What’s On
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Exhibitions
Free
Tim Noble & Sue Webster: Love and Hate at Firstsite
Thursday 09 November 2023 - Tuesday 30 September 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 02 March 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 09 March 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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Free
Holiday Fun: February 2025 – Make
Thursday 20 February 2025
10:00 am - 2:30 pm
More times available
Get making during our Holiday Fun: Make session with a variety of free creative activities at Firstsite this December.
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Maria
Thursday 20 February 2025
10:30 am
The new film from the director of Jackie and Spencer, Maria tells the glamorous, moving story of the iconic opera singer, Maria Callas.
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Free
Holiday Fun: February 2025 – Rugby
Thursday 20 February 2025
10:45 am
Children can get active and release some steam this February with Rugby at Firstsite Holiday Fun in Colchester!
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Free
Holiday Fun: February 2025 – Canteen
Thursday 20 February 2025
11:45 am
More times available
Enjoy freshly made hot meals for all the family at Firstsite’s Holiday Fun Canteen in Colchester town centre.
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Free
Holiday Fun: February 2025 – Afro-moves
Thursday 20 February 2025
12:00 pm
Dance your way into the February holiday with fun and energetic Afro-Moves at Firstsite Holiday Fun in Colchester!
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Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Thursday 20 February 2025
1:30 pm
More times available
Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful and mysterious new adversary, Shadow, in Sonic the Hedgehog 3
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Babygirl
Thursday 20 February 2025
4:15 pm
Despite the risk and prejudices, a very successful CEO begins an illicit affair with her much younger intern in Babygirl.
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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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Free
Holiday Fun: February 2025 – Gardening
Friday 21 February 2025
10:45 am
Join us for these hands-on sessions where you will learn how to care for plants through nature inspired arts, crafts and planting.
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Free
Holiday Fun: February 2025 – Circus
Friday 21 February 2025
12:00 pm
Step right up, step right up, for this February Holiday Fun session to learn some circus skills with Beef Wright!
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Wicked
Friday 21 February 2025
1:45 pm
More times available
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, a young woman misunderstood because of her unusual green skin.
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A Complete Unknown
Friday 21 February 2025
5:30 pm
More times available
Set in the New York music scene of the early 60s, A Complete Unknown follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician Bob Dylan’s meteoric rise.
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A Real Pain
Friday 21 February 2025
8:30 pm
More times available
Mismatched cousins David and Benji reunite for a tour through Poland to honour their grandmother but it soon starts to become A Real Pain.
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Free
Colchester Record Fair
Saturday 22 February 2025
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
More times available
Browse the stalls and grab yourself a bargain – or perhaps something a little rarer at the Colchester Record Fair at Firstsite.
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Free
Holiday Fun: February 2025 – Bolly Shake
Saturday 22 February 2025
10:45 am
Holiday Fun: Bolly Shake invites you to dive into the vibrant world of Indian traditional and Bollywood dance, perfect for beginners!
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Spirited Away (Relaxed)
Saturday 22 February 2025
11:00 am
While exploring an abandoned village in Spirited Away, Chihiro’s parents undergo a mysterious transformation.
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Free
Holiday Fun: February 2025 – Football
Saturday 22 February 2025
12:00 pm
Run, jump and kick this winter with Holiday Fun: Football! Meet your local heroes from Colchester Villa and teams in Colchester!
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99% Cloudy… Always (JFTFP25)
Saturday 22 February 2025
2:00 pm
99% Cloudy… Always, follows Kazuha, a woman with Asperger’s syndrome, who begins to drift apart from her husband.
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Oyster Land + Q&A
Saturday 22 February 2025
7:00 pm
A special screening of Oyster Land, and a Q&A with filmmaker Matthew, Mersea Island Oysterman Dale and soundtrack composer Rev. Simpkins.
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Nature drawing workshop with Lisa Temple-Cox
Sunday 23 February 2025
10:30 am
More times available
Explore observational drawing and discover your favourite medium with this nature drawing workshop.
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All the Long Nights (JFTFP25)
Sunday 23 February 2025
11:00 am
A woman with debilitating PMS and a man with a severe panic disorder find companionship in All the Long Nights.
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A Complete Unknown (Captioned)
Tuesday 25 February 2025
2:00 pm
Set in the New York music scene of the early 60s, A Complete Unknown follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician Bob Dylan’s meteoric rise.
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Free
Colchester Library Rhymetimes at Firstsite
Wednesday 26 February 2025
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 26 February 2025
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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Free
YAK | Young Art Kommunity
Thursday 27 February 2025
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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Mini Movers & Makers Toddler Group
Thursday 27 February 2025
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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The Wild Robot (Parent & Baby)
Thursday 27 February 2025
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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The Girl with the Needle
Thursday 27 February 2025
4:15 pm
The Girl with the Needle is a dark fairy tale about one woman’s search for tenderness and morality in a cruel world.
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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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Introduction to Collage
Friday 28 February 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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Dance and Movement for Well-being
Friday 28 February 2025
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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Vermiglio
Friday 28 February 2025
10:30 am
More times available
1944, Vermiglio, a remote mountain village. The arrival of Pietro and his love Lucia changes the course of everyone’s life.
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The Brutalist
Friday 28 February 2025
1:30 pm
More times available
Visionary architect László Toth and his wife Erzsébet flee post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy in The Brutalist.
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Folk & Bespoke Artisan Craft Market
Saturday 01 March 2025
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
More times available
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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Vermiglio (Relaxed)
Saturday 01 March 2025
11:00 am
1944, Vermiglio, a remote mountain village. The arrival of Pietro and his love Lucia changes the course of everyone’s life.
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Tea Friends (JFTFP25)
Saturday 01 March 2025
2:00 pm
Tea Friends, a tight-knit group dispatching elderly call girls for lonely old men, finds its bonds tested when hard times befall them.
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The Brutalist (Captioned)
Saturday 01 March 2025
6:30 pm
Visionary architect László Toth and his wife Erzsébet flee post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy in The Brutalist.
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The Inugami Family (JFTFP25)
Sunday 02 March 2025
10:40 am
The death of a patriarch sets off a scramble for his fortune in one of Japan’s most popular mystery classics…The Inugami Family.
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Free
Art in the Community
Tuesday 04 March 2025
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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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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The Art Café
Wednesday 05 March 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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The Sociologist’s Wife: The Professional Lives of Women Film and Live Panel Talk
Thursday 06 March 2025
7:00 pm
Join us for a screening of the short film The Sociologist’s Wife followed by a live panel discussion on the professional lives of women.
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Oil Painting for Beginners with Jevan Watkins Jones
Friday 07 March 2025
10:30 am
Explore oil painting techniques with the inspiring work of contemporary and historic artists in these fun and experimental sessions!
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Free
Opening Celebration | University Centre Colchester (UCC): Legacy
Friday 07 March 2025
Come be a part of an exciting evening as we celebrate the creativity and talent of Colchester’s next generation of artists at the opening of the University Centre Colchester (UCC): Legacy exhibition!
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Free
University Centre Colchester (UCC): Legacy
Saturday 08 March - Sunday 15 June 2025
In partnership with Colchester Institute, we’re proud to present the UCC: Legacy exhibition, featuring an exciting selection of multimedia works by second and third-year students from University Centre Colchester (UCC).
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Inspirational Women Talk and Portrait Workshop
Saturday 08 March 2025
10:00 am
Spend your International Women’s Day with illustrator Lily Hammond in a fun, empowering workshop celebrating iconic leaders and trailblazers.
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The Scoop (JFTFP25)
Saturday 08 March 2025
2:00 pm
In order to join her school’s literature club, Yui must uncover the true identity of her favourite author in The Scoop!
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Stay Mum (JFTFP25)
Sunday 09 March 2025
11:00 am
In Stay Mom Chisako comes across a young, abused amnesiac. So she takes him under her wing, claiming to be his mother…
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A Night With Janis Joplin The Musical
Thursday 13 March 2025
5:00 pm
More times available
A Night with Janis Joplin, The Musical is a multi award-winning extraordinary musical journey paying homage to Janis Joplin.
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Bushido (JFTFP25)
Friday 14 March 2025
5:15 pm
Now-unemployed samurai Kakunoshin’s life was destroyed by a false accusation in Bushido, so he sets out to restore his honour.
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Life Drawing with Justine Moss – all levels
Saturday 15 March 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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Let’s Go Karaoke! (JFTFP25)
Saturday 15 March 2025
2:00 pm
Trying to avoid punishment in, Let’s Go Karaoke!, a tone-deaf yakuza lieutenant enlists a junior high school choir leader.
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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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Drag Life Drawing with Sirena Hart
Saturday 15 March 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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TASAF Lecture Series: Mirror Mirror on the Wall
Tuesday 18 March 2025
2:30 pm
Join us for a thought-provoking and insightful session by Arantxa Sardina in The Arts Society at Firstsite (TASAF) Lecture series!
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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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Boozy Brushes
Friday 21 March 2025
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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Ichiko (JFTFP25)
Saturday 22 March 2025
2:00 pm
When Ichiko goes missing, her boyfriend immediately begins to search for her. But he discovers that she’s not who he thought she was…
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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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National Theatre Live: Dr. Strangelove
Thursday 27 March 2025
7:00 pm
Seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan plays four roles in the world premiere stage adaptation of Dr. Strangelove.
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Free
Opening Celebration | Elsa James: It Should Not Be Forgotten
Friday 28 March 2025
Join us for a special evening event to celebrate the opening of ‘It Should Not Be Forgotten’, Elsa James’s first solo exhibition at Firstsite!
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Free
Elsa James: It Should Not Be Forgotten
Saturday 29 March - Sunday 06 July 2025
Join Essex artist Elsa James in examining the heart of Britain’s colonial past and its lasting impact on Black life today.
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Carmen Comes Home (JFTFP25)
Saturday 29 March 2025
5:00 pm
A city girl makes an exuberant return to her village hometown, but her appearance causes a stir. Can they adjust when Carmen Comes Home?
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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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Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert
Thursday 03 April 2025
7:00 pm
More times available
Hans Zimmer & Friends: Diamond in the Desert captures an extraordinary live performance of some of Zimmer’s most revered compositions…
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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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André Rieu’s 75th Birthday Celebration: The Dream Continues
Saturday 12 April 2025
4:00 pm
More times available
André Rieu celebrates his 75th Birthday! The King of the Waltz invites you to a boat party with him and his beloved Johann Strauss Orchestra.
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TASAF Lecture Series: Roots of Jazz
Tuesday 15 April 2025
2:30 pm
Join us for a thought-provoking and insightful session by Emma Johnson in The Arts Society at Firstsite (TASAF) Lecture series!
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Boozy Brushes – Paint in Pairs
Friday 25 April 2025
7:30 pm
Join Sirena Hart at Firstsite for Boozy Brushes a multi-art, Drag entertainment painting class extravaganza where you can paint in pairs!
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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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Bonnie & Clyde The Musical
Thursday 01 May 2025
7:00 pm
More times available
Bonnie & Clyde The Musical is the story of two small-town kids from the middle of nowhere who became the biggest folk heroes in all America.
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Words from Art Poetry Workshop
Thursday 08 May 2025
7:00 pm
Our Words from Art Poetry Workshop is practical session which will explore a variety of techniques to writing poems inspired by works of art.
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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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Writing the Self – Creative Writing Workshop
Sunday 18 May 2025
10:30 am
Delve into the relationship between writing and yourself using your personal experiences to create literary works of art.
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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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The Foreign Invention of British Art – Leslie Primo
Tuesday 20 May 2025
2:30 pm
Join us for a thought-provoking and insightful session by Leslie Primo in The Arts Society at Firstsite (TASAF) Lecture series!
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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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Boozy Brushes – Paint Your Pet
Friday 23 May 2025
7:30 pm
Join Sirena Hart at Firstsite for Boozy Brushes a multi-art, Drag entertainment painting class extravaganza where you can paint your pet!
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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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TASAF Lecture Series: Visual Magic in the Musicals
Tuesday 17 June 2025
2:30 pm
Join us for a thought-provoking and insightful session by Christopher Budd in The Arts Society at Firstsite (TASAF) Lecture series!
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