art, music & theatre
THEATRE BLITHE SPIRIT
Theatre Royal, until Sat July 6, 7.30pm (matinees Thurs & Sat), from £27
» This production of Coward’s inventive, witty comedy stars Jennifer Saunders in the role of preposterous clairvoyant Madame Arcati. Directed by Richard Eyre.
VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE
Ustinov Studio, until Sat July 6, 7.45pm (matinees Thurs & Sat), £32.50/£27.50
» Christopher Durang’s irresistible comedy won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play of the Year and is one of the most lauded Broadway plays of recent years (see pages 6&7)
GREAT EXPECTATIONS BY CHARLES DICKENS
The Mission Theatre, until Sat June 29, 7.30pm, £12.50/£10.50/£5
» Next Stage brings this gritty adaptation of Dickens’ least sentimental love story to the stage. A fast-paced, imaginatively staged production.
THE BREACH
Rondo Theatre, Fri June 28 & Sat 29, 7.30pm, £14/£10
» This new adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘Henry V’ from Apricity Theatre explores the darker side of the story through the eyes of people used and forgotten by history.
GOING POSTAL
Rondo Theatre, Wed July 3 until Sat 6, 7.30pm, £12/£10
» Moist von Lipwig is a con artist faced with a choice of certain death or getting the Ankh-morpork Postal Service back in business. Presented by Rondo Theatre Company.
SMALL ISLAND
Little Theatre Cinema, Thurs June 27, 7pm, £22/£17.50
» [SEE THE GUIDE, PREVIOUS PAGES]
GLYNDEBOURNE LIVE SCREENING: CINDERELLA
Little Theatre Cinema, Sun June 30, 5.30pm, £22/£17.50/£10
» Set to Jules Massenet’s sensuous and lavish score, this production is revived and directed by Fiona Dunn, with Danielle de Niese singing the lead role. Conducted by John Wilson.
ENO LIVE SCREENING: THE MIKADO
Little Theatre Cinema, Tues July 2, 7.30pm, £17.50/£15/£10
» Set in an English 1930s’ seaside hotel, ENO’S iconic production from Jonathan Miller is a popular hit with audiences of all ages.
EDINBURGH PREVIEW: SARA BARRON & MAX AND IVAN
Komedia, Sun June 30, 7pm, £9
» Sara was a Best Newcomer nominee at the 2018 Edinburgh Fringe; Max and Ivan are Edinburgh Comedy award winners.
MUSIC MARTIN CARTHY
Chapel Arts Centre, Thurs June 27, 8pm, £14
» One of folk music’s greatest innovators for more than 50 years, as well as one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and most quietly controversial figures.
JAZZ AT THE VAULTS: ROBERT FOWLER (SAX SOLOIST)
St James’ Wine Vaults, Thurs June 27, 8.30pm, £9/£8
» Since leaving the Pasadena Roof Orchestra Robert has worked with many bands, and has also released his own CD, ‘Front and Centre’.
SOMEWHERE OVER ENGLAND
Chapel Arts Centre, Fri June 28, 8pm, £12
» Popular in Bath in the 1980s, the band gained recognition and chart success in 1991 in Spain with their huge melodic summer epic ‘If I Ever Fail in Love’.
MAVIS STAPLES PLUS STONE FOUNDATION
The Forum, Tues July 2, 7.30pm, £27.50
» In 1956, The Staple Singers had their first smash hit ‘Uncloudy Day’ featuring the teenage Mavis on lead vocals. She has now released over a dozen solo albums.
THE DAMNED
Komedia, Fri June 28, 7.30pm, £25
» The greatest surviving British punk band are back with their first new album in a decade, ‘Evil Spirits’, still firing on all cylinders and breaking all the rules.
AFTERNOON GARDEN CONCERT: EAGLE ALLEY
Iford Manor Gardens, Sat June 29, 2pm, free for garden visitors
» A close harmony folk group from Bradford-on-avon and Bath, singing traditional English music. Join them in the casita at the top of the garden.
ST PETER’S DAY CONCERT: BATH ABBEY CHOIR OF GIRLS AND MEN
Bath Abbey, Sat June 29, 7pm, £5
» [SEE THE GUIDE, PREVIOUS PAGES]
SUMMER EVENING CHORAL CONCERTS: MELODY MAKERS
Bath Abbey, Fri June 28, 6.30pm, £10/£5
» Raising funds for the Abbey’s Footprint Project; all money raised will be doubled by the Brownsword Charitable Foundation. Directed by Shean Bowers.
ART TAKING ON HISTORY EXHIBITION
Museum of Bath Architecture, Sat June 29 until November 24, admission £6.70/£3.30 (50 per cent discount with Discovery Card)
» A celebration of the creativity of people invited to give their response to inspiring stories behind Bath Preservation Trust museums.
END OF THE LINE? THE PAST AND FUTURE OF BATH’S TRAMS
Museum of Bath at Work, until Tues July 23, admission £8/£7/£5
» In 1939 the last public tram system in Bath was closed. This exhibition comprises models, equipment and photographs from history.
EDOUARD VUILLARD EXHIBITION: THE POETRY OF THE EVERYDAY
Holburne Museum, until September 15, admission £12.50/£7 (free for under 18s)
» Vuillard was one of the leading figures in French art at the end of the 19th century; this is the most extensive UK exhibition of his work in more than 15 years.
BONKERS BUT BRILLIANT EXHIBITION
Museum of Bath at Work, until Tues October 1, entry
£8/£5
» To celebrate 50 years of the founding of the Bath Arts Workshop, the museum presents an exhibition about this groundbreaking multi-disciplinary community arts group.
LAUREN CHILD: THE ART OF ILLUSTRATION
Holburne Museum, until Sun September 8, general admission £12.50/£7 (free for under 18s)
» Step inside the joyfully eclectic world of Lauren Child, award-winning author, illustrator and Waterstones Children’s Laureate (2017-2019).
BATH SOCIETY OF ARTISTS ANNUAL OPEN EXHIBITION 2019
Victoria Art Gallery, until Sat June 29, £5 (free for under 18s & Discovery Card holders)
» This highly popular exhibition showcases the best of the region’s artistic talent and is a must for art lovers and collectors, with all works for sale.
BORDERLINES EXHIBITION
Andrew Brownsword Gallery, The Edge, until Sat July 13
» Borderlines gives form to the conceptual, geo-political, economic and cultural impacts of borders, drawing attention to the ownership of the earth and much more.
FREQUENCIES EXHIBITION
44AD, until Sun June 30
» An exhibition by recent Plymouth University photography masters graduates.
THE NATIONAL GALLERY MASTERPIECE TOUR 2019
Victoria Art Gallery, until Sun July 7
» Nicolas Poussin’s ‘The Triumph of Pan’, a much-loved work from the National Gallery’s Collection, will be displayed in three galleries outside London during 2019.
BATH AND THE BIG ISSUE EXHIBITION
Museum of Bath at Work, until Sun September 1, general admission £8/£7/£5
» This exhibition shares the day-to-day working lives of Big Issue vendors in Bath, and their personal journeys.
EXHIBITION: SUE WALES AND PHILIP EVANS
Willow House, 6 Bathwick Hill, Sat June 29 & Sun 30, 11am-6pm
» Open Studio exhibition with paintings by Sue Wales and jewellery by Philip Evans; the artist’s garden will be open, with tea and cakes available in aid of Dorothy House.
‘CHOSEN’ EXHIBITION
BRLSI, until Sat September 28, free exhibition
» Inspiring and intriguing objects from the BRLSI Collections, selected and interpreted by guest curators.
GLOVE STORIES
Fashion Museum, until March 1 2020, £9.50/£8.50/£7.25 (free with Discovery Card)
» See exquisite examples of historical gloves from the past 400 years, including embroidered gauntlet gloves from the 1600s and a costume glove from a Star Wars film.
ALL SHOOK UP: THOMAS KELLNER’S AMERICA
American Museum, until November 3, Museum entry £14.50/£8.50
» For this exhibition, the German photo artist has selected some of his favourite pieces that capture well-known landmarks in America.