Pick of the Week: 21 - 27 December

We're on the Crimbo countdown...

Write Minds
There are other ways of accessing Christmas cheer without having to confine yourself to the utter madness of the shops and pubs. Creative writing is a great way to heal the brain in the face of dark days, and Write Minds recognise that. If you’re aged 16 – 25 and have been affected by self-harm, you can attend workshops every Monday with professional poets – they’ll help to develop your creative skills, while compiling research into the effectiveness of the project alongside an interactive, digital poetry pamphlet. There’s even a documentary being made about it, and the chance for participants to perform with Mouthy Poets. Drop Hayley an email at hayley@write-minds.uk if you want to get involved.
Every Monday, 6pm, free, City Arts

Ay up, Franky baby...

Sinatra Centenary
The smoothest criminal in the Jazz game is turning the big 1-0-0 this year, and in his absence, Theatre Royal are planning to celebrate in style. An evening of Franky baby’s best tunes is the only fitting way to commemorate the music legend, complete with special guests Iain Mackenzie and Emma Kershaw. The Jazz Co Tech Dancers will also be making an appearance, along with the most dazzling ballroom dance duo, Leila Stewart and James Wilson. The only thing missing with be Mr Sinatra’s smooth as velvet vocals. Get right in the Christmas spirit with bangers like Let It Snow and White Christmas, as well as proper classics, Come Fly With Me and My Way. It’s gonna be a cracker.
Tuesday 22 December, 7.30pm, £23.50 - £34.50, Theatre Royal

It’s A Wonderful Life
It can be so easy to get sucked in to the endless task of buying presents for distant relatives, and queueing for hours at the butchers to bagsy the best turkey for your feast, that you forget what Christmas is really about: curling up on the sofa with a hot chocolate and watching a proper classic film. This year, buy a hot choccie from the Cafe.Bar., and cuddle up in one of Broadway’s cinema screens to catch the ultimate festive film, It’s A Wonderful Life. It’s right magical - angels and all - and it’s bound to bring a tear to even the Scroogiest of eyes. Plus, you’ll need sommat to keep your mind off of how you’re gonna fit every man and his dog round your four man table in just two days time...
Wednesday 23 December, 2pm, £8.20, Broadway

Dig deep for a proper good cause...

Hotbox/I Am Starz
Christmas is about giving, and the best thing about Christmas in Notts, is there are plenty of kick ass ways to give sommat back to the community. This week, The Maze are hosting an evening of indie-rock sounds to help raise funds for the Major Trauma Centre team at the QMC. They are tasked with serving the entire East Midlands, and to help them in their task, the Saving Lives Helipad Appeal is aiming to raise enough money to provide the hospital with an on-site air ambulance landing pad. It’ll be vital in ensuring the most critically injured and ill patients are seen quickly and efficiently - buying time within the ‘golden hour’. Acts include Hotbox, GDST Young Vocalist Izzy Carlin, and brother duo Sam and Jo. If you can’t make the gig, please donate some dollar by following this here link.
Wednesday 23 December, 8pm, £5, The Maze

MyHouseYourHouse
They’ve been going at it for over ten years now, and this Christmas Eve, they’re chucking a huge party in their living room and broadcasting it to the masses to celebrate. Yep, the underground house radio station stalwarts are filling the sound waves with the likes of Jodie Parker, Lee Cox, Richard Powell, Julian Zizko and Chris Quadrant, all who’ve dedicated years to the Nottingham movement. On top of all that, there’s music from Inland Knights’ Andrew Riley, DiY’s Pete Woosh, Eden, and Osbourne. With plans to help out The Music Exchange in the new year with fundraising events, the free party lovers are looking forward to bringing forward some real legends of the scene, all presented by The BIG Faces and The Meme Show. Don’t miss out ducky.
Thursday 24 December, 6pm, free

image: Broadway

Branagh Theatre Live: The Winters Tale 
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And what could be more wonderful than spending Christmas Eve at the theatre, eh? We’ll tell you what. Spending under fifteen bob to watch a theatre production at the best independent cinema pon planet, that’s what. Good owd Broadway are screening Kenneth Branagh’s version of Shakespeare’s A Winters Tale, live from the Garrick Theatre in London. Watch Branagh himself do his thing, alongside the incredible talent that is Dame Judy Dench. We imagine the Christmas Eve showing will sell out pretty sharpish, so you best get booking pronto. If you miss out, don’t worreh, there’s gonna be another screening on Sunday 3 January. Everyone’s a winner.
Thursday 24 December, 4pm, £14, Broadway 

Christmas Eve
It were the night before Christmas, and all around Notts, the locals were necking their pints in the pubs. The stockings were tight on the landlady’s legs, in the hope her fella’d rip ‘em off with his tegs. The kiddos were peekin’ beneath the tree, Granny was dreamin’ of turkey cobs for tea. Mam was naggin’ at dad for not wrappin’. Forgot the mint sauce – proper flappin’. When out on the street, there came a right fuss, lads kicked off for chonging on the night bus. Away to the offy, they ran like a flash, for Rizla and baccy to add to their stash. Wappy as owt, they stole snowman’s nose, left his cheeks melting, his carrot exposed. Up rolled a Ford Transit, engine sparked out, pulled by deer off Wollo Park’s grounds. At the wheel sat a fishnet-clad bloke, it was little old Cockle Man, with basket in tow. Their peepers popped out, their tabs near bust, as he yelled at his troop to “Stop mekkin a fuss! Now Garreh! Now, Barreh! Now, Gordon! Now, Bob! On, Doris! On, Gladys! Get them shrimp out yer gob.” And off he flew, his white hat like a crown, to deliver his gifts, all over Hoodtown…
Thursday 24 December, all day, your gaff/local

Have you been naughty or nice, Hoodtown?

Christmas Day
Here we are. Once again. Sitting on the garden set chair on the corner of a makeshift table, wedged as close to, but not quite on, the kids table as your mother could possibly squeeze you. You don’t complain, though. Cos you’re about to consume the dinner to end all Sunday dinners, and fill your belly with all the sausages wrapped in bacon that money can buy. But what’s this?! Uncle Simon’s passed ‘em back to his left instead of his right, and you’re watching the contents of the pyrex dish diminish before your very eyes. As the piggy treats finally make their way back round your ends, the last chipolata is rolling around in it’s now spacious bed. You’re about the plunge your spear (fork) into the meaty morsel, when little cousin Tommy lets out a small whimper, raising his 6 year old face and allowing small pools to form in his wide eyes. “Ooh, they’re his favourite”, says Aunt Tanya. You pause. Then, laden with guilt, sadness, and more festive rage than you have ever felt before, you flick the last remaining pig in blanket onto Tommy’s plate. It’s what Christmas is about, after all. 
Friday 25 December, all day, your gaff

For the motherload of everything else going on this week check out our comprehensive Nottingham events listings.

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