News from producers around Derbyshire

High Peak Theatre Trust, which operates Buxton Opera House and Pavilion Arts Centre, today announced the appointment of Paul Kerryson MBE as its Interim Executive Director.

Buxton Festival Fringe celebrated being open for entries for 2017 at a party featuring Derbyshire Village Carols at the Green Man Gallery on December 3rd. The party had a festive feel as Kaleidoscope choir leader Carol Bowns helped by the Green Man’s Caroline Small organised an afternoon rehearsal followed by group singing at the party in the evening. Fringe Chair Keith Savage was pleased to announce that the Fringe has already received the first of what are sure to be many entries with the news that Keith Large is returning to the Fringe with his show "The Carrot Nappers".

Derby LIVE invites the people of Derby to be their guest for Christmas 2017. Join Derby LIVE and an all-star cast at Derby Arena for a traditional family Pantomime and follow the classic love story of Beauty and the Beast.

Will love conquer evil and break the witch’s spell?

Derby LIVE is pleased to offer relaxed, BSL sign interpreted, BSL shadow interpreted, captioned and audio described performances of the all-star family pantomime Cinderella at Derby Arena as well as Captain Sprout and the Christmas Pirates at the Guildhall Theatre.

More than 2,600 people from across the East Midlands joined a unique family sports event around East Midlands Airport on Sunday November 27 to raise money for CLIC Sargent – the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people and their families.

Well, it is with sadness that I have to say that this is the final poem both of 2016, and of  the Derbyshire Poem a Month blog.  It's been wonderful sharing poems with you all over the last 7 years and I'd like to thank all of the poets who have allowed us to feature their poems, my fellow poem a month bloggers Will and Priscilla, and to you all for following and commenting on the poems.
We're finishing on a high with this wonderful poem, First Bike,  by Jacob Polley.  Enjoy the poetry. - Ali

Derby and Ashbourne family-owned funeral directors G.Wathall & Son Ltd have collected more than 1,000 shoeboxes of Christmas gifts, hygiene and school supplies which are now being shipped around the world to children in need.

Derby Cathedral Quarter has organised its first Living Advent Calendar event with 24 different free events and entertainment across the area every day in the run up to Christmas.

The Cathedral Quarter 3aaa ice rink will officially open on Thursday December 1 with the magic from the nearby Market Hall’s Winter Wonderland, produced by Furthest From the Sea, adding extra festive flavour to the evening.

The launch event will begin with characters from the Market Hall Winter Wonderland taking to the ice between 4pm and 5pm whilst there will be musical entertainment under the Guildhall arches by Newhall Brass Band during the afternoon and early evening courtesy of the Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (BID).

GCSE Art & Design learners joined a workshop by London-based artist Edward Sutcliffe as part of a programme organised by NEMCON (North East Midlands Collaborative Outreach Network) which was hosted by the University of Derby.

Mr Sutcliffe specialises in portrait painting and has exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery. After talking about the fundamentals of portrait painting, he coached the pupils during a workshop session.