Friday October 12

1 Game Plan kicks and flicks off today from 7.30pm, Swindon Dance, Regent Circus, Swindon. £5. 01793 601700. Which are the dreams, which are the nightmare, and which is real? Facing the zombie of self- doubt, the monster of insecurity and the ogre of uncertainty, Sam is struggling to face the day. It’s time to wake up and play the game! Game Plan is a show that encourages us to believe that we all have the courage to bounce back! Partners Theatre Company are joined for the evening by Learners from Uplands Educational Trust who are performing a short drama piece of their own devising.

2 October Working Weekend, Lower Shaw Farm, Old Shaw Lane, Swindon. 01793 771080. This is a chance for families to spend time together, to get to know how a farm operates, to turn willing hands to old jobs and new, for all to enjoy good company and good food. It is an opportunity to have bright ideas by the compost heap, happy talk in the hen house, and cool chat in the kitchen. Prove that many hands make light work and that today’s stranger is tomorrow’s friend. Working Weekends are run in the spirit of the WWOOF organisation: we feed and accommodate you, you work, with us. For more details visithttp://www.lowershawfarm.co.uk/oct-2018#oct-working

3 How to Hide a Lion, 4:30pm, Neeld Community and Arts Centre, High Street,Chippenham. Adult £12 | Child £11 | Family of Four £36.01249 446699.When a lion is chased out of town, a little girl, Iris, helps him to find somewhere to hide. Iris embarks on a mission to squash her new friend into a variety of sneaky tight spots, as the misinformed town folk try and track him down. Helen Stephens’ magical book, How to Hide a Lion, comes to life with playful humour, dazzling puppets and jazz. Pigtails Productions, Polka Theatre and Oxford Playhouse present How to Hide a Lion, Directed and Adapted by Peter Glanville and with music and songs by Barb Jungr. Featauring Stephanie De Whalley and Gilbert Taylor. Babes-in-arms go free. Adult £12 / Child £11 / Family of Four (2 Adults & 2 Children) £36

Saturday October 13

4 Artsite Kids Halloween Art Workshop, 10am, Artsite, The Post Modern, Theatre Square, Swindon. £6. Making paper lanterns, decoupage tea light holders and spooky bats for Halloween. Drink and biscuits provided. Founded in 1999, Artsite set out to develop affordable studio space and act as a platform to showcase and support the visual and creative arts in Swindon. Over the following 18 years it has also come to play a vital role in the arts infrastructure for the town. Currently Artsite, run by artists, provides 13 studio spaces for artists and craftspeople in the Cultural Quarter of Swindon’s town centre. The former Post Modern Gallery is now run by the Wrong Shoes Theatre Company as the Shoe Box Theatre, continuing the support of a platform for creativity and collaborative activities underpinned by a common ethos and vision for education

5 Family Fun Day begins at 10am, tomorrow at the Wyvern Theatre, Theatre Square, Swindon. Look out for a whole range of activities including character appearances 6pm, back-stage tours, themed story time, live music performances, crafts, face painting and much more. Everyone is welcome, so bring all the family and enjoy some free theatrical fun! Live Music on the Bandstand 10am – 1pm (Acts confirmed: Double Trouble.... Duo Gavin Jones & Steve Grimmett, Steve is still the lead singer of a world famous rock band Grim Reaper. Elvis tribute, Emily Jane, Reanna Nolan, Lola Funsho) Preview performance by SALOS of highlights from Oklahoma! – 12pm in the auditorium Visit from Father Christmas and his Elves Visit from Henry VIII (Horrible Histories) Photo opportunities with Wagner the Owl from Awful Auntie Magic Carpet photo opportunities Rock Painting Crafts and Colouring, Ice Cream Parlour (not free) Adopt a Bear stall (raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital) Sensory Tent and activities with Vision West of England (suitable for children with visual impairments) Giveaways and Ticket Competitions. . Free. 01793 524481.

6 Family Film Night: Paddington 2, 7pm, St Augustine's Church, Summers Street, Swindon. Paddington, now happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen. Free entry – but donations are welcome. Bring a jumper as the church may get chilly. Feel free to bring snacks and drinks to enjoy. Soft drinks will be available. 07776 458278.

7 Raver Tots takes to the dance floor at 2pm, in the MECA, Regent Circus, Swindon tomorrow. Set up for the clubbing generation, who now have toddlers, the rave features dance music DJs such as Brandon Block, The Artful Dodger, Slipmatt and Nicky Blackmarket amongst its resident presenters. The family rave is a safe environment where parents and tots can rip up the dance floor together with whistles and glow sticks, showing off their UV painted faces. Families can and have fun in the soft play area and ball ponds, drive the Didi cars, explore their arty side in the craft areas, let off steam with the parachutes and inflatables and take part in the crazy confetti explosions. The music is a mix of old skool, house, garage, drum and bass and happy hardcore.and is kept at safe levels for little ones. There is club lighting but no strobes and there is also a buggy park £9 - £11. 0844 579 3322 All tickets must be purchased in advance! Tickets will not be available on the door!

8 Audi Driver International, 8.30am, Castle Combe Circuit, Castle Combe, Chippenham. £10 per adult (children free of charge). 01525 750500. Audi Driver International provides a great day out for all Audi owners and enthusiasts, as well as casual spectators, at the famous Castle Combe race circuit. As well as fast-lapping sessions on the race circuit throughout the day, there are demo drives and parade laps, and the paddock area provides many additional attractions including trade stands and displays, a Show ’n’ Shine and Concours, club line-ups and displays, car sales and autojumble area. During the day, Audi enthusiasts can drive their road cars at high speed on the race circuit (from £45 per 15 minute session), exploring their full performance in a controlled environment, with a front seat passenger (aged 17 or over) to share the experience. Spectators will see some of the fastest Audis in the country tearing around the track. Specialist tuning companies offer fast-lap passenger rides in their demo cars and there are special club track sessions, and a low-speed parade at lunchtime for just £10 per car – ideal for families with children, or for those who just prefer a more leisurely pace. The Show ’n’ Shine and Concours area a number of the country’s top show cars on display, from fully restored and original classic Audis to customised and modified examples. The day finishes at 5pm with a grand parade of club display cars around the circuit. Further details can be found on the website at www.audidriverinternational.co.uk

9 Join the cast of Pinocchio tomorrow for a mini workshop at Swindon's Art Centre, Devizes Road, Old Town, where you’ll be taught a song from their show. When Geppetto carves Pinocchio, something magical happens. As the puppet takes shape it gradually comes to life, learns to walk and talk and takes on all the qualities of a mischievous little boy. Pinocchio may be disobedient but he’s also inquisitive and brave and has the most amazing adventures where he earns the prize he most desires – to become a real live boy. During the light hearted half hour workshop, some children are chosen and rehearsed into parts while the rest of the audience is taught three chorus songs. During the interval the actors and children are costumed and in the second act, the show, lasting 1 hour, runs seamlessly with everyone taking part as rehearsed. Age Recommendation: five years and above, though all are welcome. All attendees (grown-ups included) must pre-book a ticket in advance. The session is approximately 20 minutes long. Pinocchio is also on Friday, October 26. And at the Wyvern Theatre there are a number of workshops including Fairy Tale Adventure - 10am – 10.45am for 5-10 years (capacity 15). Join Prime Theatre on an in-role exploration of the classic fairy tale, Rumpelstiltskin. Finish the story the way you think it should have ended while learning drama skills and playing games!Workshop 2: 11am – 11.45am Hansel and Gretel. Workshop 3: What’s your story? - 12pm – 12.45pm. Learn how to create your own scenes with Prime Theatre. Explore how to hook and audience, and build an exciting performance through drama activities and a creative team performance. These workshops will be accessible for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. For more details visit www.swindontheatare.co.uk

Sunday

10 Bowood House Duathlon, 11am, Bowood House & Gardens, Derry Hill, Calne. 01249 812102. A picturesque route around the estate, taking in stunning scenery of Bowood Lake, The Cascade Waterfall and The Doric Temple. Transition will be located on the finely manicured lawns and under the shadows of Bowood House. Spectators require an admission ticket to Bowood House & Gardens. If you are competing, you will gain free entry into the grounds with your race number which enables access to all our fantastic facilities. LPS Events organises duathlons for athletes of all abilities. A duathlon is a competition that is composed of running and cycling. You start with a run, then transition to a bike, then transition back to running again for the final part of the race. https://www.bowood.org/event/category-house-gardens-duathlon/