNHAM MALTINGS
Fairport Convention have been entertaining music lovers for over half a century, having formed in 1967. During that time the band that launched British folk-rock has seen many changes, but one thing has remained the same – Fairport’s passion for performance. Their Winter Tour will present a mix of long-established Fairport favourites and some surprises from albums old and new.
For more information, visit farnhammaltings.com
WHOLE LOTTA COMEDY CLUB / FEBRUARY 19 / ELECTRIC THEATRE, GUILDFORD
Whole Lotta Comedy presents a rip-roaring evening of laughs, featuring a smorgasbord of stand-up from some of the best comedians the UK circuit has to offer. Each month’s show will see a different line-up, with a variety of comedy ranging from traditional stand-up to musical acts, observational, and the dark and daft. Headline acts include Hal Cruttenden, and Paul McCaffrey and others to be announced from TV shows including Live At The Apollo and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Mock the Week. This months merry makers include Jessie Dixon, Dave Fulton and Paul McCaffrey.
For more information, visit electric.theatre
THE CIRCLE / FEBRUARY 20 – 24 / RICHMOND THEATRE
Will history come full circle? Or can one generation learn from their parents’ mistakes? Jane Asher (Alfie, Deep End) plays Lady Kitty, a society beauty who notoriously abandoned her stuffy husband Clive (Clive Francis, The Crown), and eloped with the handsome Lord Porteous (Nicholas Le Prevost, Shakespeare in Love, Testament of Youth). A sparky comedy of manners and more. Book your seat for some sophisticated laughs this February.
For more information, visit atgtickets.com/richmond-theatre
CERYS HAFANA / FEBRUARY 20 / THE BOILEROOM, GUILDFORD
Cerys Hafana is a composer and multi-instrumentalist who mangles, mutates, and transforms traditional music. She explores the creative possibilities and unique qualities of the triple harp, and is also interested in found sounds, archival materials and electronic processing. She comes from Machynlleth, Wales, where rivers and roads meet on the way to the sea. Expect a magical evening of contemporary Celtic music.
For more information, visit theboileroom.net
AN EVENING WITH WARD THOMAS / FEBRUARY 21 / EPSOM PLAYHOUSE
Hampshire country music duo Ward Thomas have announced an intimate, acoustic UK tour for November 2023 and February 2024, following on from the release of their fifth album ‘Music In The Madness’ earlier this year. Enjoy a night of country folk music in Epsom.
For more information, visit epsomplayhouse.co.uk
CRAWLERS / FEBRUARY 22 / PRYZM, KINGSTON
To celebrate the release of the new album ‘The Mess We Seem To Make’, Crawlers visit Kingston to play at Pryzm. The Mess We Seem To Make is the eagerly anticipated debut album from Crawlers. Digging deeper into what fans already know and love about their eclectic alt-rock sound, it builds on the relationship of trust they have with producer Pete Robinson and engineer Tom Roach at Liverpool’s Coastal Studios and takes on a whole range of challenging topics; trauma, sexual politics, mental health, the general goings on in a young person’s life.
For more information, visit banquetrecords.com
UNRAVEL… A FESTIVAL OF YARN / FEBRUARY 23 – 25 / FARNHAM MALTINGS
Held over three days, unravel festival welcomes makers and creatives of all abilities for an intimate community craft experience. Discover new makers, hand dyed yarns, local and made in the UK traders and yarn brands in a curated marketplace. Learn from the experts and advance your skills by taking part in a bookable workshop or attend a free talk from a programme of inspiring speakers.
For more information, visit farnhammaltings.com
STATE OF YOU / FEBRUARY 24 / THE FIGHTING COCKS, KINGSTON
Like your punk rock, heavy? Join local mischief makers State Of You for a night of carnage in Kingston at the ever welcoming Fighting Cocks.
For more information, visit the-fighting-cocks.co.uk
THE LORD OF THE RINGS MARATHON: EXTENDED EDITIONS / FEBRUARY 24 / NOVA CINEMA, WOKING
Experience the ultimate Middle-earth adventure with our The Lord of the Rings Marathon: Extended Editions Screening in 4K and Dolby Atmos surround sound! Through three epic films, witness breathtaking landscapes, thrilling battles, and the triumph of Frodo Baggins and his companions. Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in the magic of Tolkien’s world on the big screen in one epic marathon! Oh Lordy!
For more information, visit novacinema.com
GRAYSHOTT FOLK CLUB: ADAM BEATTIE WITH FIONA BEVAN + FRIENDS / FEBRUARY 24 / GRAYSHOTT VILLAGE HALL
fancy some folk music this February? Purveyors and curators of the very finest folk shows in the area, join Grayshott Folk Club as they present Adam Beattie with Fiona Bevan and Friends. And hey, why don’t you bring your friends and make a night of it.
For more information, visit grayshottfolkclub.co.uk
CREATIVE SKETCHBOOKS / FEBRUARY 24 / WATTS GALLERY – ARTISTS’ VILLAGE, COMPTON
Grab a sketchbook and join Watts Gallery for this relaxed class, learning tips and techniques to bring your sketchbook pages to life. Take inspiration from nature and the woodland at Watts Gallery observing natural materials such as leaves, feathers and plants, drawing and developing ideas in your sketchbook.
For more information, visit wattsgallery.org.uk
MELANIE BRACEWELL / FEBRUAY 24 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD
After taking New Zealand and Australia by storm, Melanie hits the UK shores for the first time with her critically acclaimed show ‘Forget Me Not’. A show about desperately trying to be remembered, love, and eggs. Promising to bring you her signature brand of relatable, goofy, punchline-heavy stand-up comedy, get involved and get some tuckets.
For more information, visit trafalgartickets.com/g-live-guildford
BONNIE & CLYDE / FEBRUARY 27 – MARCH 2 / YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD
Ready to raise a little hell? Two small-town kids from the middle of nowhere became the biggest folk heroes in all America. They craved adventure—and each other. Their names were Bonnie and Clyde. Winner of Best New Musical at the WhatsOnStage Awards 2023, the West End cult-sensation is set to hold-up Guildford following two hell-raising seasons in London’s West End.
For more information, visit yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
THE WORLD ACCORDING TO KALEB / FEBRUARY 28 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD
Shut the gate! Kaleb Cooper, Chipping Norton’s finest celebrity farmer and Sunday Times bestselling author, who shot to fame starring in Prime Video series, Clarkson’s Farm, has decided to conquer his fear of the unknown and embark on his first ever theatre tour. With often-unwitting humour, deadpan delivery and unique observations, Kaleb is venturing to G Live in Guildford, to tell it like he sees it!
For more information, visit trafalgartickets.com/g-live-guildford
DOM JOLY: THE CONSPIRACY TOUR / FEBRUARY 29 / FARNHAM MALTINGS
“Just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean you’re not being followed!” Dom Joly has been off travelling the globe again. This time, he’s been looking into some of the strangest and weirdest conspiracy theories in existence. In the spirt of fairness, Dom will also be inviting a well-known and highly respected conspiracy theorist, Dr Julian Northcote, to take the stage and defend the alternate view.
For more information, visit farnhammaltings.com
LINOCUT PRINT MAKING & RUBBER STAMP CARVING WORKSHOP / FEBRUARY 29 / CASS ART, KINGSTON
Discover the art of printmaking in this Linocut workshop! Participants will be guided in detail through the process of turning designs into beautiful lino prints, from sketching, to carving, and finally, printing. This hands-on workshop is beginner friendly and suitable for anyone interested in the art of printmaking.
For more information, visit cassart.co.uk
JOSH PUGH: EXISTIN’ LA VIDA LOCA / FEBRUARY 29 / CAMBERLEY THEATRE
Brand new stand-up show from Edinburgh Award nominated viral sensation Josh Pugh. Josh returns following a sell-out debut UK and Ireland Tour with a show about enjoying yourself and doing your best.
For more information, visit camberleytheatre.co.uk