1 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Mansfield Palace Theatre, Wednesday March 4 to Sunday March 8
Mansfield Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society present the dazzling, family-friendly spectacle. Based on Roald Dahl’s classic 1964 novel, the musical tells the enchanting story of Charlie Bucket, whose life is transformed when he discovers one of Willy Wonka’s legendary Golden Tickets. Beloved by generations through the classic 1971 Gene Wilder film and Tim Burton’s 2005 adaptation starring Johnny Depp, this stage version brings the magic to life with eye-catching visuals, unforgettable characters and show-stopping musical numbers.
Audiences can look forward to hearing much-loved songs including The Candy Man and Pure Imagination and encountering everyone from the mysterious Willy Wonka to the delightfully disastrous Golden Ticket winners Augustus Gloop, Veruca Salt, Violet Beauregarde and Mike Teavee.
Adding to the growing interest, Mansfield Ops is proud to feature two outstanding local young performers, Harry Bramall and Oscar Wilkins, who will alternate in the role of Charlie Bucket.
Performances begin at 7.15pm each evening, with matinees on the Saturday and Sunday at 2.30pm. Visit www.mansfield.gov.uk/palacetheatre or call 01623 463133 to book.
2 Opera North: The Marriage of Figaro and Peter Grimes, Theatre Royal, Nottingham, March 5 to 7
A country house comedy and tense coastal tragedy are heading to Nottingham courtesy of Opera North. With a new production of Mozart’s much-loved The Marriage of Figaro and the return of the company’s award-winning production of Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes, these are storylines which explore the human condition in all its guises with remarkable scores. Visit www.trch.co.uk or call 0115 989 5555 to book.
3 The Woman in Black, Theatre Royal, Nottingham, Tuesday March 10 to Saturday March 14
One of the most chilling supernatural thrillers in West End history is heading to Nottingham. Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s bestselling novel tells the story of a lawyer obsessed with a curse that he believes has been cast over his family by the spectre of a ‘Woman in Black’. He engages a young actor to help him tell his story and exorcise the fear that grips his soul. It begins innocently enough, but as they delve further into his darkest memories the borders between make-believe and reality begin to blur and the flesh begins to creep.
The play is recommended for ages 12 and above. Visit www.trch.co.uk or call 0115 989 5555 to book.
4 10cc, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, Friday March 6
Their genre-defying repertoire continues to captivate audiences across the world – and now 10cc are going to bring their greatest hits to Nottingham. One of the UK’s most innovative and influential bands, 10cc have announced their return to the UK concert scene with the typically tongue-in-cheek And Another Bloody Greatest Hits Tour. Fronted by co-founder Graham Gouldman, 10cc have undergone a remarkable renaissance in recent years, evolving from cult status into a mainstream concert draw that sells out top venues from Stockholm to San Francisco and Amsterdam to Auckland and Sydney. They promise a hit-packed setlist including era-defining anthems like Rubber Bullets, Donna, Art for Art’s Sake, Dreadlock Holiday, and, of course, I’m Not In Love. Visit ticketline.co.uk to book.
5 Ross Noble – Cranium of Curiosities, Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, Thursday March 5
Billed as “The Wizard of Waffle, The Rambler Royale and The Noodlers’ Noodler,” Ross is back live on stage to tour a tornado of tangents. What the show will be about is anybody’s guess, but that’s all part of the fun.
Visit www.trch.co.uk or call 0115 989 5555 to book.
6 Crooners, Majestic Theatre, Retford, Saturday March 7
The hit show pays homage to some of the greatest crooners of all time with a splendiferous injection of Britishness, with the singers joined by the joined by The Mini Big Band. Expect humour, tap dance and classic songs with a twist. Visit majesticretford.org to book.
7 Paradise Found – A Dedication To The Legend of Meat Loaf, Majestic Theatre, Retford, Friday March 6
Enjoy a two-hour high-octane tribute performance featuring a top live band, blazing through Meat Loaf’s greatest hits and legendary singalong anthems including Bat Out Of Hell, You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth, Modern Girl, Out Of The Frying Pan, Dead Ringer For Love and many more. Expect high-impact visuals, formidable musicians and an immersive live music experience. Visit majesticretford.org to book.
8 Samantha Fish, Rock City, Nottingham, Saturday March 7
The charismatic singer-guitarist-songwriter has earned a reputation as a powerful live performer, while releasing a series of acclaimed albums that have shown her restless creative spirit consistently pushing her in new and often unexpected musical directions. The New York Times called Fish “an impressive blues guitarist who sings with sweet power” and “one of the genre’s most promising young talents.” Her hometown paper, the Kansas City Star. wrote: “Samantha Fish has kicked down the door of the patriarchal blues club and displays more imagination and creativity than some blues veterans exhibit over the course of their careers.” Samantha was nominated for a Grammy in 2024 for Contemporary Blues Album of the Year for her collaboration with Jesse Dayton on Death Wish Blues. Total Guitar voted Samantha as one of the Top 100 Greatest Blues Guitarists of all-time. In 2024, she joined Slash on his US tour. Visit rock-city.co.uk to book.
9 The Guilty Men, Lowdham Village Hall, Friday March 6
Their members have played with the likes of 10cc, Jethro Tull, Richard Thompson and Nanci Griffith – and now The Guilty Men are coming to Lowdham. In 2021, Clive Gregson of Any Trouble, and a former collaborator with Thompson and Griffith, sat down with Neil Cossar of The Cheaters to write some songs. Several weeks and quite a few songs later, they decided to expand the enterprise from a songwriting workshop to a full-blown band. Clive recruited keyboardist Jez Smith and bassist Craig Fletcher from John Lees’ Barclay James Harvest, and the line-up was completed with the addition of legendary drummer Paul Burgess, who has played with 10cc since 1973, and has also worked with Jethro Tull, The Icicle Works and Camel. They named the band The Guilty Men, and headed into the recording studio.
The resulting album, Invisible Confetti, features 13 new songs recorded in the old-fashioned way: everybody playing live in the studio, intent on catching the moment. Most of the songs were laid down in no more than two or three takes. And with four featured lead vocalists, the album covers a lot of musical bases, rocking along with nods to Americana, country, folk, pop and psychedelia.
Visit warthoglivemusic.com to book.
10 Fixing, Nottingham Playhouse, Friday March 6
The new play is billed as “a drag show about family break ups and car breakdowns,” involving “trying to make things better, learning car maintenance and choosing the right shade of lipstick to do it in”. Visit nottinghamplayhouse.co.uk to book.
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