Howden Park Centre’s new spring programme

Jan 13 2011 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

A NEW season of entertainment has been unveiled for the Howden Park Centre in Livingston.

The spotlight lands on new Scottish comedy Smalltown, featured on the front cover of the arts centre’s new brochure, which has been distributed to community venues across West Lothian this week.

Inside, the listings give details of a theatre programme built around an array of comedy, from the children’s slapstick show By the Seat of Your Pants, to the black comedy Six Black Candles.

There will also be a great mix of music, including the legendary Singers’ Gathering, and the foot-stomping Wiyos, straight from the USA.

On Sunday afternoons jazz fans will be treated to a exciting performances with a free exhibition programme.

And the range of dance and visual arts workshops and classes for adults and children is bigger than ever before.

However, the theatre programme kicks off with Smalltown, a rollercoaster of a comedy that lets the audience decide how the story ends and takes in a new co-production between Howden Park Centre and children’s theatre company Plutot la Vie.

The season will also include Singing I’m No A Billy He’s a Tim, the Old Firm comedy that took the Edinburgh Festival Fringe by storm, and Des Dillon’s classic, Six Black Candles.

The music season also offers something for everyone from the annual brass solo and ensemble championships through an amazing performance, with film and animation, by The Guitar Whisperer – Richard Durrant.

Favourites Karine Polwart, the Swingcats and the legendary Jimmie Macgregor will also feature and there are fantastic tribute bands, including The Upbeat Beatles in February and Eagles tribute group Hotel California in April.

This season the ever-popular Jazz on a Sunday Afternoon features a performance by Libretto, West Lothian’s own jazz quintet.

Broomielaw Ceilidh Band kick off the dance programme with a Burns Ceilidh at the end of January.

The ever-popular Friday Tea Dances continue every month and in March 17 young dancers take to the stage to perform Taking Flight 2011. With a growing reputation for the quality of the meals prepared by head chef Scott Kirkham, the bistro launches new daytime and pre-performance menus and also has a selection of highlight events this season including an early romantic Saturday dinner for St Valentine’s Day, a Traditional High Tea for Mother’s Day and an Easter Eggstravaganza for all the family on Sunday, April 24.

As well as the performance programme there is a huge range of classes in dance, music and visual arts for adults and children.

The gallery features a free exhibition of visual arts every day.

Details of all of these arts activities and many more are in the new Howden Park Centre brochure available now from community venues across West Lothian and online at www.howdenparkcentre.co.uk

To join the mailing list simply telephone the box office on 01506 777666.

The box office is also now taking bookings for the centre’s events.