Arts and Entertainment

Takedown Festival 2024 has announced nine more acts to perform across the two day event in April.
Picture: Takedown Festival 2024

Takedown Festival 2024 confirms nine more acts

James Oates as Wishee-Washee, Chris Aukett ad Widwo Twankey and Josiah Eloi as PC.
Aladdin is at New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth from December 8-31, 2023

Review | Aladdin at New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth: "A wild (magic carpet) ride"

Fleetingwood Mac's final show at The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea on December 9, 2023. Picture by Paul Windsor

Review | Fleetingwood Mac bid farewell to The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea

The cast of Irish crime drama Kin, which is on BBC iPlayer now. From left, Amanda Kinsella (Clare Dunne), Michael Kinsella (Charlie Cox), Eamon Cunningham (Ciaran Hinds), Frank Kinsella (Aidan Gillen) (Picture: BBC/Headline Pictures (Kin) Limited)

Irish crime drama Kin is all about the women

Here are 7 things to do this weekend.

Picture: Habibur Rahman.

7 things to do in the Portsmouth area this weekend

EMF, featuring Stevey Marsh (first left) from Portsmouth on bass, are pursuing a Christmas hit with new single Hello People, out December 15, 2023

EMF and their Portsmouth bass player aim for a Christmas number one

Rapunzel press call - Portsmouth Guildhall panto at Portsmouth Guildhall.
Pictured: Cast members, Leah Lloyd, Fabulous Josh and Charlotte C-K
Picture: Habibur Rahman

Portsmouth Guildhall and Curtain Call stage Rapunzel for pantomime season

Fun Lovin' Criminals at The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea on December 7, 2023

Review | Fun Lovin' Criminals at The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea: "Huey who?"

Portsmouth FC legend Alan Knight will be at the 125th anniversary concert on December 10, 2023, where the Pompey Overture will be premiered

Pictures - Alex Shute

Piece of music celebrating Pompey's 125th anniversary to get its premiere

Medici Choir and Portsmouth Choral Union perform Verdi's Requiem at Holy Trinity, Sloane Square on December 2nd 2023

Review | Portsmouth Choral Union and Medici Choir: "Enthusiastically received"

Fun Lovin' Criminals in 2023: (l-r) Naim Cortazzi, Brian 'Fast' Leiser, Frank Benbini. Picture by Steve Babb

Fun Lovin' Criminals head to Portsmouth for 100% Colombian 25 anniversary show

Hook stars Shaun Williamson as Hook and Jack Edwards as Mrs Smee
Picture by Alan Bound for The Kings Theatre

Hook wows the crowds at this year's Pompey panto - in pictures

Day by day bill for Victorious Festival 2024

Diversity have added a new Portsmouth date to their Supernova UK and Ireland Tour

Diversity announce new Portsmouth show - ticket information

Headliners revealed for Victorious Festival 2024

Hook is the Kings Theatre pantomime for 2023, starring Shaun Williamson as Hook; James 'Arg' Argent as Peter Pan; Jack Edwards as Mrs Smee; Georgia Deloise as Wendy; Elizabeth Rose as tinkerbell; Julia Worsley as Mother and Gemma The Mermaid.
Picture by Alan Bound for The Kings Theatre

Review | Hook, the Pompey Panto at The Kings Theatre: "Enormously entertaining"
This year’s Pompey Panto at The Kings Theatre takes a slight deviation from the usual canon – it’s Hook – an original sequel to the story of the boy who never grew up, it is billed as The Further Adventures of Peter Pan.

Turin Brakes on the tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their album Ether Song at The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea on December 2, 2023

Review | Turin Brakes at The Wedge: "An outstanding night of high emotion"

Locals braved the cold to celebrate the start of the Christmas festivites with a street party on Hayling Island on Saturday afternoon.

Pictured - Performers from the Warner Theatre Company came dressed to impress

Photos by Alex Shute

Annual Hayling Island Christmas event returns

Therapy? at The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea on December 1, 2023. Picture by Hannah Mesquitta

Review | Therapy? at The Wedgewood Rooms: "As urgent and vital as ever"

John-Paul McCrohon as Tony Galento, and Peter McCrohon as Pauly in Two Ton Tony, written by Peter.

Review | Rise and Fall at Southsea Cinema and Arts Centre: “Fantastic”

Outlander star Sam Heughan played hunky motorcycle cop Danny in the new Channel 4 drama The Couple Next Door (Picture courtesy Channel 4)

The Couple Next Door is an unappetising stew of mystery-thriller cliches

Here are 26 reasons to take pride in our city.

26 reasons you can be proud to call Portsmouth your home

Here are 7 things to do this weekend.

Picture: Habibur Rahman.

7 fantastically festive things to do this weekend

The festive party has been cancelled at short notice.

Christmas light switch-on cancelled due to weather safety fears

The Smoke Fairies at The Square Tower, Old Portsmouth, on November 21, 2023. Picture by Steven Reith Photography

Review | Smoke Fairies at The Square Tower: "A most entrancing gig"

Spotify Wrapped 2023 is available now

Spotify Wrapped 2023 is officially out now

Black Grape play Engine Rooms, Southampton, on December 2, 2023. Picture by Paul Husband

Black Grape brings Shaun Ryder back with an Orange Head and a new UK tour
As if having one legendary band to his name wasn’t enough, when The Happy Mondays initially imploded in the early ’90s, frontman Shaun Ryder formed Black Grape with his rapper friend Kermit and went on to have even greater success.

Charlie Wingrove in Jamie and His Dad is at The Wedgewood Rooms, November 28-30, 2023. Picture by Nigel Kenny

Review | Jamie and His Dad at The Wedge: “Charlie Wingrove shines”

Faith Turner as Jenny and Emma Wright as Alice in Mosquitoes. Photograph by Elliott Franks

Review | Mosquitoes at Minerva Theatre, Chichester: Thought provoking

Spotify Wrapped 2023 is expected to arrive soon.

(Photo by Stefani Reynolds / AFP) (Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)

Spotify Wrapped 2023 is coming soon

Theatre-goers can get to the Kings Theatre's annual pantomime at a discounted rate thanks to a festive deal.

Festive deal for theatre-goers attending panto

Signage in Southsea hints at first headliner for Victorious Festival

Terrorvision perform on the Common Stage at Victorious in 2021. Picture: Vernon Nash (270821-034)
Picture: Vernon Nash (270821-034)

Rock and metal festival at the Guildhall announces more big names for 2024

Michael Stipe at the Rose Bowl in August 2008. Picture by Paul Windsor

David Bowie, Blur and more feature in new Southsea music photography exhibition

Billy Bragg brings his Roaring Forty tour to Portsmouth Guildhall

Review | Billy Bragg at Portsmouth Guildhall: "His conviction pours out"

Paterson Joseph and Daisy Haggard star in the new BBC comedy-thriller Boat Story (Picture: BBC/Two Brothers/Matt Squire)

Boat Story review: A frenetic, violent coke-com

Palmerston Road Christmas Lights Switch On at Southsea on Thursday 23rd November 2023

Pictured: Santa with the Lord Mayor, Tom Coles and Mayoress, Nikki Coles with Wave 105 presenter, Mark Collins with Pompey football players and cast of Alladin from New Theatre Royal.

Picture: Habibur Rahman

33 pictures from Southsea's annual Christmas light switch-on

Shooting the video for St Lundi's Alone Over Christmas at Quay West Studios in Gosport with members of Hayling Youngstars and The Vox community choirs. Picture by Will Kenney

Hayling Island singer releases festive single to support Portsmouth food bank

Graeme Clements as Ebeneezer Scrooge in Fareham Musical Society's A Christmas Carol, which is at The Ashcroft Arts Centre from November 23-25, 2023

A Christmas Carol get the jukebox musical treatment from local theatre company

Sean Williamson as Captain Hook near HMS Warrior at the Historic Dockyard. Picture: Habibur Rahman

"Barry from EastEnders" prepares to take the villainous lead as Hook in panto

New axe throwing venue,
Down Range Axe Throwing at Gosport has opened on Thursday 16th November 2023.

Pictured: Ben Davis and Colin Smith

Picture: Habibur Rahman

Watch: We tried Gosport's brand new axe-throwing venue

In 1971, Doctor Who came to Portsmouth. Third Doctor serial The Sea Devils starred Jon Pertwee and included several locations in the city.
Jon Pertwee is here pictured at Fraser Gunnery Range at Eastney. Pictured with him L-R: Ordnance electrical mechanic Stephen Scholes from Leeds, control electrical mechanic Gerald Taylor from Wolverhampton (who were acting as extras in the filming), and David King from Chichester House. West Leigh is pictured taking a photo.

Picture: The News 715097-2

7 ways Doctor who is linked to Portsmouth

Lin's Thai Cafe in Elm Grove, Southsea, have created a Tardis themed toilet within their cafe.

Pictured is: Snooki Renu Kiewbang.

Picture: Sarah Standing

Southsea Thai restaurant houses treat for Doctor Who fans

Steeleye Span. Photo by Peter Silver.

Review: Folk royalty Steeleye Span are still top of their game

Stereo MC's at The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea on November 18, 2023. Picture by Paul Windsor

Review | Stereo MC's at The Wedgewood Rooms, Southsea: "A formidable live act"

Richard Parker the tiger and puppeteers in Life of Pi. Photo by Johan Persson

Review | Life of Pi at Chichester Festival Theatre: "Didn't live up to the hype"

Bill Bailey visited a whaling museum in Western Australia during his Australian Adventure, which started on Channel 4 this week (Picture: Perpetual Entertainment/Marmalade Sky/Channel 4)

Bill Bailey's Australian Adventure review: Weird, but not-so wonderful

Father Christmas in his grotto at Keydell Nurseries.

7 things to do in the Portsmouth area this weekend

Pictured: Reporter Joe Buncle having a go at throwing an axe.

Picture: Habibur Rahman

Axe-throwing centre opens in Gosport

Steeleye Span, with Maddie Prior, third from left. Picture by Peter Silver

Folk pioneers link Status Quo and Elvis Costello on new album ahead of tour

Ben Hart. Photo by Matt Crockett

Magician who taught Tom Cruise tricks for M:I7 brings new show to Portsmouth

Skindred at O2 Guildhall Southampton on November 11, 2023. Picture by Paul Windsor

Review | Skindred at O2 Guildhall Southampton: "Welcomed like conquering heroes"

Jane McDonald has announced that she will be heading to Portsmouth for her 2024 tour.

Jane McDonald announces Portsmouth date for 2024 tour

Down Range Axe Throwing will open on Friday, November 17.

Gosport to welcome new axe-throwing centre

Claire, husband Sean and 19-year-old daughter Joy-Anna featured in the new Channel 5 reality show Wife on Strike (Picture: Channel 5)

Wife on Strike review: Enough to turn anyone into a feminist