An Albion Christmas is widely regarded as the premier seasonal show. They have been touring for 25 years and attract sell-out audiences across the UK.
Featuring the combined talents of Simon Nicol (Fairport Convention), Kellie While (Albion Band), Simon Care (Edward II) and the Guvnor himself, Ashley Hutchings MBE this show takes you on a guided tour through the Christmas customs of Britain.
Kellie While, Simon Care and Simon Nicol join founder of Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and The Albion Band, Ashley Hutchings, on stage for an evening of traditional English Christmas music, song and celebratory readings.
Kellie takes time out from working with her mum, Chris While, for which both the UK press and public alike have praised her. Folk enthusiasts will know Kellie from her work with The Albion Band. She received personal praise from Ron Sexsmith for her beautiful version of his song Riverbed on her album Tenacious, which put her on the map as one this country’s finest voices.
Simon Care is currently working with Edward II and has always had a passion for Traditional English dance and song. Simon also works with Banter, Tickled Pink and the Morris On Band.
Simon Nicol, founder member of Fairport Convention finishes the line up to make this a truly festive treat. He is regarded as one of the finest acoustic guitarists in the world... His voice is pretty special too!
The Albion Christmas Show is a seasonal mixture of carols, spoken word and humorous readings. It really is the perfect way to start your festivities. This year will see material chosen by the band from the last 25 years of shows and albums… a 'best of the Albion Xmas' selection.
With sell-out tours including venues such as Buxton Opera House, The New Vic Stoke and The Sage, Gateshead, The Albion Xmas Show is a very popular show appealing to all ages.
Described in the Guardian as 'the perfect antidote to the corporate Christmas', this is a show you must not miss! And also voted in the 'top ten unmissable shows this Christmas' by The Telegraph in 2018.
Courtyard Theatre
£26.50
The Albion Christmas Band website
An evening of music and dancing in the atmospheric 18th century Long Barn.
A caller will guide you through the dances while ceilidh band Nedron’s Jig provide the live music. Dances include the likes of Cumberland Square 8, Virginia Reel, Gay Gordons and The Willow Tree. No experience necessary!
WHY? A perfect social event for Christmas parties
Long Barn
£17
Take your partners please for our Burns Night Ceilidh!
Join the Craigievar Ceilidh Band our Courtyard Theatre for a sociable evening of music and dancing. The seats will be taken out - meaning there's plenty of room for dancing!
Guaranteed to have you stamping, reeling and birling – their on-the-floor caller will guide you through the Dashing White Sergeant, Strip the Willow and other dances.
Featuring musicians from the acclaimed film Four Weddings and a Funeral this lively, fun event is not to be missed!
Event Note
If you have been to one of our Burns Night Ceilidhs before, this is a slightly different event. There’s no food this year and tickets are cheaper. You can buy a dram of whisky or other beverage from the bar to toast the haggis.
Courtyard Theatre
£16
Craigievar Band website
@nordenfarm
Photo credit: Andrew Scotland
The annual Mozart concert takes place this year on the composer’s exact birthday.
Eleanor Holmes (violin)
William Padfield (horn)
Henry Cash (piano)
Nigel Wilkinson (conductor)
Violin Concerto in D, K.218
Horn Concerto in E flat, K.417
Piano Concerto No.23 in A, K.488
Featuring three delectable concertos.
Henry Cash took 2nd prize at the 2021 Mottram International Piano Competition in Manchester, and gave an exceptional recital at Norden Farm last year. He’ll be playing one of the most joyous of all Mozart’s piano concertos.
William Padfield last appeared with St John’s Chamber Orchestra in 2018. He plays the horn concerto with the ever popular finale.
To open, one of the early violin concertos will be performed by RAM Scholar Eleanor Holmes.
Courtyard Theatre
£20 I Under 18s free
Visit the incredible world of Stuff and Nonsense as they bring Pinocchio to our stage for Christmas 2024.
This is the unique story of ‘when dad was made of wood’...
One cold night Pinocchio, Gepetto and Sonny go on a journey in search of a place to live. Little do they know the house they’re staying in is a playground for their imaginations...
Join the trio as they embark on adventures to the land of play, inside a whale and much more!
Will Pinocchio ever turn back into a real boy?
Stuff and Nonsense are leaders in family theatre. Their adaptation of Pinocchio combines classic elements of the story – a poor woodcarver, the tell-tale growing nose, the dream of becoming a real boy – with their hallmark hilarity, skilled puppetry, original music, fantastic staging, outstanding performers and extraordinary physical tricks.
'The show was extremely clever and I was very impressed by the fantastic use of staging, which is definitely one of the key elements, along with the lively music, that kept my little boy transfixed throughout' coastalmum.co.uk
Invest in your children’s imaginations: join us in the theatre and take playfulness home with you!
Age guidance
Suitable for all the family - age guidance 3 - 10 years.
Relaxed Performances
The performances on Saturday 30 November at 11am and Friday 27 December at 11am are Relaxed. Ideal for families with babies or toddlers and children with SEND. Everyone is welcome to join us for this friendly format.
Signed Performance
The performance on Saturday 21 December at 2pm will be signed.
Run time
Pinocchio is 60 minutes long without an interval.
Tickets
£16 | £14 Under 16s
£56 Family and Friends (4 people)
Tickets for children under 18 months
For this show, tickets/seats are not required for children under 18 months who are happy to sit on laps.
Pre-School Term Time Ticket Offer
Book one Standard and one Under 5 ticket for term time performances of Pinocchio for the special price of £25. Valid on Tuesday - Friday performances until Fri 20 Dec. Offer applied in basket once logged into your account.
Creative Team
Directed by Niki McCretton
Music by Dom Coyote
With additional music by Tim Dalling
Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company's website
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Norden Farm's Pinocchio Chill Out space is a wonderful place to relax and play this festive season.
We are working with artist Amelia Pimlott, The Autism Group, Achieving for Children, Care for Calais and local schools; Wessex Primary School, Furze Platt and Cookham Dean Primary School, to create a magical Gallery space at Norden Farm which will bring the story of Pinocchio to life with shadow puppets and animations.
The exhibition will be open to visit throughout the Christmas holidays, this is a wonderful opportunity to see our local young people's artwork and to explore shadow puppets and animations in this innovative immersive exhibition.
Open Tuesdays - Saturdays
Tues 26 Nov - Sat 28 Dec
Entry is Free
Led by Same Sky
Get set for the Carnival of the Animals Lantern Parade! Join us across November and December for Lantern Making Workshops ahead of this year's parade in Maidenhead Town Centre on Saturday 7 December from 4.30pm.
There are opportunities for all ages to get involved at Norden Farm and in Maidenhead Town Centre - find out more below.
Lantern Making Workshops at Norden Farm
Across 2 hours weave an intricate animal-inspired willow frame before covering and decorating your creation. Pre-booking essential. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Sat 2 Nov | 10.30am – 12.30pm and 2pm – 4pm | Suitable for 6+ years | £7 per person
Sat 30 Nov | 10.30am – 12.30pm and 2pm – 4pm | Suitable for 6+ years | £7 per person
Drop In Lantern Making Workshop at Norden Farm's Festive Market
Join our Drop In Lantern Making Workshop at the Norden Farm Festive Night Market on Fri 6 Dec. Get parade ready in 20 mins! Drop in to make and decorate a simple willow and tissue lantern ready to illuminate on parade night. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Fri 6 Dec | 6pm - 8pm | Festive Market | Suitable for 3+ years | £5 per lantern
Drop In Lantern Making Workshops in Maidenhead Town Centre
There are also Drop In Lantern Making Workshops in the town centre. Get parade ready in 20 mins! Drop in to make and decorate a simple willow and tissue lantern ready to illuminate on parade night. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Sun 1 Dec | 10.30am - 4pm | Nicholsons Centre | Suitable for 6+ years | £5 per lantern
Sat 7 Dec | 10.30am - 2pm | Maidenhead Library | Suitable for 3+ years | £5 per lantern
Lantern Making Workshop (for Adults)
Sat 16 Nov | 10.30am – 12.30pm and 2pm – 4pm | Ages 17+ years | £10 per person
Tickets for this workshop can be booked online here.
Find out more about this year's Lantern Parade here.
Led by Seann Wilkinson
A non-audition community choir open to all. Working on everything from Madonna to Les Mis, from gospel to pop - this is an opportunity to meet people, learn some harmonies and sing your hearts out. No experience required. Enthusiasm absolutely necessary!
Autumn
Tues 10 Sept - 17 Dec, exc 29 Oct (14 weeks)
7.30pm – 9pm
£11 per session | £140 per 14 week term
Led by Jim Maving
Always wanted to learn guitar but never got around to it? Want to trade your air guitar skills for real guitar skills? It is never too late to learn. Learn guitar right from the very beginning. This is a foundation course for those with little to no experience of playing guitar. You will learn how to hold a guitar and to make the right noises out of it. The aim of these lessons is to get you playing your first song within 4 weeks of lessons, as no-one takes up guitar to strum random chords, it’s all about the songs.
If you are returning to guitar having not played for some time and can barely remember chords this is a great way of getting back into the swing of things.
If you've never played guitar you need to book on the Absolute Beginners course!
These classes are split by skills level;
Beginners A - Recently completed the Absolute Beginners course but still some way to go. Yet to tackle bar chords and complicated rhythms.
Beginners B - Well on the way and able to do bar chords
Beginners C - Almost Intermediate but not quite yet.
Autumn
Tues 10 Sept – 8 Oct (5 weeks)
Tues 15 Oct – 19 Nov, exc 22 Oct (5 weeks)
Tues 3 Dec – 17 Dec (3 weeks)
7.45pm - 8.45pm
£50 per 5 week course | £30 per 3 week course
Suitable for 18+ years.
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