Arts & Exhibitions

Boughton House is looking forward to opening its doors over the Easter and May Bank Holiday weekends (Saturday 4th to Monday 6th May and Saturday 25th to Monday 27th May). This year, in addition to the world-class art collection and fascinating history, visitors can admire the newly restored State Room ceilings, which were featured in Hollywood epic Napoleon and view works by local artists. The State Rooms at Boughton House were originally built to impress the King and Queen, William and Mary, by showing them the contemporary style and tastes of the French Court. This included the magnificently painted ceilings by Louis Chéron, a celebrated French history painter and book illustrator. These ceilings have just been restored as part of a larger 10 year project to  conserve and clean these artistic treasures, revealing their original splendour for generations to come. Using cutting-edge 21st century techniques and materials, the experts at..

Thornton College invites individuals to share their tales and artefacts linked to the Second World War during their Digital Collection Day at the school on Saturday, 16th September from 10 a.m. The event is part of a nationwide campaign organised by Their Finest Hour, a team based at the University of Oxford and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which is collecting and preserving the everyday stories and objects of the Second World War. As these stories are fast fading from living memory, it is vital that they - and the wartime objects that often accompany them - are preserved for future generations. At the Digital Collection Day, stories about your family’s wartime experience – and associated objects such as diaries, letters, medals, journals and ration books – will be recorded, digitised, and then uploaded to the Their Finest Hour online archive, which will be free-to-use and launch in..

Northampton’s Derngate is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023. Pulse’s Sammy Jones takes a little peek back at some of the milestones to date as the venue looks towards the future... The venue was designed by RHWL architects, who were also responsible for delivering other leading arts and culture hubs including the Crucible in Sheffield, the Old Vic and Sadler’s Wells Theatres in London, and the Aylesbury Waterside. Northampton’s Derngate opened its doors to theatre-hungry residents in 1983, with the American singer and actor Jack Jones the first name in lights, on April 4. The Northampton Borough Council initiative was launched as a multi-use venue from the get-go, and its significant space can accommodate a maximum audience of 1,500 for classical concerts. The Derngate was built at the rear of The Royal Theatre, occupying the space formerly held by the town’s bus station, and while coaches still pull up regularly,..

Northamptonshire’s tourism treasures take centre stage in a new campaign showcasing the county as a brilliant place for great value days out. The campaign is highlighting 30 destinations – including Silverstone, Wicksteed Park, Shambala, Greenbelt and a host of hidden gems – that are welcoming visitors for a day out at under £10 this summer. Funded by West and North Northamptonshire Councils, the initiative is being delivered by the Northamptonshire Britain’s Best Surprise team. “Northamptonshire’s people and places offer an incredible variety of great value days out and experiences to visitors,” says chair Rachel Mallows. “We look forward to continuing our efforts to help sustain and grow local tourism and hospitality businesses and are grateful to the North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire Unitary Authorities for funding this campaign.” West Northamptonshire Council is pushing the delights of its unique market towns Brackley, Daventry and Towcester as well as the county town..

Milton Keynes Museum With school out, finding ways to keep the little ‘uns entertained for six whole weeks can feel a bit overwhelming. Thankfully, Milton Keynes Museum is on hand to make things easy for you, and fun for them! On July 15, the Museum will mark its 50-year anniversary with a special celebration party, and then between July 24 and September 1 the Wolverton-based history hub will be offering additional activities to take attention. All the usual attractions will be open as usual of course; start your visit with a look inside the Victorian farmhouse, play on music machines from the era, make hot buttered toast in the parlour, see what the role of a servant entailed and look back on more than a century of toys. Then stroll through the Street of Shops with its many original facades from stores that once served residents of Stony Stratford, Newport..

Summertime Live at Delapré Abbey The ‘biggest party of the summer’ is promised by organisers of a one-day festival set to sizzle in the grounds of beautiful Delapré Abbey on July 8. Summertime Live – which launched in 2022 with a series of successful events countrywide – has assembled a brilliant line-up of live music and DJs, with performances from Artful Dodger, Rickie & Melvin, Baby D, Sonique and Wideboys ready to roll before a headline set from the Classic Ibiza orchestra. “We cannot wait for the crowd to experience this year’s offering of amazing dance music acts,” said organiser Jonathan Ware, “The reaction we’ve seen so far has been unprecedented...” Tickets are on sale at £37.50 with a limited number remaining. To book and for more information visit summertimelive.co.uk/northampton Enjoy lovely Lamport as the sun shines Now that we’re into the glorious summer months, the green spaces at Lamport..

Pigs Might Fly is a new farmyard musical about the joy of unlikely friendships – and the tour comes to a close at Milton Keynes Theatre on July 16. Based on the book Mudpuddle Farm by Michael Morpurgo (the man responsible for the splendid War Horse), the star of the piece is Pintsize, the most daring piglet on the farm. Pintsize is great pals with Diana the sheep and the duo love playing together...until a fence is built between them denying them their fun. Keen to reunite with his pal, Pintsize is determined to fly over it. But can his ingenuity and determination defy the laws of physics? Catchy songs, imagination and slapstick humour make this 50 minute show a total treat for youngsters aged three to 11 years. Hoses will be at the ready on July 29 for another adventure with Fireman Sam! When his friends go away, Norman..

The Parks Trust A celebration of the natural world will take place in the ancient woodland of Howe Park Wood in Milton Keynes on July 1 and is sure to get little minds all fired up to help our wildlife. Love Nature Day is an all-ages event giving you the opportunity to meet volunteers who are passionate about moths, swifts and bats.The free session – running between 11am and 4pm – will have opportunities to go bug hunting and pond dipping, and Parks Trust rangers will offer guided walks. The woodland boasts more than 200 plant species and is home to 30 different species of butterfly. On July 4, Howe Park Wood will host a Discover Nature Day tailored to those aged 11 to 13 years old. The five hour session (from 10am, £22.50) will include wildlife identification, biology, bushcraft and more. Participants get to learn new skills, be inspired..

Chester House in Little Irchester has a summer of the sensational planned, with a varied programme sure to sate the entertainment appetites of the majority. On July 8, 21st Century ABBA Live will deliver smash hit after another; from Waterloo and Mamma Mia to Super Trouper, but there are other outside events to indulge in too - 21st Century Queen (July 21) will offer a royally ace set, and Spider Training (July 22) will weave a web of wonder around little folks. Suitable for ages 4+ Spiderman and Spidergirl will offer an hour-long workshop teaching little folks the moves of a real superhero. There are five sessions running across the day. A Kids Summer Festival (July 29 & 30) will boast inflatables, interactive live stage shows, tractor rides around the estate, a circus workshop, crafts, sandcastle building and a chance to discover the Archaeological Resource Centre. Youngsters can Adventure into..

Gala performances, showcase events and tribute opportunities rule in theatre-land this month. Pulse’s Sammy Jones has your preview... There’s an opportunity to check in on rising talents from the town (July 2) when Limelight Theatre School presents Groovy Baby at the Derngate. The young talents will lead you on a journey back to the ‘60s and cut loose the best songs from the decade that swung! The UK premiere of composer James Burton’s The Lost Words will be realised at the venue (July 5) when choirs from across the primary and secondary schools of the David Ross Education Trust clear their throats and release their voices in the work which ‘celebrates the wonder of the natural world through a series of spell-poems.’ Local talent continues to shine with The Big Top Murders: A Musical Double Bill (July 7 & 8) at the..

An exciting day of live music and entertainment is in store for the Coronation Community Festival, taking place on Guildhall Road, Northampton, on Saturday 6th May between 10am and 4pm. The free event, organised by Northampton Town Council, in partnership with the Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID), Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, West Northamptonshire Council, The Performing Room, 78 Derngate, John Franklins and V and B, will kick off a weekend of celebrations to mark the coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort. Residents are invited to come together with friends and family to enjoy stage performances, with Northampton-born music star Billy Lockett playing a headline set as part of his current UK tour, alongside roaming street entertainers, children’s arts and craft activities, street food vendors and much more. Live coverage of the coronation events taking place in London will also be broadcast..

Since we last caught up with him, Northampton’s piano man Billy Lockett has inked a new record deal and has America in his sights. With a debut album fresh to the shelves, he spoke with Pulse’s Sammy Jones. So far, Billy’s songs have clocked up well in excess of 110 million streams. That’s a monstrous number of listens. Billy might well be the most successful secret in music, I suggest. “Yeah, and I kind of want to keep it that way to be honest,” he says with no hesitation, “My goal is to be the biggest small artist forever, basically,” he reasons, “My music and my fans and the whole thing, it’s modest, and that’s how I like it – it’s just me and a piano on stage, it’s kind of like there is no ego and it’s just us having a good time together, there is no divide,” he..

If one were to imagine the quintessentially English village it might look very much like Easton on the Hill. Built largely of blonde local limestone, with roofs of Collyweston slate, the village is nestled into the summit of the Jurassic ridge which runs between the Nene Valley in the south, and the Welland in the north. It’s in Northamptonshire, but only just! And it’s the perfect spot for a winter wander, writes Laura Malpas. Although settlement was certainly present in earlier centuries, Easton on the Hill is first mentioned in the Domesday book of 1086, where it was recorded as a thriving settlement of thirty-one households, with three owners listed. These included Eudo, a powerful French noble who acted as steward to both William the Conqueror and his son. Eudo held the land during his lifetime and it may well have been he who started construction of the Church. After..

It’s certainly hard to believe, but the year will soon be coming to an end – yes, really! It seems to me like just yesterday we were saying hello to the summer sun but we’re now saying hello to 2023. Yes, there are the obvious ways to bring in the New Year – heading out to party until the early hours may be the choice for some but, if you’re anything like me, all of the celebrations surrounding Christmastime mean that NY seems like the perfect time for something a little different! Here are some unique ideas you could use to ring in the start of the next 12 months around the sun. Murder Mystery Night Whether you want to party Gatsby-style or throw a James Bond themed soirée, a classic ‘whodunnit’ murder mystery is a great alternative way to bring in the New Year with friends or family. I..

A charity supporting children who have experienced trauma, a group tackling litter and a group’s cookery course for survivors of domestic abuse  – just a few of the winners at this year’s Northamptonshire Community Foundation Annual Awards. The awards, which took place at the Royal & Derngate on Thursday, 8th December, have again thrown a spotlight on the incredible work that committed volunteers and community groups do across the county. Rachel McGrath, CEO of Northamptonshire Community Foundation, said: “Congratulations to all our finalists and winners tonight – a wonderful opportunity to pause and take time to celebrate our remarkable communities and to say a heartfelt thank you. “Our five-year strategy is built around the recovery and revival of our communities, supporting them at this extraordinarily difficult time, recognising the huge scale of the challenge and the economic and social impact that will be felt for many years to come. As a..