WHAT’S ON

THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO GO

Book now to see the 60th Hertford Theatre Week

This year sees the 60th edition of Hertford Theatre Week, a six-daylong drama festival that is widely acclaimed as one of the best of its kind in the country.

Organised by Hertford Daramatic & Operatic Society (HDOS), it usually takes place at Hertford Theatre but with that venue’s refurbishment still ongoing it will instead again be held in the Ayckbourn Theatre at Haileybury College, from Monday 27th March to Saturday 1st April.

Throughout the week a different play will be performed each evening as competing drama teams offer a rich variety of entertainment whilst vying for the five different prizes offered by the festival committee. Curtain up is at 7.45pm each night, except for Saturday’s earlier 7.30pm start to allow time for the presentation of the trophies at the end of the evening.

After each performance a professional drama adjudicator will take to the stage to offer a public assessment of that night’s production – often an additional entertainment in itself!

Ticket prices are £16 per night or you can buy a weekly ticket that offers all six plays for only £49 –giving remarkable value. Tickets are available at ticketsource.co.uk (search for Hertford Dramatic and Operatic Society).

The schedule

Monday 27th March

White Cobra Productions, Northampton present The Lonesome West by Martin McDonagh.

Tuesday 28th March

HDOS present Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett adapted by Stephen Briggs.

Wednesday 29th March

Global Theatre Company, Waltham Forest present Home by David Storey.

Thursday 30th March

Barn Theatre Club, Welwyn Garden City present Constellations by Nick Payne.

Friday 31st March

The Company of Players, Hertford present Shakespeare in

Hollywood by Ken Ludwig.

Saturday 1st April Barn Theatre Club, Welwyn Garden City present Peep by Jodi Gray.

Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters previews at Bentley House HDOS’s own production of Wyrd Sisters is also being performed in the Studio Theatre at Bentley House in Pegs Lane, Hertford from Wednesday 8th to Saturday 11th March, in advance of Hertford Theatre Week. Wyrd Sisters is a Discworld play and tickets are £13 with performances at 7.45pm nightly with a Saturday matinée at 3pm. Tickets are available at ticketsource.co.uk.

Spotlight and Playhouse launch their Easter pantos

The Spotlight in Hoddesdon will put on an Easter panto for the first time this year – a new production of Red Riding Hood! Produced by the venue, and written and directed by the theatre’s manager Marc Day, the production will be the first show ever created for the venue by the Spotlight team.

Audiences can expect all the usual panto fun, including singing, dancing and audience participa- tion and the show is suitable for anyone aged from three to 103. Two teams of local children will be appearing in the show alongside a cast of five professional principal actors.

Performances take place from Wednesday 5th to Wednesday 12th April and tickets start at £15.

Book at thespotlightvenue.com or call the box office on 01992 441946.

Harlow Playhouse’s Easter panto is Goldilocks and the Three Bears, which runs from Friday 31st March to Tuesday 4th April. This spectacular panto-style show features seasoned performers and top circus and speciality acts. After the opening night (7pm) there are daytime and early evening performances each day. Book at harlowplayhouse.com or 01279 431945. Tickets are £14 and £16 with concessions available.

Ware Musical Theatre presents Oliver!

A theatre in the round production of the musical Oliver! will mark the first performances of the renamed, award-winning local company formerly known as Ware Operatic.

It will perform Lionel Bart’s famous musical in Ware Drill Hall, Amwell End from Tuesday 28th March to Saturday 1st April. To book your tickets visit waremusical theatre.org uk or call the box office on 07754 781049. Tickets cost between £17 and £21 depending upon the performance and shows are at 7.30pm each night with a 2.30pm matinée on the Saturday as well.

The theatre in the round setting sees the audience on raised seating surrounding the stage area.

Hertford Choral Society performs St Matthew Passion, the final days of Christ’s life, retold by solo voices, orchestra and chorus, on Saturday 25th March at All Saints’ Church, Hertford (SG13 8AY) at 7.30pm. Tickets £16 reserved, £12 unreserved, £4 students from ticketsource.co.uk or by email to tickets@hertfordchoral.org.uk.

Brahms: A German Requiem in Ware

Ware Choral Society presents Brahms: A German Requiem on Saturday 18th March at Christ Church, Ware (SG12 7BS) at 7.30pm. Tickets £15 (all unreserved) from warechoral.org.uk or on the door.