Flaming autumn of arts and music
Haunting theatre, banging
Bhangra and vibrant flamenco are just a few of the highlights of the autumn season at Norden Farm Centre for the Arts.
Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me, by Amy Trigg, visits on September 30.
It is a hilariously heartwarming drama about Juno. She was born with spina bifida and is now clumsily navigating her twenties amidst street healers, love, loneliness – and the feeling of being an unfinished project.
On November 18 discover Beautiful Evil Things. It is a feisty, funny, and bloody take on the Trojan War, told by Medusa. This is a new, high energy, one woman show combining physical storytelling with cutthroat wit.
Other theatre this season includes a bicycle-powered, laughout-loud production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night from The Handlebards (October 20); a spine-tingling evening in Night Terrors – The Ghost Stories of E F Benson (October 27); and the acclaimed Pantaloons present an affectionately anarchic take of Great Expectations, November 8.
The live music for the coming months is, as always, eclectic.
The brilliant Brass Funkeys, known for Maidenhead’s winter lamp procession, lead the way on Thursday (September 15).
Jump to the beat on the main stage courtesy of RSVP Bhangra on October 14 while Women in Rock on October 22 celebrates the world’s greatest female anthems with the songs of Cher, Blondie, Janis Joplin, Republica, Belinda Carlisle, Bonnie Tyler, P!nk, Tina Turner and many more.
Other music includes celebrating the Jewish New Year at the Klezmer Ceilidh (September 22); Kate Bush-Ka brings a celebration of Kate Bush (October 21); the ultimate tribute to Jeff Lynne and the Electric Light Orchestra with ELO Again (November 5); bluegrass and folk by the Carravick Sisters (November 16); and Mi Flamenco presents Echoes – a multi-media experience of flamenco sights and sounds (November 12).
Children and families are entertained with a host of shows for young people. Underwater (October 15) is a magical dance theatre show for babies and under twos. It is a multi-sensory journey into a sea of lights and bubbles.
The Naughty Fox (October 25) is off an adventure learning about friendship and play; wiggle along to funny Halloween songs in Spooky Concertini plus plenty of half term entertainment.
Comedy this season sees two great comics together when Jon Culshaw stars in Les Dawson:
Flying High (October 1); Dyspraxia and Politics: The Two Sides of Don Biswas (November 4) is a firm if uncoordinated stab at life; and Olga Koch (October 28) brings you the rollercoaster romcom you aren’t tall enough to ride!
As well as live events, Norden Farm screens some of the most talked about films of the moment – presented in 4K and with immersive Dolby surround sound. The line up is an eclectic mix of arthouse, foreign language, event cinema screenings and main stream film.
Socially distanced screenings continue to be programmed including Fisherman’s Friends: One and All (15) and Beast (12A), both later this month.