MUSICAL

Wicked, Liverpool Empire, until March 31

Warrington Guardian:

THE broomsticks have landed and now Wicked is casting its spell on Liverpool.

Gregory Maguire’s magical West End and Broadway hit features the characters of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and is at the Empire until Saturday, March 31.

Wicked is already the 15th longest running show in West End theatre history and is now in its 12th year at London’s Apollo Victoria Theatre.

Around the world, the musical has been seen by 55 million people in 16 countries and it has won more than 100 major awards.

And its spell on the theatre going public shows no signs of waning with more than 63,000 tickets already sold for the Liverpool run.

Wicked features Amy Ross as Elphaba, Helen Woolf as Glinda, Aaron Sidwell (best known as Steven Beale in EastEnders) as Fiyero, Steven Pinder (best known as Max Farnha’ in Brookside) as The Wizard and Doctor Dillamond, Kim Ismay as Madame Morrible, Emily Shaw as Nessarose and Iddon Jones as Boq.

Wicked takes you back to the early days of Oz for a story of friendship between two sorcery students.

Their adventures will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Tickets can be bought in person at the Liverpool Empire box office, online at atgtickets.com/liverpool or by calling 0844 871 3017

FAMILY

Big Spring Lego Build, Warrington Market, Saturday

Warrington Guardian:

A FREE Easter themed Lego celebration comes to Warrington Market on Saturday.

The family friendly and hands-on ‘Big Spring Lego Build’ will be held between 9am and 4pm as part of the national ‘Get Creative’ campaign.

The event, run by Academy of Fun, will include Lego building workshops, a Lego hunt and the chance to make a Lego bunny ornament to take away for free.

You can also meet Billy Blockhead and the Easter Bunny for photo ops.

MUSIC

Slydigs, Parr Hall, Warrington, Friday

Warrington Guardian:

IT will be the biggest celebration of grassroots music in Warrington in many years.

Slydigs have toured the world with The Who and will be sharing a stage with Def Leppard at Royal Albert Hall for Teenage Cancer Trust later this month.

The rock and roll four-piece have proved their worth on many occasions but tomorrow, Friday, will see them play the biggest venue in their hometown for the first time.

Their homecoming show is also their biggest headline gig and is part of a wider celebration to mark the fifth anniversary of music website and live platform, Warrington Music [WAM].

On the night Slydigs will be joined by a host of artists who are also from the Warrington area including electro funk collective The Winachi Tribe, psychedelic rockers Psyblings and fuzz pop band The Ks.

Dean Fairhurst, frontman of Slydigs said: “This gig is a milestone for us and signifies just how far we have come since starting out in Warrington many years ago.”

Visit pyramidparrhall.com or call 442345

DANCE

Brendan Cole: All Night Long, Chester Storyhouse, Saturday

Warrington Guardian:

STRICTLY Come Dancing’s Brendan Cole and his new cast have been dazzling audiences throughout the UK with his new show. 

Expect live music, special effects and, of course, sequins alongside Brendan’s own choreography and charm to make for an unforgettable night.

Brendan was born in Christchurch, New Zealand. He has danced since he was six, and moved to the UK when he was 18, where he studied the pasodoble, ballroom and ballet at Donaheys, Manchester. 

Visit storyhouse.com/event/brendan-cole

TRIBUTE

Thank Abba For The Music, The Brindley, Runcorn, Sunday

A STEP back in time as much as it is a live concert experience, Thank Abba For The Music rolls back the decades to when the Swedish popstars ruled the airwaves.

As well as all the greatest hits, costumes and Abba’s trademark harmonies, the multimedia stage show includes a seven-piece band and interactive video projection for the full experience.

Described as the ‘ultimate feel good party show’, it will feature Dancing Queen, Waterloo, Mamma Mia, Take A Chance On Me and Knowing Me Knowing You.

Visit tickets.thebrindley.org.uk

MUSICAL

The Sound of Music, Palace Theatre, Manchester, until Saturday

THE Voice finalist Lucy O’Byrne is on stage with former EastEnders actor and West End star Neil McDermott for The Sound of Music. 

The family musical tells the true story of the world-famous singing family, the Trapps, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom when Austria becomes part of the Third Reich at the start of the Second World War.

It continues its run at Manchester’s Palace Theatre until Saturday. 
Lucy, who returns to the iconic role of Maria, became a household name when she was the runner up of BBC One’s The Voice in 2015. 

With Will.i.am as her mentor Lucy made history as the first classical signer to reach the final.

Neil takes the role of Captain Von Trapp, famously played by Christopher Plummer in the much-loved film. Neil played the recurring role of Ryan Molloy in EastEnders until 2016. 

For tickets visit atgtickets.com/manchester or call 0844 871 3019

FAMILY

Adopt A Farm Animal Day, Tatton Park, Knutsford, Sunday

Warrington Guardian:

COME to Tatton Park’s farm and meet the rare breed animals which are up for adoption. 

Choose from Prancer the reindeer, Blossom the Clydesdale horse, Tamzin the Tamworth pig and Frosty the donkey.

By adopting you can contribute to the upkeep of the farm’s animals and will be kept updated about how they are getting on.

You will also be given an adoption certificate, a photograph of your chosen animal, special adopter days to meet your animal and a fact sheet about your chosen rare breed.

For more information call 01625 374400.