Mars at the Museum

Luke Jerram’s mesmerising installation Mars is coming to Norton Priory Museum and Gardens in Runcorn, Cheshire for 6 weeks from 28th January 2025 to 9th March 2025.

Following the incredible success of ‘Museum of the Moon’ in October 2021 and ‘Gaia’ in January 2024, Mars will complete the trilogy of Luke Jerram’s out-of-this world installations in Norton Priory’s impressive atrium.  Visitors will be able to view the installation from a variety of different angles, including from the mezzanine level, makes for a more intimate and personal viewing experience. 

Mars is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram, measuring 6 metres in diameter and featuring detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface.

During the 6-week installation, opening times will allow after dark viewings of the artwork at the museum.  The museum will be open between noon and 7:00pm for the duration of Mars’ time at Norton Priory. 

During the February 2025 half term, opening times will be expanded to cover 10:00am – 7:00pm.  To book these tickets, please visit the Art Tickets website.

A carefully curated events programme will accompany Mars, including concerts, readings, storytelling, talks, meditation and mindful sessions, and a special Martian theme for February half-term activities.  

It's a perfect opportunity to step outside the everyday and experience the red planet in a truly unique setting.  Explore the magic of Mars at the museum, with free child entry for standard museum visits (charges for children will apply for special events).

Image: Mars photo by Luke Jerram

Luke Jerram’s mesmerising installation Mars is coming to Norton Priory Museum and Gardens in Runcorn, Cheshire for 6 weeks from 28th January 2025 to 9th March 2025.

Following the incredible success of ‘Museum of the Moon’ in October 2021 and ‘Gaia’ in January 2024, Mars will complete the trilogy of Luke Jerram’s out-of-this world installations in Norton Priory’s impressive atrium.  Mars is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram, measuring 6 metres in diameter and featuring detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface.

During the 6-week installation, opening times will allow after dark viewings of the artwork at the museum.  These special ‘Night at the Museum’ tickets, allow visits between 5:00pm and 7:00pm on selected evenings.

A carefully curated events programme will accompany Mars, including concerts, readings, storytelling, talks, meditation and mindful sessions, and a special Martian theme for February half-term activities.

It's a perfect opportunity to step outside the everyday and experience the red planet in a truly unique setting.  Explore the magic of Mars at the museum, with free child entry for standard museum visits (charges for children will apply for special events).

Image: Mars photo by Luke Jerram

Ignacio Lopez: JUAN SOLO’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE’S IN SPACE!

(Family Friendly sci-fi stand-up show)

Join Live At The Apollo’s Ignacio Lopez (Juan Solo) on a daring journey through the galaxy, in his rust bucket of a ship, the Millennial Falcon!

Juan's tasked with transporting 100 humans to the Galactic Holiday Empire’s latest resort! The empire has been very clear that No Children Are Allowed. Children discovered onboard will be vaporised, and worst of all, Juan won’t get paid!

Every passenger will receive full training, safety protocol, entertainment from our resident comedians and probably won’t be vaporised. Expect sarcasm, stand-up comedy and silliness in this chaotic, interactive adventure show!

★★★★★ “CHARMING, CHARISMATIC, HILARIOUS. WILL HAVE YOU LEAVING WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE” - Deadline News

★★★★ “SARCASTIC, WITTY, ANIMATED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HILARIOUS” -Entertainment Now

★★★★ “FINELY CRAFTED SILLINESS. HIGHLY RELATABLE. HILARIOUS. GO TO THIS IF YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUR KIDS A PRETTY FIRST RATE INTRODUCTION TO STAND-UP COMEDY” - ThreeWeeks

Suitable for ages 5+

Tickets are £12 for Adults (£10 per person for members of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens.), £10 for Children under 14, £40 for a Family Ticket (2 Adults + 2 Children or 1 Adult + 3 Children)

Running time: Approximately 1 hour with no interval. The performance starts at 3:00pm, doors open at 2:30pm to allow patrons to take their unreserved seating.

Car parking is free and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available to purchase from the onsite café. The Artistic Directors of A Place for Us Theatre are proud to be hosting this amazing production with Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

The performance takes place as part of the 'Mars' programme of events. Luke Jerram's stunning 6m 'Mars' installation will form the backdrop for this cosmic show.

Spain’s Best Export™ Ignacio Lopez is on a mission to destroy himself, and build a better version; Leaner. Smarter. Funnier. Join the star of Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News For You, Comedy

Central, QI, House of Games, & more, for a riotously funny exploration of vices, intrusive thoughts, and self improvement.

Expect an armada of playful, wicked humour from the exotic outsider comedian, as he tries to identify his faults and how to improve; Is it worth going to the gym? Can you be addicted to technology? Do you know what happens if you give spiders drugs? Ignacio uses his razor-sharp wit, and effortless charm to tackle these questions and a bunch of other irrelevant horsesh*t.

★★★★★ “CHARMING, CHARISMATIC, HILARIOUS. WILL HAVE YOU LEAVING WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE” - Deadline News

★★★★½ “A COMEDIC GENIUS AT WORK. IF YOU ENJOY SHARP WIT MIXED WITH A DOSE OF THE RIDICULOUS, ’SEÑOR SELF DESTRUCT’ IS A MUST SEE” - One4Review

★★★★ “SARCASTIC, WITTY, ANIMATED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, HILARIOUS” -Entertainment Now

★★★★ “AFFABLE, SEAMLESSLY DELIVERED, GREAT GAGS” - Mumble Comedy

★★★★ “UNIQUE & HILARIOUS” - BUZZ Magazine

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Suitable for ages 12+

Tickets are £18 for Adults (£16 per person for members of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens.)

Running time: Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes with a 20 minute interval. The performance starts at 8:00pm, doors open at 7:30pm to allow patrons to take their unreserved seating.

Car parking is free and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available to purchase before the show and during the interval. The Artistic Directors of A Place for Us Theatre are proud to be hosting this amazing production with Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

The performance takes place as part of the 'Mars' programme of events. Luke Jerram's stunning 6m 'Mars' installation will form the backdrop for this cosmic show.

Life on Mars - In Concert

Blending live performances by established artists and talented performing arts young people from A Place For Us Theatre in a spectacular concert in front of the stunning Mars installation at Norton Priory. Celebrating human creativity, curiosity and the drive to explore the unknown, through music by some of the best known artists and musicians to create an unforgettable tribute to the Red Planet.

Featuring iconic space themed anthems like ‘Rocket Man’ ‘Starlight’ and of course, the epic ‘Life on Mars’ by David Bowie.

The performance takes place as part of the 'Mars' programme of events. Luke Jerram's stunning 6m 'Mars' installation will form the backdrop for this cosmic show.

Tickets are £20 for Adults (£18 per person for members of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens.), £16 for Children under 16, £65 for a Family Ticket (2 Adults + 2 Children or 1 Adult + 3 Children)

Running time: Approximately 1 hour 50 minutes with a 20 minute interval. The performance starts at 7:30pm, doors open at 7:00pm to allow patrons to take their unreserved seating.

Car parking is free and non-alcoholic refreshments will be available to purchase before the performance and during the interval. The Artistic Directors of A Place for Us Theatre are proud to be hosting this amazing production with Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

This Gong Bath is designed to send you into a deeply relaxed state, where our dominant brain waves change to the slower frequencies of Alpha or Theta, which can induce an altered state of consciousness. You may find that you have a visual, physical or emotional journey during the sound bath and this is completely normal, as the lower brain frequencies create a dream like state. We regularly fluctuate between different brain frequencies throughout the day, which is important for our health and wellbeing, so this is a very normal but slightly more prolonged version of our relaxation mode.

You will need to bring a mat to lie on (chairs can be provided if lying down isn’t possible for you), a warm blanket and a pillow. Please wear loose comfortable clothing and bring a bottle of water with you.

The gong bath is not suitable for the following:

• Women in first trimester of pregnancy
• Anyone with a severe mental health diagnosis, such as Schizophrenia, Dis-associative disorder, psychosis etc
• Children under the age of 14 (all children over 14 to be accompanied by a responsible adult)
• Anyone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Anna, the founder of Expansionbreathandsound.com is a hugely passionate sound therapist, professional musician and Transformational Breath® facilitator. Through her work as a classical musician and breathwork facilitator, where music is a crucial part of the journey, Anna has always been struck by the way people react to different styles and sounds of music, and has always used music herself to soothe, to galvanise, and to release emotions, which lead her down the path of becoming a sound Therapist. She realised there was so much more to creating a seemingly simple sound bath, so wanted to train in a modality that was based on scientific research and chose to train with BAST. This modality uses research and information gathered over many years to create specific states in the body by playing certain instruments in specific ways. Being a musician (a percussionist at that), has enabled Anna to use her knowledge of playing different instruments to generate seamless sessions and is able to play to the individual acoustics of each venue, to maximise the effects on participants. Anna is often found delving into research on how sound affects our bodies, from a simple hum to a glorious gong bath and has even ‘hypnotised’ her dog while practising at home.

Tickets are £20 for Adults (£18 per person for members of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens.),

Running time: Approximately 1 hour with no interval. The Gong Bath starts at 7:30pm, doors open at 7pm to allow patrons to .get comfortable in the space before the session starts.

The Artistic Directors of A Place for Us Theatre are proud to be hosting this amazing production with Norton Priory Museum & Gardens.

The performance takes place as part of the 'Mars' programme of events. Luke Jerram's stunning 6m 'Mars' installation will form the backdrop for this cosmic show.