What’s on where around Luton: listings, October 21 edition

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21

Adults with learning difficulties arts and craft sessions. Every Wednesday 10.30am to 12.30pm and Saturdays from 11am to 1pm at Arttrend, Arundel Road, Luton. Social and creative activity for adults with learning difficulties, engaging in all types of art and craft work such as painting in acrylics, papier mache, salt dough, cross stitch, rug making etc. Please see the website www.arttrend.co.uk and go to Art ALD, then see the gallery of work already done. Tel 07794 987796 if you would like more details. 10.30am to 12.30pm Wednesdays, 11am to 1pm Saturdays – but can come and go at any time. £6 per session including materials and refreshments.

01908 280800 and via www.stables.org.

Luton Irish Forum holds a weekly Tuesday and Wednesday Club from 11am - 1.30pm at 102 Hitchin Road, Luton LU2 0ES. This is a great chance to meet old friends and make some new ones. Refreshments are all included along with soda bread, scones with jam and monthly chicken and chips. Entry costs £1, plus optional £3 for two games of bingo and a raffle. The Wednesday Club holds a monthly tea dance, quiz, weekly dominoes, cards and needle craft. Tel: 01582 720447.

The ‘people’s favourite comedian’, Jim Davidson OBE, takes to the stage of the Grove Theatre, Dunstable, with his new show at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £22.50. The show is suitable for ages 18 and over. Call 01582 60 20 80 (opt 7) or visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk to book.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 22

Keep fit - for the more mature. Luton Irish Forum’s Keep Fit Class meets at 102 Hitchin Road, Luton LU2 0ES Thursdays from 10am to 11am. The class is ideal for anyone who wants to get active and it’s great fun too at £2 a session. Tel: 01582 720447.

Britain’s biggest Motown spectacular Magic of Motown: The Reach Out Tour returns to the Grove Theatre, Dunstable, with an all-new, all-star show. Featuring the music of the Four Tops, Supremes, Temptations, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and more. It starts at 8pm. Tickets: £26 or £23.50. Call 01582 60 20 80 (opt 7) or visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk to book.

Eastern Angles Theatre Company present their acclaimed ‘New Town Musical’ Parkway Dreams at The Hat Factory, Luton, at 7.30pm. Created by EastEnders writer, Kenny Emson, Parkway Dreams tells a poignant story of a London overspill family with a fascinating and funny insight into the development of a typical English new town, which was inspired by the city of Peterborough. The musical play aims to provide an entertaining and nostalgic picture of what 1970s and 1980s life was like. Tickets are £10 and £8 concessions and are available from www.thehatfactory.org or the box office on 01582 878100. Booking fees may apply. Suitable for ages 12 and over.

St Andrew’s Players’ production of Alan Ayckbourn’s acclaimed play Neighbourhood Watch takes to the stage at TADS Theatre, Toddington. The acutely observed comedy offers a salutary lesson in how easy it can be to start out with the best intentions, but end up in difficulties. It starts at 7.45pm. Tickets cost £8. Call 07778 241457 or visit www.standram.co.uk to book.

Luton singer, songwriter and poet Nakisha Esnard stops off at her home town during her UK tour. She will perform at Le Petit Cafe in High Town. Nakisha supported Lee Scratch Perry earlier this year in Cardiff and Grammy-award-winning artist King Hammond at the Bear Club. She has also been asked to collaborate and write with Alan Glass, another Grammy-winning songwriter. Visit www.facebook.com/kishamusic for more information.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23

Luton Irish Forum’s Baby and Toddler group meets at 102 Hitchin Road, Luton LU2 0ES every Friday from 9.30am to 11am during term time. Recommended a donation of £1 per adult and 50p per child. A drink and a healthy snack is provided for your child(ren) around the middle of the session. Tea, coffee and biscuits are available for the adults throughout the morning. Telephone 01582 720447.

Widely regarded as the first ever ‘Tribute’ show back in 1989, The Carpenters Story comes to the Grove Theatre, Dunstable. Lavish arrangements, stunning vocal harmonies and Claire Furley’s uncanny representation of Karen Carpenter combine to bring back memories of pop’s most melodic duo. It starts at 7.30pm. Tickets: £23 or £21. Call 01582 60 20 80 (opt 7) or visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk to book.

Theo Travis’ Double Talk play powerful, bluesy progressive jazz, with smoking Hammond organ, explosive guitar solos, emotional tenor sax and flute and all driven by the powerhouse drumming of Nic France. They perform at the Bear Club, Luton, with Mike Outram and Pete Whittaker. Doors open 7pm. Admission from £5 to £8.

SATURDAY OCTOBER 24

Join an authentic-sounding Beatles live concert show, The Magic of the Beatles, celebrating the golden anniversary of Help! at the Grove Theatre, Dunstable. The film, the album and hit single that propelled John, Paul, George and Ringo to worldwide stardom. It starts at 8pm. Tickets: £19.50 or £18.50. Call 01582 60 20 80 (opt 7) or visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk to book.

The Sirkis/Bialas Quartet is a collective between Israeli UK resident drummer Asaf Sirkis and Polish vocalist Sylwia Bialas. With the emphasis on band interaction and the sheer joy of playing, they celebrate music covering a wide range of influences and dynamics, from the most delicate ballad all the way to high energy electric virtuoso lines and everything in between. They play at the Bear Club, Luton. Doors open 7pm. Admission from £5 to £10.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 25

Misstasia: The Princess Tour comes to the Grove Theatre, Dunstable. Misstasia is made up of Katie, Georgie, Rosie and Enola, four best friends whose love for everything princessy brought them together to create this magical group. Just imagine four princesses with perfect voices, beautifully blended harmonies and unique versions of songs from much loved children’s movies, musicals and pop music. It starts at 2.30pm. Tickets: £13. Call 01582 60 20 80 (opt 7) or visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk to book.

MONDAY OCTOBER 26

The Music on Mondays series continues with ‘Brass Stars of the Future’, featuring Ben Goldschneider, Lucy Humphris and Chris Brewster. It takes place at 7.30pm at Luton Sixth Form College, Bradgers Hill Road. The programme includes a world première of the Luton born composer James Wilson’s Brass Trio along with some well-known brass favourites. Tickets cost £15 for adults (including seniors), registered students/unemployed/disabled £8, under 18yrs in education free. Call 01582 878100. Ample free parking indoors in the Mall car park after 6pm.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 27

Luton Irish Forum’s Irish Classes for beginners are for those who have had little or no contact with the language previously. The classes will introduce the learner to simple conversation and familiarise them with basic aspects of Irish grammar on from 6pm to 7pm at 102 Hitchin Road, Luton.

Tel: 01582 720447.

Encore screening of Henry V from the Royal Shakespeare Company, screened at the Grove Theatre, Dunstable, at 7pm. Henry IV is dead and Hal is king. With England in a state of unrest, he must leave his rebellious youth behind, striving to gain the respect of his nobility and people. Tickets cost £15. Recommended for ages 12 and above.  Call 01582 60 20 80 (opt 7) or visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk to book.

Internationally acclaimed children’s theatre company Blunderbus are bringing their new production of The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark to Luton Library Theatre. Based on the classic 1992 children’s book by Jill Tomlinson, this funny, reassuring tale about Plop, the baby barn owl and his fear of darkness has been created especially for ages three to seven, featuring live music and handcrafted puppets. It is on at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Tickets cost £8 or £6 and are available from www.lutonlibrarytheatre.com or the box office on 01582 878100. Booking fees may apply.