As the weather picks up, so does the live entertainment season and Barrow’s premier venue, The Forum, has released a jam-packed programme in what is set to be a bumper and diverse season.

The spring/summer calendar features everything from niche theatre and dance productions through to crowd-pleasing headliners such as Strictly’s Tommy Blaize, X Factor’s G4 and cricketing legend Sir Ian Botham.

Tommy Blaize will take to the stage on April 21, performing well known hits and telling stories of his time in the industry working with the likes of Diana Ross, Queen and Stevie Wonder.

G4 will be celebrating 20 years of music on a tour that comes to Barrow on April 25, while on June 11, Sir Ian Botham will be talking about his 15-year career.

Children’s entertainment includes interactive show Claytime by Indefinite Articles.

Meanwhile, The Tiger Who Came to Tea tours from London’s West End, bringing to life the characters from the book by Judith Kerr. 

During the Easter holidays, it’s panto time and a unique take on Disney’s Beauty and the Beast!  Northern Ballet’s telling of Aesop’s Fable, The Tortoise and the Hare, also showcases the theatre’s commitment to bringing classic tales into the 21st century.

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Other shows include Boyzlife, Mania: The Abba Tribute and Taylor Mania tribute shows, while Rave On and Love Hurts also stage evenings of live music.

Theatre lovers can take in Guys and Dolls and for something a little more forbidding, A history of Mass Murderers uncovers the backgrounds into the UK’s most notorious cases.

Locally themed highlights include Kendal Mountain Tour 2024, featuring guest speakers and films showcasing spectacular landscapes, or learn more about the plight of native red squirrels at the screening of Cumbrian Red – Saving our Red Squirrel.  

Upcoming movies include Oscar winner Oppenheimer on June 7, A Haunting in Venice on May 3 and feelgood British film Allelujah on April 5.

The Forum is just one of the venues being highlighted by the Let’s Go Culture project, which has received £175,908 from the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and is being supported by Westmorland & Furness Council.

The Forum Barrow’s box office, reception and coffee shop are open 10am-3pm Monday to Friday, with the coffee shop also open Saturdays.

For more specific performance times and prices/tickets visit theforumbarrow.co.uk or visitlakedistrict.com/lets-go-culture for more inspiration on arts, culture and heritage in Westmorland and Furness.