That’s Entertainment: Andy Tyler discusses upcoming events in and around King’s Lynn, including pantos, film festival and church fairs
In his weekly, That’s Entertainment column, Andy Tyler looks at some exciting upcoming events...
As I write this week Storm Bert has kept many at home so I start with a couple of suggestions for entertainment to be enjoyed domestically while the weather restricts venturing outside!
Probably inspired by the recent release of the popular Gladiator II movie there are several TV shows currently being broadcast for those interested in the history of Ancient Rome. On BBC 4 historian Mary Beard continues her series entitled: Mary Beard’s Ultimate Rome: Empire Without Limit (the whole series is available on BBC iPlayer together with her other ancient Roman documentaries), and Dan Snow and Sian Phillips present documentaries on Channel 5 (also available on My 5).
Dan presents The Colosseum: Blood and Sand, (featuring plenty of Gladiators!), and Sian Phillips who played Livia, the Emperor Augustus’s wife in the classic TV series, I Claudius, presents a series telling the story of Augustus and the four emperors who followed him from her personal perspective. With her series entitled Emperor: Rise and Fall of a Dynasty and the dramatisation on BBC 1 and iPlayer of Hilary Mantel’s novel Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light there’s plenty to keep those interested in history and the general viewer entertained!
A reminder the book club meeting at The Stuart House Hotel at 5pm on Wednesday, January 15 next year will discuss Sally Rooney’s first novel ‘Conversations with Friends’. So there’s a book to read when you’re free at home, and then why not come along and discuss it at the meeting, enjoy the friendly company and refreshments?
And so to film. The King’s Lynn Film Festival is now running until Sunday. There’s a variety of fine films to enjoy, mostly being screened at The Corn Exchange Cinema so do pick up the programme of events leaflet available locally or visit: klfilmfestival.uk for all the exciting details.
My film recommendation of the week is: Conclave, just released; it stars Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, and concerns the finding of a new Pope to succeed in the position as the current Pope has died. Seems it’s not as straightforward and above-board as you’d think! Based on the novel by best-selling author Robert Harris.
The new brochure has been issued by The Alive King’s Lynn Corn Exchange covering the period between January and May 2025. As usual, there’s plenty of first-class entertainment on offer including comedy clubs, theatre, musical acts of all kinds, dance, discos, and streaming of opera. I notice Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra entertain in July. Full details in the brochure or visit: kingslynncornexchange.co.uk
Lynn’s Original Flea Market opens next on January 11, 2025, at The Alive Corn Exchange between 9am and 3pm. As always well worth a visit, find the Market on Facebook or for enquiries telephone: 07860 758872.
There’s the choice of two church fairs (or fayres), to visit tomorrow! The fayre at The Minster is held between 10am and 2pm and then the fair at Gaywood Church Rooms starts at 2pm. Why not go to both?
My panto recommendation this week is for a production of Rapunzel - The Pantomime, being presented at Fakenham Community Centre between Tuesday, December 3 and Saturday, Dec 7. Tickets available through ticketsource.co.uk. The show is described as hair-larious by the company!
It won’t be too long to wait now for The West Norfolk Gilbert and Sullivan Society’s production of The Mikado, taking place at The Guildhall in Lynn between February 6 and 8. Shows are nightly starting 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm. Do add the show to your little list of events to attend in 2025!
Lastly, if you have found something interesting that you may like to find more about, a coin or piece of pottery for instance, you have the chance tomorrow to visit Lynn Museum between 11am and 4pm when the Finds Identification and Recording Service will be on hand to assist!
