5-star award-winning entertainment from the tip-top Queen of Comedy. Join ordinary housewife extraordinaire Barbara Nice for a laugh-out-loud joyful get-together as we reconnect with what makes life worth living. Barbara says In these dark days, we need to find fun whenever we piggin' can. Expect Barbara's unique comic insights into the current state of play on how we are all getting on. This smashin' show is suitable for anyone aged from fourteen to four score & ten, guaranteed to lift the spirits and put a spring in your step. Edinburgh Festival regular and comedy circuit headliner Barbara Nice brings out the hidden joy in all of us.

The National Gallery is one of the greatest art galleries in the world, founded by Parliament in 1824, it houses the nation's collection of paintings dating from the late 13th to the early 20th century. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is the first partner in the National Gallery's new national touring project, The National Gallery: Art on Your Doorstep. Fifteen printed masterpieces will be installed in an outdoor exhibition in Bethesda Gardens, opposite The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, bringing people and paintings together as part of the City's Centenary celebrations. Each framed painting is reproduced at life size so you can look closely and discover the hidden details. Maybe you'll spot something no one else has ever noticed before! Organised by Stoke-on-Trent City Council in collaboration with the National Gallery, London.

The brainchild of Emily Johnson, 1882 Ltd.'s creative director and co-founder, as well as fifth generation of Stoke's famous Johnson Brothers pottery family, this specially commissioned collection of plates has been hand decorated by 1882 Ltd.'s potters, working from a piece of artwork donated by 60 of the UK's leading artists, architects, designers, musicians and creative polymaths. Each one celebrates the marriage of contemporary design with traditional but timeless handcrafted and industrial ceramic techniques, many of which we are in serious danger of losing if we do not encourage and champion a new generation of craftsmen into our incredible potteries industry. A signed collection of plates will be auctioned to raise money for the development of an 1882 Ltd. apprenticeship scheme ensuring the invaluable skills of Stoke's artisans not only survive but thrive and a limited-edition run of unsigned plates will also be available to buy. 15% of funds raised will also go to The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) to fund opportunities for Stoke-on-Trent school children to experience working and playing with clay.

Stoke native Robbie Williams has worked with ceramic design brand 1882. Ltd at its factory in Barlaston to transform two of his 'inkling' drawings into four vibrant, abstract ceramic works of art. It is a collaboration that has given the singer a natural connection to the place where he grew up - and where many of family worked in the industry - and the art he is now making. Transforming the singer's flat, squiggly drawings made with posca pens on paper into generously scaled, robust 3D ceramic works proved no small feat. It took 1882 Ltd.'s artisans almost three months to build each piece through hand clay coiling and then a series of drying and firings, painting and glazing. Williams first turned to making art to quieten what he calls his 'crowded mind'. Now, it is something he feels compelled to do every day.

An original and authentic recreation of the great author's dramatic performances, adapted from some of his shorter tales, including ghost classic The Signal-man and comic selections taken from The Pickwick Papers. Dickens is for life, not just for Christmas!

Following her sell-out show of 2023-25, Mrs Smith is back with a brand-new show... 1, 2, 3, Eyes on Me'. Ever wondered what your teacher was thinking? Let Facebook's Mrs Smith enlighten you! Mrs Smith was an ordinary teacher in an ordinary school until she went viral on Facebook and accidentally became a stand-up comedian.