With the end of the year in sight, many teachers, parents, school staff and students alike will be gearing up to unwind and enjoy the festive season.   Research from Statista shows that 57% of UK adults planned to exercise more and improve their fitness in 2023, compared to 50% in 2022. However, a Study Finds survey in 2022 revealed that 21% of adults failed to stick to their intentional goals past January.   To help more Brits achieve their running resolutions in 2024, the experts at Wynsors have created a list of the top 10 picturesque running trails in the UK, to inspire budding j ..read more

A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honour. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown.  This live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family weaves classic Christmas melodies with humour, faith and new pop songs in a retelling of the greatest story ever told: the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. A unique new entry into the collection of holiday classic movies, this epic Christmas musical is unlike any before it. Sony Pictures’ label Affirm Films, Monarch Media and KOVA International are del ..read more

Theatre – Alice in Wondlerland by Liverpool Playhouse The world premiere of a funked-up remix of Lewis Carroll’s classic, Alice in Wonderland, adapted by Stockroom, opens at the Liverpool Playhouse on 4 July before transferring to the Theatre Royal Plymouth from 1 to 5 August. A riotous musical adventure for all the family, Alice in Wonderland features original new music inspired by the best of British pop, by Olivier Award winner Vikki Stone. When tech-savvy teen Alice tries to repair her dear Dad’s much-loved old stereo, a slip of the screwdriver hurtles her into a strange new world. As the ..read more

The world premiere of a funked-up remix of Lewis Carroll’s classic, ‘Alice in Wonderland’, adapted by Stockroom, opens at the Liverpool Playhouse on 4 July before transferring to the Theatre Royal Plymouth from 1 to 5 August.   A riotous musical adventure for all the family, Alice in Wonderland features original new music inspired by the best of British pop, by Olivier Award winner Vikki Stone. Produced in association with Stockroom and Theatre Royal Plymouth, the show stars multi-tal ..read more

In a bold new retelling of William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’, this tale of ambition and betrayal will transport audiences at the Liverpool Playhouse to a dystopian future from 25 to 29 April. Fusing live action with striking video technology, theatre company imitating the dog’s Macbeth is a reimagining of the classic play set in a neon-noir world with dazzling visuals, cutting-edge staging and a bold contemporary approach. In this adaptation, the traditional Scottish total and thane hierarchies are transformed into a criminal organisation operation in a city surrounded by concrete buildings. Sh ..read more

Bridgerton star, Adjoa Andoh, will star as the title role in William Shakespeare’s Richard III at the Liverpool Playhouse from 6 to 22 April 2023. This follows a long line of celebrated actor turning to the city in some of Shakespeare’s iconic titles, including Pete Postlethwaite (King Lear), Kim Cattrall (Anthony and Cleopatra), David Morrissey (Macbeth) and Jonathan Pryce (The Merchant of Venice). Adjoa Andoh is an associate artist at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and has previously directed and starred in acclaimed productions at The Globe, including Richard II. For many tho ..read more

For younger readers Blanksy the Street Cat – Gavin Puckett – Paperback: £7.99 When Blanksy the cat discovers a talent for painting murals he uses it to draw bigger and bigger crowds to help his friend, Pete the busker, become rich. But will money really make Pete happy? An entertaining story with fabulous illustrations by award-winning illustrator, Allen Fatimaharan. Perfect for early readers with black and white illustrations on every page and a dyslexia-friendly font and layout specially designed for children starting on their reading journey. Teenage wellbeing Game Over: One Teen’s Guide t ..read more

5-8 years Bumble and Snug and the Excited Unicorn – Mark Bradley £5.99 Bumble and Snug are in the magical unicorn forest when they get into a spot of trouble. Luckily, they are rescued by a unicorn and together they have the great idea to become superheroes. Introducing the super buddies! From a runaway ice-cream van to a lost teddy bear, Bumble, Snug and Sparklehoof the unicorn save the day. But not everybody is happy when Sparklehoof gets too excited with his magic. Treehouse Tales – Andy Griffiths £8.99 Climb the storeys with 13 fully illustrated adventures starring Andy, Terry and their fr ..read more

A revival of Oscar Wilde’s comedy, ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ will be on at the Liverpool Playhouse from today to Saturday 15 October. Created by English Touring Theatre, director Denzel Westley-Sanderson busts the myth that black history started with migrants coming down the Windrush’s gangplank, and instead employs wealthy black Victorians to reinvent this study of manners and corrosive nature of rigid societal conventions. Mr Westley-Sanderson said: “I was told at school that we came over on the Windrush and that was it. “When I started researching black Victorians,&nb ..read more

Every new place you visit in itself is an adventure. How you treat this adventure is up to you. How often do we walk past a tall, gothic building without a second glance? Every village, town and city has a history, which we may not know much about. Just taking a walk could be the start of a new journey. This is where ‘New Europe’ walking tours come in. With one in Liverpool, it’s an educational day out where you will definitely learn something new. You will meet your tour guide in a specified location and they will take you on a cultural and historical trip to local highlights that will last a ..read more