BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Following previous very successful nights of comedy, Manfords Comedy Club are back at The Priory for another night full of laughter and hilarity this May.

Featuring the hottest new talent, comedy circuit favourites and household legends, all personally chosen by Jason Manford.

Please note that entry to this performance is Strictly 18+

Accessibility Information

Subject to change, there are no planned production elements which require additional access arrangements.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Following 3 successful nights of comedy, Manfords Comedy Club are back at The Priory for another night full of laughter and hilarity this May.

Featuring the hottest new talent, comedy circuit favourites and household legends, all personally chosen by Jason Manford.

Please note that entry to this performance is Strictly 18+

Accessibility Information

Subject to change, there are no planned production elements which require additional access arrangements.

Together for over 25 years, The Jive Aces have been keeping the show on the road for three decades and become renowned worldwide for their high-energy live show having toured in over 40 countries. The band aim to spread smiles and cheer with their swingin' music and classic vintage style from crooning smooth ballads to blasting honking rhythm & blues. Having played for Her Majesty the Queen, selling out the Royal Albert Hall, becoming the first band to reach the finals of Britain's Got Talent or just entertaining at one of their 250 live shows a year, they continuously showcase why they are the UK's No.1 Jive & Swing band!

With their trademark yellow suits and a repertoire that stretches from the timeless tunes of the swing era to the glitz of the Rat Pack with a dash of classic rock 'n' roll, they perform songs in their unique upbeat style by such great artists as Louis Prima, Bobby Darin, Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis Jr. and Ella Fitzgerald as well as a selection of superb original tunes.

The Jive Aces have earned their reputation and won several important awards including the City Of Derry International Music Award, the Variety Club Of Great Britain Award for their contribution to music & charity work and several film festival awards for their high production value music videos.

They have worked with many celebrities such as Van Morrison, Chick Corea (who performs two songs on their 'Recipe for Rhythm' album), Kenny Ball (appearing on their 'King of the Swingers' album, Kenny's last ever recording), John Travolta, The Proclaimers, The Undertones, Status Quo, Keely Smith, Jamie Cullum, Priscilla Presley and Kirstie Allie to name just a few.

When the Jive Aces released a music video for their upbeat version of a much-loved theme song in the UK, 'Bring Me Sunshinw' it immediately went viral and to date has over 3.7 million views on YouTube. It is so popular in fact that a Doctor in Seattle actually prescribed the video to his patients to cure "the blues"! Their version of the song has also been used in countless TV shows including thrice on 'Strictly Come Dancing'. 

At the start of the pandemic with all their shows having just been postponed, the band decided to do an online live-streaming show called the "JiveStream" to keep up spirits. Not knowing how long this would last, they promised to do it every day which ended up being 500 consecutive, daily shows and as a result made a host of new fans and friends all over the globe from the USA to India and from Australia to Ireland. This is where the idea for their new album and tour "Keeping The Show On The Road" originated because through thick and thin they fought hard to bring people the music despite huge barriers!

Their new album, also called "Keeping The Show On The Road" celebrates the song that have become live favourites over the past few years and the band has aimed to pack in the energy of a live experience into the recording.

The band are now glad to be back on the road doing what they do best, delivering their high-energy vintage style entertainment to audiences of all ages!

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Following successful nights of comedy in October and March, Manfords Comedy Club are back at The Priory for another night full of laughter and hilarity this May.

Featuring the hottest new talent, comedy circuit favourites and household legends, all personally chosen by Jason Manford.

Please note that entry to this performance is Strictly 18+

Accessibility Information

Subject to change, there are no planned production elements which require additional access arrangements.

Born in West Ham, London, Richard Digance is a BAFTA Nominated entertainer and a recipient of The Gold Award from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.

Along with award-winning radio documentaries he also composed and performed the music for the audio book version of work written by one of the world's best selling authors, Bill Bryson.

On his own ITV TV show in the 1980s and 90s he played a guitar duet with Queen's Brian May as well as joining Status Quo and The Moody Blues for cameo appearances.

Richard has made nearly 200 appearances on Channel 4s Countdown, released 43 albums and published 22 books.

Richard has also supported Steve Martin in The USA and both the late comedy genius Robin Williams and Roy Orbison at The London Palladium as well as Tom Jones at The Royal Albert Hall.

Viva Theatre Arts is proud to showcase their talents in partnership with the Priory Theatre.

3-2-1 Dance is a celebration of different dance genres in solo, duet and trio performances by our students, aged from 4 to 17 years old. All featured students are members of the school’s Performance Squad, which participates in competitions across the region.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Following a successful, sell out night of comedy in October, Manfords Comedy Club are back at The Priory for another night full of laughter and hilarity this May.

Featuring the hottest new talent, comedy circuit favourites and household legends, all personally chosen by Jason Manford.

Please note that entry to this performance is Strictly 18+

Accessibility Information

Subject to change, there are no planned production elements which require additional access arrangements.

Sam is an accomplished jazz vocalist performing across the midlands and further afield. Sam started performing at the age of 16 and released a cover of Black Street’s ‘No Diggity’ which entered the Top 100 in 2014.

Sam focusses on bringing a sound of yester-year featuring the best of Big Band, Jazz and Swing with standards and classic numbers from the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin and Sammy Davis Jr. Sam’s influences include Kurt Elling, Donny Hathaway and more.

Presented by The Book Taster

Tasting Notes Live returns to The Priory for the fourth year running this May. Featuring Six authors, a full day of bookish love, goodie bags, breakfast and lunch … and so much more!

The Book Taster was founded by Jenna, who, whilst juggling motherhood, being a Primary School Teacher & a book worm, devouring books at a rate of knots! Jenna set up The Book Taster when she was unable to find a one-off bookish gift box for a friend who needed a little ‘pick me up’. When unable to find anything on the market, Jenna curated her own box which was warmly received. Repeating this a few times and not only enjoying the process but how the gift went down- the idea of ‘The Book Taster’ was born. 

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

Following a successful, sell out night of comedy in October, Manfords Comedy Club are back at The Priory for another night full of laughter and hilarity this March.

Featuring the hottest new talent, comedy circuit favourites and household legends, all personally chosen by Jason Manford.

Please note that entry to this performance is Strictly 18+

Accessibility Information

Subject to change, there are no planned production elements which require additional access arrangements.

Presented by Kenilworth Books in collaboration with Kenilworth Arts Festival.

Join us for an evening with Barrister Michael Mansfield, KC, who has spent his career fighting injustice, persecution and corruption. Be it the Birmingham Six, Bloody Sunday, Stephen Lawrence, the Marchioness, Hillsborough or Grenfell, he has come to learn one thing – that people power is unstoppable.

If cost is a barrier, complimentary tickets are available. Please call Kenilworth Books on 01926855784 or email info@kenilworthbooks.co.uk

NEW TO THE PRIORY!

The Priory is delighted to be joining Manford's nationwide network of comedy venues with our very own launch night this Autumn.

Featuring the hottest new talent, comedy circuit favourites and household legends, all personally chosen by Jason Manford.

View the line up here

Please note that entry to this performance is Strictly 18+

Accessibility Information

Subject to change, there are no planned production elements which require additional access arrangements.

The Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra is now widely acclaimed as one of the U.K.’s top big bands. Its reputation has been founded on a consistently high quality of performance over two decades. In addition, audiences find they are infected by the enjoyment which band members bring to performances, and the excitement which the band generates.

MYJO has featured in concert with many famous names from the musical world, including Benny Carter, John Dankworth, Bobby Shew, Arturo Sandoval, Bob Florence, Stan Tracey, Jools Holland, and TV chat show host, Michael Parkinson.

The repertoire of the orchestra is intentionally very broad, and covers virtually the whole period of big band music. In this way Music Director, John Ruddick hopes to make students aware of their musical background. However, at the same time he attempts to develop a more contemporary emphasis to the band’s performance, and seeks a balance between good ensemble playing and exciting soloists, believing that each is essential for a band’s ultimate success.

Presented by Greg Chapman

Magician and comedy performer Greg Chapman presents his new show - and this show is themed around one of his favourite subjects - DINOSAURS!

An entertaining evening for adults and families to enjoy, including comedy, magic, mentalism, storytelling, puppetry, and more, all coming together into a fun and exciting evening where you may learn something as well!

Accessibility Information

Subject to change, there are no planned production elements which require additional access arrangements.

Presented by Select Society Theatre Company

The year is 1544 and King Henry, the eighth of that name, is engaged upon Royal 'progress'; he has halted to afford his subjects the opportunity to have 'audience' with their Sovereign Lord and King.

In the course of the ‘audience’, His Majesty will recount the events of his long reign; telling of his wives and his children, and His Majesty will invite his Loyal Subjects to Petition him or question him on ANY related subject : there may be some surprising answers – a lively Q&A is assured!’

Audience age guidance 12+

Presented by Kenilworth Books

Join us to hear author Caroline Lea in conversation with Jillian Taylor (Senior Commissioning Editor) at Penguin’s Michael Joseph imprint, chaired by bookseller and illustrator, Tamsin Rosewell. There will be time for questions from the audience and Caroline will be signing books in the foyer after the event too.

Caroline Lea’s novels has long been among our best-sellers they have inspired some of our most dramatic window displays too. With a focus on author Caroline Lea’s latest novel, Prize Women, the discussion will look at the relationship between author and editor: how does an editor guide an already masterly storyteller? What kind of discussions about plot, language and structure happen during the editorial process? How much can a book change from first draft to final, with the input and expertise of an editor?

Caroline Lea grew up on the island of Jersey and gained a First from Warwick University, where she later become a tutor in Creative Writing. Her fiction and poetry have been shortlisted for the Bridport Prize, while her debut novel, The Glass Woman –a gothic thriller set during the Icelandic witch trials – was shortlisted for the Historical Writers Association Debut Crown Award. Her next novel, The Metal Heart – a powerful Second World War love story set on the island of Orkney – was selected as a Waterstones Scottish Book of the Month. Prize Women, her latest novel, is inspired by film footage Caroline found, showing the women who took part in the Great Stork Derby. Caroline was immediately struck by the awful implications of a competition which made women compete to have children, and by the fact that such a shocking story had remained buried for so long.

Jillian Taylor is Publisher for Fiction and Non-fiction at Penguin Michael Joseph, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Jillian started her career in academia, as a medievalist, before moving into publishing a decade ago. She has worked with authors ranging from Anthony Beevor to the late John lé Carre, and currently divides her list between novelists and narrative non-fiction authors and historians. She has edited many Sunday Times bestsellers, Richard & Judy selections and Waterstones Books of the Month. Authors she has worked with have won or been finalists for: the Man Booker Prize, Women’s Prize, Wolfson History Prize, Welcome Book Prize, Baillie Gifford Prize, Dylan Thomas Prize, Costa Book Awards (sadly defunct) and the Rathbones Folio Prize. Jillian’s list includes Stephen Fry’s Mythos, Joanne Paul’s The House of Dudley, Jack Cornish’s The Lost Paths, Dawn French’s Because of You, Caroline Lea’s Prize Woman and Costanza Casati’s Clytemnestra. 

Tamsin Rosewell has been a bookseller for over 15 years, and also works as an illustrator – the original art for her book cover designs has been on display at Waterstones as well as in indie bookshops and during festivals. Most recently she has been working with twice Carnegie-winning author, Berlie Doherty, to re-cover new novels and the reissues of much older, award-winning titles. When she’s not covered in ink, she works at 55-year-old independent bookshop, Kenilworth Books. She is also known as a radio broadcaster and documentary writer, with a three-part series’ about artist and visionary William Blake, and also a series about the history of the apocalypse: The Idea of the End. She is a Trustee of The Blake Society.

Presented by The Book Taster

Tasting Notes Live returns to The Priory for the third year running this June. Featuring Six authors, a full day of bookish love, goodie bags, breakfast and lunch … and so much more!

The Book Taster was founded by Jenna, who, whilst juggling motherhood, being a Primary School Teacher & a book worm, devouring books at a rate of knots! Jenna set up The Book Taster when she was unable to find a one-off bookish gift box for a friend who needed a little ‘pick me up’. When unable to find anything on the market, Jenna curated her own box which was warmly received. Repeating this a few times and not only enjoying the process but how the gift went down- the idea of ‘The Book Taster’ was born. 

Presented by The Kenilworth Carnival Committee

We’re delighted to welcome the Kenilworth Carnival Team back for another year!

In a lavish ceremony across our foyer and auditorium, nominees from the town come together to find out if they’ve done enough to become the next Carnival Queen!