It’s not so much a case of what’s coming up at Barney’s arts centre for the rest of the year, but what isn’t coming up… there is so much to choose from.
The programming team at The Witham have pulled out all the stops to create a bumper autumn programme with family fun shows, spoken word, live music, community concerts, live screenings and a lot of Christmas fun.
Covering August through to December, with a sneak peek at what’s coming up in 2025, the programme is jammed full of offerings with something for everyone.
Marketing officer Jane Woodward said: “We’re going to have the What’s On out earlier this year to make sure everyone dropping in for the summer festival knows what is coming up. And there’s a lot.”
Tribute acts have proved to be a popular draw and audiences will get another opportunity to see the Jersey Boys, Qween and Abba Sensation along with some new ones including Bootleg Eagles, Straits UK and the north east’s rocker Graeme Robinson performing Springsteen on Broadway.
There is a diverse mix of live music ranging from folk, skiffle, rock and blues lined up including the Story of Skiffle on October 26 with Hop Skiffle Jump, who have performed at the art venue’s summer festival.
For younger audiences (and their families) the fun kicks off on August 17 when the Top-Secret crew return, unravelling the mysteries in The Magic of Science. Captain Calamity will be providing a spooky spectacular show at Halloween on October 31.
Comedy legend Nigel Planer, of the Young Ones fame, teams up with poet Henry Normal on October 28, for an evening of stories, jokes, poetry and other fun.
National treasure, actress Su Pollard will be performing her one-woman show, Still Fully Charged on November 1.
The show, a mix of music and chat celebrates all the amazing characters she has been fortunate to play over the years including the iconic Peggy from Hi-de-Hi.
Ms Woodward added: “We have a few more Christmas events this year on top of our panto, Aladdin. We have another Christmas show, a Christmas Cracker on December 8.”
D’Ukes of Scarth will be performing a ukulele concert in December and the Singer of the Lakes will be performing in the Witham room on December 14. Wilderness Outdoors will also be back with festive activities on selected weekends leading up to December 25.
Actor Guy Masterston will be brining to life three short stories by Dylan Thomas with his show, A Child’s Christmas in Wales/
Peter Dixon, part of the programming team, said: “We’ve got 173 acts through the whole of 2024. I have not worked it out but it could be the most we have ever had. We’re certainly back up to pre-pandemic levels of shows and events.
He added: “There are a few shows that we could have filled twice as many seats. We have already booked about one third of the next year’s programme already.”
The Witham’s Autumn programme will be out at the end of July. For information about future shows visit the website, thewitham.org.uk
