The Guide
A SELECTION OF IDEAS TO HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF THE WEEK AHEAD IN BATH
This week you really ought to…
HEAR WILDLIFE STORIES FROM: BBC television wildlife presenter and cameraman Gordon Buchanan, who has travelled from South America, Asia, Africa and Papua New Guinea, to Russia and Alaska. ‘Animal Families and Me’ delves into his world of weird and wonderful wildlife, illustrated with his own film footage and photography. With a reputation for relishing dangerous and tough assignments, his tales of challenging expeditions are not to be missed. Theatre Royal, Friday November 9, 2pm. Tickets £23, theatreroyal.org.uk.
SEE A LIVE HANDEL OPERA PRODUCTION AT: The Theatre Royal, with a staging of ‘Radamisto’ from English Touring Opera, one of Handel’s most appreciated operas, which tells the story of a royal family in old Armenia locked in mortal conflict. It champions faithfulness and married love, but also touches on moral depravity and intolerance. The famous aria ‘Ombra cara’ stunned audiences at the time, and was sung in drawing rooms for decades after. Sung in Italian with English surtitles. Theatre Royal, Monday November 12, 7.30pm. Ticket prices vary, theatreroyal.org.uk.
CONSIDER WW1 FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE IN: ‘This Evil Thing’, a play written and performed by award-winning actor Michael Mears. In this compelling and inspiring story of the men who said no to war, Mears portrays a gallery of characters from conscientious objectors to Prime Ministers. With military conscription still in force in many countries today, the questions posed are as relevant and urgent as they were one hundred years ago. Ustinov Studio, Tuesday 13 & Wednesday November 14, 8pm. Tickets £15/£12, theatreroyal.org.uk.
SEE A FILM AND MEET THE DIRECTOR OF: ‘Voices of the Sea’, an insight into modern life in Cuba. Set in a poor Cuban fishing village, Pita is a proud fisherman and linchpin for the local community, but Mariela is frustrated by the lack of opportunities and yearns to leave. Dominated by the ever changing blues of the Caribbean, this documentary is evenhanded and sympathetic. Q&A afterwards with director Kim Hopkins & producer Margareta Szabo. Chapel Arts Centre, Thursday November 8, 6pm. Tickets £9/£7, bathboxoffice.org.uk.
ATTEND THE OPENING CONCERT OF BATH MOZARTFEST 2018 GIVEN BY: The internationally acclaimed Jerusalem Quartet performing Mozart’s String Quartet in B flat K458, nicknamed ‘The Hunt’, with which they gained a place in Gramophone magazine’s list of Top 10 Mozart Recordings. The programme also includes Debussy’s Quartet, ending with Schubert’s late Quintet, often cited as the composer’s supreme masterpiece. Assembly Rooms, Friday November 9, 8pm. Tickets £33/£12, bathboxoffice.org. uk.
SEE THE HALLÉ ORCHESTRA LIVE AT: The Forum, a Bath Mozartfest concert conducted by Sir Mark Elder, music director of the Manchester-based orchestra since 2000. The Hallé will perform orchestral extracts from Wagner’s ‘Lohengrin’ and ‘Die Meistersinger ‘as well as Beethoven’s towering ‘Emperor’ Piano Concerto with soloist Francesco Piemontesi. With pre-concert Champagne Reception in the Forum Ballroom at 6.45pm (book separately). Saturday November 10, 7.30pm. Concert tickets £38/£12, bathboxoffice.org.uk.
INDULGE IN AN EVENING OF SHORT FILMS WITH: Filmbath’s ‘Shorts Showcase’, which presents 12 varied films that brilliantly nail the essence of the short form in one way or another. Celebrate the work of these talented filmmakers, mark the end of this year’s festival with a drink, and relive the highlights of 2018. Widcombe Social Club, Sunday November 11, 8pm. Tickets £9, £7, bathboxoffice.org. uk.
SPEND AN EVENING WITH SIR RANULPH FIENNES AT: The Forum. The man named by the Guinness Book of Records as ‘the world’s greatest living explorer’. Sir Ranulph has spent his lifetime in pursuit of extreme adventure, risking life and limb in some of the most ambitious private expeditions ever undertaken. In ‘Living Dangerously’, he offers a personal journey through his life, from his early years to the present day. Wednesday November 14, 7.30pm. Tickets £32.50/£27.50, bathboxoffice.org.uk
LAUGH OUT LOUD WITH: Rory Bremner and Jan Ravens, two of Britain’s finest impressionists. Featuring personalities
from Farage to Lumley, Diane Abbott to Fiona Bruce. A unique mix of impressions and satire from the stars of Bremner, Bird and Fortune and Dead Ringers. Age 16+. Cheese & Grain, Thursday November 8, 8pm. Tickets £20/£18, cheeseandgrain. com.
HEAR A TALK BY A LOCAL SOMERSET AUTHOR AT: Bath Central Library (Exhibition Room), where Justin Newland will introduce his new novel, ‘The Genes of Isis’. The book is an epic fantasy and supernatural thriller set under Ancient Egyptian skies, and weaves together two threads: the myth of Isis and Osiris, and the story of the flood in the Book of Genesis. Saturday November 10, 11am, Free entry (no booking required).
JOIN THE CITY’S REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY COMMEMORATIONS WITH: Lone Piper ‘Battle’s Over’ Ceremony before dawn (Bath Abbey, 6am); Centenary of Armistice Eucharist Service (Bath Abbey, 10.30am); Royal British Legion Remembrance Wreath Laying Ceremony (City of Bath War Memorial, 10.45am); Royal British Legion Remembrance Parade and March Past (bottom of Milsom Street-guildhall-bath Abbey, 2pm start); Royal British Legion Remembrance Service (Bath Abbey, 3pm); ‘Last Post’ Ceremony marking the end of the WW1 Centenary (City of Bath War Memorial, 6.50pm). Full details on bathnes.gov.uk.
ATTEND A BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS LECTURE ON: Housing, Debt and the Economy - A Tale of Two Countries, given by Professor John Muellbauer from Oxford University. In this talk he argues that we don’t have to put up with a broken housing market, as other countries have demonstrated, and that fixing the UK housing market requires a holistic approach. BRLSI, Tuesday November 13, 7.30pm. Tickets £4/£2, more information on brlsi.org.
A PLAY AT THE EGG: ‘The Young King’ is the story of a naïve boy raised by goatherds, who is discovered to be heir to the kingdom. Treasures and privileges are laid at his feet, but at what cost to others? The beautiful and tender language of Oscar Wilde joins the magical world of internationally acclaimed Adelaide theatre company, Slingsby. Age 8+.
Friday 9 & Saturday November 10, 7.30pm (signed performance at 7.30pm on Friday). Tickets £9/£8, performance times vary, theatreroyal.org.uk.
A FILM AT THE FILMBATH 2018 FESTIVAL: ‘Skate Kitchen’ is a spiky youth culture drama from the USA, about a group of young women forming a feminist, shred-happy collective. Director Crystal Moselle (The Wolfpack) finds a way to let the audience in on the fascinating rituals and dynamics of teen bonding and collaborative play. Age 15+. Odeon Cinema, Friday November 9, 8.20pm. Tickets £12.50/£9, bathboxoffice.org.uk.
A MASSED CHILDREN’S CHOIR CONCERT: To commemorate 100 years since the end of WW1. ‘When The War Came’ tells the story of six young people from a small village whose lives are changed forever when the Great War comes to them. This choral piece by Jools Scott (music) and Sue Curtis (words) will be sung by 250 pupils from various primary schools participating in Bath Abbey’s Schools’ Singing Programme. Bath Abbey, Friday November 9, 7pm. Tickets £10/£8, bathboxoffice.org.uk.
THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHT AT LONGLEAT: Stunning Chinese lanterns will light up Longleat, taking visitors on a thrilling expedition around the world. Journey through time and space with brother and sister explorers Harry and Bea, and their fearless terrier companion Monty. Discover wondrous scenes filled with astonishing creatures, magnificent scenery, stunning structures and sensational modes of transportation. Selected dates from Saturday November 10 until January 6. Tickets from £31.45/£23.55, longleat.co.uk.
MIDSOMER NORTON CARNIVAL: The largest community event in the Somer Valley brings the whole community together for an evening of glittering spectacle. Carnival is also one of the largest charity fundraisers in the area. The procession starts in Charlton Road at 7.30pm and proceeds down Silver Street and Midsomer Norton High Street, finishing at Midsomer Norton Enterprise Park on Radstock Road at 10pm. Monday November 12, more information on illuminatedcarnival.co.uk.
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