In September 1865 the Theatre Royal Nottingham doors opened for the first time with a new production of Sheridan's The School for Scandal. Hundreds of performances later, this much loved venue is now celebrating its 150th birthday. David Longford, the Theatre’s Creative Learning Manager, presents this illustrated talk recalling some of the key figures and moments from the past 150 years.

Denny Plowman began restoration of the windmill to working order in 1985, with installation of science exhibits, an education programme, activities and exhibitions. Threatened with closure in 2011, the Green’s Windmill Trust charity was established with Denny as treasurer. He will cover the story of the remarkable miller and mathematician George Green and how the Trust now takes on day to day management, trading and raising funds to keep the Mill sails turning.        

Dance4 is an international centre here in Nottingham for the development of 21st century dance, encouraging people of all ages to watch and participate in contemporary dance and supporting international and UK artists in the dance sector. It organises the biennial international Nottdance Festival and is part of the official Cultural Olympiad ongoing programme. This is a significant year for Dance4 as it moves from College Street into a newly re-fashioned International Centre for Dance and Choreography. Come and hear…

D H Lawrence died in March 1930, already a world famous son of Nottingham, but a challenging and controversial figure. Andrew Harrison is assistant Professor in English Literature and Director of the D H Lawrence Research Centre at the University of Nottingham who will address some key aspects of Lawrence’s work.

This talk by Charlotte McCarthy, the Senior Archivist from the Boots Corporate Archives, will centre on the gifts Jesse Boot, Florence and their son John, one time residents in the Park, donated to Nottingham and to Jersey, where Florence was born and where she and Jesse moved to when he sold the Company to the Americans in 1921.