The Christians, The Music of Ed Sheeran, The Animals and The George Harrison Project among the May highlights at South Mill Arts in Bishop's Stortford
South Mill Arts in Bishop's Stortford has got a packed May line-up featuring live music, family shows, an array of movies and fascinating local history events.
Family
Horrible Histories: Terrible Tudors - Sun 1 May, 11.30am (£16, concs £14, family £56)
Horrible Histories is back with the Terrible Tudors live on stage! From the horrendous Henries to evil Elizabeth, hear the legends (and the lies!) about the torturing Tudors. It's history with the nasty bits left in!
Live Music
Midweek Music: Peter Lemer/Billy Thompson Quintet - Wed 11 May, 7.30pm (£6.50)
Peter Lemer/Billy Thompson Quintet (formerly known as Que Pasa) feature internationally renowned players Peter Lemer on keys, Paul Robinson on drums, Dave O'Brien on bass , Tom Ridout on sax and brilliant violinist Billy Thompson.
Between them they have worked with acts such as Nina Simone, Grace Jones, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Ginger Baker and Mike Oldfield. The best of the genre from the best in the business.
The Animals & Friends Farewell Tour, with special guest Maggie Bell - Fri 13 May, 7.30pm (£29)
The Animals were one of the most iconic pop, rhythm and blues bands of the 1960s. They had more than 20 global top-10 hits and remain a seminal rhythm and blues band who still command great respect.
The line-up features founding member John Steel on drums and Mickey Gallagher, who replaced Alan Price on keyboards in 1965.
Shape of You: The Music of Ed Sheeran - Fri 20 May, 7.30pm (£21.50, under-16s £16.50)
Bringing the UK's favourite singer-songwriter to the stage in an outstanding new show that features the very best of Ed Sheeran.
Drawing from an awesome anthology that includes the multi-million-selling albums Divide and Multiply, as well as the groundbreaking new album Equals, Shape of You is the perfect treat for Ed Sheeran fans.
The Christians - Sat 21 May, 7.30pm (£27.50)
The Christians enjoyed huge acclaim in the late 80s and early 90s.
They are still headed by enigmatic lead singer Garry Christian – who very much deserves the Daily Mirror's description of him as having "one of the finest voices in pop" – who has only gained in vocal stature and wit over the years.
F. Cooke's Pie & Mash Spectacular - Thu 26 May, 7.45pm (single pie £20, double pie £23)
F. Cooke are the original and longest surviving family purveyors of pie and mash. Now, more than 160 years later, fifth generation Fred Cooke brings pie and mash to Bishop's Stortford, using the ingredients of the original recipe passed down through the generations.
The evening features Gertcha playing Chas & Dave's best-loved hits, plus plenty of sing-along classics in a rockney style.
The George Harrison Project - Sat 28 May, 7.30pm (£21.50)
A live music celebration of George Harrison's best-loved hits, from his Beatles songs, his solo career and the Travelling Wilburys.
All Things Must Pass, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Here Comes The Sun, Cheer Down, Taxman, Something, My Sweet Lord, Blow Away, Got My Mind Set On You and many, many more!
Cinema
Live screenings
NT Live: Henry V - Tue 3 May, 7pm (£16.50, concs £12.50)
Kit Harington plays the title role in Shakespeare's thrilling study of nationalism, war and the psychology of power. Fresh to the throne, King Henry V launches England into a bloody war with France.
Standard screenings
Julia (12A) - Thu 5 May, 2pm & 7pm (£7.50)
The story of legendary cookbook author and television superstar Julia Child who changed the way Americans think about food, television and women.
The Duke (12A) - Tue 10 May, 2pm & 7pm (£7.50)
In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60-year-old taxi driver, steals Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London.
Ali & Ava (15) - Tue 17 May, 2pm & 7pm (£7.50)
Ali and Ava meet and sparks fly. Over a lunar month, a deep connection begins to grow.
The Phantom of the Open (12A) - Tue 24 May, 2pm & Thu 26 May, 7pm (£7.50)
Maurice Flitcroft managed to gain entry to the British Open qualifying in 1976 and subsequently shot the worst round in the golf tournament's history.
True Things (15) - Tue 24 May, 7pm & Thu 26 May, 2pm (£7.50)
A young woman living on the fringes of society becomes intoxicated by a stranger who overwhelms her quiet life.
The Outfit (15) - Tue 31 May, 2pm & 7pm (£7.50)
An expert tailor must outwit a dangerous group of mobsters in order to survive a fateful night.
Museum
Storytime: Kipper's Toybox - Wed 4 May, 10am (free)
What's happening with Kipper's toys? Help count the toys as we follow the story then colour your favourite one.
Lunchtime Lecture: The History of Warwick Road - Tue 17 May, 12.30pm (free, booking essential)
Have you ever wondered about the history of the road you live in? Long-term resident John Rhodes traced the history of Warwick Road in Bishop's Stortford from its beginnings as a country lane used for driving cattle, to its key role in the development of the area as a prestigious residential settlement by Sir Walter Gilbey at the end of the 19th century.
River Walk - Sat 21 May, 11am (free, booking essential)
The quiet River Stort runs past watermills, maltings, country houses and on through the pretty countryside. Join us for this river walk and discover many fascinating historical facts along its banks.
The meeting point is the South Mill Arts main entrance.
