Your complete May 2012 Hertfordshire diary
PUBLISHED: 16:32 27 April 2012 | UPDATED: 21:19 20 February 2013
Your complete May 2012 Hertfordshire diary
Find out what's going on around the county in May 2012
THEATRE & COMEDY
1st-5th The Crowstarver, Watford Palace Theatre
3rd I, Elizabeth, Hertford Theatre
4th Great Expectations, Old Town Hall
4th-19th The Letter, the 2nd in the Croft Mysteries, The Market Theatre
5th Wasted by Kate Tempest, Trestle Arts Base
5th Johny Lever Live! Comedy, Watford Colosseum
6th Stewart Francis, comic stand-up, The Alban Arena
11th The Day I Nearly Killed the Queen Mother and other true stories, Keith Baldwin, Letchworth Arts Centre
11th-19th Jerusalem by Jez Butterworth, The Barn Theatre
12-15th Micklefield Hall, Sarratt, hosts Whisky Dusk, interactive theatre. Book online at www.specifiq.co.uk, call 020 8123 7474, or email info@specifiq.co.uk.
12th Love on the Tracks, Old Town Hall
12th Hormonal Housewives, comedy, Watford Colosseum
12th Comedy Night, with Tom Rhodes and Silky, Letchworth Arts Centre
14th-19th The 39 Steps, a tongue-in-cheek version, Queen Mother Theatre
15th-19th Blackadder Goes Forth, Old Court Theatre
16th-19th The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Stevenage Lytton Players, Gordon Craig Theatre
17th Jimeoin-Lovely! Irish/Australian comic, The Alban Arena
18th Stewart Francis, comic stand-up, Watford Colosseum
23rd-26th Cranford, adapted from the novel, Old Town Hall
24th-26th KATS present Communicating Doors, Knebworth Village Hall, 01438 814166
26th Im An Aristocrat.... Get Me Out Of Here! Old Town Hall
28th Screaming Blue Murder, comedy night, Old Town Hall
29th-31st Guilty Pleasures, Gordon Craig Theatre
30th Arabella Weir: The Real Me Is Thin, The Radlett Centre
31st The Dumb Waiter & The Lover, The Radlett Centre
ARTS & EXHIBITIONS
1st-26th Trading Faces, photographs of working people in Hertfordshire by Mark Buyan, Hertford Theatre
1st-31st Happy Animals, works by Lynne Moulding, Letchworth Arts Centre
2nd-16th Paintings by Barbara Heaton and Maureen Phipps, Letchworth Arts Centre
2nd-26th Landscapes, by Tabitha Wilson, Letchworth Arts Centre
4th-26th Horsnells Hertford, watercolours by Lionel Horsnell, Hertford Museum
6th-19th Hertford Art Society 60th Open Exhibition, Cowbridge Halls, Cowbridge, SG14 1PG
Until 13th John McCracken: IV (1985) and Neon (1989), sculptures from the 1980s, Henry Moore Institute, Perry Green, SG10 6EE
Until 14th Our Home, photographic works by Broxbourne Secondary School pupils, Broxbourne Civic Hall
22nd-June 5th St Augustines Art Club, residents display their work, Broxbourne Civic Hall
Until 30th September, Cox Mezzotints, colour printing in Bushey from the firm of H.T. Cox & Sons, Bushey Museum
30th-June 16th Exhibition of work by Peter Wagon, Marlowes Shopping Centre, Hemel Hempstead
CHILDREN & FAMILY
2nd-5th HONK! A high-energy musical of the classic tale The Ugly Duckling, Gordon Craig Theatre
4th Tiddler and Other Terrific Tales, by Scamp Theatre, Broxbourne Civic Theatre
5th The Snail and the Whale, Hertford Theatre
6th Pinocchio, Trestle Arts Base
13th The Elves and the Shoemaker, Letchworth Arts Centre
16th & 17th Science Museum Live, Broxbourne Civic Theatre
19th Old Mother Hubbard, Old Town Hall, Hemel Hemsptead
19th & 20th Science Museum Live, The Alban Arena
Until 8th July, Animal Record Breakers, Natural History Museum, Tring
WALKS & NATURE
5th Spring Time at Ashridge walk, 7-9pm, Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre
9th The Shaky Islands by Jill Carey, illustrated talk organised by Watford Local RSPB Group, 8pm, Stanborough Centre, 609, St Albans Rd, WD25 9JL. 020 8428 7478
12th Discover Ashridge Walk, 10am-1pm, Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre
18th Ghost Tour and Bat Walk, Knebworth House, Park and Gardens SG1 2AX
26th Birdlife in Spring, 6-8am, an early morning walk, meet steps Hill Car Park. 01442 851227
MUSIC & DANCE
1st-5th The Sound of Music, St Albans Light Operatic Society, The Alban Arena
2nd The Purcell School Choir & Orchestra perform Haydn: Creation (part one) and Rutter: Magnificat, St Albans Cathedral. 01727 890256
1st-5th Summer Holiday, stage version of the hit film, Wyllyotts Theatre
2nd-5th Patience by Gilbert and Sullivan, Queen Mother Theatre
3rd & 10th Old Town Music Hall, singing and supper, in aid of Isabel Hospice, Thalian Hall, Welwyn Garden City. 01707 382500
4th The Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular, Rhodes Arts Complex
4th Wihan String Quartet, works by Wolf, Schubert and Dvorak, Peter Morrison Hall, Benslow Music, SG4 9RB
4th SoulSisters Acoustic Show, with Donna Mackay, Andrea Wilde & Hayley Marcus, The White Hart, Baldock SG7 6AL
5th Songs of Sin & Subversion with Joglaresa, Old Town Hall
5th Toyah, Rhodes Arts Complex
5th Swan Lake, The Radlett Centre
6th The Rat Pack is Back, The Radlett Centre
7th Little Red Riding Hood/Three Little Pigs, Ballet Cymru, Gordon Craig Theatre
8th The Tempest, Ballet Cymru, Gordon Craig Theatre
9th & 10th Musical Extravaganza on ice, Gordon Craig Theatre
9th-12th Half a Sixpence, Broxbourne Civic Hall
10th Jools Holland in Concert, The Alban Arena
10th Sing-a-long-a-Grease, Wyllyotts Theatre
11th Miles Hunt of The Wonder Stuff plus guests, Old Court Theatre,
11th Talon, perform the best of the Eagles, Wyllyotts Theatre
11th Desert Crossings, contemporary African dance, Watford Palace Theatre
11th Georgie Fame, jazz and rhythm & blues, Hertford Theatre
11th & 12th Alice, a ballet based on Lewis Carrolls books, by Northwood Ballet School, Watersmeet
11th Tres Divos, singing in the style of Il Divo, Andrea Bocelli and the Three Tenors, Rhodes Arts Complex
11th Grainne Duffy, Old Town Hall
12th Showtime! Charity variety show for Isabel Hospice, Hawthorne Theatre, Campus West, Welwyn Garden City AL8 6BX
12th T.Rextasy, tribute band, Rhodes Arts Complex
12th Rock n Roll Paradise, Gordon Craig Theatre
13th Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers, Watford Colosseum
14th-19th Gypsy, the 1920s tale of Gypsy Rose Lee, Watford Palace Theatre
15th A Right Royal Knees-Up, 1940s to the present day, Broxbourne Civic Hall
16th An Appointment with the Waterboys, Alban Arena
17th All Our Yesterdays, celebrating music of the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, Wyllyotts Theatre, Potters Bar
18th The MOD All Star Band, Sounds of the 60s, Northern Soul, The Who and the Small Faces, Alban Arena
18th The London Flute and Guitar Duo, Claire Overbury and Simon Davies, Letchworth Arts Centre
19th Live Acoustic Music, Rob Clydesdale, free entry plus wine and nibbles, Hertford Museum
19th The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, English Philharmonia and chorus, Watford Collossum
20th Dutch Swing College Band, celebrates 67 years, The Radlett Centre
20th The Searchers, Gordon Craig Theatre
20th Swan Lake, Vienna Festival Ballet, Wyllyotts Theatre
21st Alfie Boe, West End, Broadway and recording star, Watford Colosseum
23rd Jazz Dance, Gordon Craig Theatre
23rd Lunchtime Organ Recital with Andrew Lucas, Master of Music, St Albans Cathedral, 12.30pm
24th Gerry Cross The Mersea, Gordon Craig Theatre
25th Thatll Be the Day, popular rock n roll variety show, The Alban Arena
25th Garfunkel & Simon The Reflection tribute act, The Radlett Centre
26th Dictionary of Soul, Roy G Hemmings of The Drifters, The Radlett Centre
26th Mari Wilson, jazz/cabaret, Hertford Theatre
26th Michael Winslow, the man of 10,000 voices, The Alban Arena
26th Hooked on Classics Live, English Pops Orchestra, Watford Colosseum
26th One Night of Elvis, tribute artist Lee Memphis King, Gordon Craig Theatre
27th Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen, with The Jive Aces, Broxbourne Civic Hall
27th Jazz Night with Jazzin Around, Letchworth Arts Centre
27th Tring Chamber Music presents Clarinet Riches, The Church of St John the Baptist, Aldbury. 01442 822732
29th Doric String Quartet Concert, works by Haydn, Chausson, and Beethoven, Peter Morrison Hall, Benslow Music SG4 9RB
30th Ladyboys of Bangkok, costumed carnival parade with lively beats, Wyllyotts Theatre
31st Acker Bilk & his Paramount Jazz Band, Wyllyotts Theatre
31st & 1st June, Annie, The Alban Arena
OPEN GARDENS
5th Patchwork, -acre garden with year-round colour and interest, 2- 5pm, Patchwork, 22 Hall Park Gate, Berkhamsted HP4 2NJ
13th St Pauls Walden Bury, enjoying its 85th anniversary, features include a formal woodland garden, 2-7pm, St Pauls Walden Bury, Hitchin SG4 8BP
13th 9 Tannsfield Drive, small town garden, 2-5.30pm, Hemel Hempstead HP2 5LG
13th 19 Lancaster Road, unusual trees and shrubs plus richly-planted herbaceous borders, 2-5.30pm, St Albans
AL1 4EP
13th Open Garden and stalls in aid of Isabel Hospice, 2-5pm, Great Munden House, Nr Ware, SG11 1HU
18th Mackerye End House, set in 15 acres of formal gardens, parkland and woodland, west garden enclosed by pergola walk of old English roses, 6-9pm, Harpenden AL5 5DR
20th Keys Heath, 18 acres of wildlife meadow with coppice and walnut plantation, 11am-5pm, Rosehill, Hitchin
20th & 21st Bromley Hall Open Gardens, in aid of St Elizabeths Centre, 2-5.30pm(20th) 11-5pm (21st), Bromley Hall, Standon SG11 1NY
20th Thundridge Hill House, well-established 2 acre garden, 2-5.30pm, Ware, SG12 OUE
27th Gade Valley Cottages, 165ft x 30ft with woodland area, Great Gaddesden, HP1 3BW
27th Far End Barn, south-facing family garden, SG13 7NS
27th Datchworth village gardens, scarecrow and flowerpot festival, noon-5pm, Datchworth SG3 6ST
27th Jenningsbury, 3 acres of wildflower meadow designed by Julie Toll, moat, ponds and borders created to attract wildlife, 2-5.30pm, Hertford Heath SG13 7NS
27th Thymus Open Day, national plant collection of Thymus and plantsmans garden, 2-5pm, 23 Wroxham Way, Harpenden AL5 4PP
Full listings at www.ngs.org.uk
SPECIAL EVENTS
5th & 6th Abseil for charity, 100 feet from the top of Church Langley Water Tower, in aid of Isabel Hospice. 01279 73421
8th Coffee Morning for Isabel Hospice, 10.30am-noon, Markwell Pavilion, Bishops Stortford
10th-13th Living Crafts, 10am-5pm Hatfield House AL9 5NQ
13th Ashwell at Home, the village opens its gardens and doors, noon-6pm
13th St Albans Charity Cycle Ride, choice of 10, 20, 30 or 40 miles, starting Oaklands College, Hatfield Road, St Albans AL4 0JA. 01727 852260
18th-19th St Elizabeths celebrates National Epilepsy week and opens its doors to the public, Much Hadham,
SG10 6EW
19th Spring Clean Letchworth, annual pick-up. 07722 044622
19th & 20th Rickmansworth Festival, 11am-10.30pm Saturday, 11am-5.30pm Sunday, Rickmansworth Aquadrome, WD3 1JD
19th & 20th Icknield Quilters Quiltathon, in aid of the Lister Kidney Foundation, Studio 39, High Street, Baldock
20th On Your Bike, sponsored cycle ride in aid of Isabel Hospice, starting and finishing at the Bishops Stortford Rugby Club. 01707 382500
20th Sponsored Walk, join comedian John Mann on a 5, 10 or 15 mile walk around Bishops Stortford in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. 0300 1000 200
29th Anniversary Gala Dinner, Rotary Club of Hertford for 30th Anniversary of Isabel Hospice. 01992 553811
GENERAL INTEREST
3rd Anthony Peake signs his new book The Labyrinth of Time, 7.30pm, Davids Bookshop, Letchworth
4th & 5th Hertfordshire Garden Show, Knebworth House. 01438 812661
5th May Fair, craft and charity stalls plus entertainment, 11am-3pm, High Street, Hoddesdon
5th The Little Fox Market, 10am- 3pm, The Fox & Hounds, Rickmansworth
5th Centenary Celebrations, Bushey, 2-5pm, King George Recreation Ground
6th Gothic in the Nave, a tour of St Albans Cathedral, 3pm
6th Barkway Antiques and Vintage Fair, Barkway Village Hall, SG8 8BS
7th May Day Celebrations at Hanbury Manor, Ware. 01920 487722
7th Watford Celebration, stalls from ethnic, faith and charitable groups, Watford Colosseum
8th Voula Grand signs her debut novel Honors Shadow, and The Psychology Book, 7.30pm, Davids Bookshop, Letchworth
11th Behind the Scenes, talk, lunch and tour, Broxbourne Civic Theatre
12th Callis Crafts, Craft and Gift Fair, 10am- 4pm, Barnet Library,
12th Celebrate Vaisakhi, celebrate the Punjabi harvest festival and Sikh New Year, Watford Palace
13th Antiques and Collectors Fair, 10am, Wyllyotts Theatre
13th Plant Fair, Ashridge Estate Visitor Centre. 01442 851227
13th Easy Gardening Talk by Keith Hichisson, Langford Nursery, Letchworth
15th Christopher Winn signs his new book I Never Knew That About Royal Britain, 7.30pm, Davids Bookshop, Letchworth
15th Harpenden Horticultural Society presents David Ebbells speaking on East Africa, 8pm, Roundwood Park School, Harpenden
16th & 19th Tower Tours, St Albans Cathedral, May 16: 11am & 12.30pm; May 19: 10am, 11.30am, 1pm & 2.30pm
17th Wine Tasting, 7pm, Hoops Inn, Perry Green. 020 7520 5444
18th Tony Stockwell, medium, Wyllyotts Theatre
19th What Did The Revolution Do For Russian Music? A talk by Geoffrey Norris, 2pm, Peter Morrison Hall, Benslow Music SG4 9RB
20th Shiatsu Introductory Day, Guide Hall, Hertford
22nd Snooker Legends, Stephen Hendry, Jimmy White, John Virgo, The Radlett Centre
23rd Derek Acorah, The Radlett Centre
25th T.J. Higgs, medium, Gordon Craig Theatre
25th-27th Spring Woodfest, beer festival, live music, Morris dancing, The Woodman, Chapmore End
25th British Tomato Week, tasting and demonstration, Hoops Inn, Perry Green. 020 7520 5444
31st Jimmy Greaves at 70, Rhodes Arts Complex
USEFUL CONTACTS
Abbey Theatre, St Albans 01727 857861; Alban Arena, St Albans 01727 844488; Ashridge Estate, Berkhamsted 01441 851227; Barn Theatre, Welwyn Garden City 01707 357117; British Schools Museum, Hitchin 01462 420144; Broxbourne Civic Hall 01992 441946; Bushey Museum 020 8420 4057; Court Theatre, Pendley, Tring 01442 823130; First Garden City Heritage Museum, Letchworth, 01462 482710; Frogmore Paper Mill, 01442 234600; Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage 01438 363200; Harpenden Public Halls 01582 767525; Hatfield House 01707 287010; Hertford Museum 01992 582686; Hertford Theatre 01992 531500; Hitchin Museum and Art Gallery 01462 434476; Hopleys, Much Hadham 01279 842509; Knebworth House and Gardens 01438 812661; Letchworth Arts Centre 01462 670788; Market Theatre, Hitchin 01462 433553; Natural History Museum, Tring 020 7942 6171; Old Town Hall, Hemel Hempstead 01442 228091; Queen Mother Theatre, Hitchin 01462 434875; Radlett Centre 01923 859291; Rhodes Arts Complex, Bishops Stortford 01279 651746; Sandpit Theatre, St Albans 01727 370067; Shenley Park 01923 852629; St Albans Cathedral 01727 860780; Trestle Arts Base, St Albans 01727 850950; Watford Colosseum 0845 075 3993; Watford Palace Theatre 01923 225671; Watersmeet Theatre, Rickmansworth 01923 711063; Wyllyotts Theatre, Potters Bar 01707 645005
