Tales from Acorn Wood, The Duran Duran Experience, The Noise Next Door and The Barber of Seville among February highlights at South Mill Arts in Bishop's Stortford
Listen to pop and rock classics, enjoy belly laughs, watch big-screen dramas and go on family adventures at South Mill Arts in February.
The South Road venue has a packed line-up featuring live music, comedy, films, opera, museum talks, an arts fair and half-term shows and activities.
Family
Tales from Acorn Wood - Fri 17 Feb, 4pm & Sat 18 Feb 11am and 2pm
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's beloved Tales from Acorn Wood will be brought to life on stage in a show that promises to be the perfect treat for children of all ages.
The spectacular performance, created by the team that brought you Dear Zoo Live and Dear Santa, will feature the much-loved book series' characters in an enchanting lift-the-flap experience. It is packed with toe-tapping songs, puppetry and all your favourite friends from Acorn Wood.
Music
The Story of Guitar Heroes - Sat 11 Feb, 7.30pm
The Story of Guitar Heroes has garnered critical acclaim, both at home and abroad, for its incredible homage to some of the most influential and iconic guitarists from the past 50 years of popular music.
Expect classic hits from legends including Hank Marvin, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Brian May, Jimmy Page, Mark Knopfler, Van Halen, Slash and many more.
Midweek Music: Steve Gifford - Wed 15 Feb, 7.30pm
Relax on a Wednesday evening in the Maltings Bar while listening to the very best from the vibrant local music scene.
The Duran Duran Experience - Fri 24 Feb, 7.30pm
Hear the most professionally presented and authentic sounding Duran Duran tribute band in the UK.
The exceptional live act, which features five musicians with a wealth of experience of performing at the highest level across Europe, perform the band's biggest hits with meticulous detail of sound and presentation.
Retunesday - Tue 28 Feb, 7.30pm
Retunesdays are hosted by Retune, the Bishop's Stortford-based charity founded by Indie music writer Tom Ryder that inspires young people to improve their mental wellbeing through creative outlets such as music and the arts.
The night offers a safe and welcoming space for artists to share songs and experiences, celebrating creative expression in all its forms.
Comedy
The Noise Next Door: Hometown Heroes - Sat 4 Feb, 7.30pm
Improvised comedy group The Noise Next Door need your help to make their South Mill Arts show go with a bang.
The four-piece will take your suggestions of the best, worst and downright weirdest things about Stortford and transform them into a cavalcade of hilarious songs, scenes and characters.
Cinema
Camelot - Tue 7 Feb, 2pm
The story of the marriage of England's King Arthur to Guinevere. The plot of illegitimate Mordred to gain the throne and Guinevere's growing attachment to Sir Lancelot threaten to topple Arthur and destroy his round table of knights.
Living - Thu 9 Feb, 2pm and 7pm
This drama, set in the 1950s, sees a a staid, emotionally withdrawn local government official receive news which compels him to rethink his outlook on life.
Strange World - Wed 15 Feb, 2pm
An animated sci-fi fantasy adventure in which a family of explorers fight for the survival of their world when they travel to a mysterious realm.
ROH: The Barber of Seville - Thu 23 Feb, 7pm
From the barber's famous opening number Largo al factotum, with its cry of "Figaro! Figaro!", to Rosina's feisty aria Una voce poco fa, Gioachino Rossini's comic opera is a riotously entertaining affair.
Rafael Payare makes his Royal Opera House debut conducting an international cast that includes Andrzej Filończyk, Aigul Akhmetshina, Lawrence Brownlee and Bryn Terfel.
Museum
Spring into Spring - Wed 15 Feb to Fri 17 Feb, free drop-in 10am-2pm
Little ones can make their own jack-in-the-box with a paper spring and get to discover where else springs are used in everyday life.
Wembley Stadium talk by Dave Parker - Tue 21 Feb, 12.30pm (free, booking essential)
In 1923, the Empire Stadium opened in London. Two years later it was on the verge of demolition, only to be saved by a wily entrepreneur.
It went on to become world famous as Wembley Stadium. Its history, however, begins not in 1923, but as far back as 1855.
Visual arts
Big Makers Fair - Sat 25 Feb, 10am-5pm & Sun 26 Feb, 10am-4pm
An exhibition of art and making, covering sculpture, ceramics, textiles, jewellery, furniture and glass featuring artists from across Hertfordshire showing work in three dimensions, celebrating form, scale and texture.
Buy art direct from the artists and enjoy the visual surprise and delight of contemporary creativity.
See southmillarts.co.uk to find out more.
