Friday 9 February 2018

What's On at Waterside, Sale this February Half Term 10th -18th February 2018

If you are looking for some ideas of where to go with the kids this February Half Term, then Waterside have some fun family shows and events planned to keep you entertained.

THEATRE

Listing Details

Show: Hawk Dance Theatre & The Knotted Project present The Chit Chat Chalk Show
Venue: Waterside, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, M33 7ZF
Date: Tuesday 13th February
Times: 11:30am and 2pm
Tickets: £9/ £7/ Family Club £4.50
Recommended for ages 3-8
Duration: Approximately 60 mins

On Tuesday 13th February, the Hawk Dance Theatre & The Knotted Project present 'The Chit Chat Chalk Show', where you can join their magical chalky adventure!

Kiko is a confused young girl, struggling to understand how she feels about the strange new world she lives in. With her new friends, she embarks upon a quest to discover the mixture of emotions and colours that make her unique! The story dances, draws and giggles its way through from beginning to end. It's sure to put a smile on faces, young and old!

In the Robert Bolt Theatre.


Listing Details

Show: Spark the Goblin Wizard
Venue: Waterside, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, M33 7ZF
Date: Friday 16th February
Times: 11am and 2:30pm
Tickets: £9/ £7/ Family Club £4.50
Recommended for ages 5+
Duration: Approximately 65 mins including interval.

On Friday 16th February, Spark the Goblin Wizard will be bringing his magic to Waterside and will be sure to provide plenty of laughs in this performance that is written and performed by Dommy B.

Spark's magic can turn anything into anything. He'll turn bogeys up his nose into some pink ribbons and bows. He'll make a gorgeous high-heeled shoe out of a pile of donkey poo... However, something strange and terrible begins to happen in Spark's forest. With lyrics, laughs and lots of joining in, poet Dommy B needs your help to save the day!

In the Chambers.




COMEDY

Listing Details

COMEDYSPORTZ 4 TOTS
Venue: Waterside, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, M33 7ZF
Date: Saturday 10th February
Time: 3pm
Tickets: £5/£3
Recommended for ages 6 & under
Duration: 45 minutes

ComedySportz are bringing a brand new show packed with silly games and songs for even younger audiences. Highly interactive, this friendly, non-competitive version of the show will delight and entertain with madcap, improvised games with plenty of physicality, stories, songs, silly noises and big laughs. Join in as much as you want!

In the Chambers.

Listing Details

COMEDYSPORTZ
Venue: Waterside, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, M33 7ZF
Date: Saturday 10th February
Time: 6:30pm
Tickets: £7/£5
Recommended for ages 7+
Duration: 2 hours including interval

ComedySportz is an all ages, all improvised show where two teams battle it out for laughs as players create quick-witted sketches, scenes and songs from whatever suggestions are thrown at them by the audience. It's a show that's fast, feel good and always unpredictably funny. There's a referee on hand to steer the entertainment, call any fouls and help the audience decide the winner.

In the Chambers.



FAMILY FILM

Listing Details

Despicable Me 3 (2017)
Venue: Waterside, 1 Waterside Plaza, Sale, Trafford, M33 7ZF
Date: Saturday 17th February
Time: 2pm
Tickets: £5/£2.50 Family Club Members
Rating: U
Duration: 1 hour 30 mins

Gru meets his long-lost charming, cheerful, and more successful twin brother Dru, who wants to team up with him for one last criminal heist.

About Family Club

You can join Waterside's popular Family Club for just £7.50 per family per year for exclusive offers on theatre shows, special events, half price family films and over half price entry to art club. You can find out more at watersidearts.org/familyclub


Disclaimer: Shows/Dates/Times listing are correct at time of writing, but I would always suggest checking the venue's own website in order to obtain the most up to date information.

Tuesday 6 February 2018

My 2018 Travel Bucket List

My husband and I both recently had a chat about places we would like to visit, or destinations we would like to return to. This is a conversation we have had regularly over the years and our opinions and thoughts have changed over time, especially since having children. I therefore set about writing my ultimate travel bucket list of places that I would love to visit in 2018. Some of these destinations are places that my husband and I have visited before, but would like to return to again with the kids, whilst others are places I have always dreamed of exploring.

Dubai 

Back in 2005, when my husband and I got married, we embarked on a luxurious honeymoon where we booked round the world flights and visited five different destinations that included Los Angeles, Sydney, Brisbane, Singapore & Dubai. The whole trip was amazing, but Dubai in particular was just incredible with the hot sands, crystal clear waters, superb shopping centres and some of the nicest food we have ever tasted. Every person we met was so friendly, it felt incredibly safe and it really is a stunning place. Since then, we have seen Dubai tourism continue to grow and have seen just how much there is now on offer for families too. Whilst our dream holiday 12 years ago was all about the luxury and relaxation, Dubai is now on my bucket list for the fun, entertainment, waterparks and beach activities that are all on offer for a great family holiday.

Atlantis - The Palm certainly ticks all the boxes for me, offering the perfect combination of 5 star luxury with the added bonus of a wide range of family friendly attractions. It would be incredible to go swimming with dolphins at Dolphin Bay, enjoy the thrilling rides at Aquaventure and be wowed by the 65,000 incredible marine animals in The Lost Chambers Aquarium. The fact that there is also a kids club with an extensive activity schedule would also guarantee my husband and I some quality time together, whilst knowing our children were being well taken care of. It would be lovely to enjoy just a couple of hours of relaxation in the spa together, or have an evening meal in one of the restaurants, making it the perfect holiday for both kids and grown ups.

Although we have visited Dubai before, I have no doubt that it has changed considerably since our last visit. It would be amazing to see how the skyline has changed, as well as visiting all the new attractions on offer. A sunset boat ride would certainly be a treat for all of us, in addition to a Dubai Desert Safari where we could ride over the dunes and enjoy a delicious evening barbecue dinner.

Does any of this make you want to try Dubai? If so then Destination2 Holidays have some great deals, as well as lots of other ideas for places to stay or visit.

Photo Credit: Christoph Schulz on Unsplash.
The Maldives

The Maldives is one of those idyllic picture postcard places that just looks stunning. With beautiful white sandy beaches reaching into the Indian Ocean and luxurious resorts situated on their own private islands, it is definitely a destination where you can indulge and relax whilst enjoying the tropical climate.

If my husband and I were to travel without the children, perhaps as a second honeymoon for our anniversary, then The Maldives would probably be our first choice for an adult escape. Whilst a lot of the resorts do offer activities for children, I can just picture myself enjoying the peace and quiet whilst sunbathing by a stunning water bungalow.

Although a peaceful romantic break here sounds perfect, there is also plenty to do to keep us entertained such as snorkelling or diving and exploring the coral reefs. A speedboat trip to the capital of Male would also be amazing, so that we could enjoy the local culture and shop in the markets.

With such a wide choice of resorts to stay in, the only difficulty would be having to pick just one.

Photo credit: Ishan @seefromthesky on Unsplash
Thailand

Next on my bucket list is Thailand, which is a destination that I have not had the chance to visit before. You may be starting to see a theme with my list, since they all feature beautiful sandy beaches, however I have actually picked Thailand for a few different reasons.

Of course the beaches would be stunning, but Thailand is a place that I would love to visit with my children because of the wide range of diversity and cultural history. With so many places in Thailand to choose from, I think I would definitely consider a multi-centre holiday in this destination in order to make the most of our trip. Koh Samui definitely appeals to me because of its pristine beaches and luxury resorts, but at the same time I think Phuket would also be a great place for some family fun thanks to the water sports and theme parks on offer.

A trip to a temple would be a must do activity to learn more about the history in the area. I also know that my children would love to see some elephants. I wouldn't want to ride an elephant or go on an elephant safari, but perhaps a trip to Phuket Elephant Sanctuary would be ideal. This would allow us to see some rescued elephants being cared for, whilst watching them enjoy their surroundings at a respectable distance away. I believe this would be both educational and inspiring for all of us.

Another reason I would love to visit Thailand is the cuisine. I love food and I love trying new flavours and ingredients, so it would be the perfect opportunity to try out some of the delicious dishes available.

Photo credit: Peter Nguyen on Unsplash
Singapore

Singapore is somewhere my husband and I have visited before on our honeymoon, however this was the fourth destination on our travels and by this point we were so tired that we literally spent our days sunbathing by the pool. Whilst there is absolutely nothing wrong with this and we had a really enjoyable time, I do feel as though we missed an opportunity to go exploring and head into the city to see the sights. For this reason Singapore is definitely on my travel bucket list for 2018.

We previously stayed on Sentosa Island which boasts some fantastic hotels and attractions, but I would love to return to the city with our children and show them some of the amazing architecture as well as visit Orchard Road. For some excitement and adventure we could visit Universal Studios Singapore™ and KidZania and for a more relaxing day out, then a trip to Gardens by the Bay would be a must.

Gardens by the Bay is located next to the Marina Reservoir and covers a staggering 101 hectares. Featuring a wide array of floral displays, trees, plants and unique features such as the Flower Dome, and the world's tallest indoor waterfall.

In terms of a hotel, I think I would choose a city centre hotel with an outdoor pool. There is so much to see and do in the area that I would want to concentrate more on exploring than relaxing if we were to return.

Which countries would you put on your 2018 Travel Bucket List? Have you visited any of the places I have mentioned?

Photo credit: Mo Baghdadi on Unsplash
*Disclaimer - This is a collaborative post with Destination2.


Monday 5 February 2018

Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2018 - Competition

As a family we love to go camping and have also owned tourer caravans and hired motorhomes in the past. All of these are a great way of getting out and about and enjoying weekend breaks or holidays together. We have therefore teamed up with the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2018, to give away 5 pairs of tickets to the show, which is taking place at the Birmingham NEC from the 20th to the 25th February 2018.

All the new season tents, trailer tents and folding caravans are displayed, together with camping and outdoor leisure accessories and, of course, the UK's largest exhibition line-up of caravans, motorhomes, campervans, caravan holiday homes and lodges.

Visitors can try their hand at motorhome manoeuvring, campervan test driving, and caravan towing* as well as exploring UK and overseas camping destinations. Whether new to camping and leisure vehicle holidays or an avid adventurer, the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2018 offers staycation inspiration and advice for all.


With encouraging everyone to spend '24 hours outdoors ' in 2018, a theme of this year's show, the Discovery Theatre's celebrity line-up includes inspiring and informative talks from a number of renowned names. Adventurers Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Anna McNuff share tales of their epic expeditions, whilst Rowland Rivron, Monica Rivron, Matt Allwright, Katie Chapman and Monty Halls also appear.

An array of cookery experts take to the stage throughout the show's six days, sharing quick and easy on-the-go recipes. See demonstrations from celebrity chefs such as Rustie Lee, Dean Edwards, Paul Da Costa Greaves, Chris Bavin and more.

With new-for-2018 attractions including a skate rink and Holiday Park Experience as well as favourites such as an assault course and climbing wall, there's plenty of free activities to enjoy. Also pitching up are The Camping and Caravanning Club and the Caravan and Motorhome Club offering thousands of camping destinations at home and abroad, while partners such as The Woodland Trust offer inspiration on walks and getting outdoors.


Tickets can be purchased online at www.ccmshow.co.uk or by phone on 0844 873 7333. Children aged 15 and under enter for FREE!

*Driving licence required.

As mentioned previously, we have a fantastic competition for our readers, to give you the chance to win a pair of tickets to the show. If you would like to enter then please read the terms and conditions and then complete your entry using the gleam form below. Good Luck!

Win a Pair of Tickets to the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2018

Terms and Conditions from the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2018
  • Tickets are to be collected at the press office at the NEC, the press office is located outside Hall 4, suites 4.8 and 4.9. It is accessible from within the hall during the following hours. You can choose which day you want to visit:
Tuesday 20th: 09:45 - 17:00
Wednesday 21st: 09:45 - 17:00
Thursday 22nd:  09:45 - 17:00
Friday 23rd: 09:45 - 17:00
Saturday 24th: 09:45 - 17:00
Sunday 25th: 09:45 - 12:00

  • £7.00 Senior (Over 60s), £8.00 Adult when booking before 23:59hrs 19/02/18 after which time prices revert to the on-the-door price of £9.00 Senior and £10.00 Adult. A £1.25 transaction fee applies. Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company's access charge. Car parking is included in the ticket price. No dogs (except assistance dogs). Children 15 years and under go free when accompanied by a paying Adult/Senior. Tickets are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for monetary value. For full terms and conditions please visit www.ccmshow.co.uk.
Competition Terms and Conditions
  • There are five (5) prizes each consisting of a pair of adult entry tickets to the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome show 2018. 
  • Tickets can be used on one (1) day of the show only between the show dates of 20th-25th February 2018 at the Birmingham NEC venue.
  • Competition closes on 10th February and winners shall be notified by email.
  • Winners will have 24 hours to respond to the winning email notification before an alternative winner is drawn from the remaining eligible entries, so please remember to check your emails on this day to see if you are a lucky winner.
  • Email address will be collected for the purpose of contacting winners only and will not be shared/sold to a third party.
  • Winners names only will be shared with the promoter for the purpose of prize fulfilment and ticket collection.
  • Tickets are non-transferable and there is no cash alternative.
  • Entry is open to UK residents aged 18 years or over.
  • The winner shall be required to collect their tickets from the press office at the show. Tickets will NOT be posted out.
  • No bulk or third party entries.
  • There will be no contribution made towards travel.

Thursday 1 February 2018

Dates for your Diary: Bing Live! Visits Two North West Venues - Chester & St Helens - September 2018

Calling all Bingsters! Bing and his friends are going on tour in the first ever Bing Stage Show! Bing Live! will visit Storyhouse, Chester on Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th September, as well as hopping on over to St Helens Theatre Royal on Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th September as part of a major UK tour in 2018.

Joing Bing, Sula, Coco and Pando as they learn how to tell stories by pretending, dressing-up and singing songs. Flop and Amma are there to help, but in this magical world of make-believe things don't always go according to plan...

The CBeebies favourites are brought to life in a brand new stage production full of fun, laughter, music and magical puppetry. Bing Live! is the perfect first theatre trip for pre-schoolers and their families.

Going to the theatre....it's a Bing thing!


Bing Live! is produced by Minor Entertainment (In the Night Garden Live) and directed by Will Tuckett, guest principal character artist of the Royal Ballet, whose production of Wind in the Willows won an Olivier Award for Best Entertainment in 2014.

The show will also bring together a first-class creative team to ensure a quality family entertainment stage show for audiences of all ages. Bing is adapted for the stage by Helen Eastman with costumes and puppet design by Tahra Zafar. As Head of Costume, Hair and Make-Up for the Olympic and Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies staged in London, 2012, Tahra managed the production of 23,000 costumes for all four cereomonies. Her film projects include: Star Wars VII The Force Awakens, X-Men First Class, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and The Fifth Element and for television: In the Night Garden, Zingzillas and The Adventures of Abney and Teal.

Since it's launch on CBeebies, Bing has been a huge ratings hit and it's the number one top rated pre-school show on BBC iPlayer. Celebrating the joyful, messy, reality of preschool life, Bing finds the big stories in the smallest moments that little ones and the grown-ups in their lives will recognise....whether it's dropping your ice-cream or losing your favourite toy.

The series has won an International Emmy Award in the Kids' Pre-School category in 2016, a Writer's Guild Award and a BAFTA nomination for Best Pre-School Series. The animated series, which saw Mark Rylance make his children's television debut voicing Flop, is produced by Acamar Films.

Andrew Collier, Creative Director of Minor Entertainment, said "We're thrilled to be bringing Bing to the stage - we know families throughout the UK love Bing as much as we do, and we can't wait to see children's faces light up when they meet him at the theatre for the first time."

Michael Shields, CEO of Acamar Films and producer of Bing said: "Seeing Bing take a leap from the screen to the stage is hugely exciting for all of us at Acamar. We are thrilled to be working with Minor Entertainment to bring the 'Bing Live' shows to our young audience. Introducing Bing fans to possibly their first experience of theatre is a tremendous creative challenge and Minor has shown imaginative flair, exceptional attention to detail, and their passion for bringing preschool characters to life has been evident throughout our collaboration with them. We can't wait to watch the reaction from Bingsters to seeing Bing and Flop on stage next year."

For further information on the show, please visit www.bingliveshow.com

Listing Details

Chester

Venue - Storyhouse Chester, Hunter Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2AR
Show - Bing Live!
Dates - Wednesday 5th September to Thursday 6th September
Times - Performance times vary, so please visit the website for the most up to date information.
Tickets - Adults £18.50/Children £16.50
Box Office - 01244 409113
Storyhouse website - www.storyhouse.com
Twitter - @StoryhouseLive
Facebook - StoryhouseLive

St Helens

Venue - St Helens Theatre Royal, Corporation Street, St. Helens, Merseyside, WA10 1LQ
Show - Bing Live!
Dates - Tuesday 18th September to Wednesday 19th September
Times - Performance times vary, so please visit the website for the most up to date information.
Tickets - Prices vary

Box Office - 01744 756000
Website - www.sthelenstheatreroyal.com
Twitter - @TheatreRoyalStH
Facebook - www.facebook.com/St-Helens-Theatre-Royal

*Disclaimer - Information correct at time of writing, however I would always recommend visiting the venues own website, in order to obtain the most up to date information.