Feel Good Festival at Hampton Court Palace
📅 May 16-18
Hampton Court Palace is the setting for this new wellbeing festival, which promises hands-on wellness workshops, guided practices, drop-in clinics and of course, food, drink and shopping.
Speakers include ‘joyologists’ Donna Easton and Nick Ede, chef Chris Baber discussing good mood food and tips on ‘dressing for dopamine’, as well as sound bath workshops, pilates and yin yoga sessions and crafting events.
Free with admission to the palace and for members; hrpfestivals.com/feel-good-festival.
Farnham Literary Festival
📅 March 6-16
There are more than 50 events taking place at this year’s Farnham Literary Festival which runs from March 6-16.
Headliners include David Walliams, Rev Richard Coles, Louis De Bernières and Lorraine Kelly. As well as talks from acclaimed novelists such as Kate Summerscale, Nicci French and Santa Montefiore, there will be flash fiction workshops, memoir writing sessions, local author events and open mic nights. One of this year’s highlights is a History Day at the first Cistercian monastery in Britain, Waverley Abbey with history writers Damien Lewis, Alison Weir, Nicola Tallis and Louise Morrish (March 9, 10 am-4 pm, £47).
For details, visit: farnhamliteraryfestival.co.uk, follow @farnhamlitfest
Orange Tree Theatre
Churchill in Moscow
Churchill in Moscow at the Orange Tree
📅 Until March 8 | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Read our review
Richmond’s Orange Tree Theatre has announced the launch of a new Friday Rush initiative. Each Friday at midday a limited number of tickets will be made available to book online and through the box office for the week ahead. The first Friday Rush is a chance to get tickets for the now sold-out Churchill in Moscow before it closes on March 8. Starring Roger Allam, the show has broken records and become Orange Tree’s fastest-ever selling show. Playhouse Creatures, starring Anna Chancellor, opens on March 15.
Book now at orangetreetheatre.co.uk.
Cancer Research UK’s Children’s Good as New Sale, Esher College
📅 March 29, 1.30-3.30pm
Head to Esher College this month for Cancer Research UK’s Children’s Good as New Sale. This twice yearly event rehomes thousands of pre-labelled children’s clothes, toys and equipment. Sellers get 75% of the sale prices, CRUK receives 25% of the profit. Such is the scale of the event that over 70 volunteers are needed before, after and during the sale.
If you can help, email crukgoodasnewsale@hotmail.com; crukgoodasnewsale.org.uk.
Sounds of Blossom at Kew Gardens
📅 March 15 - April 6
In collaboration with the Royal College of Music, Sounds of Blossom will bring the spectacular spring blossom at Kew Gardens to life. Students from the college have composed several new compositions, commissioned by Kew and inspired by the glory of spring, which will be played around the Gardens in Kew’s blossom hotspots.
Included with entry; kew.org.
Multiple choir events
- Princess Alice Hospice community choir marks its 10th birthday with musical theatre favourites, performed unamplified by professional singers from the West End and opera stage. March 1, 7.30 pm, All Saints Church, Market Place, Kingston; tickets £20; pah.org.uk.
- In a very special celebration of its 75 years, Kingston Choral Society will be singing Brahms Requiem & Poulenc Gloria at Cadogan Hall alongside two of the brightest stars of the British singing firmament, Sophie Bevan and Roderick Williams. March 29, 7.30-10pm, tickets £12-42; Cadogan Hall, Sloane Square; cadoganhall.com.
- Weybridge Male Choir will also be raising money for the amazing work of the Princess Alice Hospice at its spring concert, featuring special guest soloist Caitlin Downie. March 28, 7.30 pm, 15 adults, u12s free; St James’ Church, Weybridge; weybridgemvc.org.uk.
Art fair at Sandown Park, Esher
📅 March 21 - 23, 11 am-5 pm, £7.50 (£5 advance). Friday preview eve: 5-8 pm, £15 (£10 advance)
Over 100 contemporary artists will be showcasing their paintings, sculptures and photography at the Art Surrey fair at Sandown Park this month. Prices start from as little as £50, to over £3,000 so there will be something to suit every budget.
Learn more at artsurrey.co.uk.
Henri Matisse exhibition at the Lightbox, Woking
📅 Until May 11, 10.30am-5pm (Mon-Sat); 11am-4pm (Sun)
The Lightbox in Woking will host the Hayward Gallery’s impressive touring exhibition of Henri Matisse. Entitled Drawing with Scissors, the collection features the artist’s final work from 1950-1954 when he was confined to his bed. The show includes many of his iconic images, such as The Snail and the Blue Nudes.
Tickets £12.50; thelightbox.org.uk.
Animal Farm at the Yvonne Arnaud
📅 March 11-15, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat evenings 7.30 pm; Wed, Thu & Sat mat 2.30 pm
Octagon Theatre Bolton’s chilling and powerful retelling of George Orwell’s Animal Farm comes to the Yvonne Arnaud as part of a UK tour marking the 80th anniversary of the original novel. When the downtrodden animals of Manor Farm overthrow their master, one tyranny is quickly replaced with another.
Tickets: £26 (concessions, £15); yvonne-arnaud.co.uk.
Antiques at Dorking Vineyard
📅 March 9, 10am-4pm
Sunbury Antiques has teamed up with Denbies Antiques, Vintage & Collectors Fair to stage a series of events at the stunning Dorking vineyard. Spanning two indoor areas leading to a bright and spacious outdoor courtyard, there will be an array of antiques and curios. And you can sample the delights of Denbies once you’ve shopped!
Event is free; sunburyantiques.com.
Mixed Media Art Workshop at Painshill Park
📅 March 21, 10.30 am-12.30 pm
Be inspired by the beautiful landscapes of Painshill Park in Cobham in a Mixed Media Art Workshop led by Surrey art coach Louise Millington.
Tickets: £65 (£57 members); painshill.co.uk.
The Dream of Gerontius at Guildford Cathedral
📅 March 22; 6pm
Bracknell and Wokingham Choral Societies come together to perform Edward Elgar’s monumental oratorio, The Dream of Gerontius at Guildford Cathedral. The concert will feature the 180 voices of the massed choir supported by the 60-piece British Sinfonietta Orchestra and the organist Ben Giddens, together with three nationally acclaimed professional singers.
Tickets: £30; bracknellchoral.co.uk
Jake Lambert, The Sunshine Kid at Cranleigh Arts
📅 March 14, 8 pm
Instagram and TikTok star Jake Lambert brings his new comedy show, The Sunshine Kid, to Cranleigh Arts this month. His online videos have gained over 150 million views, and he will be appearing on the next series of Live at the Apollo.
Tickets: £16.50; cranleigharts.org
Richmond May Ball on Richmond Green
📅 May 9
Tickets for The Richmond May Ball are on sale now. This elegant, black-tie affair marks the start of the May Fair weekend on Richmond Green. Guests are welcomed with a champagne reception, followed by an evening of fine dining, premium wines, a cocktail bar, live music and an auction. Over the years, the event has raised more than £1million for over 20 local charities. Proceeds from this year’s event will go to two local charities – RUILS Independent Living and the Orange Tree Theatre.
Tickets £200pp; richmondmayball.com
Mother's day cruise
📅 March 30
Treat mum to a leisurely cruise along the Thames this Mothering Sunday, with a sumptuous afternoon tea served at the table whilst sailing upstream. The Chiswick Pier Trust’s popular annual event also includes commentary as you chug along the river to Teddington Lock.
Departs Chiswick Pier at 3pm. Adults £36, children U12 £30; book in advance at chiswickpier.org.uk or call 020 8742 2713.
Steve Ullathorne
Upcoming productions at the Exchange in Twickenham
📅 March 7 & March 15
The Exchange in Twickenham has two exciting theatre productions lined up to mark International Women’s Day; Black Is The Color Of My Voice (March 7), Aphia Campbell’s acclaimed play inspired by Nina Simone, and (the) Woman (March 15), award-winning writer Jane Upton’s funny and relatable play about early motherhood. There will also live music and a programme of films including Barbie and Since Yesterday, the untold story of Scotland’s girl bands.
Book now at exchangetwickenham.co.uk.
Barnes Music Fesitval
📅 March 15-30
The Barnes Music Festival returns with an all-star lineup and a theme of Music and Literature. Expect world class concerts along with less traditional events such as Come & Sing sessions, tea and ballroom dancing, a Bridgerton-themed evening, music by candlelight, and a glitzy gala evening.
Various venues; barnesmusicfestival.com
Supperclub at Richmond’s Riverhouse Restaurant
📅 March 19, 6.30pm
A thought-provoking supperclub takes place at Richmond’s Riverhouse Restaurant this month, offering guests ‘a last taste of what could be lost’. Curated by dynamic head chef Vanessa Marx, this eye-opening dining experience brings together an eclectic menu of ingredients that are predicted to be extinct or rare by 2050, whilst also highlighting regenerative and sustainable alternatives.
£80pp; binghamriverhouse.com.
