What’s On
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Exhibitions
Free
Tim Noble & Sue Webster: Love and Hate at Firstsite
Thursday 09 November 2023 - Saturday 01 February 2025
In this presentation, seven light sculptures by Noble & Webster illuminate areas of the Firstsite building with pops of glimmering colour.
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Free
Nicola Burrell: Concrete Dreams
Saturday 20 April 2024 - Sunday 20 April 2025
Discover Colchester-based artist Nicola Burrell’s vibrant three-dimensional artworks and sculptures inspired by New Towns in Essex.
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Free
Jane Ostler: Finding the Hand of Kindness
Saturday 12 October 2024 - Sunday 23 February 2025
“Finding The Hand of Kindness” is inspired by Jane’s own life, reflecting on her roles as a caregiver, the impact of patriarchal expectations, and the everyday moments of kindness. Through her art, Jane invites us to see how creativity can be a source of comfort and connection.
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Free
Leonora Carrington: Avatars & Alliances
Saturday 26 October 2024 - Sunday 23 February 2025
Step into the magical and mystical world of Leonora Carrington, the British-Mexican painter and novelist, in her debut exhibition in the East of England.
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Free
Halla Groves-Raines: Life in Patterns
Saturday 16 November 2024 - Sunday 20 April 2025
Discover fresh perspectives from modern Essex and Suffolk through the faces and stories of its residents in an intimate portrait exhibition by Essex-based artist Halla Groves-Raines.
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Buffalo Kids (Parent & Baby)
Thursday 21 November 2024
11:30 am
In Buffalo Kids, Mary and Tom are parentless Irish siblings who arrive in New York City and quickly find themselves on a wild journey.
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A Different Man
Thursday 21 November 2024
1:30 pm
Edward undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance but this turns into a nightmare in A Different Man.
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Joker: Folie À Deux (Captioned)
Thursday 21 November 2024
4:00 pm
Joker: Folie À Deux finds Arthur Fleck institutionalized at Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker.
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Free
YAK | Young Art Kommunity
Thursday 21 November 2024
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
More times available
Young Art Kommunity (YAK) is Firstsite’s young-people peer led group which organises events and activities within the gallery and in the wider community.
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Girl From The North Country
Thursday 21 November 2024
7:00 pm
More times available
Girl From The North Country meets a group of wayward travellers whose lives intersect in a guesthouse filled with music, life and hope.
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Free
Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK Viewing Party
Thursday 21 November 2024
7:30 pm
More times available
Time to warm up your inner drag and start your engines! This year’s Ru Paul’s drag race viewing party is back with a bang at Firstsite!
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Dance and Movement for Well-being
Friday 22 November 2024
10:30 am
More times available
A gentle session for over 60s to ease joint mobility, improve agility, balance and self-awareness in movement. Every Friday 10:30am during term times.
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Timestalker
Friday 22 November 2024
11:00 am
More times available
The hapless heroine Agnes reincarnated every time she makes the same mistake: falling in love with the wrong man in Timestalker.
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Dahomey (Captioned)
Friday 22 November 2024
1:00 pm
More times available
Dahomey is a poetic and immersive work of art that delves into real perspectives on appropriation, self-determination and restitution.
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The Apprentice
Friday 22 November 2024
4:00 pm
More times available
The origins of Donald Trump are brought to life in a provocative, electrifying portrait of the man and his mentor in The Apprentice.
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Andrea Bocelli 30: The Celebration
Friday 22 November 2024
7:00 pm
Tuscany, Italy, bursts to life with enchanting melodies at the Andrea Bocelli 30: The Celebration featuring surprise guest appearances!
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Surrealism Poetry Workshop with Derek Adams
Friday 22 November 2024
7:30 pm
New to writing poetry or an experienced poet? Our Surrealism Poetry Workshop with Derek Adams will help you to revitalise your writing!
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Transformers One (Relaxed)
Saturday 23 November 2024
11:00 am
Transformers One is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but were once friends.
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Timestalker (Captioned)
Saturday 23 November 2024
3:30 pm
The hapless heroine Agnes reincarnated every time she makes the same mistake: falling in love with the wrong man in Timestalker.
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MET Opera Live: Tosca
Saturday 23 November 2024
5:45 pm
Puccini’s MET Opera Live: Tosca about a volatile diva, a sadistic police chief, and an idealistic artist has offended and thrilled audiences!
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The Apprentice (Captioned)
Sunday 24 November 2024
11:00 am
The origins of Donald Trump are brought to life in a provocative, electrifying portrait of the man and his mentor in The Apprentice.
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The Queen Of My Dreams (Parent & Baby)
Tuesday 26 November 2024
11:30 am
With a shared obsession of Bollywood fantasy, Mariam and her daughter Azra come of age in two different eras in The Queen of My Dreams.
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Free
Art in the Community
Tuesday 26 November 2024
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
More times available
Art in the Community sessions are for people who use creativity to improve their well-being, and for recovery from mental and physical issues
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Free
Colchester Library Rhymetimes at Firstsite
Wednesday 27 November 2024
More times available
While Colchester Library is closed for refurbishment, weekly Baby & Toddler Rhymetimes are continuing at Firstsite.
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Free
MiniCLIP Colchester
Wednesday 27 November 2024
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
More times available
MiniCLIP – a free weekly music club for young people age 11 to 14 at Firstsite Colchester, on term time Wednesdays from 4 – 5pm.
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Dahomey (Parent & Baby)
Thursday 28 November 2024
11:30 am
Dahomey is a poetic and immersive work of art that delves into real perspectives on appropriation, self-determination and restitution.
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Sugarcane
Thursday 28 November 2024
1:30 pm
An investigation into abuse and missing children at an Indian residential school sparks a reckoning on the nearby Sugarcane Reserve.
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EA Festival: Tattoos – Matt Lodder
Thursday 28 November 2024
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
EA Festival, Essex Book Festival and Firstsite are excited to present a talk with Matt Lodder, author of a new book entitled, Tattoos.
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The Room Next Door
Friday 29 November 2024
10:30 am
More times available
Ingrid and Martha were close friends in their youth, but after years of being out of touch they meet again in The Room Next Door.
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The Wild Robot
Friday 29 November 2024
1:30 pm
More times available
When The Wild Robot, Rozzum 7134, a futuristic robot washes ashore on a deserted island, tale of survival and discovery begins.
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Emilia Pérez
Friday 29 November 2024
4:00 pm
More times available
Through liberating song, dance and bold visuals, this odyssey follows Emilia Pérez and remarkable women in Mexico, in pursuit of happiness.
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Kiss Me, Kate: The Musical
Friday 29 November 2024
7:00 pm
More times available
Porter’s legendary Kiss Me, Kate: The Musical comedy has backstage shenanigans, Shakespearean sonnets, singing gangsters and a hot romance!
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The Wild Robot (Relaxed)
Saturday 30 November 2024
11:00 am
When The Wild Robot, Rozzum 7134, a futuristic robot washes ashore on a deserted island, tale of survival and discovery begins.
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The Black Pirate (1926) – with live piano accompaniment
Saturday 30 November 2024
2:30 pm
Experience The Black Pirate, one of the monumental accomplishments of the silent era, with a live piano accompaniment by Lillian Henley!
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The Room Next Door (Captioned)
Saturday 30 November 2024
5:15 pm
More times available
Ingrid and Martha were close friends in their youth, but after years of being out of touch they meet again in The Room Next Door.
Find out moreCinema
The Wild Robot (Captioned)
Sunday 01 December 2024
11:00 am
When The Wild Robot, Rozzum 7134, a futuristic robot washes ashore on a deserted island, tale of survival and discovery begins.
Find out moreCinema
The Wild Robot (Parent & Baby)
Tuesday 03 December 2024
11:30 am
When The Wild Robot, Rozzum 7134, a futuristic robot washes ashore on a deserted island, tale of survival and discovery begins.
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Mini Movers & Makers Toddler Group
Thursday 05 December 2024
10:00 am
More times available
This brand new artist-led toddler group provides a safe and fun environment for children under 5 and parents/carers to be curious and explore interactive, sensory storytelling and experiment with a range of art activities and materials.
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Lee
Thursday 05 December 2024
4:15 pm
More times available
Photographer Lee Miller is determined to document the truth of the Nazi regime in spite of the odds stacked against female correspondents.
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National Theatre Live: Prima Facie
Thursday 05 December 2024
7:00 pm
Tony award-winning Prima Facie, shows Tessa a brilliant barrister who is forced to confront the lines of patriarchal power.
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Wreath Making
Thursday 05 December 2024
7:00 pm
Join Firstsite this joyous season for a wreath making session where you will learn how to make an eco-friendly wreath for your front door.
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Wicker Star Workshop
Friday 06 December 2024
10:00 am
T’is the season to wicker! Feeling festive? How about lighting up your homes with a unique decoration in our Wicker Star workshop.
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Small Things Like These
Friday 06 December 2024
11:00 am
More times available
Cillian Murphy delivers a stunning performance as devoted father Bill Furlong in Small Things Like These, based on a best-selling novel.
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Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story
Friday 06 December 2024
1:30 pm
More times available
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story tells the rise of an unknown actor to a iconic movie star who set one of the greatest benchmarks.
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Anora
Friday 06 December 2024
4:45 pm
More times available
Anora is a young sex worker who’s fairytale love story is disrupted as time reveals hidden secrets from her new husband.
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Heretic
Friday 06 December 2024
7:45 pm
More times available
Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are ensnared in a deadly Heretic game.
Find out moreBig Festive Switch On
Community and Partners
Free
Folk & Bespoke Artisan Craft Market
Saturday 07 December 2024
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Have a handmade shopping day. The people in your life deserves something special and for a totally unique gift, you cannot beat handmade.
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Watership Down (Relaxed)
Saturday 07 December 2024
11:00 am
A group of rabbits flee their doomed warren and face many dangers to find and protect their new home in Watership Down.
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CBeebies Panto: Beauty and the Beast
Saturday 07 December 2024
2:00 pm
The annual CBeebies Panto is back this year to celebrate the joyous season with the CBeebies Panto: Beauty and the Beast!
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Andre Rieu’s 2024 Christmas Concert: Gold and Silver
Saturday 07 December 2024
6:45 pm
More times available
Celebrate the holiday season with André Rieu’s 2024 Christmas Concert: Gold and Silver, exclusively in cinemas!
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Nature drawing workshop with Lisa Temple-Cox
Sunday 08 December 2024
10:30 am
More times available
Explore observational drawing and discover your favourite medium with this nature drawing workshop.
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CBeebies Panto: Beauty and the Beast (Relaxed)
Sunday 08 December 2024
11:00 am
The annual CBeebies Panto is back this year to celebrate the joyous season with the CBeebies Panto: Beauty and the Beast!
Find out moreFestive Workshops
Festive Canal Folk Art
Sunday 08 December 2024
2:00 pm
Delve into the techniques of Canal Folk Art this season with a Festive Canal Folk Art session and take home your flowery bauble masterpieces!
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(Captioned) Anora
Tuesday 10 December 2024
2:00 pm
Anora is a young sex worker who’s fairytale love story is disrupted as time reveals hidden secrets from her new husband.
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Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Parent & Baby)
Thursday 12 December 2024
11:30 am
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story tells the rise of an unknown actor to a iconic movie star who set one of the greatest benchmarks.
Find out moreCinema
Small Things Like These (Captioned)
Thursday 12 December 2024
5:40 pm
Cillian Murphy delivers a stunning performance as devoted father Bill Furlong in Small Things Like These, based on a best-selling novel.
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Avatars & Alliances: Exhibition Tour
Friday 13 December 2024
6:30 pm
Experience the our Leonora Carrington exhibition with a tour by Programme Manager, Exhibitions George Morl.
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Boozy Brushes
Friday 13 December 2024
7:30 pm
More times available
Join Sirena Hart for Boozy Brushes at Firstsite – our New Multi-Art, Drag entertainment painting class extravaganza!
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Free
Colchester Record Fair
Saturday 14 December 2024
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Colchester’s Record Fair returns to Firstsite, a treat for both enthusiasts and casual collectors alike. Come browse through stall holders’ collections of vinyl and CDs from a vast range of genres. Grab yourself a bargain – or perhaps something a little rarer.
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A Christmas Carol (2020)
Saturday 14 December 2024
2:00 pm
A Victorian family prepares a performance of the timeless story A Christmas Carol, in a magical world of dancers and stylised sets.
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The Royal Ballet: Cinderella
Sunday 15 December 2024
2:00 pm
Be transported into an ethereal world at the The Royal Ballet: Cinderella where a sprinkling of fairy dust makes dreams come true.
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TASAF Lecture Series: The Christmas Story from London’s National Gallery
Tuesday 17 December 2024
2:00 pm
More times available
Join us for a thought-provoking and insightful session by Caroline Mcdonald-Haig in The Arts Society at Firstsite (TASAF) Lecture series!
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The Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker
Friday 20 December 2024
7:00 pm
More times available
Discover the enchantment of ballet with The Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker, a sparkling festive treat for the whole family.
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Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (Captioned)
Saturday 21 December 2024
2:15 pm
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story tells the rise of an unknown actor to a iconic movie star who set one of the greatest benchmarks.
Find out moreCourses, Clubs & Classes
Drag Life Drawing with Sirena Hart
Saturday 04 January 2025
6:00 pm
More times available
A one-of-a-kind life drawing class, where your tutor and model will offer multiple poses in fantastical settings.
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Life Drawing with Justine Moss – all levels
Saturday 18 January 2025
1:30 pm
More times available
Whether you’re a beginner or experienced, gain confidence in drawing the figure, with these tutored life drawing sessions.
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The Royal Opera: The Tales of Hoffmann
Sunday 19 January 2025
2:00 pm
Four women: four curious love stories. Juan Diego Flórez leads a fantastic cast in the Royal Ballet and Opera: The Tales of Hoffman.
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TASAF Lecture Series: Arts Hidden Secrets
Tuesday 21 January 2025
2:30 pm
Join us for a thought-provoking and insightful session by Tony Rawlins in The Arts Society at Firstsite (TASAF) Lecture series!
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Introduction to Collage
Friday 24 January 2025
10:00 am
More times available
Sociable, creative and fun Introduction to Collage Workshop where you’ll learn new techniques, unwind and have a delicious lunch together.
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MET Opera Live: Aida
Saturday 25 January 2025
5:15 pm
American soprano Angel Blue headlines in MET Opera Live: Aida as the Ethiopian princess torn between love and country.
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Les Misérables: The Staged Concert (40th Anniversary celebration)
Sunday 02 February 2025
1:00 pm
More times available
Les Misérables is one of the world’s most popular musicals. Experience this unique encore of the show to celebrate its 40th Anniversary.
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The Art Café
Tuesday 04 February 2025
10:30 am
More times available
The Art Café is our new unguided painting session! Come alone, with friends or that special someone for a fun and relaxing art activity.
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Macbeth: David Tennant & Cush Jumbo
Thursday 06 February 2025
7:00 pm
More times available
Witness this gripping tale in a brand-new production of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth staring David Tennant & Cush Jumbo.
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TASAF Lecture Series: A History of World Art in 5 Symbols
Tuesday 18 February 2025
2:30 pm
Join us for a thought-provoking and insightful session by Matthew Wilson in The Arts Society at Firstsite (TASAF) Lecture series!
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National Theatre Live: The Importance of Being Earnest
Thursday 20 February 2025
7:00 pm
Sharon D Clarke is joined by Ncuti Gatwa in this joyful reimagining of Oscar Wilde’s most celebrated comedy – The Importance of Being Earnest.
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The Royal Ballet: Swan Lake
Thursday 27 February 2025
7:15 pm
More times available
The Royal Ballet: Swan Lake combines Tchaikovsky’s score with incredibly creative choreography and designs.
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Jesus Christ Superstar Live
Tuesday 04 March 2025
2:00 pm
More times available
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock classic Jesus Christ Superstar Live returns to its roots with this sensational performance in the UK.
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MET Opera Live: Fidelio
Saturday 15 March 2025
4:45 pm
Following a string of awe-inspiring performances, Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen returns as Leonore in MET Opera Live: Fidelio.
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The Royal Ballet: Romeo & Juliet
Thursday 20 March 2025
7:15 pm
More times available
In The Royal Ballet: Romeo & Juliet, love flourishes in Verona despite the shadow of an ancient family feud.
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Exhibition on Screen: Dawn of Impressionism: Paris 1874
Tuesday 25 March 2025
2:00 pm
More times available
Impressionists are the most famous in art history but they were once penniless outsiders, until the Dawn of Impressionism: Paris 1874.
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Billy Elliot The Musical Live (20th Anniversary)
Sunday 30 March 2025
2:00 pm
More times available
Billy Elliot The Musical shows Billy’s journey from the boxing ring and into a ballet class where he discovers a passion for dance.
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The Royal Opera: Turandot
Sunday 06 April 2025
2:00 pm
The Royal Ballet and Opera: Turandot is puccini’s captivating opera of a cold-hearted princess and her mysterious suitor.
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MET Opera Live: Le Nozze di Figaro
Saturday 26 April 2025
5:45 pm
Mozart’s timeless and profoundly humane comedy returns to Firstsite in MET Opera Live: Le Nozze di Figaro.
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MET Opera Live: Salome
Saturday 17 May 2025
5:45 pm
Met Music Director Nézet-Séguin takes the podium to conduct Strauss’s one-act incendiary and powerful tragedy in MET Opera Live: Salome.
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The Royal Opera: Die Walküre
Sunday 18 May 2025
2:00 pm
Gods and mortals battle in the second chapter of Wagner’s Ring cycle in the Royal Ballet and Opera: Die Walküre.
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Exhibition on Screen: Michelangelo: Love and Death
Wednesday 21 May 2025
2:00 pm
More times available
Michelangelo’s spectacular works seem so familiar, but do we really know this renaissance genius? This is Michelangelo: Love and Death.
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The Royal Ballet: Ballet to Broadway: Wheeldon Works
Sunday 25 May 2025
2:00 pm
The Royal Ballet: Ballet to Broadway: Wheeldon Works showcases the remarkable choreographic range of Christopher Wheeldon.
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MET Opera Live: Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Saturday 31 May 2025
5:45 pm
MET Opera Live 2024–25 season comes to a close with MET Opera Live: Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Rossini’s effervescent comedy.
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