Aardman Animations, the world-renowned studio behind beloved characters Wallace & Gromit, is set to enchant audiences with a special event at Nova Cinema on April 13th and 14th. Attendees will have the exclusive opportunity to delve into the captivating world of model-making through interactive sessions run by an expert model maker, who has worked on some of Aardman’s best-loved productions, alongside a delightful double bill featuring two iconic Wallace & Gromit adventures: The Wrong Trousers and A Close Shave.

You’ll be able to get creative with clay and make the devious Feathers McGraw or supportive sidekick Gromit to take home with you!

This unique event promises an immersive experience for fans of all ages, offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the meticulous craftsmanship that brings Wallace & Gromit to life. Participants will learn firsthand from Aardman’s skilled model-makers, gaining insights into the wonderful world of Aardman that has captivated audiences for decades.

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VAULT Creative Arts, the charity behind VAULT Festival, have announced the closure of VAULT Festival and the cancellation of plans for their new London home, after failing to secure the funding required to continue.

The organisation had secured a new long-term home for VAULT Festival and other year-round creative activity in SE1, central London which was due to open later this year. VAULT had been in developed conversations with multiple social investors alongside a blended fundraising strategy. Last week, the organisation learned that it had failed to secure the principal funding required to deliver their new home and future VAULT Festivals. This prevents VAULT from utilising the other additional funds being raised alongside the social investment and VAULT are therefore left without the reasonable prospect of sufficient funds to continue operating, nor the time to be able to seek alternative investment.

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Hanif Kureishi’s much loved screenplay is adapted masterfully for the stage in 2019. The story takes a life of its own with characters given more development in the way only theatre allows, with asides and fanciful monologues, that humanise the stuffy Pakistani patriarchs and skinheads alike.

Set in South London during the Thatcher years, the story is told through the eyes of a young mixed-race Pakistani, Omar, who is intent of making a success out of his uncle’s run-down launderette with old school friend and part-time fascist Johnny.

My Beautiful Launderette paints a complex picture and narrative of male masculinity and relationships which explore father-son relationships, brotherly love, friendship and queer love, competition between the ideal Pakistani man and the Westernised ethnic, and finally leadership and pack mentality. Power, love and freedom are main motivators in the play and the various variations of how these dynamics play out between different characters is what makes this story so irresistible to watch. Chemistry is palpable, especially between the main two protagonists Omar and Johnny played impeccably by Lucca Chadwick-Patel and Sam Mitchell.

Speaking of impeccable performances, Gordon Warnecke plays Papa beautifully which makes total sense when you find out that he played Omar Malik in the original film in 1985. You can read the interview with Warnecke with The Belgrade Theatre here. Warnecke’s comic timing especially deserves special mention along with his ability to be lovable even whenbeing a complete twat. Speaking of lovable twats, Paddy Daly’s depiction of Genghis, the Paki-hungry racist and political anarchist, is extraordinary. It is testament to what great actors can do with nuanced writing.

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Multi-platinum alt-rock trio Wallows have announced their eagerly awaited global tour in support of their forthcoming album Model. Wallows’ Model Tour, their biggest tour to date, was revealed this morning with a spectacular short film directed by Nina Ljeti and stars the band themselves, along with a few of their friends. Watch the eerie, horror-film esque video which was shot at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum HERE.

Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off August 6^th in Portland, OR at Alaska Airlines’ Theater of the Clouds and will take the band across North America, Europe and the United Kingdom (full list of shows below). The 38 city tour marks Wallows’ first ever headline performances at Madison Square Garden, The Kia Forum, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Budweiser Stage, Alexandra Palace, Zenith, and AFAS Live. Additionally, very special guest Benee will join the band on all North American dates.

Wallows newsletter subscribers will get first access to pre-sale tickets starting Tuesday, March 12^th at 10am local time through Thursday, March 14^th at 10pm local time. If you aren’t already a subscriber, you can register HERE by 7pm ET tonight (March 11^th) for access. Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10am local time on Friday, March 15^th. For tickets and more information, visit wallowsmusic.com.

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To celebrate 30 years of garage music, The House & Garage Orchestra will headline London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town on Saturday 8^th June 2024. Tickets are now on general sale via livenation.co.uk.

The House & Garage Orchestra (THGO) will celebrate 30 years of garage with their dynamic musical project bringing the electrifying energy of House & Garage music to life on stage. The Orchestra has captivated live audiences with their soulful renditions of iconic classics, collaborating with original vocalists and artists to deliver unforgettable live experiences so it’s certainly not to be missed on 8^th June!

The House & Garage Orchestra: Celebrating 30 Years of Garage 

Saturday 8^th June                          O2 Forum Kentish Town                           London, United Kingdom

MORE: Founded in 2015 by music producer Shy Cookie and events promoter Ishmael Hamilton, The House & Garage Orchestra (THGO) is a dynamic musical project that brings the electrifying energy of House & Garage music to life on stage. Since their debut performance in 2016, THGO has captivated audiences with their soulful renditions of iconic classics, collaborating with original vocalists and artists to deliver unforgettable live experiences.

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Olivier Award-winning hip hop dance theatre company Boy Blue has been appointed as the next Guest Artistic Director of National Youth Dance Company (NYDC) for 2024/25. Boy Blue was founded in East London in 2001 by Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante and Kenrick ‘H2O’ Sandy and is a radical force that has defined the potential and power of hip hop dance theatre across the UK.

National Youth Dance Company, run by Sadler’s Wells is the country’s flagship company for young dancers. Since its inception 336 dancers have joined the company, working intensively with renowned dance artists as Guest Artistic Directors including Oona Doherty, Wayne McGregor, Alesandra Seutin, Russell Maliphant, Botis Seva, Sharon Eyal, Damien Jalet, Michael Keegan Dolan, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Akram Khan & Jasmin Vardimon.

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From 2-25 August 2024, Edinburgh International Festival presents a hand-picked selection of leading international and local artists in the world’s Festival City, with 24 days of world-class opera, dance, music and theatre.

Much to the delight of her UK fan base, girl in red has announced that she will be returning to the UK later this year with her ‘DOING IT AGAIN’  tour. The Norwegian alt-pop superstar will hit some of the UK’s most iconic venues including Glasgow’s Barrowland Ballroom, Manchester’s O2 Apollo, and London’s OVO Arena Wembley.

Tickets go on general sale from Friday 15^th March, at 10am local time via www.worldinred.com.

The news comes in support of her forthcoming sophomore album ‘I’M DOING IT AGAIN BABY!’ which will be released on 12^th April via Columbia Records. Pre-order/save here. Fans who pre-order the album will gain access to the artist’s pre-sale which starts Wednesday 13^th March, at 10am local. For more information on pre-sale access visit www.worldinred.com.

girl in red: Doing It Again UK Tour 2024

Thursday 29 August       Barrowland Ballroom   Glasgow, United Kingdom
Sunday 1 September     O2 Apollo                     Manchester, United Kingdom
Tuesday 3 September   OVO Arena Wembley    London, United Kingdom

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