Joe Kent-Walters

Recurring

National Theatre Connections Festival 2026

Royal and Derngate Theatre 19-21 Guildhall Road, Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1DP

National Theatre Connections Festival 2026 For the past 31 years The National Theatre Connections Festival has been a celebration of young people, theatre and the importance of access to the arts. Each year the National Theatre commissions a collection of new plays for young people to perform, uniting some of the most exciting UK playwrights of today with the theatre-makers of tomorrow. Royal and Derngate are proud to host the largest and most diverse of the regional Connections festivals in the country, and we are thrilled to be welcoming hundreds of young people to Northampton again in April 2026 for what promises to be an exciting week of new writing packed with young talent. School groups and Youth theatres from across the region will perform in compelling new plays including Cloud Busting by Helen Blakeman, Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth by Kirsty Housley, Sycamore Gap by Al Smith, Wildfire Road by Eve Leigh, The Animals by Sean Buckley, Fishville by Afsaneh Gray, and Royal & Derngate’s own Young Company will take part in the festival performing Britney’s Lock by Alexandra Wood Tuesday 21 April Sycamore Gap St Peter’s Catholic School 12pm in The Royal Wildfire Road Halesowen College 2pm in The Underground Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth Kettering Science Academy 5.30pm in The Royal Wednesday 22 April Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth Ousedale 11.30am in The Royal Sycamore Gap Alderbrook School 1pm in Underground...

Vulcan Works Open Day

Vulcan Works 34-38 Guildhall Rd, northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

Join us at Vulcan Works – Offices & Coworking Space for a day filled with networking, and discovering new opportunities. Whether you’re a fr Join us at Vulcan Works – Offices & Coworking Space for a day filled with networking, and discovering new opportunities. Whether you’re a freelancer, entrepreneur, or just curious about coworking spaces, this event is for you! Explore our modern facilities, tour our offices and meet our vibrant community. Don’t miss this chance to see firsthand what makes Vulcan Works the perfect place to work and connect. Mark your calendar and come along to Vulcan Works Open Day – we can’t wait to show you around! What to Expect: Venue Tours Explore our beautifully restored Victorian industrial building—home to coworking spaces, private offices, meeting rooms, and collaborative breakout areas. Meet the Community Connect with current residents and local entrepreneurs, hear their stories, and discover how Vulcan Works supports business growth Free Hot Desking Try the space for yourself! Bring your laptop and enjoy a complimentary day of hot desking in our vibrant shared workspace. Refreshments & Networking Enjoy coffee and informal networking throughout the day.

Vulcan Sessions: Employment law changes in 2026-2027 with Haus of HR

Vulcan Works 34-38 Guildhall Rd, northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

April 2026 marks the beginning of one of the biggest shifts in UK employment law in a generation. Session Overview: Employment Law Changes in 2026-2027: April 2026 marks the beginning of one of the biggest shifts in UK employment law in a generation, as the Employment Rights Act 2025 starts to take effect. Multiple major reforms land this April, with further changes continuing into late 2026 and 2027. These changes introduce substantial new rights for workers and new obligations and risks for employers. This session provides a clear, practical overview of: The April 2026 changes and what employers must action immediately Key reforms due later in 2026 and into 2027 How these changes affect HR processes, policies, contracts, payroll and manager training Real‑world implications for SMEs, especially around sickness absence, family leave, whistleblowing, dismissal risk and union activity A roadmap to ensure employers remain compliant and prepared for the years ahead Bio: Rachel Collar is an award‑winning HR leader with over 25 years’ experience delivering global HR strategy – often within complex, highly regulated and unionised environments. As the Founder of Haus of HR, a leading Northamptonshire‑based HR consultancy, she brings deep expertise in employment law, employee relations and workforce...

Recurring

Architectural Heads/Flower Heads

78 Derngate Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1UH

We are delighted to host two much-travelled contemporary artists, Piero Serra & Simington who will be displaying their work in the Barwell Room from Tuesday March 10 th to the end of May. With very different styles and techniques, the two friends chose to collaborate on this exhibition entitled ‘Architectural Heads/Flower Heads’. Serra, who trained as an architect, was born in Northampton. He shows us his extraordinary drawings which were partially inspired by architectural forms soon after he moved to Berlin, where he still lives. Serra who trained as an architect, was born in Northampton. Simington’s work shows us constructed composite images, which can be made up of multiple layers, to create worlds which take on a life of their own. Liam was born in Scotland, has lived in both Japan and Egypt and now resides in Northamptonshire. House and Galleries are open Tuesday to Sunday 10am – 4.30pm. A small entrance fee applies for visits to the heritage house but entry to all exhibitions is free.

Recurring

Carboniferous Monsters: 100 million years before the Dinosaurs

Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

Step back to the Carboniferous period, 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 21 February - Sunday 7 June 2026 Visit tropical forests and swamps teeming with bizarre and ferocious ancient monsters, some of which had larger teeth than T. rex. Meet the dinosaurs' distant ancestors, the very first reptiles, the largest creepy-crawlies ever to live, and prehistoric animals unlike anything you've ever seen before! A must-see for prehistoric monster fans of all ages!

Recurring

From the Collection: Drawings

Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

An exhibition of drawings from the Northampton Museums & Art Gallery collection. This exhibition explores drawing as a fundamental artistic language, presenting preparatory sketches and finished works that reveal how ideas take shape on paper. Through the delicate studies of Henry Moore, the atmospheric sketches of Walter Sickert, the imaginative designs of Sir Edward Burne Jones, and the expressive drawings of Clare Abbatt, amongst others, visitors are invited to consider drawing not merely as a preliminary step but as an art form in its own right. The works on display highlight how artists across different periods and practices use line, tone, and observation to experiment, problem solve, and refine their vision. Together, they celebrate drawing’s enduring role as a tool for exploration, invention, and creative thinking.

Recurring

Semilong Blooms – The Semilong Garden Community Project

Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

Semilong Blooms by Jack Savage is a photographic portrait series documenting some of the people behind the Semilong Garden Project, a grassroots community initiative established by Louise Troy. Louise formed a community constitution of committed volunteers to transform the derelict space. The space was originally filled with litter and graffiti tarnished the walls. The series highlights some of the residents, volunteers, and families who helped bring this project to life, transforming a neglected strip of Northampton into a thriving space for creativity, connection, and community. Each portrait celebrates the individuals whose collective effort turned overlooked land into a place of pride, joy, and shared ownership.

Recurring

Art and Comics Unwrapped: Exploring the Line Between Comics and Fine Art

Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

This Exhibition explores the similarities between fine art and comics and how they are produced. It will explain the process of how comics are created and examine the common elements from fine art; the drawing, the painting and the poetry. It will also exhibit a story of epic proportions without superheroes, just ordinary people.

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