Take a look at what's coming up this April in our three arts centres across Hampshire and the events at The Arc Winchester.
Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham
Music
Accomplished pianist and singer/songwriter BR James plays an eclectic evening of soul music infused with his powerful vocals for Ashcroft Presents (14 April). The Last Inklings (27 April) return with their innovative cross-genre sound, centred around the cello, mandolin and vocal harmony, layered with guitar, piano, strings, synths and percussion. Heavily featuring vibrant backstories and creative musicianship, their songs have a modern flavour rich in imagination and the narrative of what it is to be human.
For over 25 years now Kiki Dee and Carmelo (28 April) have been touring their spellbinding acoustic live show across the UK and Europe. Performing in this stripped back fashion allows each of their exceptional talents to shine through and create a wonderful and warm sense of intimacy for the audience.
Theatre
Put on your spacesuit, check co-ordinates and fire up your engines… it’s time to go on a Journey to the Stars! (15 April)
Let Squashbox Theatre be your guide on a journey through the universe: across the solar system, past twinkling stars, towards distant galaxies… to the edge of space and time itself!
Comedy
Eshaan Akbar (1 April) brings his debut tour ‘ The Pretender’ to the west end centre. Whether it’s you, the person you go on a date with, your boss, or the opinion-makers on TV, we’re all pretending we know what we’re doing. We don’t. And it’s about time we all had a proper laugh about it.
Following his groundbreaking 2018 show, Deaf Comedy Fam, Ray Bradshaw’s (13 April) new stand-up covers his recent fatherhood, teaching his young son sign language and a disastrous trip to Bahrain!Bumbling wordsmith Ivo Graham (20 April – now sold out!) and tripe factory returns to discuss three years of heavy-duty pranking/parenting/procrastinating since Dave’s 2019 nominations for Best Comedy Show and Joke of the Edinburgh Fringe.
More information about Ashcroft Arts Centre and the programme of events and activities is available at https://www.ashcroft.org.uk/.
Forest Arts Centre, New Milton
Music
The Aidan Pope Octet (12 April), established in 2020, contains some of the UK’s most exciting jazz musicians and aims to bring together an amalgamation of the young guitarist/composers influences. After a year of composition and rehearsals, the band played a sold-out debut gig at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire as well as a sold-out show in Oxford. Aidan now brings the suite of compositions, as well as some brand-new pieces.
Honest, endearing and fiercely hopeful, Long for the Coast (13 April) regard music as their community, with the aim of promoting a culture of authenticity and providing a safety net to be yourself.
The brilliant Unravelling Wilburys (15 April), with tongue in cheek hilarity, are made up of Sticky Willy, Thumper, Blind Melon, Walter and Honky Tonk Wilbury, ‘the real Wilbury brothers’! They grew up in Appalachian shacks and first presented their songs in Nashville back in 1987. Their show tells the story of how their songs were stolen (allegedly) by Messrs Orbison, Harrison, Dylan, Petty and Lynne at Nashville’s Tootsies Bar and the hard road they had to tread to get ‘em back.
The doyenne of entertainment, Patti Boulaye (29 April), recently described as “A bundle of fizz” is back with her new one-woman show “I’m Coming Out”. This fascinating show strongly features the fabulous music of Diana Ross interspersed with Patti’s humorous comparisons and contrasts between Patti's own life and Diana’s.
Comedy
Join the award-winning comedian Alasdair Beckett-King (21 April) on a ramshackle jaunt through a multiverse of wonders. Learn to make the best of a bad timeline with ABK’s dimension-hopping stand-up, multimedia wizardry & normal wizardry.
Theatre
Prepare to be teased by Hundred Watt Club, (1 April) the cream of the glittering UK burlesque scene, to roll in the aisles at riotous comedy and be awestruck by incredible circus stunts. Each act is lovingly handpicked by artist and producer Lena Lenman, meaning that no two shows are the same.
Put on your spacesuit, check co-ordinates and fire up your engines… it’s time to go on a Journey to the Stars! (16 April)
Let Squashbox Theatre be your guide on a journey through the universe: across the solar system, past twinkling stars, towards distant galaxies… to the edge of space and time itself!
Forest Arts favourite, Rebecca Vaughn (of Dyad Productions) returns with A Room of Ones Own (19 April) a wry, amusing, and incisive trip through the history of literature, feminism, and gender. Meet Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austen, Aphra Behn, and Shakespeare’s sister – Judith!
More information about Forest Arts Centre and the programme of events and activities is available at https://www.forest-arts.co.uk/.
West End Centre, Aldershot
Comedy
After an incredible sold-out debut run, the man who asked us “do you ski?” is leaving his home in the Tower of London (for good). Catch him as he departs on a second triumphant tour across our nation armed with even more outrageous takes, unbelievable tales and biblical chat to leave you bowled over with laughter Tom Houghton: Absolute Shambles (6 April). Our regular comedy night Hecklers returns (13 April) Alasdair Beckett-King | West End Centre.
Fin Taylor (27 April) is back on the road with a brand new trunk of painfully funny stand-up for 2023. Sure he’s married with a kid, but that hasn’t made him any less naughty.
Music
Strong melodies, dance beats and synth-wave touches in a slightly different Public Address (15 April) – Our local music showcase!
Theatre
Breathe(5 April) follows an extraordinary journey through a busy forest. Experience a story told from the perspective of an acorn; the hectic forest floor, thrumming underworlds, and dazzling heights of icy branches. Discover bizarre larger than life fungi, connecting creaking tree roots, and majestic guardians watching over a delicate cycle. Join three storytellers as they lead you through an enchanting experience like no other.
West End Centre favourite, Rebecca Vaughn (of Dyad Productions) returns with A Room of Ones Own (22 April) a wry, amusing, and incisive trip through the history of literature, feminism, and gender. Meet Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austen, Aphra Behn, and Shakespeare’s sister – Judith!
For more information about any of these events and to book tickets, please visit https://www.westendcentre.co.uk/events.
The Arc, Winchester
Comedy
Our regular comedy night at The Arc, Barnstormers Comedy (21 April), presents a line-up of three top acts from the London comedy circuit and beyond: many of them Comedy Store regulars.
Fin Taylor (28 April) is back on the road with a brand-new trunk of painfully funny stand-up for 2023. Sure he’s married with a kid, but that hasn’t made him any less naughty.
Music
Acoustic Cafe is back! (14 April) with a fresh line up including Paul Armfield, Timothy Becket and Kathy Rhodes! Join us for a chilled night of musical talent right here at The Arc!
British drum star Pete Cater (29 April) brings all the elements together with a high energy, exciting performance featuring his 16 piece Big Band.
The Great Drum Show features a wonderfully eclectic, wide-ranging repertoire, including new arrangements of classic tunes plus historic scores performed exactly as the composers intended.
Special Events
Breathe(7 April) follows an extraordinary journey through a busy forest. Experience a story told from the perspective of an acorn; the hectic forest floor, thrumming underworlds, and dazzling heights of icy branches. Discover bizarre larger than life fungi, connecting creaking tree roots, and majestic guardians watching over a delicate cycle. Join three storytellers as they lead you through an enchanting experience like no other.
New to 2023: Our Thursday Afternoon Crafts series is a way to try a new skill in a friendly and inclusive environment. Have you ever used a round loom? Come and learn this simple, effective way of weaving with a range of wools – we provide the loom and wool. You bring inspiration and trinkets to add to your work to add that personal touch – that favourite old earring that has lost its pair, or beads and buttons you love. Using a Circular Loom(27 April)
For more information about any of these events and to book tickets, please visit https://www.arcwinchester.org.uk/.
