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Despite
only celebrating its first birthday, the fledgling Darwin festival
has quickly grown in stature and is already attracting some big names.
Perhaps the strangest aspect of the festival is the fact that it has
taken so long for the town of Darwin's birth to celebrate a man that
the whole world has lionised for over a century.
The ambitious aim is to build the festival up into an international
event by 2009 - the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth, and the 150th
anniversary of his ground-breaking publication, 'The Origin of Species.'
Last year, the event proved a considerable success and was popular
not only with Darwin fanatics; but with many people across Shropshire
who wanted to celebrate one of the county's most famous characters.
The 2004 festival is packed with a variety of events, featuring something
for everyone -
Whether you fancy a laugh with The Missing Inc comedy group, enjoy
messing around Mammoths, want to tangle with controversial academic
Dr Paul Pearson, or even opt to join Charles Darwin himself for a
guided walk along Wenlock Edge.
February
2004
Festival Programme
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1st
-29th
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Darwin
Shopping Centre
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8th-10th
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Shropshire
Wildlife Trust
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7th
- 17th April
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7th
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8th
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9th
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St
Chad's Church
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11th
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Wenlock
Edge
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Darwin
Day: Happy Birthday Darwin!
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12th
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The
Cornhouse
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12th
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St
Chad's Church
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14th
& 19th
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15th
- 28th
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15th
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16th
- 19th
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Darwin
Shopping Centre
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20th
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Shropshire
Wildlife Trust
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25th
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27th
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The
Unitarian Church
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29th
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The
Quarry
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29th
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Venue: The Darwin Shopping Centre.
Date: 1st-29th February.
Admission: Free.
More Details: 01743 272322.
Want to find out more about Darwin and his link with Shrewsbury? Lend
your support to Shrewsbury's Darwin connection by adding your name
to this brand new ledger on.
The
Darwins of Shrewsbury
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Venue: Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Abbey Foregate.
Date: 1st-29th February. Monday-Saturday. Time: 10.00am-4.00pm.
Admission: Free.
More Details: 01743 284280.
An exhibition compiled by The Shrewsbury School Biology Department.
An insightful display of photographs and information relating to the
homes, lives and activities of several generations of the Darwin Family
in Shrewsbury and beyond.
Venue: Shrewsbury
Museum & Art Gallery.
Date: 7th February - 17th April.
Time: 10.00am-4.00pm.
Admission: Free.
More Details: 01743 361196.
With a private view and the National launch of Thinking Path on the
6th, this is an exhibition of a new commission inspired by the family's
name for Charles Darwin's regular daily walk at his home, Down House
in Kent.
Artist Shirley Chubb takes a fresh look at Darwin: "She creates
a journey of the imagination for an ever-questioning 21st century
audience".
Shirley
Chubb in Conversation
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Venue: Shrewsbury
Museum & Art Gallery.
Date: Saturday, 7th February.
Time: 11.00am
Admission: Free.
More Details: 01743 361196.
If you fancy viewing Shirley Chubb's new exhibition, why not turn
up at 11.00am on the opening day, and listen to the artist in conversation
with Randall Keynes, author and Darwin's Great-Great Grandson.
Charles
Darwin Memorial Lecture
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Venue: Shrewsbury
Music Hall, the square.
Date: Sunday, 8th February
Time: 2.30pm
Admission: £4.00 (£2.50 concessions).
More Details: 01743 281281.
Professor Paul Pearson courted controversy in the national press,
when he announced that Darwin wasn't the first to come up with the
theory of evolution. Professor Pearson compares Charles Darwin and
fellow scientist James Hutton. Book now to avoid disappointment.
Venue: St Chads Church.
Date: Monday, 9th February.
Time: 7.00pm.
Admission: Free
More Details: 01743 365478.
Distinguished theologian and scientist Professor Sir John Polkinghorne,
discusses how Christianity and science can coexist.
Darwin
Walks on Wenlock Edge
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Venue:
From Presthope Car Park, on Wenlock Edge.
Date: Wednesday, 11th February.
Time: 10.00am.
Admission: £5 walk; £7 Lunch.
More Details: 01694 722631.
Booking essential.
Join DR Peter Toghill and Charles Darwin (Otherwise known as Chris
Stratton from The National Trust) on a walk along Wenlock Edge. The
dynamic duo will explain some of the features of the area, which was
once a coral reef! The walk will finish at Ippiken's Rock, where you
can opt to take lunch at the Wenlock Edge Inn.
Venue: The Cornhouse.
Date: Thursday, 12th February.
Time: 7.00pm onwards.
Admission: £20 including half a bottle of wine per person.
More Details: 01743 231991.
Booking Essential.
Darwin's time as a member of 'The Glutton Club' at Cambridge University
is recreated at The Cornhouse, in an evening of food and revelry to
mark Charles Darwin's birthday.
Venue: St Chads Church.
Date: Thursday, 12th February.
Time: 7.30pm onwards.
Admission: £2.00 on the door.
More Details: 01743 365478.
Rev Michael Roberts considers Darwin's opponents, both scientific
and religious, from the nineteenth century to the present day.
Venue: Shrewsbury
Museum & Art Gallery. (14th); The Lion Hotel (19th).
Date: Saturday 14th and Thursday 19th.
Time: 3.00 (Sat); 8.00pm (Thurs).
Admission: £6.00 (£3.00 concessions).
More Details: 01743 281281.
Andrew Bannerman presents his own two man production based on
Darwin's relationship with his wife, Emma. Based on contemporary letters
and other correspondence.
Shrewsbury's
Greatest Gift to the World
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Venue: Bear
Steps Gallery, St Alkmunds Sq.
Date: 15th-28th February.
Time: 10.00am-5.00pm.
Admission: Free.
More Details: 01743 356511.
An exhibition to celebrate the young Charles Darwin's life in Shrewsbury.
A series of images based on Darwin's early years in the town, and
other contemporary influences upon the young man. Discover what else
was happening while Darwin was formulating some of his ideas. Pictures
on load from Henri Quinn.
Venue: Secret
Hills Discovery Centre,
Craven Arms.
Date: Sunday 15th February.
Time: 10.30am and 1.00pm.
Admission: £2 per child.
More Details: 01588 676040.
Booking Essential.
Literally a Mammoth event! The Secret Hills Discovery centre in Craven
Arms, just off the A49, presents a children's workshop, where you
will come face-to-face with the Condover mammoth. Also a chance to
examine fossils and make your own to take home. 1 1/2 hour workshops,
children to be accompanied by an adult.
Venue:
Darwin Shopping Centre.
Date: 16th-19th February.
Time: 11.00am-2.00pm.
Admission: Free.
More Details: 01743 272322.
Children's
workshops at Darwin Shopping Centre.
Venue:
Shropshire Wildlife Trust,
Abbey Foregate
Date: Friday 20th February.
Time: 10.00am-12.00 noon; 2.00-4.00pm.
Admission: Free.
More Details: 01743 284280.
For kids of all ages. Make your own fossil to take home.
From
Shrewsbury to Ecuador
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Venue:
Shrewsbury
Museum & Art Gallery.
Date: Wednesday 25th February.
Time: 7.30pm.
Admission: Free (but places limited).
More Details: 01743 361196.
Mary
White gives talk based on her recent trip to Quito in Ecuador to
explore the Ecuador-Shrewsbury Darwinian connections.
Venue:
Unitarian Church, High Street.
Date: Friday 27th February.
Time: 7.30pm.
Admission: Free.
More Details: 01743 246988.
Rebecca
Stott, author of one the most captivating Darwin-related books on
the market, asks why Darwin delayed in publishing his revolutionary
theories. Stott argues that Darwin's success depended a great deal
on the internets of his day... The newly improvedpostal service
and the expanding railway network.
Venue:
The Quarry.
Date: Sunday 29th February.
Time: 10.00am.
Admission: Free, but Sponsorship required to take part (in aid of
The Dogs Trust)
More Details: Lydia Roberts at WOW Fitness, 01743 363155.
Not
only did he travel on a ship called The beagle, but he also often
made reference to his many family dogs.
Venue: Owens
Cafe Bar, Butcher Row.
Date: Sunday 29th February.
Time: 8.00pm.
Admission: £3.00
More Details: 01743 363633.
Shrewsbury's
resident satirists 'The
Missing Inc.' have grown in popularity over the last year
or so. Their unique brand of
topical
comedy has made them one of Shrewsbury's best home-grown talents.
'The Beagle has Landed' is described as 'An evolutionary revue'.
Is nothing Sacred?
For
More information on 'The Missing Inc', take a look at our
guide.
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