Exciting new season of events revealed for Tamworth
Live musical shows, theatre performances, St George’s Day extravaganza, Tamworth in Bloom celebrations, outdoor cinema and We Love Tamworth festival – these are just some of the highlights lined up in Tamworth’s exciting new season of events.
Tamworth Borough Council’s Arts and Events team have been working hard to create a new and varied line up of shows and acts for Tamworth families and visitors to enjoy over the coming months.
This includes more Assembly Rooms on Tour, taking some of the theatre’s favourite performers out into community locations, and popular seasonal outdoor events.
The new season begins on March 19 when Tamworth Assembly Rooms continues on tour at Two Rivers School Torc Theatre for an exciting week of theatre and drama.
This popular annual Hastilow Drama Festival provides performance groups with the opportunity to enter the celebrated All England Theatre Festival by demonstrating their talent with three One Act plays being showcased each evening.
The next performance is the musical classic ‘Annie’ which will be performed at Landau Forte Academy from April 17 to April 20. Tamworth Musical Theatre Company presents this hit production set in 1933 New York during the grip of The Great Depression. The story follows a fiery young girl, Annie, who lives in an orphanage run by the strict and cruel Miss Hannigan. This production will appeal to people of all ages and is guaranteed to get audiences singing along to well-known classic songs such as ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘Hard Knock Life’.
Free activities include the popular St George’s Day extravaganza on Saturday, April 20. This annual celebration brings together a host of activities for all the family and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Don’t miss the new live-action medieval jousting team and a living history encampment featuring a host of medieval games. Other new additions to the programme are a fire-breathing dragon and children’s craft activities including The Big Sow.
Touring theatre returns on April 27, at St Francis Church, with an award-winning folk duo, Ninebarrow. This fantastic duo will perform songs that are inspired by English folk traditions and storytelling.
Quantum Theatre presents the heart-warming tale of friendship, adventure and mayhem of Kenneth Grahame’s ‘Wind in the Willows’ - for the whole family to enjoy. Bring a blanket and a picnic and head to Dosthill Park on June 16.
Prior to this year’s outdoor theatre in Dosthill Park this June, everyone is invited to a free family workshop teaching the art of willow weaving on May 18. A brand new ‘Wind in the Willows’ trail will be launched with all the favourite characters from the story brought to life, in time for the theatre performance.
Tamworth Borough Council’s programme of Summer Bandstand Concerts begins on Sunday, June 22 and will see a variety of bands, singers and clubs taking to the stage to delight audiences on weekends throughout the season.
The full 2019 line-up is as follows:
• Saturday June 22 - Tamworth Twangers Ukelele Group
• Saturday June 29 - Andy Smith with Muriel & Rik
• Saturday July 6 - Music Under the Stars (evening)
• Sunday July 7 - Tamworth Wind Band
• Tuesday July 16 - Blooming Tamworth with Amington Band
• Saturday July 20 -Tamworth Voices
• Saturday July 27 - Tamworth Musical Theatre Company
• Saturday August 3 – The Tones
• Saturday August 17 - 58s Blues Band
• Saturday August 31 – Amington Band
In addition to the annual weekend bandstand programme, two new music events have been added to this season’s line-up. Tamworth Arts and Events Team have put together an evening of Music Under the Stars, to celebrate the 130th birthday of Tamworth Assembly Rooms and its long-awaited re-opening later this year. The bandstand will be alive with toe tapping tunes once performed by iconic bands at the Assembly Rooms. Songs from The Beatles, Rolling Stones and many more, will be presented by musicians Sonic Harmony, Liam Rhodes and Daniel Hatton, as they take to the bandstand on July 6 at 7pm.
Then join Amington Band for an afternoon celebration of Tamworth in Bloom, on July 16. Sit back and take in the beautiful Castle Grounds, listening to a variety of popular and traditional brass band music.
All space boys and girls are also invited to the launch of Tamworth Library’s Summer Reading Challenge on July 13. This year celebrates the 50th anniversary of man landing on the moon with the theme ‘Space Chase’. An interactive workshop will start at 10am and 1.30pm for children aged 4 –11 years old.
The programme would not be complete without the annual Outdoor Cinema on August 10. Get your popcorn ready, sing, dance and join us in our 7th year of summer cinema in Tamworth Castle Grounds. The winning films for this year’s event, as chosen by members of the public, are Bohemian Rhapsody and Beetlejuice, so get ready for us to rock you and scare the night away.
September concludes this season’s events programme with the annual We Love Tamworth festival which will bring the Castle Grounds to life on September 14 with a host of activities for children, grown-ups and four-legged friends too! This year will see the return of the much loved dog show as well as community stalls organised by Tamworth Lions and a dedicated Children’s Zone.
Cllr John Chesworth, Cabinet member for Culture and Operational Services, said: “This is another great line up of events, with some exciting new features alongside the more popular festivities which have put Tamworth on the map in the recent years.
“Providing quality entertainment for our residents and attracting visitors to the town remains a key priority for the council and our thanks go to the Arts and Events team for organising another fantastic selection. We hope to see lots of people coming out to take part in the fun.”
Full information on the events, including ticket details, is available online at: www.tamworthartsandevents.co.uk, or call the Box Office: 01827 709618.
