April 3, 2025
Pick of Diary Events in Bath
Sun 30 Mar. Mothering Sunday. Not to be confused with Mother’s Day on Sunday May 11 which means mums get two days dedicated to them. Mothering Sunday dates to the early Medieval era and was a Christian festival of the mother church that evolved to celebrate mothers and is the fourth Sunday of Lent when fasting could be broken with simnel cakes and other goodies. The one in May is derived from the USA Civil War which was a peace movement celebrating mothers. It has become as big as Mothering Sunday (also known now as Mothers’ Day) and is a boon to card manufacturers, florists, chocolate makers and pubs and restaurants. Fathers’ Day is on Sunday 15 June this year.
Tue 1 Apr. All Fools’ Day. A chance to carry out the odd good humoured prank like suggesting online that Bristol be renamed West Bath or that Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have agreed to play for Bath City during the summer friendlies.
Wed 2 Apr. Talk at The Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) on Weir’d Bath: Power from the River Avon. 7.30pm. Tony Coverdale on how the development of Bath’s weirs has helped the city’s fortunes over the years. Pulteney Weir is an iconic structure, but why have it in the heart of Bath? What was its purpose? Together with the two weirs at Twerton, it was key to Bath’s fortunes. The weirs were built to help provide power to flour and textile mills when the world relied on renewable energy – but they blocked the river. How then could the Avon be made safe for boats to travel from Bath to Bristol and beyond? Come along to hear the fascinating story of Bath’s weirs and how they and the Avon have been adapted to meet the needs of more recent times. Tony Coverdale is a Chartered Engineer with a passion for history, particularly the application of science in engineering. He is a STEM Ambassador, aiming to introduce engineering to new audiences, and was involved with the Saltford Brass Mill Project between 2007 and 2023. As a retired Royal Navy engineering officer, he continues to provide consultancy services on the management of safety in hazardous industries and his voluntary work is currently focused on the conservation of St Thomas a Becket’s Church, Widcombe.
Thu 3 Apr. Museum of Bath at Work. Talk on Building a New Steam Locomotive in the 21st Century. Neil Taylor of the Bath Railway Society gives an insight into the BR standard locomotives which were seen as the pinnacle of steam engines. 7.30pm. All welcome. Vicitors £5. Refreshments available.
Thu 3 Apr. Moorland Library open from 3-5pm. The community run library is now open on Thursday afternoons on a trial basis until 26th September. Other times are Tuesday 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am-1pm. The library is run by volunteers while the books are from the main library service in Bath. New volunteers are always needed visit the website for details at https://www.moorlandroadcommunitylibrary.com/
Tue 1-Mon 21 Apr. Bath Comedy Festival. There are numerous events at different venues beginning with Togas to Go at the Roman Baths – a Roman comedy – with a new act competition during the fortnight – with the Rondo Theatre, The Ring O Bells, Komedia, the Pizza Company upstairs, Nowhere Tavern, The Grapes, Chapter 22, Burdall’s Yard, the Guildhall and The Bell Courtyard amongst the venues with the final of the new act competition wrapping it up on Mon 21 April at the Old Theatre Royal. Details of all the acts that includes that famous TV Fox Basil Brush at https://www.bathcomedy.com/whats-on
Fri 4 Apr. Rondo Theatre. Rock the Tots: Transport. Musical comedy show for small children. 11am. Created by Steph & Craig Mitchell. Beep beep! Rock The Tots returns, and this month’s theme is all about modes of transport. We will have all your fave vehicles in there, probably even a few you’ve forgotten about! Tunes will include Kylie, Blur and Fleetwood Mac – to name but a few! Live guitar, singing, props and puppets, funny memes and – of course – great tunes that you know and love. Sessions are approximately 1 hour long, without an interval. Suitable for children aged 0-6, and their adults. Under 1s go free! Please note that space is limited so, if you can, ditch the buggy and bring a sling instead.
Fri 4 Apr. Widcombe Social Club. Chris Wood in concert. Upstairs in the Wharf room AOTA presents England’s passionate, compassionate, fierce, acute, witty, uncompromising and influential singer of traditional songs and composer of songs in the tradition – there’s no-one quite like Chris Wood. 7pm.
Fri 4-Tue 22 Apr. School Easter Holiday Break.
Mon 7-Sat 12 Apr. Jane Austen 250th Celebrations. Guided tours of places associated with the author based at the Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel.
Wed 9-Sun 13 Apr. Bath Archaeo-Heritage Film Festival. It brings history to life with films, talks and workshops. Venues in the little Theatre, Burdall’s Yard and the Museum of Bath architecture. See Bath Box Office for events and movies.
Fri 11 Apr. Widcombe Social Club. Iain Bellam’s IBQT with Huw Warren. Upstairs in the Wharf room AOTA presents IBQT – the eponymous quartet led by saxophonist and composer Iain Ballamy to feature his own music and the music of his longstanding musical collaborators – none closer or more empathetic than pianist and compose Huw Warren who takes the keyboard chair in this iteration of IBQT, with bassist Nick Pini and drummer Mark Whitlam. 7pm.
Sun 13 Apr. Nigel Havers: Talking Bllcks. An evening with the actor at the Main House at Theatre Royal Bath. 7.30pm.
Sun 13 Apr. Fairfield House Bath. Guided Tours of the home of the former Heile Selassie of Ethiopia. 12noon and 1.30pm. Lunch available at the home now a day centre. Also on 27 April.
Sun 13 Apr. Museum of Bath Architecture. The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with Live Score. Part of the Bath Archaeo-Heritage Film Festival, a five-day celebration of archaeology and heritage in cinema. In the atmospheric setting of the Museum of Bath Architecture, musician Hugo Max will perform a live score to Robert Wiene’s German Expressionist masterpiece The Cabinet of Dr Caligari. Hugo Max is a musician, artist and filmmaker. Hugo performs live improvised scores to silent films on solo viola, regularly soundtracking screenings at London’s Prince Charles Cinema and Picturehouse Cinemas across the UK. In 2024 he presented his first nationwide tour accompanying a selection of classic silent horrors and thrillers. Find out more at BAHfilmfestival.co.uk 6.30pm.
Tue 15-Sun 20 Apr. Dylan Moran Solo Exhibition at 44AD Artspace. The first solo exhibition by renowned comedian, actor and writer Dylan Moran who deploys mixed media to create his highly original pictures.
Fri 18 Apr. Good Friday. Bank Holiday. Bath Abbey – Family Service at 10am. All churches locally will be holding services to mark this important date in the Christian calendar of the crucifiction of Jesus Christ. Easter Sunday on the 20th is the date of his resurrection and again there will be family services in places of Christian worship locally.
Sun 20 Apr. Easter Sunday meeting at Bath Racecourse. Full card from noon. Free entry for under 18s with entertainment for kids – plus of course the geegees in seven races.
Mon 21 Apr. Easter Monday. Bank Holiday. Easter Egg Hunts at Bath City Farm, University of Bath and Dryham Park. Prior Park also has egg themed family fun weekend.
Sun 27 Apr. Jewish Cemetery Open Day. 11am to 4pm, entrance free. Combe Down on Bradford Rd by the roundabout entrance to Mulberry Park, 1 Greendown Place BA2 5DD.
Wed 30 Apr. Holy Trinity Church Combe Down. Knit and Natter. 3-5pm. Bring your yarn project to the social knitting group.
Sun 4 May. Widcombe Social Club. Gnoss. AOTA presents traditional music from Scotland upstairs in the Wharf room. Scottish artists GNOSS bring a rich tapestry of acoustic layers, outstanding musicianship, deep traditional roots and contemporary flair to their scintillating performances.
Fri 16 May. Party in the Park. Part of The Bath Festival featuring music and literature that runs to Sun 25 May. See https://bathfestivals.org.uk/the-bath-festival/
Sat 17-Sun 25 May. Bath Literature Festival. Held at various venues the festival includes sessions with l line-up that includes Ben Okri, Carol Klein, Lionel Shriver, Jeremy Vine, David Baddiel, Sayeeda Warsi, Joanne Harris, Martin Clunes, Robert Macfarlane, Rev Richard Coles, Jojo Moyes, Emma Barnett, Ruth Jones, Max Hastings, Ivo Graham, Alan Johnson, Kit de Waal, Mike Tindall and Reeta Chakrabarti.
Sat 17-Sun 25 May. Bath Music Festival. Details to come.
Sun 15 Jun. Bike Bath. The event begins at the Recreation Ground and features three routes of 27, 54 and 77 miles. Members of the public can take part – see https://www.iconiccyclingevents.co.uk/bikebath
Fri 26 Sep-Sun 5 Oct. Bath Children’s Literature Festival.
Thu 27 Nov-Sun14 Dec 2025. Bath Christmas Market. Yes – Bath Voice has mentioned the Christmas word in April.
Picks of Diary Events outside Bath
Thu 24 Apr. Wells Cathedral. The Music of Pink Floyd by Candlelight. 7.30pm. Performed by What The Floyd? Prog-rock event.
Theatre Picks in Bath
Mission Theatre
Tue 15-Thu 17 Apr. Switzerland by Joanna Murray-Smith. A taut, psychological thriller, re-imagining the final days in the life of the renowned crime novelist – author of The Talented Mr. Ripley, Strangers on a Train and Carol. A Misplaced Theatre porudction. 7.30pm.
Wed 30 Apr-Sat 3 May. The Arsonists. By Max Frisch (adapted by Alistair Beaton). Playing Up Theatre stage a gripping dark comedy that masterfully explores the dangers of moral complacency and denial. The story follows Biedermann, a seemingly respectable businessman, who naively invites two strangers into his home despite clear signs they may be arsonists. 7.30pm.
Rondo Theatre
Wed 2 Apr-Sat 19 Apr. Comedy at the Rondo. Wed 2 Apr. Rob Auton with The Eyes Open and Shut Show; Thu 3 Apr. Alex kealy: The The Fear; Fri 4 Apr. Markus Birdman: We Are All In The Gutter, But Some Of Us Are Looking At The Gutter; Sat 05 Apr. Eshaan Akbar: Live 2025; Wed 9 Apr. Daniel Sinclair: Comedy Hypnosis Show; Thu 10 Apr. Jack & Jordan: Cosmic Twegheads; Fri 11 Apr. Jukebox Mashup Live Request Show; Sat 12 Apr. Harriet Kemsley: Everything Always Works Out For Me; Wed 16 Apr. Huge Davis: Album For My Ancestors; Thu 17 Apr. Simon Munnery: On Tour; Fri 18 Apr. Andrew Bird: A Ticklish Mind; Sat 19 Apr. Scottish Falsetto Socks: Post Office Scandal the Musical; check with the Rondo for times and tickets.
Wed 21-Sat 24 May. Lucky Stiff. Merriman Community Theatre production of Lynn Ahrens adn Stephen Flaherty’s comedy musical mystery farce. When Harry Witherspoon inherits $6milion dollars from an uncle he’s never met, it seems too good to be true. But to earn the money he has to take his uncle’s body for a weekend on the French Riviera, leading to complications. 7.30pm.
Theatre Royal Bath Main House
Tue 22 Mar-Sat 12 Apr. Alfred Hitchcock Presents – The Musical. A stellar cast tell extraordinary interwoven tales of betrayal, blackmail and homicide from the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock, the creative genius behind many iconic movies.
Mon 14-Sat 19 Apr. Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of). Men, money and microphones will be fought over in this irreverent but affectionate adaptation where the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to romance. This multi-award-winning production features a string of pop classics including Young Hearts Run Free, Will You Love Me Tomorrow and You’re So Vain.
Wed 23-Sat 26 Apr. Cruel Intentions. Following sell-out seasons in London and New York, the brand-new smash hit musical Cruel Intentions is coming to Bath. Based on the iconic film and inspired by Les Liaisons Dangereuses, it’s packed with ‘90s pop classics including the songs of Britney Spears, Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, TLC, R.E.M., Ace of Base, Natalie Imbruglia, The Verve, *NSYNC and many more!
Egg Theatre
Wed 2-Sun 6 Apr. Romeo and Juliet. School friendly production at various times in the day. This visually dynamic and interactive production draws the audience fully into the world of Shakespeare’s legendary star-crossed lovers, bringing to life the sound, heat and colour of Verona, the dark threat of the feud between their families and the ever-increasing speed at which events hurry the lovers to their inevitable doom. In this highly acclaimed adaptation, Box Clever ensures that Romeo and Juliet do not remain literary creations distant from the 21st century.
Fri 4-Sun 6 Apr. Macbeth. School friendly production at various times in the day. Shakespeare’s exploration of the equivocation of evil and the unleashing of its brutal, destructive force is brought vividly to life by Box Clever in this physically and emotionally charged production. Vibrant language and physical theatre chart the devastating effect that one act of evil can have on an otherwise honourable and loyal man – we see how the ripples of that act spread to destroy both Macbeth himself and all those for whom he cared. As their actions are challenged by a third character who also brings the wider world of the play to life, Macbeth and his wife are seen to become ever more prey to the devastating horrors they have unleashed as they move inevitably towards their doom.
Fri 11-Sat 12 Apr. The Periodicals. Performed by Theatre Royal Bath Theatre School. In the not so far future a group of teenagers are on the run! Living off the land, off grid in their own rubbish dump turned paradise. The education authorities are desperate to get them back to school, led by a ruthless education minister who would stop at nothing to ensure everyone is back in the system. But for these fugitives’ school is not an option, as they scramble to secure a life where they can thrive under their own rules. Can they allude the authorities forever? And what are the authorities so worried about anyway?2pm and 6pm.
Tue 15-Wed 16 Apr. Space Oddity. Performed by Theatre Royal Bath Theatre School. An abandoned spaceship. A memory echoing through space and time. A final call for help? Or a message that could save humanity? Who was The Major? and what did he want us to know…Space Oddity is a new devised piece of theatre inviting audiences to go deep into space in an immersive experience, exploring human nature and reflecting on our place in the stars. 2pm and 6pm.
Thu 17-Sat19 Apr. Return to the Forbidden Planet. Performed by Theatre Royal Bath Theatre School. Meet the crew of Starship Albatross, out on a routine survey flight under the command of capable Captain Tempest. When the ship crash lands on the planet D’llyria the crew comes face to face with its inhabitants – mad scientist, Doctor Prospero, his daughter Miranda and their trusty robot Ariel. But not all is as it seems… and dark secrets threaten to resurface.
Sat 26-Sun 27 Apr. The Mystery of The Egg. A DMS Productions and Little Angel Theatre co-production. An Interactive Murder Mystery Show. Calling all trainee detectives! Join us for The Mystery of The Egg, a brand new, board-game style theatre show where your skills are needed to solve this thrilling murder mystery. 11.30am and 3pm.
Ustinov Studio
Mon 28 Apr-Sat 3 May. Playhouse Creatures. Anna Chancellor stars in this new production of April de Angelis’ bawdily funny and deeply poignant play. After civil war, England’s theatres have finally reopened and, for the first time, women are allowed to perform in public. In the West End, grande dame Mrs Betterton rules the roost. But there’s a new face in town: an orange-seller with dreams of stardom. Playhouse Creatures celebrates five women grabbing this newfound freedom and making their way in an unfamiliar world. But at what price?
Theatre Picks outside Bath
Bristol Old Vic Theatre
Wed 12 Mar-Sat 5 Apr. Romeo and Juliet. A co-production with Bristol Old Vic, Belgrade Theatre, and Hackney Empire. The original play, originally scored – with rap and R&B. 2.30pm and 7.30pm. £12.
Wed 23 Apr-Sat 3 May. The House Party. It’s Julie’s 18th birthday, and she’s throwing a party in her father’s extravagant townhouse. Her boyfriend has just dumped her and her long-suffering best friend Christine is trying to pick up the pieces. As the revellers pile into the booze, down in the kitchen Christine and her boyfriend Jon – son of Julie’s cleaner – clear up and dare to dream of the future.
Cheltenham Everyman
Fri 25-Sat 26 Apr. Jekyll And Hyde. Robert Louis Stevenshon’s classic story has enthralled and fascinated the world for more than a hundred years……perhaps because a Mr. Hyde lurks deep within us all, watching….and waiting…..Presented by Isosceles Theatre Company. An experiment to separate virtue from wickedness in his own nature results in the respectable Dr. Jekyll releasing the demon within: a malevolent force which will eventually possess him body and soul.
Swindon Arts Centre
Thu 3 Apr. Macbeth. Dickens Theatre Company present the Bard’s bloodiest tragedy! With the infamous Porter acting as narrator, an ensemble of 6 actors create a cauldron of characters, as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth make their perilous descent towards Hell.
Exhibition Picks in Bath
American Museum, Bath. Claverton. Myths and Memories. Renaissance Maps. Until 22 June, 2025. A rare collection of Renaissance maps, presented as works of art, spotlighting their incredible artistry, design and range of forms. A collection reframed by a new curation that invites a range of perspectives, including inspiration from contemporary Indigenous views on the remapping of native land. Featuring maps that are near impossible to see in public – of the few examples that exist, most are in private collections or libraries where they are rarely displayed.
Bath Medical Museum. The Hetling Pump Room, 1 Hetling Court BA1 1SH. Exhibitions: Collections include records dating back to the 1740s, as well as artefacts and photographs relating to rheumatology, medicine and pharmacy.
Herschel Museum of Astronomy. It is located in a town house at 19 New King Street that was formerly the home of William Herschel and his sister Caroline and features a permanent display of prints, objects and everyday items from the Georgian era when the Herschels lived there including telescopes. There is also a new object: a Gregorian Reflector telescope created by James Short, the pre-eminent telescope maker of the 18th century. The telescope, which is on long-term loan from Richard N. Blythe of Shropshire, was created between 1738-1768.
Holburne Museum. At the heart of the Holburne Museum is the collection of Sir William Holburne (1793-1874), fifth baronet of Menstrie. Exhibitions: Joshua Donkor: I have more souls than one – a Ghanian-British painter who grew up in Bath. Using a range of different painting and printing techniques, he literally embeds the histories of his sitters into the work, combining their image with layered visual references to the items they picked out together. to May 5. Iconic: Portraiture from Francis Bacon to Andy Warhol – to May 5. Diedrick Brackens: Woven Stories. To May 26.
Museum of Bath at Work. Julian Rd, Bath BA1 2RH. Enter the world of working Bath through a series of authentically reconstructed workplaces, workshops and display galleries. Exhibition: All Day Long: The Workers of Bath in Fifty Portrait Photographs. Coming this year: Tennis in Bath. Work and play form June 1; and Knowing your Place, Bath through community alphabets from June 27.
Museum of East Asian Art. MEAA’s collections consist of some 2,000 objects. The majority of these are of Chinese origin, spanning from 5,000 BC to the present. The tea ceremonies run on Thursdays every month.
Victoria Art Gallery. Exhibition: Perry Harris: Essence of Bath. To 13 April. A free exhibition of work by local cartoonist and landscape artist Perry Harris; Mirror of Mirth: Satire in Georgian Bath. To 21 April. Step into the scandalous world of Georgian Bath, with satirical works by Thomas Rowlandson and John Nixon.