Whats on in February

There is an amazing range of events and activities to take part in this month, from toe-tapping musicals and heart-wrenching theatre, all the way to lip-smacking street food. So pick an event (or two), book your train tickets and get out and enjoy yourself.

Musical

Cilla The Musical
30 Jan - 3 Feb
Kings Theatre
Glasgow

Try as you might, you just can’t falling in love with this touching show following the rise of Liverpool lass Priscilla White who is transformed after meeting John Lennon into UK legend Cilla Black. With a heart-warming script and a toe-tapping 60s soundtrack, this is a joy-filled celebration of one our national treasures.

Theatre
RSC Hamlet
Ends 3 Feb - The Lowry, Salford
13-17 Feb - Hull New Theatre
20-24 Feb - Northern Stage, Newcastle

Following a highly acclaimed 2016 season in Stratford, Hamlet is hitting the North in one of the most thrilling interpretations in years. In a vaguely African setting, Paapa Essiedu plays the title role as a graffiti artist placed somewhere between Pollock and Basquiat. This looks like it could be one of the major theatre events of the year, so book your tickets quick, before all the sixth-formers snaffle them.

Birdsong
13- 17 Feb
West Yorkshire Playhouse
Leeds

200,000 people have now seen this performance of Sebastian Faulk’s classic novel and the reviews have been stunning. This production marks the 100th anniversary of the First World War which raged from 1914-18 so expect the drama to be all the more poignant. You can add to the experience by taking advantage of the special programme of events and exhibitions organised by Leeds Council that includes a map of a walking tour of Leeds.

Exhibition
Women’s Words
6 Feb
Central Library
Manchester

It’s 100 years since women first got the vote in the UK and, to celebrate, Manchester Central Library is hosting an exhibition in partnership with the Pankhurst Centre – the Nelson Street building that held the first meetings about women’s suffrage. You can also celebrate this brilliant city in the words of its women with the one-off publication of The Suffragette magazine.

Music
Franz Ferdinand
13 Feb - Manchester, Albert Hall
16 Feb - Newcastle, O2 Academy
19 Feb - Leeds, O2 Academy

This is the big musical event this month… though sadly their hometown Glasgow gig on 17 Feb has already sold out. Still, if you get the train to any of the other venues you’ll be treated to an exciting guitar-driven night out. The band are showcasing material from their new album (which NME described as ‘the start of a brand new era’) as well as all those classics that you cannot stand still to.

Chinese New Year

Loyalty, honesty and straightforward faithfulness – that’s what we can expect of children born after 16 February because 2018 is the Year of the Dog in the Chinese zodiac…. Enjoy it though, the next time the dog comes around is 2030. There are events taking place all over to celebrate the Chinese New Year but we’ve honed in on just a couple:

Liverpool 16-18 February
The Terracotta Army is visiting Liverpool as part of their 'China Dream' season that runs until October so you can expect big things from their 3-day celebration of the New Year. The celebrations will run along Berry Street and you can find more details here.

Manchester 17-18 February
With the dragon parade, martial arts demonstrations plus food and fireworks, the Manchester celebrations look like they’ll be a fabulous affair – also keep an eye out for events at Manchester Art Gallery and Manchester Central Library (check here for more details).

Food

Chinese Street Food Festival
Edinburgh 16-18 February
Old Town Street Food Festival at The Three Sisters
This amazing, year-round, food-fest celebrates the Chinese New Year the best way, with finger-licking foodstuffs. Expect oodles of noodles, big Bao buns, scrummy dumplings and even more moreish morsels.

Keep us posted with your February travels by train using #wherenext @TPExpressTrains