WHAM Festival and Watford Fringe

 

Can't wait to host the first ever Watford Humanists Arts and Music Event on Saturday 11th July! As Vice-Chair of Watford Humanists it's and honour to be working with Chair Panos Fellas to bring this event to our town as part of Watford Fringe Festival and celebrate our wonderful community through fellowship and song! I'll also be hosting the Fringe launch show 3-9pm on Saturday 4th July. Both events are absolutely free and promise to be a real treat so I hope to see you there!

Many thanks also to everyone who came to celebrate World Humanist Day with my Poetry Open Mic, it was great fun and lovely to hear so many different verses. We all agreed it would be fantastic to make it an annual event so watch this space!

The latest episode of the What's On Watford podcast is all about celebrating Watford Fringe this July, and our Dial Up 2-4pm on Sunday 5th July is also Fringe Special, details on the Future Events tab.

Love in Slough @Chesham Fringe, 6pm Sat 23rd May

It was an honour to be invited to host the first ever Open Mic at the Watford Palace Theatre's new 1908 Cabaret Bar! It was a wonderful evening with an amazing group of performers, I really hope it establishes itself as a regular event on the Watford calendar! And of course don't forget our own monthly Dial Up Open Mic afternoons at the gorgeous Tina Lake's coffee and Cakes! Details on the future events tab.

Big next event for me is my day at the Chesham Fringe Festival! I'll be performing my one man musical Love in Slough at Chesham Library, Elgiva Lane, HP5 2JD at 6pm on Saturday 23rd May 2026.

Tickets are £10 and can be bought here.

Love in Slough is the story of Jack, a middle-aged man tied to an unfulfilling marriage, whose drab, directionless life is given an injection of vigour when he embarks on an unexpected affair. The funny, fast-paced script is bursting with wonderful jazz tunes which drive us through Jack’s journey of self-discovery as he traverses a new world of openness, intimacy and redefined relationships. Come along and enjoy a toe-tapping and heart-tugging new comedy musical!

I'm also performing a poetry reading 11:30am at Chapter 2 Book Shop, so why not make a day of it? Come and join a friendly group as we do the poetry first, enjoy a leisurely picnic together in Chesham park (weather permitting!) before finishing the day with Love in Slough! Hope to see you there! xx

The Dial Up @ Tina's Cafe

 

Thanks so much to everyone who made our second Dial Up at Tina's Cafe such a marvellous afternoon! Looking forward to April already, hope to see you there! xx

The Dial Up @ Tina's Cafe!

Where: Tina’s Cafe, Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre, Local Board Road, Lower High Street, Watford WD17 2JP

When: First Sunday of each month, 2-4pm

Join the Dial Up for a fantastic afternoon of performance and open mic! If you’re looking for a friendly and welcoming space to share your music, poetry, prose, drama, comedy, magic or dance, or just want a couple of hours of entertainment, then The Dial Up is the place for you! Every month has a theme but feel free to interpret or ignore it as you choose! All Welcome. Free entry (suggested donation of £5).

Sunday 5th April: Sun, Moon and Stars

Sunday 3rd May: Off the Beaten Track

Sunday 7th June: Celebrating Pride

Sunday 5th July: Disney Special

August: no event

Sunday 6th September: The Fours Seasons

Sunday 4th October: 21st Century Classics

Sunday 1st November: Winter Warmers

Sunday 6th December: Christmas Party

LGBT Dial Up and Tina's Cafe Dial Up both a huge success!

Thank you to everyone who turned up to our LGBT Dial Up and our first ever Tina's Cafe Dial Up, both were such fun with amazing line ups of performers and really loving, supportive audiences! Already looking forward to our Black History Month event in October, but first, here's our list of Tina's Cafe dates for your diary! Hope to see you there! xx

The Dial Up @ Tina's Cafe!

Where: Tina’s Cafe, Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre, Local Board Road, Lower High Street, Watford WD17 2JP

When: First Sunday of each month, 2-4pm

Join the Dial Up for a fantastic afternoon of performance and open mic! If you’re looking for a friendly and welcoming space to share your music, poetry, prose, drama, comedy, magic or dance, or just want a couple of hours of entertainment, then The Dial Up is the place for you! Every month has a theme but feel free to interpret or ignore it as you choose! All Welcome. Free entry (suggested donation of £5).

Sunday 1st March: Hidden Gems

Sunday 5th April: Sun, Moon and Stars

Sunday 3rd May: Off the Beaten Track

Sunday 7th June: Flora

Sunday 5th July: Disney Special

August: no event

Sunday 6th September: The Fours Seasons

Sunday 4th October: 21st Century Classics

Sunday 1st November: Winter Warmers

Sunday 6th December: Christmas Party

p.s. apologies for using last year's photo, haven'y got round to uploading this year's snaps lol! 

Happy New Year from The Dial Up!

 

The Dial Up wishes all of our regulars and newbies all the best for 2026! We have a wonderful series of open mic events planned, and we're excited to take up residency in our new venue, the gorgeous Tina's Cafe in the Pump House Theatre! Hope to see you there, and don't forget we also have our LGBT Special in the Colne River Room 7.30pm on Friday 6th February! Can't wait! 😁😁😁

The Dial Up @ Tina's Cafe!

Where: Tina’s Cafe, Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre, Local Board Road, Lower High Street, Watford WD17 2JP

When: First Sunday of each month, 2-4pm

Join the Dial Up for a fantastic afternoon of performance and open mic! If you’re looking for a friendly and welcoming space to share your music, poetry, prose, drama, comedy, magic or dance, or just want a couple of hours of entertainment, then The Dial Up is the place for you! This month the theme is Love Songs for Valentine's Day, but as ever feel free to interpret or ignore it as you choose! All Welcome. Free entry (suggested donation of £5).

Sunday 1st February: Love Songs

Sunday 1st March: Hidden Gems

Sunday 5th April: Sun, Moon and Stars

Sunday 3rd May: Off the Beaten Track

Sunday 7th June: Flora

Sunday 5th July: Disney Special

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from The Dial Up!

 

3- 4.30pm Saturday 13th December: 

Tiger Jazz Sings Christmas! @Tina's Cafe, Pump House Theatre

The Dial Up @ Johnny's Bar!

Where: Johnny's Bar, 96 QUEEN'S RD, WATFORD, WD17 2NX

When: First Sunday of each month, 2-4pm

Free entry (suggested donation £5)

Join The Dial Up for a fantastic afternoon of performance and open mic! If you’re looking for a friendly and welcoming space to share your music, poetry, prose, drama, comedy, magic or dance, or just want a couple of hours of entertainment, then The Dial Up is the place for you! Each month has a theme but feel free to interpret or ignore it as you choose! All Welcome. Free entry (suggested donation of £5). Johnny's Bar is a 2 minute walk from Watford High Street; if driving, we recommend using the Sutton Car Park and walking across.

Sunday 4th January: Anything Goes

Sunday 1st February: Love Songs

Sunday 1st March: Hidden Gems

Sunday 5th April: Sun, Moon and Stars

Sunday 3rd May: Off the Beaten Track

Sunday 7th June: Flora

Sunday 5th July: Disney Special

BHM Dial Up a huge success! Now who's ready for a Christmas Party... ;)

 

Thanks so much to everyone who came and made our Black History Month Dial Up such a success! Special thanks to Scott Awcock who recorded the whole thing for us, you can now watch it on Youtube! It was a wonderful night, I'm looking forward to keeping the creativity flowing at our future Dial Ups!

The Dial Up @ Johnny's Bar!

Where: Johnny's Bar, 96 QUEEN'S RD, WATFORD, WD17 2NX

When: First Sunday of each month, 2-4pm

Free entry (suggested donation £5)

Join The Dial Up for a fantastic afternoon of performance and open mic! If you’re looking for a friendly and welcoming space to share your music, poetry, prose, drama, comedy, magic or dance, or just want a couple of hours of entertainment, then The Dial Up is the place for you! Each month has a theme but feel free to interpret or ignore it as you choose! All Welcome. Free entry (suggested donation of £5). Johnny's Bar is a 2 minute walk from Watford High Street; if driving, we recommend using the Sutton Car Park and walking across.

Sunday 2nd November: Night at the Movies

Sunday 7th December: Christmas Party!

Sunday 4th January: Anything Goes

Sunday 1st February: Love Songs

Sunday 1st March: Hidden Gems

Sunday 5th April: Sun, Moon and Stars

Sunday 3rd May: Off the Beaten Track

Sunday 7th June: Flora

Sunday 5th July: Disney Special