RESIDENTS JOUrNAL
The Calendar
A selection of the very best events happening in the area
8 FEBRUARY 9 MARCH 10-12 FEBRUARY 15 FEBRUARY
UNTIL 20 FEBRUARY
26 FEBRUARY 2 MARCH
1 MARCH
EXOTIC EXPLORATION
Explore a hidden world of exotic orchids and other tropical plants at Orchids at Kew: A Plant-hunters Paradise. In the hot and humid world of the Princess of Wales Conservatory, botanical enthusiasts can follow in the footsteps of the 19th century plant-hunters, discovering rare and beautiful orchids ourishing deep in the rainforest. Hear how they battled tropical diseases, monsoons and venomous predators in their quest for plant perfection.
CIRCUS QUIRKS
A LITTLE LOVE SONG
This month, the Normanseld Theatre at the Langdon Down Centre will showcase a musical interlude featuring the St Margarets Singers. The group has a burgeoning reputation as an excellent chamber choir in the Richmond area, and Music of the Heart, a themed celebration of love and passion through the ages, will showcase its broad repertoire.
PLAYFUL ART
THE MoscoW citY BALLET
This month, the Moscow City Ballet takes to the stage at the Richmond Theatre to perform two of ballets most iconic oeuvres; Romeo and Juliet, the crown jewel in the ballets seasonal repertoire, and The Nutcracker. The shows are stunning tributes to the ballets current artistic director SmirnovGovolanov, to mark his 70th birthday.
UNDISCOVERED
Audiences will be enthralled by Cirque Berserks contemporary cirque-style skills and amazed by the off-the-scale stunt action in its rst nationwide theatre tour spectacular. The show also includes one of the worlds most dangerous acts: the Globe of Death. Youll have to peek through your ngers as three motorcyclists speed around each other inside a steel cage at more than 60 mph for the rst time ever on a theatre stage in the UK.
9.30am-5pm, entry 16 (concessions 14) children under 16 go free. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, TW9 3AB 020 8332 3123 ([Link])
5pm & 7.45pm, tickets from 21.90 New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway Wimbledon, SW19 1QG, 0844 871 7615 ([Link]/wimbledon)
7.30pm, tickets 12 (concessions 10) all proceeds go to the Downs Syndrome Association. The Langdon Down Centre Normanseld, 2A Langdon Park Teddington, TW11 9PS, 0333 1212 300 ([Link])
For inspiring and uplifting artwork, look no further than the latest exhibition at Wills Art Warehouse in Putney, called Crash Bang Wallop... What a picture! Featuring popular artists, including Jane Perkins, Charlotte Farmer and Maria Rivans, the exhibition showcases work with a range of themes realised in a variety of different mediums. As always, there is a wealth of purchasable art on display elsewhere in the gallery too, for collectors and enthusiasts.
Visitors to Strawberry Hill House on 1 March will have a unique opportunity to investigate ve relatively unexplored rooms, in an event called Behind Closed Doors, that have been fully restored with the help of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Visitors can also attend Research Curator Silvia Daviolis lecture Walpoles Lost Treasures.
Wills Art Warehouse, 180 Lower Richmond Road, Putney, SW15 1LY 020 8246 4840 ([Link])
Romeo and Juliet: 26 & 27 February 7.30pm. The Nutcracker 28 February 2 March, Friday & Saturday 7.30pm Saturday & Sunday 2.30pm, tickets from 11.90. Richmond Theatre, The Green Richmond, TW9 1QJ, 0844 871 7615 ([Link]/richmond)
Entrance fee for Behind Closed Doors 6 tickets for Walpoles Lost Treasures lecture 5. Behind Closed Doors open 12pm-5.30pm lectures at 1pm and 3pm. Strawberry Hill House Strawberry Hill, 268 Waldegrave Road Twickenham, TW1 4ST 020 8744 1241 ([Link])
The Moscow City Ballet
Elisa Biondi adding the finishing touches to the Orchids display, RBG Kew
UNDISCOVERED
A LITTLE LOVE SONG
EXOTIC EXPLORATION
Bored Cherubs by Jane Perkins
Restorations at Strawberry Hill House
PLAYFUL ART
Globe of Death at Cirque Berserk
THE MoscoW city BALLET
- 12 -
CIRCUS QUIRKS
The Normansfield Theatre
Words / Jennifer Mason - 13 -