Cornwall 365’s Easter 2016 Top Picks

Easter brings us the promise of new life and things new. Of course there are the obligatory Easter egg hunts but they are in such wonderful locations it would be a shame not to find one near you. There are too many to list but most estates and gardens and large tourist attractions will have one.

The spectacular Minack Theatre throws open the stage for the season with a beautiful production of well-known and loved children’s book, The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch. There are workshops at Falmouth Art Gallery, and Truro Cathedral, Tap Dancing Mermaids in village halls, a sculpture quest marking the 40^th anniversary of the Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden and there’s the Truro Festival which is getting bigger and better every year with live music, performance, puppetry, manga & illustration workshops, arts & crafts and exhibitions.

The suggestions below are merely the tip of the iceberg and there is a whole host of things to do with the children – be they littleys, slightly bigger or nearly adult. To find out more visit www.whatsoncornwall.co.uk

Wishing you a very Happy Easter,

Cornwall 365

The Minack Theatre Presents The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch

Performances 29^th, 30^th ,31^st March and 1^st April

Join Mr Grinling performed by Craig Johnson (Squash Box & Kneehigh Theatre) and Mrs Grinling Sharon Andrew (Scary Little Girls) and the newly formed Minack Youth Theatre for a delightful musical adaptation inspired by the much loved children’s story. Over the past three months the children have worked alongside a professional production team including director John Brolly and musical director Ben Sutcliffe (Rogue Theatre & The Peoples String Foundation) to create their own unique performance and perform on the world famous stage.

Visit the Minack Theatre Website 

Story Republic at St Michael’s Mount

27^th – 28^th March

Flying high on hilarious poems, sentimental stories and songs both old and new; don’t miss the Story Republicans at St Michael’s Mount on Easter Sunday and Monday. Listen out for their rousing choruses and hearty Cornish harmonies and enjoy a choice selection of poetry and prose by Cornwall’s best-loved writers and wordsmiths.

Visit the Story Republic Website 

Tessa Bide The Tap Dancing Mermaid

Performances 8^th and 9^th April in Millbrook, Kea & Portreath

Featuring beautiful hand-made puppets, live music to sing along to and tap dancing that will make the whole village go home and stick 50ps to their shoes to tap around the kitchen, The Tap Dancing Mermaid is a show for the whole family to enjoy.

Visit the Carn to Cove Website for venues & info

40^th Anniversary of the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden

© Bowness, Hepworth Estate Two Forms (Divided Circle) 1969 in the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden

Sculpture Quest 31^st March & 7^th April

Calling all adventurous families, can you complete the sculpture quest in this magical place?

Tate Films at Circle Contemporary Wadebridge 2^nd April

Look Groups, in collaboration with Tate St Ives & Circle Contemporary, are screening of films about the museum.

Behind the Scenes at Trewyn 7^th April

Delivered by conservators and other experts, these talks give a behind the scenes look at how Hepworth’s work was made and how it is conserved today at Trewyn Studio.

Hepworth LIVE! 40th Anniversary Celebration 9^th April

This evening will honour Hepworth’s interest in the performing arts featuring music, poetry and dance.

Visit the Tate website for details of all of the 40^th Anniversary Events

Kith and Kin at Falmouth Art Gallery

©Matthew Lanyon Early Man 2012 Falmouth Art Gallery

 Exhibition until 16^th April, Family workshops on 2^nd & 9^th April

This delightful exhibition examines the influence of families and friendships in art. Intimate family portraits and interiors will be hung alongside the work of inter-generational families of artists based in Cornwall.

Visit the Falmouth Art Gallery Website 

The Truro Festival

 2^nd – 9^th April

Truro’s art, culture and music festival, with theatre, film, literature, dance, comedy and more. The city brims with activities in all corners including intimate theatre performances, live music & art exhibitions. There will be an abundance of art at the 2016 festival. Daily workshops featuring local illustrators, comic book illustrators, manga artists, screen print-makers and puppeteers will be on offer for children and adults in the festival hub on Lemon Quay. The literary content of the festival also grows each year. For 2016, The Story Republic will be igniting the imagination through speakeasies for young writers, wordsmith sessions and more.

Visit the Enjoy Truro website

Easter Animation Workshops at Truro Cathedral

4^th – 6^th April

Easter Animation Workshops during the school holidays – Use your imagination and craft skills to bring the tales of Cornish Saints to life using stop motion animation.

Visit the Truro Cathedral website

Young People’s Art Prize 2016 at The Exchange, Penzance

19^th March – 16^th April

Inspired by the work of exhibiting artist David Blandy, the theme for this year’s Young People’s Art Prize 2016 is Avatar Me. Entrants were invited to create an avatar of themselves, as a single frame, comic strip, animation or sculpture. This year’s judges are Marc Beaumont of Bazbo Comics Truro, Charlotte Davis, 24 Hour Comic Book, Keith Sparrow comic book writer and illustrator, and Cat Gibbard from Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange.

Visit the Newlyn Art Gallery website