This weekend and into next week Kingshill House Creative Centre in Dursley starts off the festive season in full swing with live music, theatre, art exhibitions and their annual Christmas Market.
On Friday 29th November following on from A Christmas Carol: In Concert and A Brief History of Christmas, GreenMatthews (modern-day balladeers Chris Green and Sophie Matthews) present their new festive show Midwinter Revels – a celebration of Yuletide Past spanning several centuries guaranteed to warm the cockles of the most Scrooge-like heart. Featuring Christmas carols, winter folk songs, toe-tapping tunes and a plethora of weird and wonderful instruments, the show is brought to life with GreenMatthews’ trademark wit and humour.
The renowned theatre company Don’t Go Into the Cellar returns to Kingshill on Sunday 1st December with their production of A Christmas Carol. Join the great Victorian novelist Charles Dickens as he brings to life one of the most famous ghost stories of all time. A tale of revenants and redemption, hauntings and humbug, seasonal spooks and sentiment. Award-winning actor and writer Jonathan Goodwin performs as Dickens in this one-man performance, co-directed by Goodwin and Gary Archer.
Vinyl lovers are also catered for earlier in the day on the first Sunday in December as Vinyl Dayz Record Fairs heads to the Georgian mansion bringing along sellers from South Wales, West Wales, Norfolk, Gloucestershire and Somerset with 1000s of new, used and rare records for sale featuring every genre under the winter sun.
Kingshill House Create Centre are also currently hosting a botanical themed exhibition titled Flourish. Featuring works by Michelle Field, Rachael Bott and Marisa Tommasini the unique exhibition is “a nod to how spending time connecting with plants is nourishing to the soul…”The series of photographs and paintings evoke the colours, joy and intrigue of flowers, berries, leaves and seedheads throughout the seasons.
As well as catering for art, music and theatre on Sunday 8th December the venue’s hugely popular Christmas Market returns! Their stalls feature numerous local artists and makers, handmade jewellery, crafts, artworks, books, cakes and sweet treats, clothing and much more as well as providing hot drinks and mulled wine being served in the bar.
Kingshill House dates back to 1705, as evidenced by a plaque nestled in the roof. As you explore the premises, you’ll encounter various architectural delights, including a two-storey canted bay window on the northwest side and a graceful Ionic column-lined entrance hall leading to the staircase hall. The interior preserves numerous features dating back to the late 18th and 19th centuries, from Mannerist fireplaces to fluted architrave doorcases. The open-well staircase, adorned with barley sugar balusters, adds to the grandeur of the space.
With its stunning building, beautiful surroundings and carefully curated cultural programme Kingshilll House provides the perfect place to get into the festive spirit this Christmas…
Head to kingshillhouse.org.uk for opening times. tickets to the shows and further information including forthcoming courses and workshops. For news and further info follow Kingshill House Creative Centre on instagram @kingshillhouse and facebook @KingshillHouseArtsDursley
