It’s the one you’ve all been waiting for! The panto dreams are made of is now on stage at Armagh’s Market Place Theatre, and audiences just can’t get enough of this sparkling Christmas adventure.

This year’s spectacular combines wonderful music, song and dance, colourful costumes, memorable characters, and loads of audience participation, in a lively and fun-filled show for all the family.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, a beautiful princess is born. The entire kingdom is delighted, apart from the evil fairy, who places a curse on the Princess, so that she will prick her finger on a poisoned spinning wheel on her 16^th birthday! Who could possibly break such a terrible spell? And who will be brave enough to challenge the evil fairy? And what mad shenanigans will occur in the meantime? Come to The Market Place Theatre this Christmas to find out…

Featuring all your favourite panto characters, ‘Sleeping Beauty’ is guaranteed to be a fun-packed traditional family pantomime for all ages! Fun, frolics and laughter abound in this spectacular take on the thrilling and timeless classic. Audiences will recognise some familiar names in the cast line-up with Debra Hill playing the role of Sleeping Beauty-Full, Michael Lavery as the Prince, Karen Rush as everyone’s favourite baddie Maleficent, and of course, the fabulous Stephen Beggs back in the ‘funderful’ role of Nanny Magee.

Performances will run right up until Christmas Eve, at a variety of times to suit all ages! Ticket prices range from £10 to £15. Tickets are selling fast, with the best availability remaining on the last week.

To book your tickets for the most exciting pantomime of the season, phone the Box Office now on [028] 3752 1821. The house is sure to be packed to the rafters for this annual festive hit, so don’t be caught napping – book now, before it’s too late! We’d hate for you to snooze out! There are BSL signed, captioned and relaxed performances during the run. Please contact the Box Office for full details.

Tickets for all performances can be booked through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.

‘The Nightshift before Christmas’ written by and starring Caroline Curran and Julie Maxwell, is a must see this Christmas.

Join nurses Cindy & Ella as they work the nightshift in a busy A&E ward in the ‘Royal Abbey’ hospital on Christmas Eve. All five cast members who also include Abbey Gibbon, James Doran and Patrick Buchanan, play multiple roles in this festive delight.

Meet Belfast characters such as ‘Smasher O’Neill’, Santa Dave and the heavily pregnant Gloria. This show highlights the work of the NHS staff that we can all take for granted and the people they encounter on a daily basis – ‘Heaven isn’t the only place you will find angels’

Christmas can be such a special time but it is just another day for those in the medical profession who continue to save lives and look after the sick, day after day.

This show will have you laughing out loud and maybe shedding a tear or two but it will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

This Christmas comedy will run until Sunday 31 Dec. Tickets from Box Office T: 028 9034 0202 or www.theatreatthemill.com

The Millennium Forum is inviting all schools to enter its ‘Create A Beanstalk’ competition. All you have to do is create a beanstalk on an A4 page (drawing/digital art/painting) and email it as a jpeg or low res PDF to siobhanm@millenniumforum.co.uk

The art work will then be judged by the Millennium Forum and the show sponsor, the Richmond Centre. There will be a shortlisting of three entries which will then be put out to public vote on the Richmond Centre’s Facebook page so the artwork with the most likes at the end, wins!

The winning entry gets a prize of pantomime tickets for their whole school class as well as a meet and greet with the cast members for the show on Tue 19^th December at 1.15pm! The runners up in the competition will win family tickets to the pantomime on the same date.

The deadline for the Create a Beanstalk competition is Monday 11^th December at 5.00pm.  Good luck!

The Millennium Forum is well known for its outstanding Christmas pantomimes and this year’s production promises to be the best yet.  A gigantic beanstalk, Daisy the cow, magic beans, a goose that lays golden eggs and the nastiest of giants – it promises to be one giant festive extravaganza that all the family will love!

Jack and the Beanstalk runs at the Millennium Forum until Sunday 31^st December.  Tickets are now available from the Box Office.  Telephone 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.

Competition Terms & Conditions

• When submitting entries please include a name, age, school, address and contact details.
• Only one entry will be accepted per person.
• Winners must agree to be photographed for PR purposes.
• If winner cannot be contacted another will be chosen.
• Work might not be returned.
• Tickets are non-transferable and are for the stated performances only.

On Saturday 16 December, a very special festive concert will take place at The Queen’s Hall, Newtownards.

For fans of the popular Friday Night Live music series and from the team that brought you the sell-out success Rumours Re-told, “It’s Chriiiiistmas!!” will be a fun and nostalgic music homage to the festive season.

From Bing Crosby and Dean Martin to Mariah Carey, The Pogues, Wizzard and Wham!, expect all your favourite Christmas Crackers recreated by artists including VerseChorusVerse, Susie Coyle, Ellen Weir and Becky Baxter.

With fairy lights, tinsel, a dance floor and fabulous Christmas songs, join us for what promises to be a Christmas No.1 for real music lovers.

Tickets cost £10 and are on sale at www.ardsarts.com. Book early to avoid disappointment!

Children from all over the Ards and North Down borough are taking an Environmental Family Pledge whereby they are encouraged to deliver on a promise made through an innovative initiative that Ards and North Down Borough Council are rolling out this November/December.

The initiative, called C.L.E.A.R, associates community, learning, environmental, awareness and responsibility, to the environment through a series of 5 workshops set in the Risk Avoidance Danger Awareness Resource (RADAR) centre.

Ards and North Down Borough Council have partnered with RADAR and a voluntary beach cleaning group, North Down beach cleaners, to develop this be-spoke programme which has been financed from the Recycling Community Investment Fund, raised by all the re-cycling efforts by the residents in Ards and North Down, accumulating an extensive £1.2 million saving in landfill tax. This has allowed the council to not only minimise any rates increase but also to re-invest this money into new environmental initiatives such as C.L.E.A.R.

These 5 workshops are aimed at all year 8 pupils in the borough and started on Monday 27 November, taking place over a three-week period – 1,800 local pupils will take part. Set in the impressive location of RADAR, a multi-purpose village built within a warehouse, the children will learn about biodiversity, recycling, environmental crime, dog awareness and good citizenship. By educating the next generation of citizens the programme tackles environmental issues in an interactive, innovative and enjoyable way.

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Robert Adair, stated that “the CLEAR initiative is all about our young people having a unique opportunity to learn key messages about environmental responsibility in a really fun and effective way”.

The team heading the workshops are getting fantastic feedback with encouraging reviews from pupils and teachers.

David Lindsay, Director of Environment in the Council said, “For every child that makes the pledge along with their families the Council will award a bursary to their school, that can then be used to further pupils’ environmental education.  As long as the residents of the borough maintain and improve their commitment to maximising recycling of their household waste, we will continue to reap the financial benefits – and can use the money saved to keep funding important initiatives such as the CLEAR environmental education programme as well as many other projects from our Recycling Community Investment Fund.”

Will you make the pledge? Be environmentally responsible.

The Market Place Theatre in Armagh will be providing some much-needed respite from the Christmas hustle and bustle this December with relaxing and magical festive performances.

Come and join the exceptional Cara Dillon on Thursday 14 December, for what will undoubtedly be a magical and memorable festive experience. Having recorded her highly anticipated Christmas album, ‘Upon A Winter’s Night’, Cara and her band will be performing classic carols, Celtic hymns and other Christmas songs to celebrate and share in the Christmas spirit. A tradition in the making. If you don’t already know the voice of Cara Dillon, you’re in for a treat. If you are already amongst her legions of admirers around the world, you know you have something special in store. Tickets are priced £22.

Why not treat a loved one to a night of great music at our popular Christmas Jazz Club. Taking centre stage on Saturday 16 December will be the hugely popular Martello Jazz Band who feature a sound reminiscent of the Dixieland bands of 1920’s New Orleans, stamped with their own brand of drive and flair. A great pre-Christmas night out with friends. Admission is priced £15 which includes a glass of prosecco and light refreshments.

Visit the website at www.marketplacearmagh.com for full details and bookings, or contact the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821. And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.

Maghera’s Christmas festivities kick off this weekend on Saturday 2nd December

Kids Christmas workshops and activities will take place in The Lurach Centre from 2pm – 4.30pm, before Santa arrives by reindeer and sleigh at the Walled Garden.

To visit Santa in his Walled Garden Grotto between 4.30pm and 6pm, please pre-book your child’s spot by calling the Bridewell on 028 7963 1510.