Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield, has announced that Emmerdale actress Roxanne Pallett and X-Factor singer Rhydian Roberts will star as Cinderella and Prince Charming in the year’s magical family Pantomime, Cinderella, from Saturday 1^st December 2018 to Sunday 6^th January 2019.

Roxanne is best known for her role as Jo Stiles in ITV’s hugely successful Emmerdale. Her sensitive performance during 2010’s emotional domestic abuse storyline garnered great critical acclaim and brought the important, often unspoken of, issue to the forefront of the nation’s attention. Roxanne continues to act as an ambassador for Women’s Refuge and The Samaritans.

Roxanne has displayed her impressive versatility as a performer with appearances on popular TV shows Dancing on Ice, Soapstar Superstar and a winning performance as Gloria Estefan on Celebrity Stars in their Eyes.

Roxanne surprised audiences by playing a troubled schoolgirl in BBC’s Waterloo Road, a character who was ten years younger than the actress herself in real life. Roxanne also moved from the small screen to the big screen with several roles in movies including Devil’s Tower, Habit and Wrong Turn 6 for 20^th Century Fox.

Her extensive work in theatre has taken her all over the UK with hit touring productions of The Wedding Singer and The Vagina Monologues and she is currently the co-host of Minster FM’s Breakfast with Ben & Roxy.

Double Platinum selling recording artist Rhydian was propelled to fame as a contestant on the X-Factor in 2007 and quickly became a fan favourite due to his dynamic performances and show-stopping vocal talent. The runaway success story of the series, Rhydian was promptly signed to Simon Cowell’s record label releasing 7 albums to date and becoming the biggest selling Male Artist of 2008.

Rhydian has starred in numerous UK tours of West End musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar, Little Shop of Horrors and Grease and has duetted with some of the most respected names in the music industry including Michael Buble, Taylor Swift, Celine Dion and Idina Menzel.

Roxanne and Rhydian will be reunited in this year’s production of Cinderella having performed together in the 40^th Anniversary Tour of The Rocky Horror Show in 2014.

Paul Holman, Pantomime Producer, said:-

“Roxanne and Rhydian are fantastic performers. With Roxanne as everyone’s favourite Princess, Cinderella, and Rhydian as her equally charming Prince, they are sure to enchant our audiences and their stunning vocal talents combined will leave them spellbound.”

With the announcement of Roxanne and Rhydian as the headline stars of Cinderella and featuring all of the traditional elements of pantomime combined with dazzling scenery and costumes, bucket loads of laughter and more than a sprinkle of magic, this year’s production promises to be more spectacular than ever.

Cinderella runs at Pomegranate Theatre from Saturday 1^st December 2018 to Sunday 6^th January 2019. Tickets are on sale now and can be booked online at http://www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk/ or via the Box Office on 01246 345 222.

Traditional rural skills like falconry and dry-stone walling are being taught in hands-on sessions at the Chatsworth Farmyard this spring half term (26 May-3 June) as well as the chance for budding young farmers to muck-in and help care for farmyard animals including horses, pigs and sheep on select days.

Dry stone walling, fly fishing, wool weaving and spinning, falconry and a host of other rural skills (see below for dates) are being taught by seasoned experts to show children and families the centuries old skills still used in rural communities.

Visitors can get ‘hands on’ and build a mini dry stone wall as well as learning about their history from Sally Hodgson who has nearly 30 years experience of dry stone walling and is committed to retaining the heritage of the beautiful Derbyshire landscape.

SMJ Falconry are family-operated bird of prey specialists and will be displaying birds of all sizes as well as giving a flying display. Meanwhile Stuart Crofts will be making fishing flies to imitate the natural food that trout feed on and children will be able to make their own flies in the farmyard.

And any budding young farmers, aged between 6-11, will be able to join the farmyard team for some hands-on involvement in caring for the Chatsworth farmyard animals.

Meanwhile, in its famous 105-acre garden, Chatsworth will be celebrating its fabulous waterworks. Free garden tours will take in water features including the 18th century Cascade, Willow Tree Fountain, Ring Pond and Emperor Fountain, which will be played at its full height of 90 metres.

Spring half-term

Saturday and Sunday 26 & 27 May, Sally Hodgson’s dry stone walling: build your own dry stone wall and hear about the history of these iconic feature of the Derbyshire landscape.

Monday 28 May, SMJ falconry: get up close and personal with more than a dozen magnificent birds of prey.

Tuesday 29 May, Stuart Crofts river creatures: Get close up to the many fascinating creatures found in the river Derwent.

Tuesday 29 May, Margaret Robson, wool spinner: Learn about the process of turning fleece to wool by spinning and weaving.

Wednesday 30 May, Stuart Crofts fly tying workshop: make fishing flies to imitate the natural food that trout feeding on.

Thursday 31 May, Margaret Robson, wool spinner: Learn about the process of turning fleece to wool by spinning and weaving.

Friday 1 June, Bobbie Harvey, Willow & wool workshop: Use simple weaving techniques to make willow and wool “god’s eyes” decorations.

Various dates from 30 May-22 August, join the farmyard team in caring for the farmyard animals.

Chatsworth reopened on 24 March 2018 following the biggest restoration and conservation of the house, garden and park since the 1820s. The 10-year long programme, costing more than £32m, sees Chatsworth restored to its full glory, inside and out.

The Chatsworth Renewed exhibition, running between March and October, highlights the work of those involved in the restoration process. From rebuilding the Belvedere turrets to replacing vast tracts of lead on the roof; carving the tiniest details in stone using dentistry tools to replacing huge blocks in the walls; careful restoration of priceless artworks to the renovation of famous water features in the garden; over the last decade Chatsworth has been fully restored and made ready for the next century.

In 1981, the charitable Chatsworth House Trust was set up by the 11th Duke to ensure the long-term survival of the house and collection. Since 1949 the entrance money paid by more than 25 million visitors has made a vital contribution to the maintenance of the house and garden and it is this income, rather than any public funding, that has enabled the current restoration works to be completed.

Ashgate Hospicecare are pleased to announce that X factor star and winner of Dancing on Ice 2018, Jake Quickenden, will be the celebrity guest at this year’s Markovitz Sparkle Night Walk which will take place on July 7^th.

The singer and reality TV star will be showing his support for the local hospice by performing on stage at the event to get the thousands of walkers warmed up and ready for the 10k walk ahead, which starts and finishes at the Proact Stadium in Chesterfield.

Coming from a semi-professional footballing background, 29 year old Jake was a contestant on The X Factor in 2012, where he made it through to the judge’s houses, and again in 2014 when he got through to the live shows. Later in 2014, Jake entered the jungle on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! where he was a runner up. In 2018, he was the winner of Dancing on Ice where he was partnered with professional German figure skater Vanessa Bauer.

Jake said:-

“It’s such a privilege to support Ashgate Hospicecare. I lost both my dad and brother to cancer and can say that it makes such a difference to the lives of families to know that the people they love most in the world are being well looked after throughout such a horrible illness.

“I can’t wait to be part of Sparkle this year and I hope you all have a fantastic time and raise loads of money for such a worthy cause!”

This is Ashgate Hospicecare’s 4^th Sparkle Night Walk since it was rebranded from the Midnight Walk. Last year, over 2,500 walkers with their pink t-shirts and flashing bunny ears walked together and raised an incredible £202,500 in sponsorships, which all helped towards providing hospice care to patients with a life-limiting illness and their families throughout North Derbyshire. This year, the Hospice are expecting over 3,000 walkers to sign up.

Jack Wood, Events, Lottery and Digital Manager at Ashgate Hospicecare, said:-

“We’re incredibly excited to have Jake Quickenden on board and supporting the Sparkle Night Walk this year, especially considering Jake’s personal experience of cancer in his family, something that we understand very well here at the Hospice. We can’t wait to have him there, cheering us all on on the night.”

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life Chesterfield is returning to town to raise vital funds.

This year’s event will set off from Queen’s Park at 10.30am on Sunday 3 June and follow a different route to previous years, which it is hoped will also reduce disruption to motorists.

Participants will complete a double lap of Queen’s Park and Boythorpe Avenue as part of a 5km route instead of going through the town centre.

As a result there will only be road closures on Boythorpe Avenue and Park Road – between Boythorpe Avenue and the exit from the Ravenside Retail Park in Markham Road – from early morning until early afternoon.

To enable the event to run smoothly Chesterfield Borough Council will also temporarily close the Queen’s Park North and Albion Road car parks. The other town centre car parks at Rose Hill, Soresby Street, Holywell Cross (Donut) and Ashgate Road will remain open as normal.

Councillor Steve Brunt, Chesterfield Borough Council’s cabinet member for town centres and visitor economy said: “We are pleased to support Chesterfield’s Race for Life event each year because it is such a good cause.

“All of us will have been touched by cancer at some time in our lives either through having the disease or knowing someone who has.

“The revised route this year will hopefully keep any disruption in to a minimum and roads and car parks will reopen as soon as possible after the race has finished.

“We hope that as many people as possible will either take part in the race or come down to watch it as a spectator.”