What's on

Clare Fitzsimmons

12 May 2008

Stage/Music/Art

RSC - Currently playing at The Courtyard Theatre - The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew. 0844 800 1110. www.rsc.org.uk.

Compton Verney Art Gallery has re-opened. The work of Alberto Giacometti will be shown alongside that of James Coleman until June 1. For more call 01926 645500 or click www.comptonverney.org.uk.

The English Touring Opera bring Don Giovanni to Warwick Arts on May 13 and 17. 02476 524 524.

Ocean Colour Scene's Simon Fowler and Oscar Harrison will be at Cox's Yard on May 14. Tickets are £15 in advance on 01789 404600.

The Phoenix Players will bring a farce, See How They Run, to the Civic Hall between May 14 and 17, 7.30pm. Tickets are £6 on 01789 207100 or at www.civichall.co.uk.

Shipston Dramatic Society will bring Alan Ayckbourn's Communicating Doors to the Townsend Hall, Shipston, on May 15, 16 and 17, 7.30pm. Tickets will be available on the door or on 01608 661328.

Jools Holland his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra will be at Warwick Arts on May 17. 02476 524524.

An exhibition by landscape artist John Hammond, featuring scenes from Stratford alongside those from the likes of Monet's garden at Giverny, will run at the Montpellier Gallery in Chapel Street, Stratford, until May 25. 01789 261161. www.montpelliergallery.co.uk.

Limehouse Lizzy, a tribute to Thin Lizzy, will be at Cox's Yard on May 22. Deep Purple tribute act, A Taste of Purple, will play the following night. 01789 404600.

In2Theatre will bring variety show Hi De Ho to the Civic Hall at 3.30pm on May 30 and 7.30pm on May 31. Tickets on 01789 207100.

Paintings from the walls of Chequers will feature in a new exhibition at Compton Verney opening on June 7. Portraits from Chequers runs until the end of the year. For more call 01926 645500 or click www.comptonverney.org.uk.

The Orchestra of the Swan will bring Baroque and Beyond to the Civic Hall on June 4, 7.30pm start. Tickets on 01789 207100. More details at www.orchestraoftheswan.org

Legend, a tribute to Bob Marley, will be at Cox's Yard on June 14. www.coxsyard.co.uk.

Vital Statistics will bring Alice in Wonderland to the Waterside Theatre on July 12 and 13. Shows at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. 01789 290111.

Music/Dance
• Stratford Jazz, Sundays, 8pm at White Swan Hotel, Rother Street. Live Jazz Free. More details from 01789 297022 or www.stratfordjazz.org.uk.
• Swinging at the Swan Jazz Night, every Weds night at the Swan in Henley, 8.30pm to 11pm. Admission free. Details from 0121 4293953.
• Belly Dancing - Tuesdays at Lifeways in Albany Road from 12.45 to 2.45 and wednesdays at Stratford College in Alcester Road from 7pm to 9pm. Details from Val Rainbow on 01608 663480.
• Social Dancing - mixture of Country, Folk and Barn Dances - Tuesdays at Brailes Village Hall, 8pm - 10 pm. Details on 01608 662603.
• Tea Dances at the Civic Hall, Rother Street, 2 to 4.30pm, £2.50 on the door, incl tea and biscuits. Ballroom, latin, sequence and party dancing to CD music. Details from Alan on 01789 204989, email alaniles@supanet.com. Also Dance Nights, Civic Hall, 8pm to midnight, £7 on door. Strict tempo dancing to live dancebands. Proceeds to local charities.
• Linedance classes - intermediate line dancing tuition and dancing with fully qualified UKA instructors Maggie and Pauline - Mon 8 to 9.30pm at St Johns Ambulance Hall, Western Road, Stratford, on site parking. At same venue Weds 8 to 9.30pm easy intermediate/improvers linedance class and dancing, plus new beginners Weds 7.30pm for basic step tuition followed by new easy dances.
• Over 50s Line Dancing - Thursdays 10.30 - 11.30am and 2-3pm at St Gregory Centre, Henley Street, Stratford. Limited
free parking. Call Marian Booth (for Age Concern) on 01789 294616.
• Tai Chi and Chi Gung classes - Tues afternoons and Thurs evenings at Stratford Methodist Hall, and Fri mornings at Lifeways, Albany Road. For more information call Debbie on 07773 318830.

Outdoor/Health
• Learn meditation in Stratford. Drop-in sessions, Thurs evenings, 7.15pm for 7.30pm start, until 9pm. Quaker Meeting House, 37 Maidenhead Road, Stratford CV37 6XT. £5 (£3 concessions). For term dates and more info: www.meditation-nagarjuna.org or call 01604 686778.
• Lets Walk walking group meet regularly to enjoy usually a five mile walk, sometimes with lunch or a drink to finish. Everyone welcome as long as they enjoy a leisurely pace with time to stop and stare. For more information phone Ros on 01926 422535
• Stratford/Leamington Walking Group - Friendly, sociable crowd for people in their 20s and 30s. Full programme of weekend day walks exploring local countryside, social evenings and weekends away. We are growing fast and always welcome new members looking to widen their social circle in an informal setting. For details contact Adrian or Catherine on 01789 414471 or www.wmwg.fsnet.co.uk.
• Multiple Sclerosis Society (Stratford Branch) - yoga for people with MS and their carers. Monday afternoons, 2.30 to 3.30pm, with a specialist teacher. £3 per class. Further information from Cathy on 01789 750650.
• Springboard - self-help for people with depression. Meets on 2nd and 4th Sat of month, 4pm to 6pm in Moreton-in-Marsh. Activities include crystal therapy, yoga, healthy lifestyles, laughter workshops, visits and skittles. Details on 01608 652924 or write to Springboard, Crossing Cottage, Todenham Road, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9NJ
• Extend - over 60s keep fit every Tues, 10.30 to 11.30am in Kineton Village Hall. £1 per session.
• Walking group for over 50s - 10 to 11am, Mondays at Briars Croft, Alcester Road, Stratford, call 01789 205059.
• Keep Active, Stay Young - exercise to music by trained KFA teacher every Thurs at Tyler Street Youth Centre. Classes for over 70s at 2pm and for over 50s at 3pm.
• Warwickshire Keep Fit Association - safe and effective movement, exercise and dance classes for all ages. Summer classes in Stratford, Mondays 7.30 to 8.30pm at Parish Hall, £2.50, and Greig Hall, Alcester, Thursdays 10.30 to 11.30am, £2. Further information from Gill O'Donoghue on 01386 854830. Proceeds to Riding for the Disabled.

Clubs/Societies
• University of the Third Age – varied programme of speakers, special interest groups and outings for the over 50s. Meet last wed of the month at the Methodist Church Hall, Old Town, Stratford, at 2pm. Details 01789 266089.
• Stratford Studio Art Club, free beginner painting sessions on Tuesday afternoons, by courtesy of the Town Trust. Beginner artists are being funded to enroll in paintings sessions under professional tutelage in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. Please phone Oriel Cockram for details on 01789 267663
• Stratford Flower Club - meets 3rd Mon of month, 1.45pm in Wesley Hall, Trinity Street. Details from 01789 450315.
• The Prayer Book Society - information on branch activities ring secretary Peter Bolton 01789 840814.
• Stratford and District Caledonian Society – Scottish Country Dancing, meets Tuesdays, St Gregory’s Hall, Windsor St, 8 to 10.30pm. £2.00 per session, free parking, beginners and non-Scots welcome, phone George Renton on 01789 720787.
• Stratford Embroidery Group - meets Tuesdays, 10am. All levels of skill welcome. Contact Mavis Salmon 01789 750864.
• Spanish Circle - meets in Lounge Bar of the Falcon Hotel, Stratford, on the first Tues of month from 7.30pm, for informal chat in Spanish. Details from 01789 293313.
• Stratford Town Twinning Association - exciting programme of social events and visits to associated towns of L'Isle Adam in France and Marbach in Germany. Details from 01789 299486.
• Shipston Music Society - meets on 3rd Fri of month at the Methodist Church, Shipston, 7.30pm. New members & guests always welcome. Details from 01608 661808.
• Solo club - St John Ambulance Hall, Western Road, Stratford. Inviting single, widowed, divorced, more mature people to join us on Friday nights for dancing. Also holidays, days out etc. Details from June on 01789 552999 or Margaret on 01789 269802.
• Card making and craft club - meets at Bishopton Community Centre, Drayton Avenue, on 2nd Saturday of month, 10am to 4pm. Details from 01789 294563 or 01789 840045.
• Ettington Short Mat Bowls Club - meets every Thurs 2 to 4pm and 7.30 to 9.30pm (except 1st of month), in Ettington Village Hall. Non members £1.50. Details from 01789 740365.
• Amnesty International Stratford branch - meets 2nd Weds of month at the Friends Meeting House, 37 Maidenhead Road, at 7.30pm. All welcome. Details on 01789 293313.
• Stratford Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers - meet on March 14 at 7pm, Stratford College, room DG4. £2.50 for visitors. New website - wsd-stratford.weebly.com
• Swan Orbit - social gatherings, entertainment and activities for 28s and over, meets on Tues evenings for cinema, theatre visits, meals out, 10-pin bowling etc. For more information call 01789 205063.
• The Prayer Book Society - information on branch activities ring secretary Peter Bolton 01789 840814.
• Stratford Astronomical Society - lectures, club nights, observatory and loan telescopes. Programme from 0121 458 4197 or www.astro.org.uk.
• Avon Evening flower Club - meets second Monday of the month at 7.30pm at Methodist hall, Old Town, Stratford. For further details call 01789 263763.

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