<img src='' title='Event Category: Talk/Lecture' alt='' id='templ_icon_' width='' height='' /> Event Category: Talk/Lecture

Join us for a backstage tour of the Gatehouse Theatre!

Our expert guides will reveal the story of Stafford’s magical venue from its beginnings as the historic Borough Hall right up to the modern day.

There’s a chance to see the dressing rooms, hear about how shows are put together, the stars that have played here and take a peek at our famous Green Room window wall and its dozens of famous autographs.

You might even get to meet some of our residents ghosts!

Places are limited to 10 and the tour involves some stairs so please bear this in mind when booking.

 

Writer, broadcaster and former murder detective DCI Colin Sutton takes you through his career – from cracking cold cases and chasing serial killers, to writing books and making TV shows.

He led many of the most high-profile and successful murder investigations of his generation, and although he’ll forever be associated with the arrest and conviction of serial killer Levi Bellfield and ‘Night Stalker’ Delroy Grant, his career was so much more.

As portrayed by Martin Clunes in the hit ITV real-crime drama Manhunt, meet the real DCI Sutton and hear how he tracked down some of Britain’s most notorious killers.

 

 

He’s the wild man of rock who became a national treasure. Happy Mondays and Black Grape frontman Shaun Ryder is hitting the road for a new, spoken word tour. The star of more-TV-shows-than-anyone-has-a-right-to-feature-on – including Celebrity Gogglebox, and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, among many others – redefined the sex’n’drugs’n’rock’n’roll lifestyle during the halcyon age of Madchester. He’s touring in support of his new book: Happy Mondays – and Fridays and Saturdays and Sundays. Fans can look forward to a carnival of excess, wild tales, and improbable truths, as they enjoy the talents of a unique rock’n’roll star dubbed Britpop’s answer to WB Yeats. Strap yourselves in and say Hallelujah for Shaun.

Hosted by Steve Parrish

Henry will be taking a break in between his busy schedule to bring to provincial theatres his “An Evening with Henry Cole- Happy Days” theatre show hosted by his good friend and renowned prankster Steve “Stavros” Parrish.

Henry Cole was educated at Eton at the same time as Boris Johnston and David Cameron has gone on to forge a career spanning some 32 years in the TV and movie industry.

He is currently on TV presenting The World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides (Discovery Quest), The Motorbike Show (ITV4), Shed and Buried (Discovery Quest), Find It, Fix It, Flog It (Channel 4), Find It, Fix It, Drive It (More4), Junk & Disorderly (ITV4) and The Great British Treasure Hunt (ITV4).

Steve will guide Henry through his incredible varied life covering stories about

Henry’s battle with Heroin addiction between the ages of 19 and 24. He is now three decades clean but remains heavily involved in trying to help other addicts and share his experience in battling addiction.

Directing TV and Theatrical movies, including Mad Dogs and Englishmen starring Elizabeth Hurley.

Being the boss of Gladstone Motorcycles – not named after Henry’s great-great Uncle, William Ewart Gladstone the Prime Minister, but his great uncle Dick ‘Redbeard’ Gladstone, a true British eccentric who instigated Henry’s passion for classic British Motorcycle at the tender age of eight.

In 2013 Henry set a world land speed record for a pre-1955 750cc motorcycle, riding a Brough Superior and Gladstone on the Bonneville Salt Flats.

Henry has directed over 70 TV commercials for brands like Flora, Mastercard, Top Up TV, Dixons, TFL, Amstrad and many other household names.

As well as television presenting, Henry owns HCA Entertainment, the television production company, which makes all the shows he fronts … and a whole lot more he doesn’t.

HCA Entertainment has produced – and Henry has directed – countless factual series for broadcasters including ITV, Channel 4, Sky 1, Channel 5, UKTV, Travel Channel, Discovery Networks, NBC and BBC. These include Grimefighters, Kensington Wives, Men Brewing Badly, London’s Greatest Hits, Supersize Grime, The Skulls of Sanctuary, Frontline Stories, Discovering Gardens and The Real Filth Fighters!

Along with motorcycles Henry is passionate about fishing, classic tractors, cycling and most importantly his dog Jelly Bean, wife Janie and his two sons, Charlie and Tom!

If that’s not enough to entertain you then throw in host Steve Parrish , former British Motorcycling  champion. Team mate to Barry Sheene.  He holds five European Truck racing titles. He was a BBC commentator for Motor GP. Pundit for Eurosports, World Superbikes, British Superbikes and covering TT & Classic TT races.

Following on from the success of her Serial Killer Next Door tour, psychology expert Emma Kenny continues her journey into true crime and explores the mysterious and manipulative world of cults. How can ordinary people, living normal lives, choose to leave their families, friends and everything they have ever known to join a cult?

What is it about the power and allure of cult leaders that makes them able to control the minds of their members? And why do these so-called spiritual leaders turn into malevolent murderers?

Killer cults provides the answers, delving into the psychology of these charismatic killers and their followers, and analysing some of the most notorious and infamous cases, including Jim Jones and The Peoples Temple, David Koresh and the Branch Davidians and Marshall Applewhite’s Heaven’s Gate. Think you’re immune to the call of the cult? Join Emma and find out. ‘A must-see for all true crime fans.’

16+ age guidance

On the remote Siula Grande in Peru in June 1985, mountaineer Simon Yates found himself in a desperately unenviable position. He was slowly being pulled off the mountain face by his injured partner, Joe Simpson, dangling on the rope 50 metres below. His action in cutting the rope saved both their lives in the epic of survival that followed and with the publication of the book ‘Touching The Void’, film and stage play both climbers became household names.It was an experience that could have put many off the sport of mountaineering – but not Simon. Over 35 years later, he is still a very active exploratory climber and guide, making several expeditions to the mountains each year. From the Arctic to the Antarctic, Alaska to Central Asia there is hardly a significant range that he has not visited.Come along and witness Simon’s tireless journey from that mountain in Peru to some of the remotest on the planet and share with him the drama, excitement and beauty of modern, lightweight alpinism. Told with wit, dry humour and lavishly illustrated with images and video collected on his great climbs.

“Simon is a totally engaging speaker, who both entertains and inspires.”

EXTRA SEATS JUST RELEASED

Doug Allan looks back over his successes and setbacks during 35 years of natural history film making. Part retrospective, the show is also Doug’s perspective on climate change and its impacts on the world’s wild places. What change of emphasis and direction should we now be incorporating in wildlife films?

“There are big days when animals behave spectacularly right in front of your lens. And other quieter times when a deeper understanding reveals itself, a new insight into the environment and what’s alive there. I’ll be talking about these moments of truth and how they’re the biggest privilege of a wildlife cameraperson.”

“I’ve always balanced optimism with reality but the latest world climate report lays bare the need for radical, urgent action. There are solutions, and I want to talk about them. They’re all challenging, some are scary and depend on us making deep changes to how we live. The planet’s at a crossroads and we’re at the wheel. The next few years are going to be exciting.”

Who is Doug?

Doug Allan is an award-winning natural history photographer, documentary filmmaker, diver, author, and public speaker.

Doug is touring theatres this Autumn with his latest show “It’s a wrap”, sharing his extraordinary filming challenges and successes.

Part retrospective, the show is also Doug’s perspective on climate change and its impacts on the world’s wild places. What change of emphasis and direction should we now be incorporating in wildlife films?

“There are big days when animals behave spectacularly right in front of your lens. And other quieter times when a deeper understanding reveals itself, a new insight into the environment and what’s alive there. I’ll be talking about these moments of truth and how they’re the biggest privilege of a wildlife cameraperson.” Doug Allan

“I’ve always balanced optimism with reality but the latest world climate report lays bare the need for radical, urgent action. There are solutions, and I want to talk about them. They’re all challenging, some are scary and depend on us making deep changes to how we live. The planet’s at a crossroads and we’re at the wheel. The next few years are going to be exciting.” Doug Allan

In his 35 years of filming, Dougs been involved with more than 65 films, freelancing for the BBC, Discovery, National Geographic and others. He was principal cameraman on many prestigious award-winning programmes, making over 25 trips to the Antarctic and more than 30 across the Arctic, filming for series including Hostile Planet, Forces of Nature, Operation Iceberg, Frozen Planet, Ocean Giants, Human Planet, Life, Planet Earth, The Blue Planet and Life in the Freezer.

Doug speaks with passion and authority about the challenges of plastics and climate change. His topside and underwater filming – from the ice-covered polar seas to tropical coral reefs – combined with his scientific credentials as a marine biologist, have given Doug unparalleled first-hand experience and a unique long-term perspective on these issues which are now severely impacting our environment. He was one of the cameramen for, and appeared in, the award-winning documentary A Plastic Ocean.

Sir David Attenborough commented “Wildlife cameramen don’t come much more special than Doug”.

 

About Doug

Doug’s photographic awards include eight Emmys, five BAFTAs and five Wildscreen Pandas. He has twice won the underwater category in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year. He has three Honorary Doctorates in recognition of his camerawork and is an Honorary Fellow of the prestigious Royal Photographic Society and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographic Society. In 2018 he was awarded the RSGS Mungo Park Medal for his contribution to geographical knowledge in hazardous environments.

https://dougallan.com/

Twitter: @dougallancamera

Tickets now just £15 with code TURI23

Enjoy an evening with world-leading geneticist Professor Turi King as she explains the power of DNA! And how dynamic new developments have completely revolutionized the way we catch criminals and find missing relatives.

During a fascinating two-hour show, Turi will also take you behind the scenes of hit BBC 2 series DNA Family Secrets. She’ll reveal the heart-warming, and sometimes heart-breaking, real-life stories she’s worked on – and how it affects everyone involved in the making of the show.

“Sometimes people have waited their entire life to hear the truth,” explains Turi, “which makes my scientific work deeply personal.”

Turi will also discuss the improbability of cracking one of the biggest forensic DNA cases in history – the discovery and identification of King Richard III.

And how you yourself can unlock the mysteries of your own past.

(Pic: Karl Vivian)

About Turi:

Professor Turi King is a scientist, presenter, speaker and author who is passionate about communicating science to the public. Turi uses genetics in the fields of forensics, history, genealogy and archaeology. She is perhaps best known for her work “cracking one of the biggest forensic DNA cases in history” (Globe and Mail, February 2013) leading the genetics and identification of the remains of King Richard III.

Turi currently features in the BBC’s DNA Family Secrets alongside Stacey Dooley, the third series due to air in Autumn 2023, and presents Unearthed: Ancient Murder Mysteries, out this summer. She’s recently appeared with Dan Snow on The Black Death on Channel 5 and with Lucy Worsley in her series Unsolved Histories about the Princes in the Tower. She presented the Radio 4 documentary Genetics and the Longer Arm of the Law. Her other credits include featuring in British As Folk (UKTV), The Gadget Show (Channel 5), Cold Case (ZDF Germany), Britain’s Lost Battlefields (Channel 5), Richard III: The King in the Car Park (Channel 4), Britain’s Secret Treasures (ITV), Crimewatch (BBC) among many others. She’s appeared on many programmes on BBC Radio 4 including The Life Scientific, Inside Science and The Reunion as well as radio programmes in Canada and elsewhere.

Eat (well), Sleep (better), Live (longer)!

‘The perfect post-Christmas pick-me-up!’

For the first time ever, Dr Michael Mosley and Dr Clare Bailey are set to embark on a joint UK theatre tour, with their much-anticipated live theatre show.

This husband and wife and team have changed tens of thousands of lives with their international bestselling books (The Fast 800, Fast 800 Recipe book etc), award – winning programmes (Trust Me I’m a Doctor), and podcasts (Just One Thing).

In this informative, entertaining, and highly interactive live show, the health gurus will share their latest health tips, do cooking demos and show behind the scenes clips from upcoming TV series.

With mental and physical health problems on the rise, Michael and Clare will reveal how simple changes can transform your life, so we can all Eat well, Sleep better, and Live longer!