WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK IN SURREY?
It’s a sleepy end to September as we fall into the autumnal month of October. But fear not, for we’ve still got a healthy guide to going out in Surrey this week. Plenty of comedy, a splattering of serious theatre, botanical brilliance, an evening with one’s of football’s greatest characters, as well as some, erm, apples. Hurrah. Let’s go.
WHERE THE WILDFLOWERS GROW: MY BOTANICAL JOURNEY THROUGH BRITAIN & IRELAND / SEPTEMBER 25 / WEST HORSLEY PLACE
Head for West Horsley Place this September for an evening with writer, botanist and all-around nature lover Leif Bersweden. Discussing his book, ‘Where the Wild Flowers Grow..’, join Leif as he takes you through his adventures across the British Isles and encounters with our fascinating Flora. Learn about the joy of engaging with nature and the importance of plants for our climate.
For more information, visit westhorsleyplace.org
ROBERT WHITE – THAT GAY AUTISTIC KEYBOARD TANK TOP GUY / SEPTEMBER 27 / G LIVE, BELLERBY STUDIO, GUILDFORD
Robert White, runner-up in Britain’s Got Talent 2018, is warming up ahead of a national tour. He’s the only gay, Aspergic, quarter-Welsh comic on the British comedy scene, and he’ll be arriving at G Live’s Bellerby Studio this month. Get some tickets and have a giggle.
For more information, visit glive.co.uk
FIONA ALLEN – ON THE RUN / SEPTEMBER 28 / ELECTRIC THEATRE, GUILDFORD
Double Emmy Award winner and star of ‘Smack The Pony’ Fiona Allen, is touring her debut stand-up show. Like most working mums, since her children were born, she hasn’t had a moment for herself. Now free, she has tried new hobbies, new places, and even attempting to get fit – difficult when your spirit animal is a sloth! With nowhere left to turn, she decided to go on the road as a stand-up. A show about family, marriage, and things that genuinely annoy her: it’s a show for everyone, even those passive-aggressive school mums…
For more information, visit electric.theatre
LYNCHPIN THEATRE PRESENTS: APPLES IN WINTER / SEPTEMBER 28 / MILL STUDIO, YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD
Miriam’s son committed a horrendous crime. He’s been on death row for 22 years. In seven hours, the state will execute him. As is the tradition, he is granted a last meal. He asks for his mother’s apple pie. In the powerful, award-winning play Apples in Winter, Miriam shows us how to make the perfect pie as she grapples with what happened 22 years ago. Actor Edie Campbell plays the mother in a performance that was a finalist in this year’s OFFIE Awards in a production directed by Claire Parker.
For more information, visit yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
SHOOTING HEDDA GABLER / SEPTEMBER 29 – OCTOBER 21 / ROSE THEATRE, KINGSTON
A Rose Original Production in association with The Norwegian Ibsen Company, Shooting Hedda Gabler is a radical and affectionate adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, written by Nina Segal and directed by Jeff James (Persuasion), about doing whatever is necessary to get the shot. Expect a suspense-filled night in Kingston this month.
For more information, visit rosetheatre.org
AN EVENING WITH HARRY REDKNAPP / SEPTEMBER 28 / G LIVE, GUILDFORD
Mentioned more than any other name in transfer-deadline day history (probably), former football manager extraordinaire and winner of ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, the ever-colourful character Harry Redknapp comes to Guildford for an evening of anecdotes and tales.
For more information, visit glive.co.uk
MEDITATIONS FOR MENTAL WELLNESS AND HAPPINESS / SEPTEMBER 30 / FARNHAM MALTINGS
At this event, Buddhist nun Gen Nyingpo will explain and guide beautiful Buddhist meditation methods. Through practising these meditations regularly, you will unlock the inner potential to heal your mind. This can also bring physical benefits as our mind becomes more relaxed and positive. No matter how challenging your life is, you can learn how to live well, increase your mental flexibility, and discover how to stay positive no matter what is happening.
For more information, visit farnhammaltings.com
QUEER NATURE / SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 29 / ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, KEW
This October, celebrate the diversity and beauty of plants and fungi with an inspiring new festival at Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew – Queer Nature. From the fascinating science behind plants and fungi to the connections between plants and LGBTQ+ communities, enjoy this celebratory programme of events that include talks, live music, comedy and more.
For more information, visit kew.org
JENNY ECLAIR: SIXTY PLUS (FFS!) / SEPTEMBER 30 / FARNHAM MALTINGS
Having hit 60 (but still a year younger than Madonna), Jenny Eclair, AKA ‘The Face of Vagisan’, confronts a new decade of decrepitude. Now that it takes 20 minutes of scrolling down to find her DOB when she’s filling in forms online, should she celebrate or crawl into a hole? What will her 60s hold for this 1960s babe, and is it a legal requirement to buy Nordic walking poles? Catch Jenny reveal all (not literally) at Farnham Maltings this month.
For more information, visit farnhammaltings.com
APPLE OPEN DAY / OCTOBER 1 / GATTON PARK, REIGATE
As autumn arrives, you may have noticed the odd piece of fallen fruit on the ground. Pop along to this Apple Open Day day at the scenic Gatton Park and enjoy juicing demonstrations and much more in the way of apple-themed activities.
For more information, visit gattonpark.co.uk
GUILDFORD BOOK FESTIVAL / OCTOBER 1 – 18 / VARIOUS LOCATIONS, GUILDFORD
The Guildford Book Festival is back to provide literary lovers with an array of readings and events from some of the country’s finest writers and personalities. Now in its 34th year, this year’s Festival highlights include History Day at West Horsley Place featuring Alison Weir, Tracy Borman, Simon Heffer and Martin Willams. Festival favourite and Sunday Times number one bestselling Kate Mosse will discuss her new novel, The Ghost Ship, an epic tale of courageous women struggling to survive in a man’s world, and New York Times bestselling Dan Jones returns to the Festival with his Essex Dogs sequel, Wolves of Winter. And there will also be an opportunity to hear from Judy Murray, former Scottish international tennis player and Strictly Come Dancing contestant, who comes to the Festival with her debut novel, The Wild Card.
For more information, visit guildfordbookfestival.co.uk
SIMON BRODKIN: SCREWED UP / OCTOBER 1 / YVONNE ARNAUD THEATRE, GUILDFORD
Fresh from his sold-out, critically-acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe run and becoming the most viewed British comedian of all time on TikTok, world-famous prankster and Lee Nelson creator Simon Brodkin is back with an outrageous new stand-up show. Watch him get all Screwed Up at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre this month.
For more information, visit yvonne-arnaud.co.uk
LOOKING FOR MORE THINGS TO DO IN SURREY?
CHECK OUT THESE GUIDES TO GOING OUT