What's On

Chertsey Museum's popular monthly family craft activity continues on Saturday 7 August from 2 to 4 pm. It's free and you don't need to book: just come along to the Windsor Street museum and join in. This month we will be making dinosaur door-hangers and bookmarks.

Chertsey Museum is holding five activity days for children aged 5 to 12 years during the summer holidays:

Tuesday 27 July Sea, Sand and Shells
Thursday 29 July Dinky Dolls' Houses
Tuesday 24 August Samplers to sew
Thursday 26 August Zany Zoetropes
Tuesday 31 August Tremendous Toys

All activities are 11 - 12:30pm or 2 - 3.30pm. The fee for each session is £4.50 (concessions £3.00). For a booking form, please contact Chertsey Museum on 01932 565764 during opening hours, or download a form from the Museum's website: www.chertseymuseum.org.uk.

TOWN processions, charity auctions, performing arts shows and tug-of-war competitions ... it can only be Chertsey's very own Black Cherry Fair.

The annual event, held in Abbey Fields, in the town, will come alive on Saturday, July 11.

It has been a regular part of the community for the past 30 years although its roots can actually be traced back to 1440 and the days of Henry VI.

And with more than 10,000 people expected to attend this year, organisers are hoping for a bumper year of fun for all the family.

Children are being invited to take part in Runnymede Open Access to Recreation's (ROAR) half term activities as part of Family week starting on June 1.

Chertsey, Ottershaw, Egham and New Haw will all feature in the four-day programme, with a walk around Savill Garden, wheelbarrow racing and a rounders tournament in the offing.

A COUNTY-wide exhibition is inviting members of the public into the workspaces of some of the region's best artists.

The Surrey Open Studios, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, is going ahead on different weekends throughout June.

It is asking people to come along and watch artists at work in their own environments, where they will also be able to buy works direct.

The exhibitions are being put on by individual artists and assorted groups.

One team heavily involved is the Chertsey Studio Artists, exhibiting behind Windsor Street Gallery, in the town centre.

Chertsey Museum's new Bug Garden will be opened on Friday 28 May at 2.30pm by Runnymede's recently installed Mayor, Councillor Mrs Margaret Roberts.

Part of the garden at Chertsey Museum has been re-designed to encourage insects and small animals. Insect houses have been introduced with windows so that visitors can take a peek inside. Dr Emm Barnes, Science Outreach Officer at Royal Holloway, University of London, has been working with schoolchildren from Thorpe Lea Primary School to identify appropriate plants to attract insects. Children from the school have been involved in planting the new garden.

To celebrate European Museums at Night 2010, Chertsey Museum will be opening its doors for a special late night opening on Friday 14 May at 6.30pm, with last entry at 9.30pm.

The lights will be turned off and visitors will be invited to explore the Museum with their own torches to find the hidden fairies and pixies.

Adults will receive a free glass of wine and children a soft drink but only after the nightly visitors to the Museum have been found.

The event is free but please telephone Chertsey Museum in advance on 01932 565764.

This summer, Louise Dearman - the newest 'GLINDA' in the hit musical WICKED - will be leading a musical theatre workshop in aid of Princess Alice Hospice. The day follows on from the successful sessions held by the Hospice last October with the cast of Mamma Mia and star of Grease, Cabaret, Can't smile Without You, and BBC show 'How do you solve a Problem like Maria', Siobhan Dillon.

Joining Louise during the summer half term holiday will be Adam Murray and Aimee Lewis, the Dance Supervisor and Swing Cast member, respectively of this amazing and award winning West End show.

This all day Musical Theatre Master Class will provide students with a taste of professionally run vocal and dance workshops and the opportunity to perform to family and friends at the end of the day. There will also be a Q&A session with the performers and if the students are lucky, perhaps the theatre professionals will put on an exclusive performance.

The event at the Performing Arts Centre, Esher High School, More Lane on Tuesday 1 June 2010 is open to anyone aged 8-18 and will run from 10am to 4:30pm. This is a perfect way to entertain the kids this half term.

Louise Dearman will host the morning vocal session from 10:00 - 1:00pm. Students will have the opportunity to learn the show's iconic hits 'Popular' and 'One short Day' and with the hit BBC show Over the Rainbow proving very popular, there will be the chance to learn hugely popular songs from The Wizard of Oz.

The afternoon session will concentrate on linking the songs learnt in the morning with choreography from the show. No matter what the level of their dance and movement experience, with Adam Murray and Aimee Lewis providing their incredible skills and expertise everyone will be able to take part and really make the most of their teaching.

The all day event is limited to only 100 places and costs £40; participants can order special limited edition West End Workshop t-shirts for £10.

Princess Alice Hospice would like to thank all of the professionals from the West End for giving their time and talent completely free of charge. If you want to be part of this amazing theatrical experience contact 01372 461869 or events@pah.org.uk for booking forms and further information.

Audrey Two may look cute in pink when she fits on the palm of your hand, but just wait till she grows up - she will be a real man-eater! The musical, Little Shop of Horrors by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, follows her story as sweet, battered Audrey (One) and naive, besotted Seymour try to stop her attempt at global domination. It is based on the film of 1986 with the same catchy tunes, but is darker and gorier and, in our intimate hall, very much closer.

This spoof of the 1950's horror-B-movies is on from Wednesday 19th to Saturday 22nd May at 8pm in Thorpe Village Hall, Thorpe, TW20 8TE. Tickets are £9 and £10 and can be booked in advance on 07923 583295 or bought on the door, subject to availability. Just remember, whatever you do, "don't feed the plants!"

This year's Runnymede in Bloom competition was launched on Monday (19) by Runnymede Council.

The competition is again being supported by Squire's Garden Centre who will provide gift vouchers for the winning entries.

There are seven categories for gardens to be entered into - allotments, residential front garden, senior citizen front garden, overall front/rear garden, communal garden scheme, school garden and business/pub garden.

To enter, visit www.runnymede.gov.uk or contact Julie Kitchenside on 01932 425 154.

The closing date for entries in Friday June 25, and the final judging will take place on Saturday July 17 by a panel of judges, including the Mayor of Runnymede.

Prizes will be awarded at a presentation evening on Monday September 20.