Northants, Leics &amp; Rutland

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-art-and-exhibitions">ART AND EXHIBITIONS</h2>



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Well hello 2024, and may we say you’re looking delicious? First on the agenda: stilettos on and best foot forward, there&#8217;s still time to catch <a href="https://www.leicestermuseums.org/Shoes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Out of the Store, Shoes</a>, an exhibition of shoes at Newarke Houses in Leicester spanning 400 years of foot fashion, including the oldest shoe in the collection from 1570 and towering platforms from the 1970s. On until 14 Jan. 



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<a href="https://www.leicestermuseums.org/ThisGoldenMile" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">This Golden Mile</a> is a fab photography exhibition at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery from local artist Kavi Pujara, documenting the people and homes of streets leading away from the one-mile stretch of Melton Road that turns into Belgrave Road with its sari shops, Indian restaurants and jewellers, in a visual love letter to the area and its community. Continues until 31 March. 



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<a href="https://www.leicestermuseums.org/ThroughMyEyes" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Through My Eyes</a>, at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery until 1 March,&nbsp;showcases the artwork, sculpture, photography, and music of 3 different artists, all of whom are on the autistic spectrum. The exhibition aims to challenge the stigma surrounding people with additional needs and celebrate the power of creativity. 



<a href="https://www.leicestermuseums.org/LeicesterVistas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leicester Vistas</a> also continues at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery until 10 March, celebrating the city through paintings and photography and the annual <a href="https://www.leicestermuseums.org/OpenExhibition2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Open Exhibition</a> is on at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery until 19 Jan, showcasing artistic talent from across the East Midlands, from beginners to seasoned professionals working in a variety of media. 



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<a href="https://attenborougharts.com/whats-on/arcadia-for-all-rethinking-landscape-painting-now/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arcadia for All? Rethinking Landscape Painting Now</a>, at the Attenborough Arts Centre in Leicester until 28 Jan, raises questions about access to nature and challenging nostalgic, idyllic and elitist ideas of landscape; embracing and celebrating nature in all its forms with artwork by over thirty artists, including Hurvin Anderson, Andrew Grassie, Lubaina Himid, Matthew Krishanu, Elizabeth Magill and George Shaw. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-on-stage">ON STAGE</h2>



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Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice&#8217;s blockbuster musical <a href="https://www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/">Evita</a>&nbsp;is on until&nbsp;at Leicester Curve until 13 Jan, featuring classic tunes we all belt out in the shower&nbsp;(just me?) like Don’t Cry for me Argentina. On 19 Jan you can catch <a href="https://www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/shows/how-to-build-a-universe-and-how-to-end-it/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to Build a Universe</a> from choreographer&nbsp;Jamaal Burkmar. Visually striking, mesmerising dance to intoxicating music, and improvisation with guest participants, then, praise be, from 31 Jan to 10 Feb a brand new production of <a href="https://www.curveonline.co.uk/whats-on/shows/sister-act-4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sister Act</a> takes to the stage, featuring original music by Tony and 8-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Disney’s&nbsp;Aladdin, Enchanted) and songs inspired by Motown, soul and disco..



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-screenings">SCREENINGS</h2>



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There’s a smorgasbord of hot releases on the big screen for us to devour this month. Beeline it to&nbsp;Leicester&#8217;s Phoenix Cinema for Timothée Chalamet’s take on Roald Dahl’s wacky chocolate connoisseur in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.phoenix.org.uk/whats-on/programme/wonka/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wonka&nbsp;</a>(screening until 11 Jan), Sofia Coppola&#8217;s new drama <a href="https://www.phoenix.org.uk/whats-on/programme/priscilla/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Priscilla</a>, based on Priscilla Presley’s autobiography Elvis and Me and screening from 5 Jan and <a href="https://www.phoenix.org.uk/whats-on/programme/one-life/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">One Life</a>, starring Anthony Hopkins, Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Flynn, also screening from 5 Jan. 



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There&#8217;s also a clutch of live screenings on the schedule, to keep you feeling suitably highbrow, from the likes of The Royal Opera and the National Theatre Live, including Dvorák’s supernatural fairy-tale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.phoenix.org.uk/whats-on/programme/roh-rusalka/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rusalka</a>&nbsp;(24 &amp; 28 Jan) and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.phoenix.org.uk/whats-on/programme/nt-live-dear-england/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dear England</a>, starring Joesph Fiennes as a waistcoated Gareth Southgate (25 &amp; 31 Jan), plus screenings of the Pet Shop Boys&#8217; greatest hits tour, <a href="https://www.phoenix.org.uk/whats-on/programme/pet-shop-boys-dreamworld-the-hits-live/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dreamworld</a> (above), on 31 Jan and 4 Feb, captured live at Copenhagen’s Royal Arena &#8211; if you&#8217;ve never been lucky enough to catch them perform live, prepare to be transported. 



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-comedy">COMEDY</h2>



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If you need tp lighten the January load with some well-deserved laughs, head to De Montfort Hall on 12 Jan for the official launch event for <a href="https://www.demontforthall.co.uk/event/lcf-gala-preview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Leicester Comedy Festival 2024.</a> This annual comedy treat is the perfect opportunity to sample some of the acts who will be performing as part of the festival next month. Always a sell-out, the show has previously included Jimmy Carr, Sarah Millican, Jenny Éclair, Barry Cryer and Rosie Jones and this year is hosted by Sindhu Vee (QI, Mock the Week, Netflix).



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-music">MUSIC</h2>



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Join the Philharmonia for <a href="https://www.demontforthall.co.uk/event/philharmonia-at-the-oscars/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A Night at the Oscars</a> on 13 Jan at De Montfort Hall, for a concert packed full of music from award-winning films, from black and white classics to recent blockbusters, including Out of Africa, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Schindler&#8217;s List and many more. Dress down in jeans or channel the red carpet. 



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English folk royalty <a href="https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/eliza-carthy-jenn-reid-the-musician-tickets/13572268" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eliza Carthy</a> (MBE, no less) is playing at The Musician in Leicester on 17 Jan. Expect nuanced vocals, fierce fiddle-playing and a mesmerizing performance.



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In recognition of Pink Floyd’s iconic 1973 album, what more fitting a place to celebrate and replay the music set than the UK’s largest Planetarium? <a href="https://www.spacecentre.co.uk/whats-on/pink-floyds-the-dark-side-of-the-moon-2023/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon</a>, at the National Space Centre on 20 Jan, is an immersive and all-encompassing surround sound and visual treat way beyond the realms of 2D experience.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-books">BOOKS</h2>



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If your New Year&#8217;s Resolution was to read more books, then why not make it a social event and head to <a href="https://kibworthbooks.com/collections/events/products/thursday-25th-january-bookclub-at-the-barn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bookclub at the Barn</a> from Kibworth Books? Every two months, they choose a new paperbacks to talk about over a drink and a nibble and it&#8217;s a chance to spend an evening with other book lovers. January&#8217;s book pick will be&nbsp;The Storied Life of AJ Fikry&nbsp;by Gabrielle Zevin,&nbsp;an uplifting and heart-filled story about the future of books and bookstores, and the people who love both.&nbsp;Pretty apt, we&#8217;d say.

Jolly Jan! 20+ things to do in Leicestershire and Rutland this month

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