Sometimes, Life Takes Us on an Unexpected Journey

Back in 2013, when I started the original group, my intention was simple: to bring women together through theatre, live entertainment and friendship.

But I quickly learned that women were joining for more than a show.

Often, there were bigger changes happening behind the scenes. Because sometimes, life doesn’t follow the path we imagined.

Children grow up, relationships change, we lose loved ones, and we can find ourselves in unfamiliar territory, unsure where to turn. Sometimes, we simply need to try something new — something that’s just for us.

From the outside, our theatre trips and live entertainment adventures might have looked like a day out. But for some women, they were about putting responsibilities aside, having something to look forward to, connecting with others and laughing out loud until our sides hurt.

Today, Culture Calendar UK has turned a corner of its own. Those experiences, memories and reflections are helping to shape a new chapter through the Beyond the Spotlight UK podcast.

I’m exploring the stories behind live entertainment, the importance of human connection and the lessons we discover through lived experience — including the stories that go far beyond the stage.

You can follow Beyond the Spotlight UK on Substack and Spotify to discover more, or visit our Digital Downloads Page for tailor-made guides for Gen Z and Gen X women for visiting theatre and live entertainment.

Reviewing Live Entertainment Through a Different Lens!   YOURS!

We love the West End, big screens, and big stages.

Traditional reviews and press coverage do a great job recommending what to watch. But what about the rest of the story?

Beyond the Spotlight UK isn’t here to rewrite the rulebook—it’s here to add a new layer by simply turning the mic around to look at live entertainment through a different lens.  Yours!  A audience-led perspective and audience lens.

From the thrill of going solo to the unscripted realities of what happens off-stage, Culture Calendar love to explore the audience experience, based on many years of organizing trips to theatre and live entertainment. 

Culture and Performing Arts doesn’t stop when the curtain drops – to the contrary: often the conversations are only just getting started!

What Really Stops Us?

Would you? Be honest.  You find a show you really want to see. The reviews look good. The date works. The theatre looks beautiful.  But there’s one problem.  Nobody else is free.  So what do you do? Wait for someone else? Miss the show? Or consider going to the theatre alone?  For many people, the hardest part isn’t the performance. It’s everything surrounding it.

What stops us going to the theatre alone?

“Will I feel awkward?”

Walking into a theatre alone when everyone else appears to be with someone can feel uncomfortable — particularly if you’ve never done it before.

“Where should I sit?”

Choosing a single theatre seat can raise more questions than you might expect. Where will you feel comfortable? Does the position matter? What should you consider before booking?

“What will I do on my own?”

The journey. Arriving at the theatre. The interval. Getting home afterwards.  Suddenly, going to see a show isn’t just about the show.  “Is it safe?”

For some people, travelling to and from a theatre alone is another important consideration. The venue, location, timing and journey home can all affect how comfortable you feel.  And then there’s perhaps the biggest question: “Will I actually enjoy going to the theatre alone?”  Going to the theatre alone doesn’t mean missing out.  In fact, the reason many people consider a solo theatre trip is very simple:

Nobody else is free — but you really want to see the show.

You shouldn’t have to wait for someone else’s diary, interests or availability to line up before you can experience live entertainment.  But if you’re hesitating, there’s probably a reason.

What would you need to know before booking that ticket?

Culture Calendar’s Solo Theatre-Goer’s Guide was created around those very questions — from choosing your show, venue and seat to considering the practicalities of going to the theatre on your own.

It doesn’t simply tell you to “just go”.  It helps you explore the questions you may be asking before you do.  Because sometimes the biggest barrier isn’t finding something wonderful to see.  It’s knowing whether you’re ready to go alone.

Find out more about Culture Calendar’s Solo Theatre-Goer’s Guide here.

Theatre Magic: Music, Dancing and Laughter.

There are some films that never really leave us, and Dirty Dancing effortlessly transported us back to the classic story, but this time the story was told on stage.

I knew I was in for a healthy dose of nostalgia. The music, the dancing, the romance and, of course, memories of the fabulous Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the original 1987 film.

But what I wasn’t expecting was quite how much fun I would have along the way.

The moment the familiar music begins, you are straight back to Kellerman’s and that unforgettable summer of 1963.

There are songs you recognise immediately, plenty of high-energy dancing and those moments that everyone in the audience is waiting for. You can almost feel the anticipation building as Johnny and Baby’s relationship develops.

The choreography brings an energy to the stage that simply can’t be replicated on a television screen. The ensemble keep the action moving, while Johnny and Baby’s developing relationship provides the emotional heart of the story.

And then there are the characters.  Baby, Johnny, and one very entertaining sister.

But I particularly enjoyed seeing Baby’s sister Lisa given her moment in the spotlight.

Lisa’s audition is so funny, especially because her singing and dancing are deliberately so bad! It is one of those scenes where you find yourself laughing because you already know what is coming — and yet it still works.

When Lisa finishes her audition and receives huge applause, you can’t help but join in.

It is a lovely reminder that Dirty Dancing isn’t only about Johnny and Baby. The supporting characters bring plenty of humour and personality to the story too.

And beneath all the fun, there is a serious message.

Baby’s summer at Kellerman’s opens her eyes to a world beyond the comfortable life she has known. The story touches on prejudice, inequality, social class and standing up for what is right.

So underneath the music, laughter and romance, there is a surprisingly strong moral storyline.

The memories we make along the way

One of my favourite moments actually happened during the interval.

I met two lovely mothers who were enjoying the show with their daughters.

There was something really special about seeing them making a day of it together. Four women, sharing a theatre experience that will hopefully become one of those memories they talk about for years to come.

Yes, we go to see the performers.  We go for the music, the dancing, the story and the spectacle, but one of the reasons I love live entertainment is also about the people we meet.

The conversations we have and the memories we create along the way.

Have I had the time of my life?

Well, I certainly had a very enjoyable time!

Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage delivers the nostalgia, the music, the dancing, the romance and plenty of laughs. If you loved the original film, you will find a warm, familiar nostalgic shared audience experience, filled with brilliant dancing, memorable music, nostalgia, and laughter.

And perhaps that’s why Dirty Dancing The Musical continues to have such enduring appeal.

Some stories entertain us.  Some remind us of another time, and some make us smile while reminding us that the best memories are often the ones we create together.

Now, where did I put my dancing shoes?

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The Night I felt Theatre had followed me home

I rarely book to see anything with a dark side.

Give me musical theatre, concerts, dance, live entertainment or a good story with plenty of warmth, and I’m usually there. Horror? Not so much.

And yet, after watching Daniel Radcliffe in The Woman in Black, curiosity got the better of me. I booked a theatre ticket.

How much atmosphere was created with so little

Arthur Kipps, a young solicitor, travels to a remote house to deal with the estate of a deceased woman. Despite warnings from the locals, including the dangers of the causeway and the changing tide, he continues towards Eel Marsh House, where the real story begins to unfold.

There was darkness. A distinct chill, and a dimly lit candlelight on stage.  Surrounded by thousands of people – I felt completely alone, and with the sound of something coming from upstairs – Arthur goes to investigate, taking nothing but a small candle light.

Entering a room filled with porcelain-faced dolls, their gowns covered in cobwebs, Arthur discovers an empty rocking chair … rocking, as though someone has just left abruptly.

A loud shreaking sound, and a glimpse of a troubled face staring back at him through the window (on the second floor) … A shadow that doesn’t look human.

I kid you not …. I felt scared.  Unlike watching a horror movie at home, I couldn’t pause it, turn the lights on, or wander into the kitchen for a cup of tea, never mind hide behind a big cushion. I was sitting inside the story.

Just to add more drama, the theatre I had visited had a train line running underground, and the vibration of the trains roaring down the track was vibrating through my feet.

The Woman in Black – not only a production proving that great storytelling doesn’t always require a huge cast, or elaborate special effects.  Instead, it uses sound, lighting, movement, timing, and perhaps the audience imagination.

And then I went home…

I have owned a rocking chair for years, and that night – my imagination had suddenly become more sinister. Was it rocking on its own?  Probably not!  Did I sleep with one eye open the whole night long – quite possibly.

Perhaps that’s the greatest compliment I could give The Woman in Black.  This eerie performance and story telling stayed with me (and my rocking chair) Dramatic. Spellbinding. Hypnotic. Gripping… and quite terrifying especially for those that do not gravitate towards the dark.

Now that’s Theatre.  Highly recommended.

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What a contradiction of modern life. 

Messages, video calls and social media allow us to stay connected with people wherever they are the world over.  Yet, despite being more digitally connected than ever, many of us can feel surprisingly socially disconnected or even isolated.

Working from home, busy lifestyles and spending more time online can make it increasingly easy to stay within our own little bubbles. Communication is now just the touch of a button. But genuine social connection still takes time, effort and, quite often, getting out of the house.

There was a time when making plans meant actually speaking to someone.  Meeting for coffee, going to the cinema, booking theatre tickets, or just arranging a walk.

But now, a quick message replaces conversation, and a social media post can replace a catch-up.  We can spend an evening scrolling through other people’s lives without moving from the sofa.

This is one of the reasons I love live entertainment.  There is something magical about sitting in a theatre, concert hall, or stadium waiting for a live performance.  Sitting amongst a crowd singing together, or laughing together – it can be such a rush of energy.  A rush of emotion.

What made you laugh might not have been their funniest moment. It might have been a song you barely knew, but simply a trigger to days gone by, a person, a memory – and that’s the beauty of a performance.  

Let’s not underestimate having things to look forward to.  Having a date in the diary can lift an ordinary week. Somewhere to go. Someone to meet. Something new to experience.  It can take us out of our routines and occasionally out of our comfort zones.

Ofcourse finding your tribe can be the difficult part.  Circumstances change.  Friendships end.  Families become busier.  Work life balance can be challenging.  People move, and without realising one day we may find ourselves with less to look forward to. 

Finding people we genuinely resonate with isn’t always easy, so connection needs to become intentional.  Often experiences happen when we leave the house.  When we sit beside someone we have never met before.   Perhaps we laugh at the same joke, or share a difference of opinion about something we watched together on the way home. 

Call me old-fashioned, but it turns out that making the effort, showing up, and sharing an experience is sometimes the best way to connect, finding somewhere to go, and someone to go with.

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An Open-Air Concert: The Human Connection

A night where thousands of voices became one.

Lights. Camera. Action.

A dramatic stage. The soft evening light settling over Sefton Park.  Thousands of strangers coming together for their love of music.  Chatting. Laughing, and comfortable in having chosen their patch of grass.

Anticipation gained momentum as soon as American Pie came through the loud speaker system, and just like that, the concert had already become something more than a performance.

I recently experienced Lewis Capaldi live in Liverpool, but this was different from the seated stadium and theatre events I usually attend. This was an open-air concert, with the audience standing together beneath a summers evening sky.

People had arrived early, claimed their patch of grass and settled in for the afternoon and evening. After weeks of extraordinary summer heat, the ground was dry and parched, but as the temperature eventually dropped to a comfortable 17 degrees, the atmosphere became almost perfect for live music.

Standing close together changes the experience. You overhear snippets of conversation, catch the smiles and laughter, and begin to notice the different characters around you. Strangers for the most part, and yet somehow connected by the music and the anticipation of what was about to unfold.

As Lewis Capaldi took to the stage with a warm welcome and his first song, people began singing.  Some melodic. Some enthusiastic. Some… well, let’s just say that knowing the words did a lot of the heavy lifting – and ultimately, that’s all that mattered.

From teenagers to people in their sixties and beyond, different generations had gathered in the same place, sharing songs that had become part of their own lives.

This is the part of live entertainment that can be difficult to explain until you experience it.

We can stream music. We can watch performances on our phones. We can follow artists across social media. Yet none of those things quite replicate standing amongst thousands of other people and feeling the energy of a shared moment.

Lewis Capaldi’s music seems particularly suited to this.

His songs combine powerful melodies with lyrics that explore love, loss, relationships and the complicated emotions that come with just being human. There is a vulnerability within the lyrics that gives audiences something to recognise in their own lives.

Perhaps that is why the words come back so easily.  Everyone has their own story.

There are practical differences between an open-air concert and a seated theatre or stadium event. Standing for long periods, being close to large crowds, queues, drinks, facilities and the general intensity of a huge outdoor gathering will not suit everyone.

But that is also part of the audience experience.  Live entertainment isn’t one-size-fits-all.

What one person finds exhilarating, another may find overwhelming. The important thing is knowing what kind of live entertainment experience works best for you.

For me, though, the most memorable part of this Lewis Capaldi concert in Liverpool wasn’t only the music.   It was the people.  The anticipation.  The unison.  The laughter.  The friendship.  The dancing.  Questionable singing with very much a community vibe.

And thousands of strangers discovering that, for a few hours, they had something in common.

In an increasingly digital world, that is what we are really searching for when we buy a ticket to live music and live performance.   Belonging to something, even if only for a little while, can be something so memorable and quite extraordinary.

So … will your next music concert be open air, a music stadium, or music arena?  Why not try them all.

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From Comedy Clubs to Arena’s Tours .. 

On one memorable evening, we definitely hadn’t anticipated ending up in the front row of our local comedy club. 

Once, as a ladies’ social group, we had arrived in plenty of time, enjoyed a leisurely drink in the bar, and chatted the evening away, but we missed the announcement asking everyone to take their seats.

By the time we reached the auditorium, only the front row remained.

That told us everything.

The regulars clearly knew that sitting near the front at this comedy night venue often meant becoming part of the act. 

Trust me, no one is quicker, wittier or sharper than a comedian with a microphone. We kept our heads down, and avoided eye contact throughout, but I can’t deny that the comedian didn’t make us laugh.

We have attended several larger stand-up comedy shows in arena venues since.  While smaller comedy clubs offer an intimate atmosphere, we personally felt more comfortable surround by thousands of people rather than sitting just a few feet from the stage.