Events

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 (15th-23rd February), opening times will be expanded to cover 10:00am – 7:00pm.  To book these tickets, please visit the Art Tickets website. Please note: 5-7pm on Thursday 20th February will be our "Relaxed Mars" autism friendly evening. More details here.

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).

 Please note: 5-7pm on Thursday 20th February will be our "Relaxed Mars" autism friendly evening. More details here.

Image: Mars photo by Luke Jerram

Journey into our universe with members of Liverpool Astronomical Society, to observe our nearest planetary neighbours. 

There will be space themed creative activities, telescopes to observe the Sun and other planets, and short talks about the solar system during the course of the day.  

From 5 till 7pm, as part of 'Nights at the museum with Mars', gather outside on the Medieval ruins with Liverpool Astronomy Society members to observe the night sky in a 'join in stargazing' experience, and hope to see Mars rising in the south (clear skies dependent!).  General admission tickets from 10am till 7pm are valid for this event.  

Evening admission tickets are available for those wishing to attend 'Nights at the museum with Mars' only on this day from 5pm till 7pm.  Purchase via Art Tickets Here.     

Journey into our universe with members of Liverpool Astronomical Society, to observe our nearest planetary neighbours. 

There will be space based creative activities, telescopes to observe the Sun and other planets and short talks about the solar system during the course of the day.  

From 5 till 7pm, as part of 'Nights at the museum with Mars', gather outside on the Medieval ruins with Liverpool Astronomy Society members to observe the night sky in a 'join in stargazing' experience, and hope to see Mars rising in the south (clear skies dependent!). 

Evening admission tickets are available for those wishing to attend 'Nights at the museum with Mars' only on this day from 5pm till 7pm.  General admission tickets from 10am till 7pm are also valid for this event.  Purchase via Art Tickets here. 

A space themed family fun day with out of this world activities as part of Discover Sundays.

Join us at Norton Priory for a space themed family fun day. There will be a galaxy of hands-on interactive activities from alien slime making to an amazing planetarium experience. A stellar blend of art and science.

A small selection of stalls will be available to purchase space related goodies.

Come along and learn about space, have fun, and view Luke Jerram’s MARS art installation.

This event is part of Discover Sundays 2025 so will be included with general admission to Norton Priory Museum and Gardens and children go free at Norton Priory! With every adult general admission ticket, up to 3 children can visit our site for free! Additional children will need an admission ticket.

The Liverpool String Quartet performs Shostakovich under the gaze of Mars.

We are delighted to welcome back Norton Priory’s Ensemble in Residence – The Liverpool String Quartet. Under the gaze of Luke Jerram’s ‘Mars’ it seems fit that they are performing one of the great String Quartets – Shostakovich’s String Quartet No 3 the ‘War Quartet’. The programme will include other pieces suited to the spectacular setting.

At the premiere, given by the Beethoven Quartet in Moscow in December of 1946, it was presented as a programmatic “war quartet.” Its five movements contained the subtitles, “Calm unawareness of the future cataclysm,” “Rumblings of unrest and anticipation,” “The forces of war unleashed,” “Homage to the dead,” and “The eternal question: Why? And for what?” Immediately after the performance, Shostakovich withdrew the subtitles, without explanation. The programmatic titles imply music appropriate for a propagandistic newsreel. Strangely, they seem designed to conceal the Quartet’s true depth and drama.

Premium seating is available in the front 3 rows with the best views of the stage and 'Mars'. Tickets from £20 for Adults (£18 per person for members of Norton Priory Museum and Gardens.), £16 for Children under 16.

Running time: Approximately 1 hour 40 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.

This event has been selected by Norton Priory's artistic directors as part of the Mars programming. Luke Jerram's stunning 6m 'Mars' installation will form the backdrop for this stunning show.

Blast off into your creative space with our Mars and Space-Themed Crafts! Join us for a fun-filled session where families can explore the wonders of the Red Planet through hands-on crafts on Monday and Tuesday in February half term! 

These crafts are included with general admission and are a perfect chance for families to view Mars! Plus children go free! For every full-priced adult ticket, up to three children can visit for free (if more than 3 children are attending with one paying adult, the relevant number of Additional Child Tickets must be purchased).

Crafts include:

• Build a Mars Mobile: Create a hanging display of Mars and its moons, Phobos and Deimos.
• Create a DIY Telescope: Decorate a cardboard telescope with red cellophane to explore the surface of Mars!
• Construct a Rocket: Design and decorate your own rocket to take your mind on a journey through space with fins, flames, and a shiny silver cone.
• Design a Mars Paper Plate Collage: Craft a textured Mars masterpiece using all manner of materials on a paper plate.
• Space Art Station: Dock at our Space Art Station to enjoy themed colouring sheets and create your own space drawings.

Mars photo by Luke Jerram.

Join Fladam Theatre (best known for their award nominated show ‘Green Fingers ‘and spooky hit ‘Hallowbean’) for an intergalactic musical adventure for the whole family. Packed with awesome aliens, rib-tickling robots, and interplanetary puns!

Norma’s piano playing is out of this world… and so is she! Norma dreams of going into space, like her hero Mae Jemison. But children can’t go into space, can they? Especially children who have a very important piano recital coming up. But what’s that odd looking gadget Grandpa’s been tinkering with in his inventing shed? The one with wings and rocket boosters. Is it a bird? Or a plane? No… it’s a piano?! But this isn’t any ordinary piano. This is a COSMIC piano! Maybe Norma’s dreams are about to come true? Join ‘Fladam Theatre’ (best known for their award nominated show ‘Green Fingers’ and spooky hit ‘Hallowbean’) for an intergalactic musical adventure for the whole family. Packed with awesome aliens, rib-tickling robots, and interplanetary puns!

Our artistic directors, A Place for Us Theatre, are delighted to host this spaced out show in front of Luke Jerram’s majestic Mars installation in the atrium at Norton Priory.

Recommended for ages 3+.

★★★★★

‘Fladam’ are the most amazing, hilarious musical comedy duo' (BBC Radio).

Join us to ‘Explore the Solar System’ alongside Luke Jerram's  ‘Mars’ at Norton Priory.

We welcome Dr Steve Barrett, from the Department of Physics at the University of Liverpool, to deliver three fascinating talks on this special evening:

I: Robots on Mars. 

Rovers have been exploring the surface of Mars for over 25 years. The latest generation of rovers is looking for signs of past life and is collecting rock, soil and atmosphere samples for return to Earth.

II: Spacecraft

We have visited every major body in the solar system by sending spacecraft across billions of miles. These unmanned probes have mapped dozens of planets and moons and sent back incredible images.

III: Telescopes

Since Galileo first turned his telescope on the night sky, we have been using telescopes with ever larger apertures to observe and study all types of object in the solar system.

All three talks will be included in the ticket price for the evening.  Each talk lasts around 25 minutes.  Ticket prices are as follows: Adults £10.00, Children £5.00, Members £1 discount off both ticket types. 

Because we appreciate that busy and noisy environments can be challenging for some people, we are holding a relaxed viewing of Mars. We will be taking several measures to support autistic and neurodiverse visitors in enjoying Mars, including:

• The soundtrack that accompanies Mars will be reduced to quiet background music.

• A written guide has been produced to help visitors know what to expect, available below.

• Staff working on the day will be briefed on the event and given information based on advice provided by the National Autistic Society.

• Lighting will be at as consistent a level as possible throughout the building.

• A retreat space will be available for anyone who needs to take a break and sit down.

• Ticket and visitor numbers will be limited.

This event will be charged at the same admission rates as the Night at the Museum with Mars evenings (£4.50 for adults, up to 3 children free per adult).

The Brooke Café will be open selling food and drinks. Last orders for food will be at 6:30pm. You can view the menu here.

You can get the guide to prepare for the evening here.

You can view a sensory map of the building here.

Adults £4.50 when pre-booking, £5 on the door. Up to 3 children free per paying adult, members free.

Join us on an intergalactic bath time voyage with this workshop from Lush cosmetics!

A member of staff from Lush will guide you through each step to make your own Intergalactic bath bomb! Coloured in gorgeous pink, yellow and cobalt blue, and filled with scents of peppermint and grapefruit, this is one of their bestsellers. Enjoy making your own at this special event at Norton Priory!

There are two sessions available, one open to children and families and one for ages 17 and up for anyone wanting a grown-up treat! Ticket prices also include general admission to Norton Priory Museum & Gardens on the day, including viewing of Luke Jerram’s Mars installation in the museum.

Session times:

• 12:00 – open to ages 5 and up

• 2.30 – ages 17 and up only!

Please note: “supervising adult” tickets are for adults accompanying a child and are charged at general admission prices and can be found under children's tickets on the booking screen. They will not make their own bath bomb. Maximum one supervising adult ticket per child.

Suitable for ages 5+ only.

This exciting evening talk is delivered by Professor Sanjeev Gupta, from Imperial College London.  Professor Gupta is a science team member on NASA's Perseverance rover and Curiosity rover missions.  His work in the last decade has focused on exploring the geology of Mars.

We send robots to Mars in general to search for evidence for extraterrestrial life, in particular ancient life. Sedimentary rocks are the ‘go to’ archives for this search. What was the Martian landscape like early in Mars’ history – deep time Mars - at a time when life is thought to have got going on Earth?  Were ancient environments on Mars suitable for life to have formed, flourished and its evidence preserved in the rock record? 

On February 18 2021, NASA’s Perseverance rover successfully landed at Jezero crater on Mars in a nail-biting landing sequence. The mission represents the most complex, capable rover ever sent to Mars. It is also the first step in a multi-stage campaign to return surface samples back to Earth in order to seek signs of ancient life on the red planet. 

In this talk professor Gupta will discuss the adventures of the rover in its geological exploration of Jezero crater. 

Tickets are priced at £12 adults (£11 members), and £6 children (£5 members).  

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 such as ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Starlight’ and of course, the epic ‘Life on Mars’ by David Bowie.

Standard tickets are £20 for Adults, £16 for Children under 16. Premium tickets (rows 1-3) are available at £25 for adults and £18 for children. Members tickets are available.

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.

This event has been selected by Norton Priory's artistic directors as part of the Mars programming. Luke Jerram's stunning 6m 'Mars' installation will form the backdrop for this spectacular show.

Popular storyteller Rogan Mills leads these two captivating story sessions, bringing an exciting mix of space themed tales to Norton Priory. 

Visitors will be able to view Luke Jerram’s ‘Mars’ as the spectacular backdrop to this event, while Rogan’s stories transport you to far and distant galaxies, to visit strange planets and meet alien life. 

This event is part of Discover Sundays 2025 so will be included with general admission to Norton Priory Museum and Gardens. Timings are from 12.30pm till 3.30pm. The tales are aimed at families and children of all ages. Children go free at Norton Priory! With every adult general admission ticket, up to 3 children can visit our site for free! Additional children will need an admission ticket.