Get ready to have fun: Highlights of the year
WE have waved farewell to 2021 and, fingers crossed, 2022 will be a better year for all of us, with less disruption.
Here are some events that we reckon are worth marking in your diaries:
THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW
Curve, Leicester
Until January 15
Richard O’Brien’s legendary rock ’n’ roll musical returns to Curve as part of a sell-out worldwide tour, having been seen by more than 30 million theatregoers.
Tickets £10 to £45.
SPACE LATES: BACKYARD ASTRONOMY
National Space Centre, Leicester
January 14
Space Lates is an evening created for people who have an interest in astronomy, space missions and the research happening here in the UK, around the world and out in space.
This event will look at how you can get involved in astronomy, the equipment to use, what to look for and how to photograph the night sky.
There will be guest speakers, interactive workshops, planetarium shows, stargazing and live demos.
Tickets £8.
SHREK THE MUSICAL
Loughborough Town Hall
January 25 to 29
Christchurch Theatre Club will present Shrek the Musical based on the Oscar-winning film.
Tickets £20 standard.
LEICESTER COMEDY FESTIVAL
Various venues
February 2 to 20
The 2022 edition of the UK’s longestrunning and biggest comedy festival will see a return to live performances in venues, after it moved online in 2021 due to the pandemic.
This year’s festival will feature more than 560 shows and more than 800 performances in 64 venues.
The 2022 line-up will see an array of well-known comedy stars take to stages across the city, including Angela Barnes, Ahir Shah, Catherine Bohart, Ed Gamble and Henning Wehn.
The UK Kids Comedy Festival will also take place at the same time.
Tickets from free.
THE SPARK FESTIVAL
Various venues, Leicester
February 7 to 13
Run by the The Spark Arts for Children charity, this family festival will include both live and online events.
Children and families can take part in schools, libraries, homes and venues across the city. Performances will include Little Murmur, a dance piece for children aged seven-plus, and Mmm Ahh Whoosh by Mellow Baku, a musical adventure for children aged up to five.
Ticket prices vary.
SKYE AND CHASE FROM PAW PATROL
Great Central Railway, Loughborough
February 15 to 17
The heroic pups will be making personal appearances. Ticket prices include £42 for a family of five.
BILLIONAIRE BOY
Curve, Leicester
March 15 to 19
Production of David Walliams’s story about 12-year-old Joe Spud, the richest boy in the country.
Tickets £10 to £25.
LORD OF THE DANCE
De Montfort Hall, Leicester
April 15 to 17
For its 25th anniversary tour, fans can expect new staging, new costumes and choreography plus cuttingtechnology, special effects and remarkable lighting.
Tickets from £31.50 adults.
EASTER ANIMAL FUN
Great Central Railway, Loughborough
April 19 to 21
Hang out with animals including Elvis the Flemish rabbit, Tula the barn owl, Petal and Flower the skinny pigs and Tiny Tim the baby tortoise. Family prices £40.
ARTISAN CHEESE FAIR
Melton Livestock Market
April 30 to May 1
The UK’s largest cheese fair is set to return to Melton, with about 40 producers and 200 cheeses.
Tickets not yet on sale.
CAROUSEL
Kilworth House Theatre, North
Kilworth
May 24 to July 3
Musical set in 19th century New England.
Tickets from £42.
SCHOOL OF ROCK
Curve, Leicester
May 30 to June 4
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical based on the movie starring Jack Black.
Tickets £10 to £59.50.
GLASTONBUDGET MUSIC FESTIVAL
Turnpost Farm, Wymeswold
June 2 to 4
The theme will be The Best of British Weekend and The Bootleg Beatles and Mercury are confirmed for the line-up.
Tickets from £52.50.
DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL
Donington Park
June 10 to 12
The 2022 event will see Iron Maiden, Kiss and Biffy Clyro headlining.
Other acts include Korn, Deftones, Megadeth, Steel Panther, The Distillers and The Darkness.
Ticket prices vary.
SUNDAY AT THE MUSICALS
Guildhall, Leicester
June 12
Songs from popular musicals to raise money for Loros.
Among the company will be the award-winning West End leading lady Jessica Martin.
Tickets £18.
DOG FEST
Belvoir Castle
June 25 to 26
Have-a-go activities from dog diving to agility, show, displays, experts on the live stage, and a Dogs Trust’s school.
Tickets from £21.40.
TIMBER FESTIVAL
Feanedock, North West Leicestershire
July 1 to 3
Music and art that celebrates nature and re-examines our relationship with the natural world.
Acts include Penguin Cafe, Haiku Salut and poet laureate Simon Armitage.
Adult day tickets from £42.80.
NOISILY FESTIVAL
Noseley Hall
July 7 to 10
The festival “celebrates the individual, cultivates understanding in the collective, and explores what it means to be human via the mediums of music, art and healing”.
Tickets £208.09 for weekend.
BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL
Curve, Leicester
July 7 to August 14
The musical gets a new look in this Made at Curve production.
Tickets £10 to £56.
HALF A SIXPENCE
Kilworth House Theatre, North Kilworth
July 19 to August 28
A British musical comedy with show-stopping numbers.
Tickets from £42.
PALOMA FAITH
Leicestershire County Cricket Club, Leicester
July 31
The double platinum and Brit award-winning artist arrives on her UK summer tour.
Tickets from £39.50.
PIEFEST
Melton Livestock Market
August 6 to 7
The national celebration of pies returns.
Tickets not yet on sale.
110 ABOVE
Gopsall Farm, Twycross
August 11 to 14
The 12th edition of this festival will be a mix of established acts, rising stars and new acts.
The first headliners announced are Everything Everything.
Tickets from £37.80.
FIREWORKS CHAMPIONS
Belvoir Castle
August 20
Three teams compete and the audience have the chance to vote for the winner.
Tickets £23 adults.
THE LONG ROAD
Stanford Hall, Lutterworth
August 26 to 28
Celebrating country, Americana and roots music. Acts include The Cadillac Three and Grammy Awardwinning Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives.
Tickets from £45 for day ticket.
ONE NIGHT OF NEIL
Leicestershire County Cricket Club, Leicester
September 2
A collection of stars from London’s West End perform a concert celebrating the music of Neil Diamond.
Tickets from £35.
TIM PEAKE: MY JOURNEY INTO SPACE
De Montfort Hall, Leicester
September 8
The astronaut embarks on his first UK tour.
Tickets from £26.50 adults.
MAMMA MIA!
Curve, Leicester
September 13 to 24
The musical arrives in Leicester for the first time.
Tickets £10 to £59.50.
JASON MANFORD: LIKE ME
Loughborough Town Hall
September 16 to 17
Back with his latest comic offering. Tickets £31.50.
PEPPA PIG’S BEST DAY EVER
De Montfort Hall, Leicester
September 24 to 25
Peppa Pig is excited to be going on a special day out with George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig.
Tickets from £16.50 adults.
EAST MIDLANDS FOOD FESTIVAL
Melton Livestock Market
October 1 to 2
About 200 stands, a food theatre, kids zone and street food. Tickets not yet on sale.
THE WIZARD OF OZ
Curve, Leicester
November 19 to January 8
Rescheduled Reschedfrom Christmas 2020/21, The Wizard of Oz is directed by Nikolai Foster and features an orchestra playing music and songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, as well as the tunes from the classic MGM film.
Tickets £10 to £45.
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Loughborough Town Hal Hall
November 19 to January 2
A new spin on a much-loved much-lo yarn. Tickets from £17.
CINDERELLA
De Montfort Hall, Lei Leicester
December 10 to January 2
Traditiona Traditional family panto. Tick Tickets from £21.