ARTS & CULTURE

*SH*TFACED*: Ceramic pieces by Lindsey Mendick for *Why Do We Take Drugs?* as the Sainsbury Centre

After a dose of world-class culture? The next exhibition in the Sainsbury Centre‘s Big Question Series is unveiled this month and it’s a biggun’. Pondering the question, Why Do We Take Drugs? the carefully curated programme delves deep into drug cultures around the world, from alcohol and caffeine to ayahuasca and heroin, bringing to life the realities of drug taking in society through a series of interlinked exhibits. First up, Power Plants: Intoxicants, Stimulants and Narcotics and Ayahuasca & Art of the Amazon (both from Sat 14 Sep – Sun 2 Feb).

Keep the arty party going by checking out cool photography exhibit, The Camera Never Lies, while you’re there, on until Sun 20 Oct. And, if you haven’t had chance to see ceramic artist Dame Magdalene Odundo‘s brilliant exhibit at Houghton Hall yet, take this as your PSA to do so lickety-split as it ends Sat 29 Sep and is well worth seeing.

On the literary front, a scaled down version of the cult crime writing festival Noirwich sees acclaimed novelist and true-crime obsessive, Emma Flint, host this year’s lecture where she’ll be discussing the ins and outs of the genre – a must for crime fiction enthusiasts, UEA (Wed 11 Sep). While over at the National Centre for Writing, award-winning writers Katie Hale and Ned Beauman will be discussing Climate in Fiction (Thu 26 Sep).

Spoken word more your thing? Wordsmith Luke Wright comes to Diss Corn Hall (Fri 20 Sep) with a new compilation of poems, JOY – and a joy to hear we’re sure they will be. And over at Norwich Arts Centre there’s another dish sesh in True Stories: Here I Go Again (Sun 15 Sep).

And film fans, Wells Maltings is once again taking part in the Manhattan Short Film Festival, a global event showcasing, and celebrating, short films (Mon 30 Sep). What’s more, audience members get to vote for their favourites – time to channel your inner film critic!

ON THE STAGE

Summer isn’t over until these seasonal spectaculars say it is! You have until Sat 28 Sep to take a whistle stop tour of the West End (with some slapstick and acrobatics along the way) with the Cromer Pier Show, until Tue 8 Oct to see the laugh-a-minute Summer Showtime at Gorleston Pavilion, and until Sun 17 Sep to see the Summer Circus & Water Spectacular at Great Yarmouth’s Hippodrome.

Musical fans will be in their element this month with fam favourite Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flying into Norwich Theatre Royal (Tue 24 – Sun 29 Sep). This new production stars Adam Garcia, Liam Fox and Charlie Brooks going back to her baddie roots as The Child Catcher. Then there’s Showstopper! The Improvised Musical which pretty much does exactly what it says on the tin, Gorleston Pavilion (Thu 26 Sep) and a kaleidoscopic fusion of musical theatre and circus, (yep, you heard), Cirque The Greatest Show needs to be seen to be believed, Norwich Theatre Royal (Fri 6 Sep).

On the play front, Sheringham Little Theatre is serving another superb one woman show, Marcella’s Minute to Midnight, which may or may not inspire you to clean out your attic (Sat 14 Sep), while the perfectly anarchic theatre company, The Pantaloons, are still doing the rounds with their innovative and interactive spin on Shakespeare’s classic comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor, Diss Corn Hall (Thu 26 Sep).

Agatha Christie fans are in for a treat with not one but two Christie classics on the books this month. First up The Unexpected Guest, The Maddermarket Theatre (Tue 10 – Sat 14 Sep) followed by Murder on the Orient Express, Norwich Theatre Royal (Tue 17 – Sat 21 Sep), sadly no Kenneth Branagh in this production but Michael Maloney makes a grand substitute as the moustachioed sleuth, Poirot.

And getting you in the mood for Halloween early it’s Yvette Fielding and her team of ghost hunters for a special live (and super scary) edition of the spooktacular, Most Haunted, Norwich Theatre Royal (Mon 2 Sep), while murder is afoot at Epic Studios in Norwich with the popular, immersive crime scene experience, Murder: Staged, can you catch the killer? A must for true crime fans (Thu 5 Sep). As is The Makings of a Murderer 2, Princess Theatre Hunstanton (Tue 24 Sep) where former head of the MET’s murder squad, Colin Sutton, aka the real Manhunter reveals how he caught some of the UK’s most evil murderers. Yikes.

And lastly, we’re still surprised it’s not sold out so get in quick for the Mad, Bad and Dangerous, Sir Ranulph Fiennes who will be chatting about his escapades at Norwich Theatre Royal (Sun 1 Sep).

MUSIC

Red lippy and victory rolls at the ready, it’s time for a walk down memory lane. Those retrotastic Knightingales (above) make their return to Sheringham Little Theatre for a 1940s Singalong (Fri 20-Sat 21 Sep), performing vintage gems by the likes of Dame Vera Lynn, Doris Day and The Andrew Sisters. Gorleston Pavilion continue the Forties vibes for An Afternoon With The Vibettes (Sun 29 Sep) while it’s on to the Fifties and Sixties at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange for the rockin’ and rollin’ jukebox jiving variety show, Lipstick on your Collar (Fri 20 Sep) and Seventies at Diss Corn Hall for the Ultimate Disco Show – flares optional.

For more rockin’ and rollin’, The Stars of The Commitments (yes, really) will be belting out bangers from the cult movie to celebrate its 30th anniversary at Hunstanton’s Princess Theatre (Thu 19 Sep). Mustang Sally always for the win!

For something more modern, and folksy, Norwich Arts Centre is the place to be with guitarist and singer, Sam Carter, who counts Jules Holland as a fan, strumming away on Sun 22 Sep, and Laura Cannell bringing her semi-composed, semi-improvised show on Wed 25 Sep.

And Binham Priory Summer Concert Series of classical class comes to a close with a candlelit performance from violin virtuoso, Pavlo Beznosiuk, and lutanist Paula Chateauneuf, Wells Maltings (Sat 7 Sep).

COMEDY

Get ready to hold those sides – triple the comics means triple the LOL’s in ART a hilarious sketch show starring Sean Walsh, Chris Harper and Aden Gillett, Norwich Theatre Royal (Thu 12 – Sat 14 Sep).

Over at Norwich Playhouse on Thu 5 Sep is Drag Race UK winner, Danny Beard, and their brand new show Straight Expectations which is jam-packed with killer vocals, snappy comedy, put downs and pick me ups. Deffo not one to miss.

Doing it for the girls this month we have Laura Smyth living her best life on Sat 14 Sep and Amy Gledhill‘s musings on self-confidence, romance and, um, bin bags in her new show Make Me Look Fit On The Poster on Sun 29 Sep, both at Norwich Playhouse.

Fresh from the Fringe, we have social media sensation Christopher Hall on Bad Girls, Queen Bees and being a boy who is a bit girly, Norwich Playhouse (Tue 24 Sep) while another social media favourite, Red Richardson, is staying toxic everyone at The Garage (Sat 7 Sep).

And for more laughs for your buck there’s the Comedy Network The Garage (Fri 6 Sep) with funny peeps Dan Antopolski, Grace Mulvey and Russell Arathoon taking to the stage, Gorleston Pavilion‘s Comedy Club (Fri 13 Sep) and lastly the Comedy Club at Kings Lynn Corn Exchange on Thu 26 Sep.

OUT & ABOUT

Make the most of the remaining summer warmth (*sob*) before we have to dig out the big coat. First up, flower, festival and fun fans will want to head to The Old Vineyard in Forncett St Peter (Fri 20-Sun 22 Sep) for the fest ever FAMFest. A flower, ale and music festival set within a two acre Dahlia field sporting 250 different varieties.

Slick on some red lippy and Steam Back to the Forties with the North Norfolk Railway on Sat 21-Sun 22 Sep. Use the hop-on, hop-off ticket to get stuck into the retro merriment at Sheringham, Weybourne and Holt stations where you’ll toe-tap to tunes from the era, watch 40s cooking demos, take dancing lessons and visit the air raid warden – bonus points if you dig out the vintage garb.

Speaking of vintage, in honour of Second Hand September, head on down to Norwich Arts Centre with all your unwanted garms and trade them in for new treasures at Swap-O-Rama! (Sun 22 Sep). Still have room in your wardrobe? Slow Fashion Norwich are hosting a Pre-Loved Fashion Show where you’ll get to see (and buy) plenty of vintage gems in action, Norwich Puppet Theatre (Thu 26 Sep).

For a more leisurely pace of life, stock up on plants, crafts and gifts at the Autumn Garden and Outdoor Living Fair at Holkham Hall on Sat 28 Sep, where there’ll be everything from posies and plants to gin and gazebos. And on Sun 22 Sep, admire Suffolk Punch’s in all their glory at the Horse Power! Heavy Horse Day at Gressenhall, when you can watch the horses work the land, see the Farmers Foundry engine on display, browse crafty goodies and ramble along the trails.

Venture out into the earlier darkness on Sat 28 Sep to join an evening of stargazing at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden in South Walsham. Weather permitting, the pros will have telescopes on hand so you can get a glimpse at the Norfolk sky’s most spectacular sights, before tucking into saussie rolls and hot drinks in the tearoom.

And now’s your chance to have a snoop round some of Norfolk’s secret rooms and buildings courtesy of Heritage Open Days (Fri 6-Sun 15 Sep) – here’s our picks for this year.

FESTIVALS

Folks fans, roll up! Eke out the last drops of summer before we ease ourselves into the season of cosy nights at Deepdale Festival, from Thu 26 – Sun 29 Sep, on the beautiful North Norfolk coast. There’s a line-up of over 40 acts, including Skinny Lister, Bonfire Radicals and Granny’s Attic, which you can enjoy with a local bevvie and street food.

Over in Gt Yarmouth it’s all about beer and the circus – we know, a dangerous combo in the wrong hands but not when the Out There Arts folk are concerned. The annual Beer and Circus Festival will take place in the Drill House featuring fantastic acrobatics, circus acts and other live entertainment washed down with a pint(s) of the good stuff (Thu 19 – Sun 22 Sep).

FOODIE FUN

Get a hit of pop nostalgia when Sister Sledge and Scouting For Girls take to the stage at Norwich Foodies Festival, which takes over Earlham Park from Fri 6 – Sun 8 Sep. As well as crowd-pleasing live music and masterclasses from Michelin-starred chefs – including Norfolk’s Galton Blackiston and Richard Bainbridge – you can sign the kids up for cookery sessions and nab a seat in the feasting tent.

For a night(s) without the kids, head to Delia’s Canary Catering in Norwich for immersive murder mystery evening, Murder on Board, where you’ll play detective in-between canapés and a two course meal cooked by Delia’s finest chefs, tickets £55 (Fri 13 Sep), or over to The Copse on the Raynham Estate where supper club season courtesy of Brix and Bones‘ George Wood is still in full force with another delectable flame cooked feast (Thu 19 & Fri 20 Sep).

WELLNESS

September is a great month for a refresh and to re-commit to those fitness goals you pledged back in January. For runners, hit your stride at Run Sandringham 10K on Sun 24 Sep, when runners – both pros and newbies – will lace up and jog around the royal estate’s parkland. There’s also Park Run every Saturday at Holkham Hall and the Trust10 at the Blickling Estate which returns (Sun 22 Sep) after breaking for the summer.

For those who haven’t let their fitness slip, grab your dumbbells and make for the Apex Games at Norfolk Showground (Sat 7 Sep) the ultimate test of endurance. Gulp.

For something a bit less sweaty (and a whole lot sweeter) how about a spot of Yoga and Afternoon Tea? Now we have your attention, Yoga With Lucy is hosting a wonderful afternoon of mindfulness which starts with tarot followed by a Vinyasa flow and ends with cake – if ever there was a way to get us back on the wellness train it’s with cake (and a glass of fizz!). Artisan Café in Alby (Sun 15 Sep, 2-4pm).

Don’t know your downward facing dog from your puppy pose? No problem, Waveney Flow Yoga Retreat, Harleston (Fri 6 – Sun 8 Sep), is perfect for beginners and the more flexibly challenged among you.

And we know this isn’t until October but if your health and fitness ethos is go big or go home you’ll want to book the 100 Human Experience asap. A chokka block weekend of meditation, inspiring talks, movement, immersion into nature, creative work, Cacao ceremonies, sweat lodges and ice baths at the gorgeous Happy Valley Glamping Retreat in Grimston (Fri 11 – Sun 13 Oct) led by lifestyle coach, endurance athlete and author, Tony Riddle, aka The Natural Lifestylist. Namaste indeed.

KIDS

Got a penchant for puppets? Norwich Theatre Royal are staging family-friendly puppet show of the much-loved kids book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar on Fri 20 – Sun 22 Sep while it’s all about shadow puppets in The Witch and the Egg a charming story about family and growing up at Diss Corn Hall on Sat 14 Sep.

Have a superhero fanatic in the house? Get them to NORCON at the Norfolk Showground on the weekend of Sat 28 & Sun 29 Sep, where the name of the game is all things TV, film and comics. They can meet their super-powered idols, listen to talks and spot familiar faces like Chris Barrie and Danny John-Jules from Red Dwarf.

It’s beginning to look a lot like autumn at the National Trust with apple picking at Oxburgh (Sat 21- Sun 22 Sep) and Magic, Folklore and colourful trails at Blickling Estate (from Sat 21 Sep) best enjoyed with something pumpkin spiced in the Muddy Boots café afterwards.

And rounding off September on a feathery and flamboyant high, it’s the Flamingo Festival at Pensthorpe (Sat 28-Sun 29 Sep). That’s right a weekend celebrating the nature parks flock of 66 Greater Flamingos – think talks, trails, fancy dress, face painting and, of course, a flamingo parade.

SCREENINGS

There’s still time to get some al-fresco cinema action before the weather turns courtesy of Cinema City and The Plantation Garden in Norwich. Left on the reel this year is Timothée Chalamet as Wonka (Sun 1 Sep), Talking Heads music documentary Stop Making Sense (Sat 7 Sep) and Barbie (Sun 8 Sep).

Move inside to see the superb Jodie Comer and her Olivier and Tony-winning performance in Prima Facie where she plays a brilliant young barrister who is forced to confront the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals after an incident. Wowza. Showing at Sheringham Little Theatre (Wed 18 Sep) and Diss Corn Hall, Wells Maltings and Cinema City on Thu 12 Sep.

For the opera fans, Mozart’s classic comedy The Marriage of Figaro is coming to Diss Corn Hall, Wells Maltings and Cinema City on Tue 10 Sep and Sheringham Little Theatre on Sun 15 Sep.

And ballet, Matthew Bourne’s stunning production of the Tim Burton classic, Edward Scissorhands, is showing at Sheringham Little Theatre and Cinema City on Wed 25 Sep.

BOOK AHEAD

True crime fans listen up, former Scotland Yard DCI and Criminal Psychologist Steve Gaskin will be delving deep into the world of serial killers and the psychology behind their crimes – eek – at Delia’s Canary Catering next month. Tickets £20 with the option to purchase food on the evening (Fri 18 Oct).

Phew, no chance of taking it easy this month then?

Showstopping September! Here’s what’s happening near you this month

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