What’s on where around Luton: listings, December 2 edition

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 2

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.

Luton Irish Forum holds a weekly Tuesday and Wednesday Club from 11am to 1.30pm at 102 Hitchin Road.

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 dominos, cards and needle craft. Tel: 01582 720447.

For those with an interest in mediumship, the name of Tony Stockwell will certainly need no introduction. Tony has been working tirelessly for over 25 years to demonstrate his belief that those who have passed on can communicate with their loved ones. He appears at the Grove Theatre, Dunstable, at 7.30pm. Tickets: £21.50. Call 01582 60 20 80 or visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk to book.

Edge Luton in Park Street hosts a comedy night at 7.30pm. Headlining is Angela Barnes, who has appeared on Mock The Week, Russell Howard’s Good News, and Channel 4’s Stand Up for the Week among many other shows. Also appearing are James Ross, Dave Bailey and Luca Cupani. Tickets are £6 in advance. £7.50 on the door. Visit https://www.wegottickets.com/event/341012 to book.

Roy Ayers and his band play at Harpenden Public Halls at 7.30pm. The vibraphonist crafted a winning mix of soul, world music and jazz that rode high on the jazz and R&B charts throughout the 1970s and ‘80s. Roy Ayers started out as a solid hard bop musician, but he quickly upped the soul and disco elements of his sound, and his sophisticated music became an uptown pop staple of disco-era black America. Tickets: £23.50. Call 01582 767525 or visit www.harpendenpublichalls.co.uk to book.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 3

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.

Die Fledermaus, Strauss’ light-hearted opera set in the late 19th century Vienna, combines a cast of colourful characters with some of opera’s most popular moments. It will be performed at the Grove Theatre, Dunstable, at 7.30pm. Tickets start from £17.50. Call 01582 60 20 80 or visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk to book.

Spice Girl Melanie C is joining Spike Edney and his All-Star band at Watford Colosseum. The former ‘Sporty Spice’ will be appearing alongside some already announced big-name recording artists and some of the UK’s finest musicians, including 10cc’s Graham Gouldman, Kiki Dee, soul/jazz star Madeline Bell, Chris Thompson from US number one selling Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, rock legend Patti Russo and Bucks Fizz’s Cheryl Baker. Spike Edney has worked with Queen since 1984. Tickets start at £33. Call 01923 571 102 or visit watfordcolosseum.co.uk to book.

Ampthill and Flitwick Dramatic Society bring one of the nation’s favourite comedy TV series to Stewartby Village Hall in support of Comic Relief. The Vicar of Dibley, written by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, first aired on UK television screens nearly 21 years ago. All the characters you expect appear are in the stage version of the show and Ampthill and Flitwick Dramatic Society welcome the newcomer Janet Ammit into the role of Geraldine Grainger. It is directed by Jane Murdoch. All the royalties from putting on the production go to Comic Relief. The show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £9 for adults and £7 for concessions and group discounts are available. Visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/afds or call 07966 179456 to book.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 4

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.

TADS Theatre in Toddington hosts this year’s pantomime, Robin Hood, at 7.45pm, with exciting swordfights, memorable music and laughs aplenty. Visit www.tadstheatre.org or call 07952 633234 to book.

Bizet’s irresistibly emotional opera Carmen guarantees an evening of passion and romance. This dazzling production features unforgettable melodies including the best known baritone aria of all. It is being performed at the Grove Theatre, Dunstable, at 7.30pm. Tickets start from £17.50.

Call 01582 60 20 80 or visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk to book.

Ampthill and Flitwick Dramatic Society present their version of TV comedy favourite The Vicar of Dibley. All the royalties from putting on the production go to Comic Relief. The show starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £9 for adults and £7 for concessions and group discounts are available. Visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/afds or call 07966 179456 to book.

SATURDAY DECEMBER 5

Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale is screened at the Grove Theatre, Dunstable, at 7pm. Broadcast live from the Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company. Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy of obsession and redemption is reimagined in a new production co-directed by Rob Ashford and Kenneth Branagh. Starring Judi Dench as Paulina and Kenneth Branagh as Leontes. Tickets: £15. Call 01582 60 20 80 or visit www.grovetheatre.co.uk to book.

Ampthill and Flitwick Dramatic Society present their version of TV comedy favourite The Vicar of Dibley. All the royalties from putting on the production go to Comic Relief. The show starts at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £9 for adults and £7 for concessions and group discounts are available. Visit www.ticketsource.co.uk/afds or call 07966 179456 to book.

TADS Theatre in Toddington hosts this year’s pantomime, Robin Hood, at 7.45pm, with exciting swordfights, memorable music and laughs aplenty. Visit www.tadstheatre.org or call 07952 633234 to book.

Eighties’ chart-toppers Odyssey and their support band come to Dunstable Leisure Centre when they headline at the Cali-R Christmas Special. Odyssey’s debut record Native New Yorker became an instant club hit and they followed up with such favourites as Use It Up And Wear It Out, Going Back To My Roots, Inside Out and If You’re Looking For A Way Out. Louie Martin and Jellybean will be manning the decks in the upstairs funk room at the event, and there’ll be a visit from Father Christmas, in the shape of Luton’s former World Champion Father Christmas, Ron Horniblew.

Tickets are £18 and are available from the leisure centre in Court Drive, Dunstable (01582 608107); Big Stuff, Queensway, Dunstable (01582 666678); Vinyl Revelations, Cardigan Street, Luton (01582 876391); or via www.cali-r.com.

Rhythm Junkeys will be performing their first end-of-year show at Luton Library Theatre with guests from Britain’s Got Talent and The Voice. The show starts at 7.30pm. Full-price tickets cost £20. Call 01582 878100 to book.

Santa comes to Stockwood Discovery Centre from 11am to 4pm. Children will also be able to make reindeer food, decorate gingerbread and enjoy a Snow Zone and Frozen area. Entry is £2 adults, £5 children (£10 includes a visit to Santa and a gift). Call 01582 548600 to book a Santa visit.

SUNDAY DECEMBER 6

Get your Yuletide season off to a flying start by attending Dunstable Amateur Operatic Society’s traditional Christmas concert at The Little Theatre, Dunstable High Street South, at 7.30pm. The society promises a festive evening of cheer, songs from the shows, seasonal songs, Christmas readings, carols for all to join in with and a mince pie. Tickets cost £8.

Visit http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/DAOS to book.

TUESDAY DECEMBER 8

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 from 6pm to 7pm at 102 Hitchin Road, Luton. Tel: 01582 720447.

In the Bleak Midwinter, an evening of Christmas and winter poetry. Join Toddington Poetry Society in Luton as we celebrate the season at High Town Community Centre, 8pm - 10pm. Bring a poem to share. Entrance free for first-time visitors. Otherwise £3 for members, £5 for non-members.