What’s on this week in arts&ents
Live music gig
Back in March Lauren South stepped in, at extremely short notice, to open for Reg Meuross at his ACE Space gig. Meuross said: “I love Lauren's voice! It has a distinctive and unique beauty that allows her to turn every word she sings into a kind of magic formula.” When Lauren subsequently approached the ACE Space team about returning to the venue with her band, they had no hesitation in finding a spot for them tomorrow (Friday). Residing in Warwickshire, Lauren South is an accomplished singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist renowned for her original compositions and traditional melodies. With the accompaniment of tenor guitar, fiddle, and shruti box, her songs exude heartfelt emotion and vivid imagery, drawing inspiration from her passion for the nocturnal heavens, the natural world, and her journey through motherhood. Lauren’s debut solo album, Tiny Boat, was released in November 2023 to critical acclaim, with the title track featuring on FATEA’s Spring Showcase 2024. For her ACE Space gig Lauren is joined by some of her album band members, her duo partner Keith Donnelly on guitar, Ben Haines on percussion and double bass master John Parker. Opening the evening will be local duo HendrickxRoy who be making their fourth appearance at an ACE Space gig. Local musicians Maia Hendrickx and Calum Roy are well known, much respected and regular contributors at the monthly Open Mic night Unplugged. Doors open 7.30pm for an 8pm start. Tickets are £15 and available from www.WeGotTickets.com or direct by contacting events@acespace.org.uk or 078911 76940.
Local authors showcase
Visit Newbury Library on Saturday between 11am and 2pm to meet some of West Berkshire's amazing local authors, including Helen Saxton, Tim Jarvis, Fiona Barker and many more. Alongside being able to chat to authors directly, there will be several scheduled talks and readings throughout the day, including ‘How to Write Fiction’ by Tim Jarvis. All of the authors will have a selection of their books on display, with titles for children and adults. Books will be available to purchase and each author will be more than happy to personalise a copy for you.
Talks for adults in Carnegie Lounge:
11am - 11.15am - Helen Saxon: True Crime
11.30am - 11.45am - Sarah Harper: Ella’s Ghost'
12noon - 12.15pm -Tim Jarvis: How to Write Fiction
12.30pm - 12.45pm - Peter Tickler: The Tickers Jam Murders
1.30pm -1.45pm - Simon Bowden: Hidden by Law
1.45pm - 2pm - Pete Logan: No one cares: it's okay to speak up
Events in the Children's Library:
11.30am - 12noon - Rachel Guy will be hosting a Storytime & Craft Activity based on Pinecones in my Pocket, a rhyming children’s book about finding opportunities for play when out in nature.
12.30pm - 1pm - Lisa Mullan will be hosting a Rhymetime based on her book The Missing Birthday Cake, an interactive, rhyming, picture book mystery for children aged 3-7.
Modern Makers Winter Market
The Modern Makers Collective, are returning with another Yattendon Winter Market this weekend. They are celebrating Slow Craftsmanship at yattendon village hall on Saturday and Sunday, between 10am and 4pm. Modern Makers Collective is a curated group of skilled makers, designers, artists and craftspeople, committed to promoting high-quality craftsmanship, sustainability and community engagement through the annual Winter Market and programme of workshops in the local area. One of the organising artists, co-founder of Modern Makers Collective Aimée Payton, says: “The picturesque estate village of Yattendon is the perfect setting for the Winter Market, with its award-winning pubs and beautiful scenery, providing visitors with a lovely opportunity to enjoy a day of shopping and delicious food. “Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift or a special treat for yourself, you’ll find a diverse and vibrant selection of handmade treasures to choose from, including jewellery, ceramics, textiles, glass, printmaking, basket weaving and much more.” Yattendon Winter Market is sponsored by Stanford Dingley timber frame building specialist McCurdy & Co, whose fine craftsmanship can be seen in Shakespeare’s Globe in London. The market showcases a group of 24 exceptional artists, designer-makers and craftspeople. Among them will be several new faces, bringing a wave of fresh creativity alongside more seasoned Collective members. Celebrating Slow Craftsmanship, the event aims to foster a deeper connection and understanding between the makers and visitors, highlighting the time, effort, and skill that go into handmade artworks. Each of the makers taking part pour everything into creating exceptional pieces with care, attention to detail, a deep respect for materials and traditional techniques often fused with modern design.
Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the makers, learn about their processes, and purchase one-of-a-kind items that embody the essence of slow craft. Refreshments available.
Entry is £3 (children under 16 free), in support of the village primary school – previous funds raised by Yattendon Winter Market have contributed to art activities for the school children.
Michael Morpurgo’s Pinocchio
The family Christmas production of children’s writer Michael Morpurgo’s Pinocchio, adapted by Simon Reade, runs at The Watermill until Sunday, January 5. Michael Morpurgo said: “At last, Pinocchio speaks for himself! About time too. And I’m so thrilled he’s doing it at the Watermill. Come see Pinocchio as he’d like to be seen. Simon Reade and I are rare amongst writers. Others have read Pinocchio, the Collodi version of his life, or seen the movie. We’ve met him! Come see the show and you can meet him too!” Lovingly carved in Geppetto’s workshop, Pinocchio’s parents dream of a bright future for their wooden son. Pinocchio, however, dreams of adventure and sets off on a path of fun and freedom ready to discover the world. Along the way, Pinocchio is confronted with big decisions and a menagerie of colourful characters, leading to calamitous consequences as he starts a fire, turns into a donkey, and even ends up inside a whale! https://www.watermill.org.uk/pinocchio
Sleeping Beauty
We all know the story of Sleeping Beauty, right? Evil fairy curses baby, baby grows into a beautiful teenage princess, princess pricks her finger on a spindle and... time travels across 1000 years. Oh no, she doesn’t? Oh yes, she DOES in this spellbinding new production brought to you by Oxford Playhouse. Aurora must summon all of her fairy-given gifts - true friendship, intelligence, bravery and a good night’s sleep (along with a teddy bear and a mysterious 1985 Smash Hits Yearbook) to put things right and regain her rightful place in the kingdom of Oxland. The panto runs to Sunday, January 5, with all your favourite loveable (and downright boo-able) panto heroes and villains in a toe-tapping extravaganza with a generous, deely boppered sprinkling of 80s nostalgia. https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/sleeping-beauty
Seriously scary ghost stories
Nightmares is a horror show, designed to be seriously scary, tense, jumpy and at times disturbing. Three classic ghost stories - live on stage at Arlington Arts in Snelsmore on Saturday. Vengeful spirits, murderous revenants and gruesome promises kept from beyond the grave - every horror imaginable is conjured in this uniquely terrifying experience. Nightmares is a gothic show that will leave audiences quaking in their seats… and dying for more! The show features three of the most spine-tingling tales ever written - The Judge’s House by Bram Stoker, The Kit-Bag by Algernon Blackwood and John Charrington’s Wedding by E Nesbit. These pleasing terrors are brought to you by The Book of Darkness & Light, who have toured the length and breadth of the country with their unique brand of ghost story theatre for the past eight years. Suitable for ages 14+ (see warnings below) WARNING: The stories in the show include references to death, murder, dismemberment of a body, suicide and execution by hanging. There is a physical depiction of a noose and hangman’s rope. https://arlington-arts.com/
