Full details of all special and regular events available at Wigan Leisure Culture Trust (external link) or in the What’s On brochure available from libraries.
The Arts
Sat 21 Mar, 7:30pm
WIGAN MUSIC SOCIETY – Haydn’s The Seasons, St Michael’s Church, Swinley. 01257 400852. £7, conc. £6
Wed 25 Mar – Sat 4 Apr
THE SERVANT, Wigan Little Theatre, Crompton Street, Wigan. When wealthy playboy Tony returns from Africa and takes on a manservant he gets more than he bargains for. B ox office: 01942 242561 (book Mon-Fri 7pm-9pm). £8, conc. £6
Sat 4 Apr, 10am – 1pm
PEN AND INK DRAWING FOR ADULTS, Turnpike Gallery, Leigh. An introduction to basic techniques for beginners. 01942 404469. £5.
Sat 4 Apr, 10:30am–12:30pm
ARTS ACTIVE WORKSHOP, Turnpike Gallery, Leigh. Free workshops for 5-12s. 01942 404469.
Wed 29 Apr to Wed 27 May, 7pm – 9pm
WATERCOLOURS FOR BEGINNERS, Turnpike Gallery, Leigh. For adults with little or no previous experience. £25, including materials. 01942 404469.
Parks and Countryside
Booking essential on numbers listed. Small charge for some events.
Sat 21 Mar, 1pm – 3pm
PAINT A POT AT PENNINGTON HALL PARK - Create a floral pot as a Mother’s Day gift. 01942 766708.
Sat 21 Mar, 10am
GUIDED WALK AT WIGAN FLASHES - Uncover the telltale signs of spring. Meet Welham Road by Hawkley Hall School. 01942 233976.
Sun 22 Mar, 1pm – 3pm
POTS OF FUN ON MOTHER’S DAY, Pennington Hall Park. Create a floral display for your mum. 01942 245369.
Sun 29 Mar, 1pm – 4pm
EASTER HATS - Three Sisters Recreation Area. Make your own head decoration to wear on Easter Sunday. 01942 720453.
Sun 29 Mar, 10:30am – 12:30pm
PENNINGTON HALL PARK TO HOPE CARR NATURE RESERVE - Circular walk from Pennington Hall Park through Hope Carr Nature Reserve. 01942 720453.
Thu 9 Apr, 1:30pm – 4:00pm
EASTER HUNT AT THREE SISTERS - Complete tasks to finish the trail. 01942 720453.
Fri 10 Apr, 1pm – 2:30pm
EASTER HUNT AT CENTRAL PARK - Meet at the play area at Central Park, Atherton. 01942 766708.
Fri 10 Apr, 2pm – 3:30pm
MINIBEAST HUNT - Pennington Flash Country Park. Come to the woods and see what’s living under the logs. 01942 605253.
Sun 12 Apr, 1pm
ROLL YER EGG - Mesnes Park, Wigan. Test your skills in the annual egg painting and rolling competition. Children must be with an adult. 01942 245369.
Wed 15 Apr, 1:30pm – 3pm
WATERCOLOUR PAINTING - Three Sisters Recreation Area, Ashton. Paint your own picture of Three Sisters. 01942 720453.
Haigh Country Park
Booking 01942 832895 (small charge for some events)
Wed 18 Mar & 19 Mar, 8pm
EVENING OF CLAIRVOYANCE WITH PAUL HUNT - Book early for these intimate evenings. £12.00
Sat 21 Mar, 1pm – 3pm
MOTHER’S DAY GIFT AND CARD - Create a gift and card for a special someone. (Age 5+).
Sun 22 Mar, 1pm
MOTHER’S DAY LUNCH - Treat your Mum like a lady and dine at Haigh. Lunch from 1pm inside the Hall. Early booking essential.
Fri 10 Apr, 1pm – 3pm
FAMILY ORIENTEERING - Competitive family fun. All maps and tuition provided. Children must be with an adult.
Sun 12 Apr, 1pm – 3pm
EASTER FUN AT HAIGH - Make an Easter basket and chicken hat to use as we play chase the chick.
Mon 13 Apr, 12pm – 3pm
EASTER BUNNY TRAIL - Hunt the bunnies and find the clues to complete the puzzle. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Wed 15 Apr, 1pm – 30pm
FAMILY BIKE RIDE - Enjoy a gentle cycle through the Haigh estate. Some bikes available if required.
Heritage Events
Wed 18 Mar, 1 Apr, 15 Apr & 29 Apr, 1:30pm – 2:30pm
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? - Wigan Library, College Avenue, Wigan. Research your family tree with experienced volunteers. For beginners with family connections in the Wigan area. Booking essential – 01942 828128. £2.50 (in advance)
Thu 9 and 16 Apr plus Tue 14 Apr, 2pm – 4pm
EASTER FAMILY ACTIVITIES - Astley Green Colliery Museum, Higher Green Lane, Astley Green. Includes museum tour, handling mining objects, slide-show and crafts. For 5-11s with an adult. 01942 828128. £3.50 per child.
Leisure Venues
MONACO BALLROOM, Atherton Road, Hindley
Fri 20 Mar and Sat 18th Apr, 7:30pm
WRESTLING - Britain’s number one American style wrestling promotion. 07703 312146 or email Rchard Noble £7.00 (Family ticket available £24)
Sun 22 Mar and Wed 15 Apr
STRICTLY COME DANCING - 22 March with Vincent Simmone & Flavia Cacace, 15 April with Darren Bennett & Lilia Kopylova. See them up close and personal. Limited tickets – phone Philip on 07872 146896. £25
Fri 24 Apr, 8:30pm – 12:00pm
NORTHERN LINK - Modern sequence and ballroom dance with Northern Link for singles. Phone Karen on 01204 460989 or visit Northernlink (external link) Members £5, guests £7
FORMBY HALL, Alder Street, Atherton
Fri 3 Apr, 8pm – 11:30pm
LEIGH PHOENIX NCDS – SOCIAL DANCE - Over 45, divorced, widowed or separated. Member £2.50, Visitor £3.50. 01942 222537.
Wed 3 June, 1pm – 4pm
Sheltered housing and information partnership (SHIP) event 01942 828953.
Words ’09 literary festival Monday 13 – Saturday 25 April 2009
HIGHLIGHTS - Information on all events from 01942 825677 or at Festival Fever (external link)
Tue 14 Apr, 10:30am – 12pm
INSPIRATIONS AND COMBINATIONS - Tyldesley Library. 01942 404738. Poems and prose from Tyldesley Creative Writers.
Tue 14 Apr, 7:30pm – 9:30pm
FLASH FICTION - King’s Arms, Warrington Road, Ashton. 01942 723350. Ashton Writers open evening with workshop and readings.
Wed 15 Apr, 10am – 3:30pm
NOVEL WRITING WITH DOROTHY NELSON - The Show Flat, Trencherfield Mill, Wigan Pier. 01942 824923. Workshop with local author.
Mark Olly
Wed 15 April, 8pm
MARK OLLY – MYTHS AND LEGENDS - Bellingham Hotel, opposite Wigan Infirmary. 01942 486921. Free talk on King Arthur in the North by writer and co-producer of TV’s adventure and archaeology series ‘Lost Treasures’. Tickets on the door, £3.
Thu 16 Apr, 7.30pm
FRANKENSTEIN - Derby Room, Leigh. Performance storyteller Ben Haggarty and musician Sianed Jones – intense steam punk interpretation of the famous myth. Unsuitable for under 12s. £5. Tickets from the TIC, 01942 825677.
Thu 16 Apr, 2pm
CHRIS WYATT ‘IN PERFORMANCE’ - Derby Room, Leigh. Afternoon of humour, performance and song exploring the mid life crisis.
Thu 16 Apr, 6:30pm
ANDREW MARTIN ‘BETWEEN THE LINES’ - Waterstone’s, Grand Arcade, Wigan. Journalist and author of Edwardian railway thrillers talks about his work.
Fri 17 Apr, 7:30pm
DAVID NOBBS, CREATOR OF REGGIE PERRIN - The Atrium, Wigan Town Hall. In conversation with Julian Jordon. Tickets (£8) from the Tourist Information Centre. 01942 825677.
Sat 18 Apr, 2pm
FRANK COTTRELL BOYCE - Derby Room, Leigh. Children’s novelist and screenwriter whose credits include Welcome to Sarajevo and 24 Hour Party People. Tickets £4 from TIC 01942 825677. (NB Frank will also be at Wigan Children’s Library next to Argos in the Galleries shopping centre from 12–1)
Sat 18 April, 7.30pm
JIMMY MCGOVERN - Ashton Library. Acclaimed scriptwriter of Cracker, The Street and Hillsborough talks about his work. Tickets £8 from Wigan Tourist Information Centre.
Mon 20 Apr, 7.30pm
DOROTHY ROWE - Claire House, Lower Ince Health Centre. Renowned psychologist and writer discusses depression. Tickets (FREE) available from Tourist Information Centre on 01942 825677.
Tue 21 Apr, 10am – 2:30pm
GROWING POEMS: FROM INCEPTION TO FINAL DRAFT - Wigan Cricket Club, Bull Hey, Wigan.
Poetry workshop with former actor Pat Winslow. Booking essential – 01942 824923.
Wed 22 Apr, 10am – 4pm
SCRIPTWRITING WITH JULIAN JORDON - Wigan Cricket Club, Bull Hey, Wigan. Workshop on the basics of scriptwriting. To book e-mail Julian Jordon
Thu 23 Apr, 10am
WORDS INTO WATERCOLOUR - Tyldesley Community Centre, Upper George Street. Artist Tina Martin with guest poet Steve Waling. 01942 797951.
Thu 23 Apr, 7:30pm
MOODS, FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS - Billinge Family Church, Crank Lane. Children of Orrell Holgate School collaborate with writer and poet Terry Caffrey. Booking essential – 01942 776670.
Thu 23 Apr to Fri 24 Apr, 7:30pm
REACTIONS - Standish High School, Kenyon Road, Wigan. Wigan Pier Youth Theatre (Standish) – showcase of comedy sketches. 01942 486919 or email M P J Green £5, Conc £3.
Fri 24 Apr, 2pm
AFTERNOON TEA AT HAIGH HALL WITH WENDY COPE - One of Britain’s favourite poets. Tickets £12 through the Tourist Information Centre on 01942 825677.
Sat 25 Apr
WILLPOWER YOUTH THEATRE - Whitley Methodist Church, Spencer Road, Wigan. Collection of young people’s new writing. 01942 498339. £4, conc £3.
