There's plenty to keep you entertained this week in Nottingham, from futuristic light displays in the sky to reflective poetry and the history of electronic music. Here's our top picks of what to get up to....
Where: Five Leaves Bookshop
When: Thursday 18 April 2024 7pm - 8:30 pm
How much: Free, booking advised
Enjoy an evening of poetry at Five Leaves with the launch of Rory Waterman's new collection Come Here to This Gate. The first part of the book focusses on the last year of his father's life, the second on gates and borders, while in the last section Waterman rewrites several folk tales into 'galloping, rambunctious ballads for the 2020s'. Joined by Rory is Gregory Woods, who will be reading from his new collection They Exchange Glances: Gay Modernist Poems in Translation.
Where: New Art Exchange
When: 18 April - 4 May, 10am - 4pm
How much: Free
Through recorded phone calls by young refugees and asylum seekers worldwide, this exhibition presents themes of exile, displacement, and cross-cultural communication. Co-created with those who have experienced conflict, the installation features multidirectional ultrasonic speakers, weaving a tapestry of narratives on home, connection, and resilience. As you traverse the gallery, contribute your own voice notes, shaping a collective soundscape that redefines sanctuary and solidarity.
When: Friday 19 April, 6.30-9pm
Where: Beam Bookshop at Primary, 33 Seely Road, NG7 1NU
How much: Free
If you like the idea of understanding more about electronic music, this one is for you. Matthew Collin’s latest book Dream Machines is a history of electronic music in the UK, told by the Nottingham-raised author of Altered State and Rave On. Joining him for a chat on stage will be three interesting characters from the Nottingham music scene; Justin Turford (Truth and Lies), Kamal Joory (Geiom) and Alex Herington (Hexial).
Evolution Drone Light Show
When: 19 April, from 7pm
Where: Trent Bridge Cricket Ground
How much: Various
Witness an epic-scale theatrical event told through a swarm of mesmerising drones flying in unison. Experience the sky above Nottingham as it becomes the stage for the story of human evolution. Watch the universe unfold, from the humble beginnings of single-cell organisms, to the awe-inspiring reign of the dinosaurs ending with the arrival of modern humans.
Where: Broadway Cinema
When: 21 April, 12:00 pm
How much: From £17
Fancy dipping your toe into opera? Experience the timeless allure of Puccini's La Rondine, a bittersweet love tale featuring soprano Angel Blue as the elegant Magda and tenor Jonathan Tetelman as the idealistic Ruggero. Let Maestro Speranza Scappucci's direction, alongside Nicolas Joël’s Art Deco-inspired staging, whisk you from Parisian nightlife to the enchanting French Riviera.
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