Take a look at what's coming up this December at The Arc, Winchester, the West End Centre in Aldershot, Ashcroft Arts Centre in Fareham and Forest Arts Centre in New Milton.
The Arc, Winchester
The Arc, Winchester, is set to captivate audiences throughout December with an array of engaging events across promising a month brimming with entertainment.
Exhibitions
Keepers (Thursday 16 November 2023 to Sunday 21 January 2024) Free.
Embrace the captivating world of 'Keepers,' an exhibition that delves into the essence of preservation. Through a diverse display of artistic perspectives, this showcase at The Arc promises to provoke thought and inspire appreciation.
Shoes Inside Out (Friday 24 November 2023 to 6 March 2024, during venue opening times) Free admission.
Step into the unique and thought-provoking world of 'Shoes Inside Out,' an exhibition that redefines footwear as art. This unconventional showcase invites attendees to explore the intersection of fashion, design, and self-expression through shoes.
Children's event
Nosy Little Troll (Wednesday 20 to Saturday 23 December, various showtimes.) £9 per person or £32 Family ticket. Ages 3 – 8.
The Arc invites families to a delightful journey into the enchanting world of the Nosy Little Troll. This interactive show promises to engage young minds and ignite imaginations through storytelling and activities.
Music
Acoustic Cafe feat. Alex Roberts, Charles Bueller and Ribble (Friday 1 December, 7:30pm.) Free, please book in advance as spaces are limited.
Unwind and enjoy a soulful evening at The Arc's Acoustic Cafe. Join talented musicians Alex Roberts, Charles Bueller and Ribble for an intimate musical rendezvous filled with melodious tunes and heartfelt performances.
Winter Union (Thursday 14 December, show starts 7:30pm, bar open 6:30pm.) £18 advance / £20 on the door.
Celebrate the festive season with Winter Union, a musical extravaganza filled with fresh arrangements of traditional carols both well-loved and little-known, and seasonal classics from both sides of the Atlantic. This concert promises to be a delightful experience for music enthusiasts of all ages.
Cabaret
Hundred Watt Club (Saturday 2 December, show starts 7:30pm, bar open 6:30pm.) £18 or £16 concession. Age 18+.
Prepare for an evening of glamour, wit, and entertainment at the Hundred Watt Club. This cabaret extravaganza guarantees a dazzling showcase of diverse talents, promising an unforgettable night out.
Comedy
Barnstormers Comedy (Friday 15 December, 8pm.) Price: £12.50 advance, £14 on the door. Age 18+
Laugh your way into the festive season with Barnstormers Comedy. Featuring a line-up of talented comedians, this event is set to tickle funny bones and spread joyous laughter. Enjoy a Christmas curry alongside this event with a combined ticket for £25.
Festive Makers Market
(Saturday 9 December, 11am-4pm.) Free entry.
Dive into a world of creativity and craftsmanship at The Arc's Festive Makers Market. Explore unique handmade creations, support local artisans, and find the perfect holiday gifts amidst a vibrant market atmosphere.
For more information about The Arc and the full programme of events and activities click here.
West End Centre, Aldershot
This December, the West End Centre in Aldershot unveils a thrilling line-up of events across diverse genres, promising an enriching and entertaining month for all.
Music
Jasta 11 Presents: Mad Dog Mcrea (Friday 1 December, 8pm.) £20 advance/£24 on the door.
Mad Dog Mcrea blend a unique mixture of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz and bluegrass. From self-penned songs of adventure, drinking, love and life to traditional songs of gypsies, fairies, legless pirates and black flies – Mad Dog never fails to capture their audience with their infectious songs.
Public Address presents Jungle Brew with support (Saturday 2 December, 8pm.) £5 advance, £7 on the door and £5 young person (14-25).
Dive into an immersive musical journey on Jungle Brew. Jungle Brew are a heady mix of ska, roots, funk, swing and Latin flavours to make your feet stomp and your voice soar!
An Evening with Chris Difford (Friday 15 December, 8pm.) £24.
Join Chris Difford of ‘Squeeze’ and solo fame alike is going to be performing an intimate show at Aldershot’s West End Centre.
Kick Arts Christmas Gig (Saturday 16 December, 8pm.) £10.
This is a celebration of all things Kick Arts UK, a thank you for all the love and support we've been given since Barney and Lorna left the Westy in 2019. We've worked on a ton of projects over those four years, and none are closer to our hearts than these three incredible artists - The Exact Opposite, Dominie Hooper and void_null.
Burlesque
Hundred Watt Club - The burlesque & vaudeville Wild Weekender!(Friday 8 and Saturday 9 December, 8pm.) £16 advance/£18 on the door/£28 for both nights.
You heard it right, the risqué & raucous Hundred Watt Club return to The Westy with not one, but TWO nights of burlesque fuelled debauchery! Expect a heady mix of dazzling showgirls, ridiculous comedy, awe inspiring circus and decadent cabaret acts, with each night having a little something different!
Comedy
Hecklers - December 2023 (Thursday 14 December, 8pm.) £14.
Join us for a night of laughs with a fantastic comedy line-up including the incredible Fiona Allen.
Family
Nosy Little Troll (Monday 18 December, 2pm.) £9 per person or £32 Family ticket. Ages 3 – 8.
The West End Centre invites families to a delightful journey into the enchanting world of the Nosy Little Troll. This interactive show promises to engage young minds and ignite imaginations through storytelling and activities.
For more information about West End Centre and the programme of events and activities click here.
Forest Arts Centre, New Milton
L-R: Winter Ceilidh; The Nosy Little Troll; Swing into Christmas
Forest Arts Centre is thrilled to unveil a diverse and captivating line-up of events for December, promising an array of entertainment for audiences of all ages.
Music
Green Room Live: DiElle, Lee Rasdall Dove & James Hook (Thursday 7 December, 7:30pm.) £7 advance/£10 on the door.
Experience an evening of live music at the Forest Arts Green Room Live.
Swing into Christmas with New Forest Big Band (Thursday 14 December, 7:30pm.) £10 advance/£12 on the door.
The New Forest Big Band plays the best in swing and big band jazz and covers a range of music from the 30s to the present day. You’re likely to hear anything from the collection of Glenn Miller, Count Basie and Duke Ellington, to the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Bette Midler and Caro Emerald.
Winter Ceilidh (Friday 8 December, 7pm–11pm.) £18 advance, £25 on the door
Join us for a magical evening with friends, family and loved ones, where you will immerse yourself in a relaxed atmosphere filled with dancing and live music, with delicious food and delightful drinks available to order throughout the evening.
Family
Nosy Little Troll (Saturday 16 December, 11am.) £9 or £32 for a family ticket.
Forest Arts Centre invites families to a delightful journey into the enchanting world of the Nosy Little Troll. This interactive show promises to engage young minds and ignite imaginations through storytelling and activities.
Snowman Enchanted Cinema (Sunday 10 December, 3pm – 4:30pm.)£10 Adult / £5 Child.
Imagine going to the cinema and becoming part of a pop-up orchestra who create every single sound FX and the musical score! The Enchanted Cinema’s new touring project, The Orchestra of Enchanted Sounds, invites kids and their grown-ups to join a pop-up orchestra playing unusual, delightful and ingenious instruments from a festoon-lit FX “tree-house” to bring to life scenes from much-loved animation The Snowman.
Oliver Dance Workshop for Families (Monday 18 December, 1pm. )£6/£8 including the film.
“Consider Yourself” a great dancer? Well come along with your family and show off your fancy footwork. A fun, general dance session, suitable for all (children 5+), dancing to music from the iconic film “Oliver!”.
Film Screening: Arthur Christmas (U) (Wednesday 20 December, 2:30pm.) £5.
Everyone knows that, each Christmas, Santa Claus delivers presents to every last child on Earth. What everyone doesn't know is that Santa accomplishes the feat with a very high-tech operation beneath the North Pole. But when the unthinkable happens, and Santa misses one child out of hundreds of millions, someone has to save the day. It's up to Arthur (James McAvoy), Santa's youngest son, to deliver a present to the forgotten tyke before Christmas morning dawns.
Adult Panto
Encore Theatre Productions Presents Pussy in Boots (Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 December, 8pm.) Warning: Adult content and language throughout, 18+ only. £17.
In a world that doesn't look too different to ours, Mary is pretty fed up. In a rubbish flat, with no money, she dreams of a different life. Who knew that all she'd need is her Pussy and a ton of gin to change her world forever. Join us on this heart-warming adventure of how capitalism is all you need to change your life for the better.
For more information about Forest Arts Centre and the programme of events and activities click here.
Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham
Hampshire Cultural Trust's Ashcroft Arts Centre in Fareham is set to dazzle audiences this December with an enticing line-up of diverse events, promising a month brimming with entertainment.
Music
Ashcroft Presents: Jack Warnock & Harrison Rhys (Friday 1 December, 7:30pm.) £7 advance/£10 on the door/£5 young person.
Our monthly "Ashcroft Presents" showcase welcomes local favourites, up-and-coming artists and special guests. Discover a wealth of talent on your doorstep. This month, see Jack Warnock and Harrison Rhys.
St Agnes Fountain (Wednesday 18 December, 7:30pm.) £22.
Chris, Chris and Julie will be keeping the Christmas Aggie spirit alive and touring as a trio celebrating 20 years together with a tour of the new material and reworking those old Aggie classics in what will be a new chapter in the unstoppable force of St Agnes Fountain.
An Evening with Chris Difford (Saturday 16 December, 7:30pm.)£24.
Join Chris Difford of ‘Squeeze’ and solo fame alike is going to be performing an intimate show at Fareham’s Ashcroft Arts Centre.
Theatre
A Christmas Carol (Saturday 2 December, 7:30pm.) £15, £12 concession.
The award-winning Dyad Productions, who have toured their sell-out festive show Christmas Gothic since 2015, now bring their magic to Dickens’ classic and perennially relevant ghost story.
Family
Nosy Little Troll (Tuesday 19 December, 2:30pm.) £9/£32 Family ticket. Ages 3-8.
Ashcroft Arts Centre invites families to a delightful journey into the enchanting world of the Nosy Little Troll. This interactive show promises to engage young minds and ignite imaginations through storytelling and activities.
Festive Dance Day (Wednesday 20 December, 10am.) £25. Ages 6+.
Dance in a day is a fun and exciting way to learn street dance, create routines and work together to put on a show at the end of the day. This is a great way to create new friends, have fun and perform in front of friends and family. We have one day to work together to create a fun performance. Are you up for the challenge?
Fareham Musical Society Youth Theatre Presents: Frozen Jr. (Friday 8 December, 7:30pm, Saturday 9 December, 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sunday 10 December 2:30pm.) Adults £15, children and over 60s £13, family ticket: £48 (4 tickets).
Fareham Musical Society Youth Theatre bring Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life, on stage, in this enchanting modern classic from Disney, featuring all of the memorable songs from the animated film, plus five new songs written for the Broadway production.
