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 Wednesday and is the only guide you need to find out what’s on and what’s happening across the Borough for the next 11 days.
The Bedford Clanger’s What’s On Guide is kindly sponsored by Bedford Esquires.
Wednesday, 18 March 2026
Live music: The Kerry George Show
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £18
International vocalist Kerry George brings her powerhouse voice and captivating stories to the Place Theatre this month, performing iconic songs and heartfelt tales from on the road (and at sea).
From headlining the UK tour of Annie the Musical to leading roles on luxury cruise ships, Kerry has enchanted audiences worldwide. She’s also known for a viral video of her singing to her neighbours during lockdown.
Joining Kerry is the talented Joe Connors, a gifted singer and longtime collaborator with whom she has toured extensively.
Thursday, 19 March 2026
Sport and men’s health: Men’s Health Zone
John Bunyan Sports and Fitness @ 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Free
Healthwise and Better, in partnership with bpha, are hosting their first-ever male health event. This is an opportunity for you to speak to different organisations, hear from guest speakers and have a go at some taster sessions. For more information visit healthwise.bedford@gll.org
Thursday, 19 March 2026
Film: Stevington Cinema Club presents The Ballad of Wallace Island
Stevington Village Hall, MK43 7QT @ 6.45pm
Tickets: £6
In a change to the scheduled screening of The Choral (now showing on 14 May), this week’s film is the wonderful multi BAFTA-nominated independent film The Ballad of Wallace Island.
Starring Tom Basden and Carey Mulligan as a folk duo who reunite to perform for an eccentric, wealthy fan (Tim Key) on a remote British island.
Thursday, 19 March 2026
Comedy: The Anglia Comedy Allstars
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 8pm
Tickets: £30.38
The Anglia Comedy Allstars show returns to the Corn Exchange in March, with an amazing line-up featuring Russell Kane, Josh Pugh, Nick Helm and Thanyia Moore.
Multi-award-winning comedian, presenter, actor, author and scriptwriter Russell Kane is a regular on Channel 4, BBC, and ITV with recent TV appearances include The Apprentice You’re Fired, The One Show, Live at the Apollo, The Stand Up Sketch Show, Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, Antiques Road Trip, Stupid Man, Smart Phone as well as regular appearances on Steph’s Packed Lunch.
Live at the Apollo star Josh Pugh takes us through his life with his own unique and hilarious style. Josh was tour support for Joe Lycett, was named an ‘almost certain future star’ (Chortle.co.uk), has amassed millions views on his online videos and regularly headlines the biggest clubs in the country.
Nick Helm is one of Britain’s most loved comedians for his multiple, memorable & moving television appearances and legendary rollercoaster live shows. Completing the lineup is Thanyia Moore, an award-winning comedian, best known for her fiercely commanding stage persona and razor sharp wit.
This show is not to be missed!
Thursday 19 March 2026
Theatre: A Knight of Terror
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £16
Embark on this hilarious Victorian ghost story of a witless young man and a cast of eerie locals, with curses, skulls and shin-kicking.
An old man languishing in his stately home awaits the arrival of his solicitor to share a tale of golden days… Oh, and the Butler is on fire.
Journalist Thomas Carstairs is absolutely hopeless. He’s foppish, foolish and above all, totally unqualified to be a writer. Looking for inspiration, Thomas travels to a remote seaside town and immediately has an unceremonious welcome from the locals who see him for the pathetic, talentless toff he undoubtedly is.
What starts as an innocent writing retreat leads to the discovery of a wizened and mysterious skull of terrifying origins. One that has the power to bring Thomas’ wildest fortunes into being and to awaken a very formidable foe. An armoured one.
Created by Bonnet Dog, A Knight of Terror is a Victorian Gothic Ghost Story that mixes the uncanny tales of M. R. James with the silliness of classic British humour. Join us as we recite this ripping yarn that promises laughs as well as chilling spooks.
Friday, 20 March 2026
Drag: Drag Queen Bingo – With Sophia Stardust
The Arc, Howard Street @ 6.30pm
Tickets: £23
Get ready for a night of laughs, belting pop anthems, and full-on fabulousness. This isn’t your nan’s bingo — instead of numbers, you’ll be naming that tune as Sophia leads you through rounds of musical bingo with her signature sparkle and sass.
Expect big pop hits, prizes, and pure chaos in the best possible way. Grab your pals, and prepare to strut, sing, and slay your way to a full house.
Your ticket includes a free glass of fizz on arrival and the shop is open all night with a special 15% ticket holder discount.
The Arc is collaborating with Crown & Heel burgers, so have a peruse of the menu beforehand and order on the night.
Friday, 20 March 2026
Live music: Fire Fall (Album launch) + Tempest Saint + Chemical Garden
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £7.50
Fire Fall return to Bedford Esquires, launching their brand new album, Oblivion.
Fire Fall is a four-piece melodic metal band from Bedford/Cambridge, and their music has running themes of Autumn, nature, mythology, love and dark subjects. Their songs are characterised by beautiful harmonies, heavy riffs and powerful vocals.
Sets from Fire Fall, Tempest Saint and Chemical Garden.
Friday, 20 March 2026
Theatre: War of the Worlds (on a budget)
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £14
Step aside HG Wells, take a break Jeff Wayne, go back to your trailer Tom Cruise, the Lamphouse Company is tackling War of the Worlds, and they’re doing it… on a budget.
War of Worlds (on a budget) features one actor, a loop pedal, lots of cardboard, many, many hats and at least two absolutely terrifying (definitely not made out of paper) tripod puppets. Can our hero outrun the aliens, play 25 characters, unwind himself from the microphone cable, stop for a tea break and save the day before it’s too late?
Featuring a full soundtrack of brand new music, and paying homage to HG Wells’ story with a few extra silly additions, War of the Worlds (on a budget) is the musical comedy action adventure we didn’t know we needed!
Suitable for ages 12+
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Family fun: The Eileen Wade Primary School Duck Dash
The Bridge, Brook Lane, Upper Dean @ 11.30am
Duck tickets cost £2 in advance or £2.50 on the day
Upper Dean’s most quack-tastic tradition is back, and this year it turns 30. The Eileen Wade Primary School Duck Dash returns this weekend, featuring a rubber duck race that has become one of the school’s biggest and most-loved fundraising events.
Read: Bedford Borough’s quacky tradition returns as Duck Dash turns 30
First held in 1994 (with a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic), the Duck Dash is organised entirely by volunteers, who tip 1,700 rubber ducks into the village brook to see which one finishes the course first.
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Meeting place: The Causeway, Carlton, MK43 7AW @ 1.30pm
A seven-mile afternoon walk along part of the North Beds Heritage Trail.
Please bring a drink, snack or lunch as the group always stops for a break. Check out the North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ excellent website for further information.
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Live music: Peter Bruntwell + My Girl The River
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £18
Bedford-based My Girl The River are at Esquires this weekend in support of singer/songwriter Peter Bruntnell.
Read: My Girl The River returns with new album that “embraces the positives”
As Wikipedia says: “Bruntnell has consistently received critical acclaim for his work, throughout his career, with journalists frequently referring to him as being underrated and lamenting the fact that he has not achieved wider recognition for his work. His albums are frequently included in Best of Year lists, compiled by both journalists and readers.
“The Guardian newspaper wrote an article referring to Bruntnell as a “cult hero” and an “alt-country genius”, describing his catalogue as being “a canon of classically constructed, melodically rich, lyrically ingenious and emotionally, intellectually affecting songs that bears comparison with the all-time greats” and that “as a writer he has few real peers.”
Sentiments which have been echoed by numerous publications throughout his career.
My Girl the River will be playing all their old favourites alongside songs from their new album, Manifest Good Things, including their single, Without You, which was released in February.
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Children’s Theatre: Pixiematosis
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £16
Everything was perfect in the Midnight Garden.
The flowers grew, the fairies flew, the grobbity grobbits danced a merry dance in the twinkly moonlight. Then one day, without warning, the deranged gardener from next door threw the shed door wide, and the pixies of this nocturnal paradise realised, far too late, that they were being exploited for a distinctly sinister purpose.
‘Pixiematosis’ is not unlike watching a lost episode of Bagpuss, filmed by the Tales of the Unexpected crew… or witnessing Fingermouse being folded up and used to stop a pub table wobbling.
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Classical music: Bedford Choral Society presents Verdi’s Requiem
Bedford Corn Exchange
Tickets: £5 – £19
When Rossini died in 1868, Verdi proposed that a requiem should be written in honour of the great man.
The resulting piece of music is often described as the greatest opera he never wrote due to its dramatic intensity and theatricality. The powerful ’Dies Irae’ has been used in many film scores (The Shining, Star Wars, and It’s A Wonderful Life), and it’s safe to say, it has more than stood the test of time.
Conductor – Ian Smith with Bedford Sinfonia. Featuring Katy Crompton (soprano), Nancy Cole (alto), Joseph Doody (tenor) and James Oldfield (bass).
Saturday, 21 March 2026
Dance music: GoodTimes Ft: Alex P + Rob Tissera + The Fat Controller + Dave Bergin
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £14.25
GoodTimes returns, celebrating 30 Years of dance music in Bedford.
This isn’t a theme night; this is the real thing. GoodTimes was part of Bedford’s dance music history — packed every Saturday, bringing people together through music. On Saturday March 21st, it returns to Esquires for part one of its 30th Birthday celebrations, featuring true old skool legends: Alex P, Rob Tissera, Fat Controller and Dave Bergin.
Expect authentic 90s & 00s classics, a proper crowd, and an atmosphere you don’t get anymore. The night also raises money for Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). If you were there back then, welcome home. If you weren’t, this is your chance.
Sunday, 22 March 2026
Live music: Full Circle play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Full Circle are back at Esquires to play the Sunday Afternoon Session. Marc Patching, Andy Childs and Johnny Carr will be playing a mix of their own material and their own take on some classic rock and pop covers.
Tuesday, 24 March 2026
Classical music: Lunchtime recital
St Paul’s church, St Paul’s Square @ 1pm
Free with retiring collection
Step into the beautiful surroundings of St Paul’s church to enjoy a free lunchtime performance by violinists Peter Bussereau, Teresa Pople, Caroline Waters and Alex Collins.
Tuesday, 24 March 2025
Film: Bedford Film Society presents Holy Cow
University of Bedfordshire, Polhill Avenue
Tickets: Annual membership £70 / day member £5
After the tragic death of his father, 18-year-old Totone must look after his younger sister and their failing family farm. He assumes even more responsibility when he enters a cash competition for the best Comté cheese made in the western part of the French Alps.
Saturday, 28 March 2026
Walking: North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ weekly walk
Morning walk meeting place: Old Warden Church, SG18 9HD @ 10am
Afternon walk meeting place: Cranfield Community Centre, MK43 0FZ @ 1.30pm
This week’s morning walk (meeting at 10am) is a 12-miler over the Greensand Ridge to Cople, then Northill and the Shuttleworth Estate.
In the afternoon (meeting at 1.30pm), North Beds Ramblers will be exploring the northern edge of Marston Vale, Holcott Wood and Marston Thrift. Walk length: 6.5 miles.Please bring a drink, snack or lunch as the group always stops for a break. Check out the North Bedfordshire Ramblers’ excellent website for further information.
Saturday, 28 March 2026
Creativity and craft: Printing at the Panacea
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd MK40 3NX @ 11am – 3pm
Free drop-in
Join local artist Anne-Marie Abbate to make art on the Panacea Museum’s antique printing press. Suitable for ages six to 96!
Saturday, 28 March 2026
Music: Harry Baker & Tom Syson
The Quarry Theatre Bar @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £5
Award-winning pianist, vocalist, and composer Harry Baker, and renowned trumpeter, vocalist and composer Tom Syson join forces in this exciting new cross-genre project.
The duo was formed to create unique and ‘beautiful’ music, exploring the relationship between classical and jazz while drawing on singer-songwriter influences such as Laura Mvula and Billy Joel.
Other artistic references include Keith Jarrett, Thomas Adès, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Stuart McCallum. Their music aims to be rhythmically and harmonically sophisticated, structurally active, and sound/texture-led, aiming to make conscious stylistic choices, using a broad stylistic knowledge base, to create compositions/arrangements that are both original and expressive.
Sunday, 29 March 2026
Sport: Doubles Badminton Tournament
John Bunyan Sports and Fitness Centre
Junior doubles: £5/player and Senior doubles: £6/player
With categories for both juniors and adults, this will be a great day of competitive and social play.
To express an interest, email johnbunyan@gll.org
Sunday, 29 March 2026
Live music: Submachine play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Submachine make a welcome return to the Sunday afternoon session with two sets of classic rock covers.
Sunday, 29 March 2026
Theatre: StageWrite Spring 2026
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.
With rehearsals over one weekend, the 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).
StageWrite presents two plays of between 30 and 60 minutes 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: Noel Carrington: Nothing Need Be Ugly
The Higgins Bedford
Free entry
Curated by writer and publisher Joe Pearson, this exhibition tells the story of publishing’s unsung hero Noel Carrington (1895–1989). Schooled in Bedford with his sister Dora, Noel Carrington became one of the most influential figures in 20 th century design. Through the Puffin Picture Books and Country Life he commissioned, edited and published some of Britian’s most loved children’s picture books.
Read: Celebrating Bedford’s unsung publishing hero: Noel Carrington and Puffin Picture Books
He saw the genius in artists such as Kathleen Hale, publishing books about Orlando the Marmalade Cat and championed emerging artists such as Hilary Stebbing. With Eric Ravilious, Edward Bawden and Mervyn Peake he commissioned books such as ‘High Street’, ‘Life in an English Village’ and ‘Captain Slaughterboard’.
Through beloved children’s books, forgotten gems and original artwork this exhibition will take Noel Carrington out of the footnotes and into the spotlight.
Family fun: Cardboard Clues – murder at the movies
The Higgins Bedford until 12 April
£25/team
Become a detective and unravel a series of curious, whimsical mysteries in your local museum.
Scour the Higgins Bedford to discover hidden clues and ‘cardboard’ characters, who could be suspects, witnesses or victims, guided by the Cardboard Clues app.
Connect the dots in the stories across the museum and test your wits and problem-solving skills. Perfect for families, friends, and curious minds looking for a unique experience in a fun setting.
Exhibition: Edward Bawden – Printmaker
The Higgins Bedford until 26 April
Free entry
Take a trip to the Higgins Bedford to explore the Edward Bawden Printmaker exhibition, which celebrates Bawden’s remarkable legacy as ‘The Master of the Linocut’ and offers visitors a chance to delve into his innovative techniques and artistic achievements.
At the Panacea Museum
Permanent exhibition: Discover the amazing story of a unique religious community
Panacea Museum, 11 Newnham Rd @ Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Free entry
This fascinating hidden gem of a museum tells the story of the Panacea Society – a secretive Christian group formed in the early twentieth century that created its 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.
As featured on BBC Radio 4’s Mark Steel’s in Town.
Every Tuesday
Community: Tuesday Chess Café
The Pavilion in the Park @ 2pm – 4pm
Free
If you’re a keen chess player or have always wanted to learn, then the weekly chess cafe at the Pavilion in the Park is for you.
Players meet every week and there’s no membership, no fee – just turn up. All you need to do is buy a coffee to support the venue. Any standard, from complete novice to Grand Master, welcome.
