EastEnders star is Captain Hook in Swindon panto

PANTOMIME extravaganza Peter Pan, starring soap star Adam Woodyatt as the villainous Captain Hook, is without doubt the one to see in Swindon from this weekend.

The biggest event of the year for the Wyvern Theatre, expect a family entertainment the kids will always remember. The pantomime season opens tomorrow with performances at 1pm and 7pm then continues twice a day (except Mondays), at various times, through to the end of December.

Better known as Ian Beale, the only character to have stayed with Eastenders since its inception in 1985, Adam will be expecting plenty of traditional boos and hisses as he takes a turn on the stage as the wicked pirate captain.

This is his third Swindon panto for the soap star, as Adam appeared in Mother Goose in the 1980s and then in 2015 returned to star in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.

The much-loved story of the boy who never grows up, Peter Pan has swashbuckling pirates, a tribe of Lost Boys, the fairy Tinkerbell, a ticking crocodile with a keen appetite and a journey to the magical Neverland.

In true pantomime style, Peter Pan has lots of audience interaction, plenty of laughs, gorgeous costumes and magnificent scenery. Look out for some impressive special effects, including high-flying.

Tickets are selling fast and several shows are already sold out. Tickets range from £19 to £31.50, with family tickets and concessions available.

A special relaxed performance will take place on Friday, December 8 at 1pm, sign-interpreted performances on Saturday, December 16 at 1pm and 7pm, and an audio described show at 1pm on Saturday December 30.

To book, call 01793 524481 or visit swindontheatres.co.uk.

Soundscape of psychedelia in The Vic

ELECTRONIC rock band Nodens Ictus will bring their ethereal soundscapes to Swindon’s Victoria pub on Sunday night.

The band, made up of Ozric Tentacles guitarist Ed Wynne and keyboardist Joie Hinton, began in 1986 when the duo was asked to produce an ambient set for a chillout room.

Ozric Tentacles are a British psychedelic band, and Nodens Ictus is essentially the band minus the guitar and rhythm section, exploring Tangerine Dream-like sounds using synths and samples.

Nodens Ictus played intermittently since its inception but resurfaced in 2000 with the release of a collection of new and old tracks, called Spacelines.

Since then they have performed occasionally as a support act at Ozric gigs and appeared at Glastonbury Festival in 2003.

They will be supported by Oversoul, which offers “shamanic audio technology for the advancement of consciousness and connection to the source” and a DJ set by Keepers Brew – a project by former Ozric bass player Greyum May.

Doors open at 8pm and tickets for the concert at the pub in Victoria Road are £12 in advance and £14 on the door. To book, visit seetickets.com.

Bargains galore at festive craft fair in Richard Jefferies Museum

SHOPPERS are encouraged to buy local and support Swindon artists and makers this Christmas, the Richard Jefferies Museum’s first Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair.

The inaugural event opens for business tomorrow offering everyone a chance to buy a unique, hand-crafted gift, and to avoid some of the commercialisation of the season.

Christmas Arts and Crafts will take place in the museum’s gallery, with more than a dozen exhibitors offering a range of reasonably priced gifts, including a variety of ceramics, jewellery, artisan sweets and fabric creations.

One exhibitor has made a range of images using the medium of old 45 and 33 records, into which pictures relating to the music have been inscribed.

“There are plenty of Christmas fairs around, but we decided to have this rather than an exhibition because we wanted to get across the idea that you can buy beautiful presents made locally rather than going the commercial route,” said museum director Mike Pringle.

The event at the museum in Marlborough Road, Coate is free, and runs from 10am to 4pm.

It will run until December 22, during the museum’s opening hours.

For more information visit richardjefferies.org.