Your weekly what’s on guide for Bedford and the surrounding area from the Bedford Clanger.
Never miss a thing in Bedford ever again. From theatre to film, live music to art exhibitions, The Bedford Clanger what’s on guide lands every Thursday and is the only guide you need to know what’s on and what’s happening across the Borough for the next 10 days.
The Bedford Clanger’s What’s On Guide is kindly sponsored by The Cellar Bar.
Thursday 10 October 2024
Film: The Colour Purple
Stevington Cinema Club, Stevington Village Hall, MK443 7QT @ 6.45pm
Tickets: £6
In 1909 Celie a black American girl is given away in marriage by her abusive father to a local farmer Albert who treats her cruelly. Celie is God-fearing and deliverance comes in the form of Suge – a jazz singer who takes her away to another city far away from her misery. She now gets her long-due happiness.
Please note this is not a remake or the original 1985 Steven Spielberg film but a screen version of the Broadway musical.
Thursday 10 October 2024
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring Minnie and the Moochers
The Dance Hall, Wixams Retirement Village, Bedford Road, Bedford, MK42 6EA @ 8pm – 10.30pm
Tickets: £12.99
An evening for dancers and music enthusiasts alike. Cashless bar, plenty of seating (night club set up) and dance floor. Book in advance and come along at 7.15pm for a 45 minute dance class in Balboa, one of the original swing dances of the era. For the main event, just turn up – pay cash at reception – have fun, no booking needed.
Friday 11 October 2024
Comedy: Chris Kent: Back at It
The Quarry Theatre @ 8pm
Tickets; £16.50
Cork man Chris Kent returns with his brand new show “Back At It”.
After a dose of the real world (having gone back to the day job as an electrician), Chris found himself with two jobs and the ridiculous notion of trying to buy a house. It turns out he did not have enough jobs. Something had to give and sure there’s no future in electricity anyway…
Friday 11 October 2024
Live music: Fast Love – the tribute to George Michael
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £29
Direct from London’s West End, the UK’s finest George Michael tribute show arrives in Bedford.
Get ready for an unforgettable evening celebrating a global superstar, as he puts the Boom Boom into your heart in the all-new production, Fastlove – a tribute to George Michael.
The show is packed with crowd-pleasing anthems from the Wham! classics of the new pop revival to the chart-topping success of the eighties album Faith, plus the awesome tunes of the nineties and noughties.
This is a spellbinding experience you don’t want to miss. You’ll be getting up (to get down) to all your favourite songs: Careless Whisper, Freedom, Faith, Father Figure, Outside, Jesus To A Child, and many more.
Relive the passion, the flair, and the unique sensitivity of George Michael in this incredible concert sensation.
Friday 11 October 2024
Live music: The Krakens
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm
Free entry
The Krakens are back! This four-piece rock band features Chris Craigen on keys/vocals, Naomi Vranas on bass, Jon Mason on guitar and Seb Hensman on the drums.
Covering a variety of rock songs through the ages featuring songs from: Elton John, Queen, Nirvana, Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day and many more.
Friday 11 October 2024
Dance music: Boombastic presents Get Ready – 60s/70s Motown, Soul & Disco Night
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
Tickets:£7.50
Featuring the BIGGEST hits of 60s/70s Motown Soul and Disco!
The biggest floor-fillers of the era including The Jacksons, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Rick James, Chic, Sister Sledge, The Temptations, James Brown, Diana Ross, The Supremes, The Marvelettes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Ray Charles and more…
Saturday 12 October 2024
This week’s Saturday morning walk covers the final stage of the John Bunyan Trail from Stevington Church Street to Elstow Moot Hall. To take part, meet at Elstow Moot Hall at 9.30am. There is parking near the Church on roads near the Moot Hall. The group will then take a few cars to Stevington, from where the 13.2-mile walk will start at 10am.
The eight-mile afternoon walk begins at Priory Marina, walking through Cardington, towards Cople and Willington and back along the river. Some road crossings.
Check out the North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ excellent website for further information.
Saturday 12 October 2024
Art and crafts: Printing at the Panacea
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Road, MK40 2NX @ 10.30am – 2.30pm
Free entry
Join local artist Anne-Marie Abbate to make food and drink inspired art on the Panacea Museum’s 1857 printing press.
Suitable for ages 6 to 96!
Sessions are drop-in, with no need to book.
Saturday 12 October 2024
Film: Bedford Documentary Film Festival
Amptill Room, Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street @ 10am – 4pm
Tickets: £5
The third annual Bedford Documentary Film Festival is back at the Bunyan Meeting for a day filled with fascinating documentaries from around the world.
Immerse yourself in thought-provoking stories, engage with filmmakers, and connect with fellow documentary enthusiasts. Highlights include ‘SLAM’ about suicides at a Catholic School in Atlanta Georgia and ‘Blind and Primed’ which tells the story of James who loses his sight but is determined to improve his fitness to do a parachute tandem freefall.
Saturday 12 October 2024
Music: Excursions Festival
Bedford Esquires @ midday – 11pm
Tickets: £10
Connie Constance headlines Excursions Music Conference with support from Home Counties, The Itch, Balter and Low Girl and more to be announced.
Excursions brings music industry professionals including nationally renowned artist managers, A&Rs, radio pluggers and festival bookers to Bedford Esquires for an exciting day of talks and workshops aimed at equipping young people with tips and advice for kickstarting a career in music.
Learn about music career pathways, network with music industry workers, gain insight on building your own artist marketing strategy, hear stories and advice from musicians who’ve ‘made it’ and meet other like-minded people. There will also be the chance to hear from local venue owners about opportunities to help nurture and grow a sustainable music scene in Bedfordshire.
There’ll be live performances from some of the best of the UK’s up-and-coming artists as well as new local talent. Plus guest DJs and street food throughout the day.
This event has been supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
Saturday 12 October 2024
Live music: The Pride
The Wellington Arms, Wellington Street @ 7.30pm
Free entry (donations to MAP.org.uk)
It’s that time of the year when Liz attempts to cram one of Bedford’s most popular bands into the Welly. And it doesn’t help that there’s loads of members!
You know it’s going to be a great night and after their last performance, they may have to limit numbers if it gets too busy so get there early.
In the garden there will be a BBQ of Lebanese Zaatar chicken, Toum (Lebanese garlic sauce), flatbreads (donated by a Lebanese bakery) and a salad made by Miri. All proceeds will be donated to MAP.org.uk
Saturday 12 October 2024
Music: The Rolling Stones Now
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £16.50
Come and see the band who have been strutting, pouting & riffing now for over 25 years! So put on your dancing shoes and join in the rock’n’roll party!
The Rolling Stones Now is a celebration of all that has made the Rolling Stones legendary. In full costumes, recreating the Stones live shows of the late 60s – 90s, Mick’s pout, Keith’s riffs and Bill’s stony face are all on show as the band play some of the greatest songs ever written including ‘It’s only Rock ‘n’ Roll’, ‘Jumpin Jack Flash’, ‘Paint it Black, ‘Midnight Rambler, ‘Gimme Shelter’ and ‘Sympathy for the Devil’.
Don’t miss a night of struts, riffs and downright dirty Rock n’ Roll where Satisfaction is guaranteed. The seating at stalls level will be rock ‘n’ rolled back to create a dancing space for those who want to strutt ‘n’ stroll the night away.
Saturday 12 October 2024
Live Music: New Harmony
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm / bar opens at 6pm / Happy Hour until 9pm / 3am close
Free entry
Making their return to The Cellar Bar, New Harmony are the ultimate crowd pleasers bringing you the very best in Reggae, Motown and stone-cold classics.
Sunday 13 October 2024
Shop local: Bedford Flea, Affordable Art and Local Produce Market
St Paul’s Square @ 10am – 3pm
Free
After last month’s apocalyptic rain, let’s hope the weather gods are smiling on October’s market!
As ever, there will be loads to browse and buy in Flea Alley, plus some of the area’s best artists and makers in the affordable art and local produce sections. To top it off, enjoy live music and street food while you shop. It’s the perfect Bedford Sunday.
Sunday 13 October 2024
Walking: “I Never Knew That” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the gold postbox in St Paul’s Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
“I never knew that!” is the most commonly heard phrase after the completion of a Guided Walk. This Walk encompasses all that information about Bedford and its many features that YOU never knew!
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Sunday 13 October 2024
Dancing: Sunday Chillout Afternoon Session – Matt Bedford
The Cellar Bar @ 5pm / Happy Hour 3pm – 9pm
Free entry.
They’ve pulled out all of the stops and added another afternoon of live music to their schedule. This Sunday, the awesome and very talented musician Matt Bedford will be performing at the Cellar Bar from 5pm – 7pm.
There will be an 80s vibe to the afternoon and the glitterball will be up, the glowsticks and inflatable guitars will be out alongside some new prop additions.
So, come along from 3pm and join in with the daytime fun at The Cellar Bar.
Sunday 13 October 2024
Live music: Vintage Stuff play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm – 7pm
Free entry
The return of Vintage Stuff, the Bedford-based Blues/Rock band that refuses to grow old.
Tuesday 15 – Saturday 19 October 2024
Art sale: ‘Art Under the Bed’ affordable art sale
Basement @ Bunyan @ 11am – 4pm
Free entry
The ‘Art Under the Bed’ art sale makes its much-anticipated return to the Basement at Bunyan this month. The event is an exhibition of original artwork, previously stored under the bed or elsewhere in the artists’ homes that is now reemerging for sale at half its original price.
The sale runs from 15 – 19 October from 11am 4pm and is organised by artist Anne-Marie Abbate.
Basement @ Bunyan, Bunyan Meeting, Mill Street MK40 3EU
Tuesday 15 – Saturday 19 October 2024
Community Theatre: The Browning Version/Harlequinade
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £14
The Browning Version: a middle aged Classics teacher, who had been full of promise in his youth, finds himself with a mediocre career and a failing marriage. His inability to express his true emotions causes friction in all areas of his life. However, the actions of a young pupil result in an unexpected change in perspective.
Harlequinade: Set in the now lost world of the actor-manager of the mid 20th Century, Harlequinade is a witty farce with elements of satire and pathos. Leading man Arthur’s world is turned upside down one evening as he is just about to go on stage to play Romeo, when his hitherto unknown daughter appears. And the child she has with her? Is that just more good news?
Tuesday 15 October 2024
Live music: Lunchtime recital
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ noon
Free entry with retiring collection (suggested donation £5)
Iridescence Ensemble will be playing a selection of works including Ilayda Deniz Oguz – Yakamoz, Kaija Saariaho – Oi Kuu, Francis Poulenc – L’invitation au Château, Frank Bridge – Phantasy for Piano Trio in C minor and Thomas Adès – Court Studies from ‘The Tempest’.
Free with a retiring collection.
Tuesday 15 October 2024
Film: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – ballet
Stevington Cinema Club, Stevington Village Hall, MK443 7QT @ 6.45pm
Tickets: £6
Tumble down the rabbit hole in this ballet adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s famous family story. Journey through Wonderland with Alice and encounter a host of curious characters in Christopher Wheeldon’s unique theatrical interpretation.
Tuesday 15 October 2024
Film: Bedford Film Society presents – The Night of the 12th
The University of Bedford, Polhill Avenue @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £70/annual membership, £5/day guest
A young woman is murdered in this unnerving, fictionalised version of a real case that haunts the police officers unable to solve it. “Brutally unnerving drama” – The Guardian.
Wednesday 16 October 2024
North Bedfordshire Arts Society: Dr Sally Dorner: Heaven on Earth
St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton Road, Bedford MK40 2PF
Tickets: £38.00 (including a light sandwich lunch)
Two very special lectures on the medieval church and its furnishings. Medieval churches were often described by contemporary writers as a visual and sensory foretaste of Heaven on earth.
Their grand proportions, brightly coloured interiors and costly furnishings fashioned from gold, silver, silk, ivory and enamel created an otherworldly paradise, a dramatic contrast with everyday experience. This Special Interest Day with two lectures by Dr Sally Dorner will explore how patrons and craftsmen achieved these effects in 11th and 12th-century Romanesque Europe.
Wednesday 16 October 2024
Comedy: Larry Dean – Dodger
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 8pm
Tickets: £18
Off the back of sold-out seasons, the three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee makes a triumphant return with his latest show.
This gallus Glaswegian goon seamlessly blends expertly crafted observational comedy with a delightful touch of heart, ensuring that laughter resonates not only as entertainment but as a shared experience. With magnetic stage presence and sharp comedic timing, honed through years in the spotlight, Larry promises an evening that transcends mere laughter — immersing the audience in the contagious joy of his uniquely crafted humour.
This brand-new show is more than just stand-up. It’s a chance to witness the brilliance of a seasoned entertainer who effortlessly navigates the delicate balance between heart and hilarity.
Wednesday 16 October 2024
Halloween special: Drag karaoke at the Cellar Bar
The Cellar Bar @ 8pm
Free entry
Fanny Burns is back for a Halloween special drag karaoke at the Cellar Bar and it promises to be spooktacular!
The bar is decorated, the ghosts and ghouls are out and about in the basement, and just like last year, there’ll be prizes for the best dressed! Dressing up is not compulsory, but definitely encouraged.
Take part in the new game, Fanny’s Flaps to win a cash jackpot of £250. You’d be disappointed if this show didn’t include adult humour and swearing, but just in case, please be aware that this is strictly for over 18s.
From Thursday 17 October until 30 November 2024
Exhibition: Preparing for the Apocalypse – Towers, Prophets & Meaning
Location and time: Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd, Bedford, MK40 3NX. Open during normal Museum hours.
Free entry
An exhibition exploring the ‘Towers’ of the Panacea Society, towers in literature and in the Bible.
The Panacea Society looked forward to the return of Jesus Christ at the Second Coming, and spent their time preparing for the coming Apocalypse. The Society built their own chapel and clock tower, and named their outposts around the world ‘towers’.
Thursday 17 October 2024
Theatre: Mettle
The Quarry @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Multi-award-winning solo performer Nicholas Collett presents “Mettle” – a celebration and commemoration of the Atlantic Convoys of World War Two.
Drawing on conversations with his father (only revealed when his parents celebrated their golden wedding anniversary) – and his service records – he charts his progress as a young man in one of the most dangerous theatres of war and contrasts all this with his personal relationship with the man he is proud to call “Dad”.
The story moves from Sheffield in the 1930’s through the outbreak of war, surviving U-Boat attacks and treacherous weather to the relative calm of West Africa – and even a Glenn Miller concert.
Told in a physical style, using sound and contemporary music to paint the scene, this is a true modern odyssey.
Nicholas Collett’s previous solo work includes “Spitfire Solo”, “Nelson – The Sailors’ Story”, “Your Bard”, “The Ghost Of A Smile”.
Thursday 17 October 2024
Comedy: Rich Hall – Shot from the Cannons
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 8pm
Tickets: £17
Fresh on the heels of his critically acclaimed memoirs, Nailing It, Montana’s transatlantic messenger returns with new rants, knife-edge observations, thrilling musical interludes and an ever-formidable knack for laughs on the fly.
You’ll pay for the whole seat, but you’ll only need the edge of it.
Thursday 17 October 2024
Dancing: Planet Swing featuring Alisa Lands Swing Quartet
The Dance Hall, Wixams Retirement Village, Bedford Road, Bedford, MK42 6EA @ 8pm – 10.30pm
Tickets: £12.99
An evening for dancers and music enthusiasts alike. Cashless bar, plenty of seating (night club set up) and dance floor. Book in advance and come along at 7.15pm for a 45 minute dance class in Balboa, one of the original swing dances of the era. For the main event, just turn up – pay cash at reception – have fun, no booking needed.
Friday 18 October 2024
Live music: Hayseed Dixie + guests
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £25
‘Maximum rockgrass’ returns to Bedford for the first time in over half a decade, when Hayseed Dixie play Esquires this month.
When John Wheeler and Mike Daly discovered in their drunken epiphany that the Lost Highway of Reverend Hank Williams and the Highway to Hell of Bishop Bon Scott were indeed the identical stretch of tarmac, they were well and truly prepared to document this revelation in situ.
Friday 18 October 2024
Live music: The Howlers + Viddy
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £10
The Howlers are coming to Bedford Esquires as part of their debut album tour in October. Anyone who caught the London three-piece support Black Honey last year will tell you how good this band are!
These desert rockers have quickly become known for their ferocious and broodingly emotive live performances earning the band recognition across the board from the likes of BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 6 Music, KEXP, Clash and earning the band programming on BT Sport, Sky Sports, Soccer AM, UEFA Champions League and much much more.
Friday 18 October 2024
Theatre: The Rise of the Empress
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £15
Step into a world of thought-provoking discussion and captivating storytelling with this groundbreaking play, “Rise of the Empress.” Immerse yourself in an engaging narrative of discovery that digs deep into the lives, experiences, and perspectives of two Black women navigating the world as they know it and the world they would like to see.
In this powerful production, the stage becomes a canvas upon which the stories, struggles, and triumphs of Black women unfold. Through a series of moving conversations, heartfelt monologues, and authentic interactions, “Rise of the Empress” brings the complexities of being Black and female in contemporary Britain to life.
Everyone is invited to journey alongside our cast as they explore the intersections of race, gender, heritage, and culture. Audiences will be drawn into the intimate conversations, where laughter, tears, and candid moments of vulnerability create an immersive experience that resonates with the human spirit.
Through the eyes and voices of these characters, “Rise of the Empress” provides a safe space to discuss important themes such as belonging, heritage, self-discovery, and resilience. The play invites you to question preconceived notions, challenge stereotypes, and broaden your understanding of the diverse narratives that make up the vibrant tapestry of Black British life.
Friday 18 October 2024
Double header of live music: Danny Barton & Megapint?
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm / bar opens at 6pm
Free entry
The wonderful Danny Barton returns to The Cellar Bar this week, playing a mix of acoustic rock and pop crowd-pleasers and new material. He’s followed by Megapint? who are back for another regular gig at The Cellar Bar. Expect musical excellence mixed with a wonderfully curated list of rock/pop classics.
Friday 18 October 2024
Live music: Luther – Luther Vandross Celebration
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £26.50
The world’s premier show in celebration of ‘The Velvet Voice’. Experience all the hits from Luther Vandross’ amazing career, including many of the greatest dance anthems and love songs ever written. This show is fronted by international Luther Vandross tribute Harry Cambridge and his 10-piece band.
Saturday 19 October 2024
Live music: Monthly Saturday organ recital
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ noon
Free entry with retiring collection (suggested donation £5)
Organ recital by Thomas Hawkes. Free with a retiring collection.
Saturday 19 October 2024
Classical music: Bedford Sinfonia concert
St Paul’s Church @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £12 / £5 (student)
On Saturday, 19 October 2024, the Bedford Sinfonia’s concert with conductor Ian Smith will consist of a programme of music by three composers who were contemporaries, and whose musical lives were inexorably linked as either teacher or student.
Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 83 (The Hen) will be followed by Johann Nepomuk Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto, with acclaimed soloist Tim Hawes. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4 in Bb, Opus 60 will conclude the programme.
Saturday 19 October 2024
Music: The Ultimate Commitments & Blues Brothers Experience
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £18
Coming to the Quarry Theatre Bedford……In a show that has been described as “absolutely amazing” and “truly authentic”, take a trip down memory lane as you relive the storylines of both classic films and all the fantastic music of The Commitments and The Blues Brothers in a full live-band experience.
A show of two halves where Dublin Soul meets Chicago Blues. Plenty of laughs, crazy dance moves and loads of great Soul, Blues, and even a little Country and Western music in a night to truly remember.
Saturday 19 October 2024
Double header of live music: Cameo & Joe Cullen
The Cellar Bar @ 8.30pm / bar opens at 6pm / Happy hour 6pm – 9pm
Free entry.
Cellar Bar favourite Cameo is back for another solo performance so expect a beautiful voice and some cracking party tunes! Singing classic rock/pop songs from Dolly Parton to Fleetwood Mac to The Red Hot Chili Peppers and so much in between, be ready for a great party night.
Afterwards, Joe Cullen is back performing, returning after what is only a couple of weeks where he played to a very full room. Playing covers by Ed Sheeran, The 1975, Oasis, Harry Styles, The Killers, Coldplay plus more…
Saturday 19 October 2024
Live music: The Sukis + Balter
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: £10
Liverpool-based indie band The Sukis headline the iconic Bedford Esquires on Saturday, 19 October, joined by Northampton-based Balter as support.
Punky and intelligent with songs that dive deep into the psyche of what it is to be young, ‘The Sukis’ catchy, melodic and original material, has seen them sell out shows across the Northwest and drive their debut single Becca to over 20 million streams.
The band have developed a classic and distinct sound that explodes from their latest EP ‘A Sense of Doubt’, released Summer 2023, with nods to The Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, Tame Impala and David Bowie.
Sunday 20 October 2024
Walking: “The Rise and Fall of Bedford Castle” guided walk
Bedford Town Centre @ 11am at the gold postbox in St Paul’s Square
Tickets: £4/£2 (Please use the code HIGGINS30 to remove the transaction fee)
The Norman Conquest of Britain witnessed the introduction of castles to the landscape and in Bedford, a major castle was built in the 12th century. Walk through the old castle grounds, see the mound on which it once stood and hear the story of the castle and its demise in the siege of 1224. This year witnesses the 800th anniversary of the Great Siege of Bedford Castle in 1224.
Join the Association of Bedford Tour Guides for one of their fascinating weekly walks. Each walk is of 90 minutes to two hours duration and covers a distance of one or two miles. Most walks are suitable for people who are less mobile.
Children of all ages are most welcome on all of the walks but those aged 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Each walk costs £4 per adult or £2 for children over 8. All walks must be pre-booked.
Sunday 20 October 2024
Live music: U18’s Open Mic
The Cellar Bar @ 5pm – 7.00pm / bar opens at 4.30pm
Free entry
The Cellar Bar is throwing its doors open to the next generation of Bedford musicians, with a dedicated junior open mic session for under 18s.
Whether you sing, play guitar, drums, or any other musical instrument, or are a band already, you are welcome to take part. It’s a chance for you to perform on a stage in front of an audience with a full pa, drum kit, amps, lighting.
Hosted by none other than Mat Roberts, Mat will be on hand to offer support and advice, as well as doing a few jam sessions of his own.
Under 18’s are welcome in the bar from 5pm until 9pm on Sundays for Junior Open Mic.
Sunday 20 October 2024
Theatre: StageWrite: Autumn 24
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £5
StageWrite is a hothouse for the development of new writing for theatre, designed to help plays grow from page to performance. It supports writers in the process of getting their work up on its feet and in front of an audience for the very first time.
Plays are performed semi-staged, script in hand to allow for a more developed experience than a rehearsed reading (where actors simply read the play out loud). You’ll be amazed at how much we can do in a short space of time!
StageWrite presents two plays over the course of one evening, performed by professional actors, and includes a short Q&A session after each piece to allow audience members the chance to offer feedback and the writers to discover more about how their work is received. Every time StageWrite happens, it’s different – the nature of profiling brand new work!
At the Higgins Bedford
Exhibition: Rediscovering Black Portraiture
The Higgins Bedford
Free entry
The newest exhibition at the Higgins began as a diversionary lockdown project in 2020 and can now be seen at Kensington Palace, the Bodeian Library in Oxford and now in Bedford.
It features the work of Manchester-born professional opera singer, Peter Brathwaite, who has lived in the Black Tom area of Bedford since 2018.
With all his singing work cancelled during the pandemic, Peter began looking for an outlet for his creative talents and started recreating famous and lesser-known Black portraiture paintings using as props whatever he could find around his house.
It was inspired by the Getty Foundation’s lockdown project, but quickly took on a life of its own, gathering a large international online following. You can explore the project at his Instagram page @peter_brathwaite.
And from Saturday, 18 May, they will form part of an installation at the Higgins Bedford which will lead visitors through the main collections and into Cecil Higgins’ house, with Peter’s interpretation of The Paston Treasure at its heart.
Read: ‘Rediscovering Black Portraiture’ at the Higgins Bedford this May
Exhibition: Edward Bawden & Me
The Higgins Bedford until
Free entry
Brand new work by some of the biggest names in contemporary British art, illustration and textiles are on display at an exhibition at the Higgins Bedford in celebration of the work of one of Britain’s most inventive and influential artists
Entitled Edward Bawden & Me, the exhibition has been curated by Bawden’s good friend, illustrator and printmaker, Chris Brown and also features work by local artists’ collective, the Circus of Illustration.
Read: Star-studded new Edward Bawden exhibition opens at the Higgins Bedford
You can also read the full article in the February issue of The Bedford Clanger.
At the Panacea Museum
Permanent exhibition: Discover the amazing story of a unique religious community
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd, Bedford MK40 3NX
11am – 5pm (last entry 4.30) Thursday – Sunday | From 3 October: Thursday- Saturday – 10am – 4pm (last entry 3.30)
Free entry
This fascinating hidden gem of a museum tells the story of the Panacea Society – a Christian group formed in the early twentieth century who created their own ‘Garden of Eden’ in the centre of Bedford.
The Panacea Museum is located across several Victorian buildings that formed the community’s headquarters. It tells the story of the Panacea Society and other similar religious groups.
Every Thursday
Cocktails, Quiz Night & Karaoke
The Cellar Bar from 5.00pm
Pit your wits against The Cellar Bar’s resident quizmaster to see if you can win the jackpot every Thursday from 8pm. £2 per person entry and a maximum of six per team. The winning team will win the jackpot PLUS a round of shots. Followed by Karaoke til close
Every Saturday
Food & drink: Cocktail mixology masterclass
The Cellar Bar @ 3pm / doors open at 12 noon
£30 per person
The Cellar Bar’s resident mixologist, Marley, will explain how to create some outstanding cocktails for your tasting enjoyment. Then, it’s your turn to put what you’ve learned into practice by making (and drinking) three cocktails!
Every Sunday
Live Music: Open Mic Night
The Cellar Bar @ 7.30pm
Free Entry
Every Sunday, join Mat Roberts for the Cellar Bar’s weekly Open Mic night. An opportunity for new and experienced performers to get up on stage and perform.
So whether you think you are the next Tom Grennan or just want a good night of entertainment, head the to Cellar Bar from 7.30pm.
Theatre highlights by Paula Walker
