December is set to be a month of enchantment and cultural richness at The Market Theatre, presenting an array of performances that promise to captivate audiences of all ages. With a repertoire ranging from the ghostly tales of Charles Dickens to the vibrant tunes of the Budapest Café Orchestra, and from the magical transformation of Cinderella to the introspective drama of The Road Dance, this festive season is packed with variety. Join us as we explore the highlights of these performances, each offering a unique blend of charm, humor, and artistic brilliance.

A December to Remember at The Market Theatre: A Festive Showcase of Art, Music, and Magic

Take a journey through an exciting array of musical adventures at The Market Theatre. From the dynamic reimagining of classic hits by The Unravelling Wilburys to the enchanting storytelling of 'Jack and the Beans Talk,' and the innovative soundscapes of The Blackheart Orchestra. Discover the groundbreaking folk influences of Peter Knight’s Gigspanner and the refreshing takes on traditional tunes by The Haar. Each performance promises to be a unique celebration of artistry, creativity, and musical diversity.

Experience the Diverse Musical Spectrum at The Market Theatre

The Market Theatre is set to host an extraordinary series of performances that will captivate music lovers with diverse and innovative sounds. From the smallest orchestra in the world to groundbreaking folk innovations, these events promise to elevate the musical experience to new heights. The Blackheart Orchestra, Peter Knight’s Gigspanner, and The Haar are ready to take the stage, offering audiences a chance to explore the depths of musical creativity and artistry.

Unveiling the Soul of Music: Celebrating Innovative Sounds at The Market Theatre

Anglo/Irish folk band The Haar brings the formidable singing talent of All-Ireland Scór na nÓg winner Molly Donnery combined with three of the most exciting instrumentalists on the folk and traditional music scene in Cormàc Byrne (Show of Hands/Seth Lakeman), Adam Summerhayes, and Murray Grainger (both of the FATEA award-winning The Ciderhouse Rebellion).  Known for taking a familiar tune and turning it into something breathtakingly fresh and ambitious, this band of high level improvisers produce ever-changing musical soundscapes, while Molly lets her sublime vocals flow to stunning effect.  Their latest album Where Old Ghosts Meet received multiple rave reviews and has paved the way for outstanding festival appearances at Shrewsbury, Beardy Folk, and at other prestigious stages during their successful UK tours.

The Haar

The Market Theatre

In the wake of his departure from Steeleye Span, Peter turned his full attention to the Gigspanner Trio and established their reputation as one of the most genuinely ground-breaking forces on the British folk scene, inspiring Maverick magazine to write Gigspanner are pushing at the boundaries, and in the process are making some of the most beautiful music the genre has to offer - 5 *****

Peter Knight’s Gigspanner

Blackheart Orchestra is officially the smallest orchestra in the world.  Two people playing 13 instruments between them, Chrissy Mostyn and Rick Pilkington perform in what has been described as a ‘musical space station’ of instruments including acoustic and electric guitar, bowed guitar, bass, percussion, mandola, piano, organ, omnichord and vintage synthesisers.

The Blackheart Orchestra

Imagine his surprise when he swaps his cow for some magic beans and starts to hear a whispering in the breeze and a giant rumble in the sky...

Jack and the Beans Talk

Songs such as End of the Line, Handle with Care, The Devil’s Been Busy, and Tweeter and The Monkey Man form the basis of the set, which also features additional choice cuts including Pretty Woman (Orbison), Mr Blue Sky (Lynne), American Girl (Petty), While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Harrison), and A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall (Dylan) to name a few.

The Unravelling Wilburys

You are cordially invited to the land of Petit Derrière where magic and mischief has found its way between a sweet baker’s daughter and a dashing young prince.

Beauty and the Beast

The performance celebrates the incredible story of Ukrainian folk artist Polina Rayko.  Polina picked up a paintbrush for the first time aged 69 and painted the interior of her house with stunning folk imagery.  This family performance and workshop celebrates her amazing creativity and involves young people in the final scene of the show.

The Healing House - Дім зцілення

Discover the enchantment of ballet with this sparkling festive treat for the whole family, and join Clara at a delightful Christmas Eve party that becomes a magical adventure once everyone else is tucked up in bed.  Marvel at the brilliance of Tchaikovsky’s score, as Clara and her enchanted Nutcracker fight the Mouse King and visit the Sugar Plum Fairy in the glittering Kingdom of Sweets.

The Nutcracker

Highlights in the band’s year have included playing at Hereford Cathedral for St Michael’s Hospice Light For a Life and were also privileged to perform at the D Day service in Church, the Remembrance Service, and the Christmas lights switch on.

Ledbury Community Brass Band’s Christmas Concert

A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school remains on campus during Christmas break to babysit a handful of students with nowhere to go.  He soon forms an unlikely bond with a brainy but damaged troublemaker, and with the school’s head cook, a woman who just lost a son in the Vietnam War.

The Holdovers

Inspired by true events and adapted from the best-selling book, The Road Dance is a coming-of-age period drama set in the years surrounding WW1.  A young woman from a small island community on the Outer Hebrides dreams of the wider world and a life away from the harsh land and strict religion of her home.  But tragedy strikes twice - once at a village party, and again, when her boyfriend is sent to war.

The Road Dance

Stuck at home and put to work by her spoiled Step-Sisters, Cinderella’s life is dreary and dull.  Everything changes when she helps out a mysterious woman...  With a little bit of magic, she is transported into an ethereal new world - one where fairies bring the gifts of the seasons, where pumpkins turn into carriages, and where true love awaits.

Cinderella

Refreshingly unconventional and snappily attired, boutique orchestra BCO plays gypsy and folk-flavoured music in their unique and surprising way.  From Balkan and Russian traditional music to their artful distillations of Romantic masterworks to Gaelic folk anthems, BCO is an infectious musical experience like no other.

Christian Garrick and The Budapest Café Orchestra

Two of Charles Dickens’ creepy tales - with a comic twist.  Tales with a tingle, but also a giggle!  Two yarns to chill and charm!  A traveller encounters a ghostly chair, and in a deserted Edinburgh carriageworks, a tipsy reveller is spirited away by...well...spirits!

The Ghost of a Smile!

A British satirical dark comedy about successful professional London couple Sarah and Tom, who are in deep financial trouble.  Their situation takes a terrifying nosedive with the shocking behaviour of uninvited dinner guest, Jessica.  Faced with the moral dilemma of their lives - and dragging their best friends Richard and Beth with them - they make a series of choices that could either be their salvation or destruction.

The Trouble With Jessica

Professional actress and contralto, Lucy Stevens has researched and created a unique and totally engaging performance.  Evoking the spirit of the war and post war years, with the text taken straight from Kathleen’s letters and diaries, and sung music from her repertoire woven through the show, she is accompanied by pianist Elizabeth Marcus.

Whattalife!

Directed by Wim Wenders: Hirayama seems utterly content with his simple life as a cleaner of toilets in Tokyo.  Outside of his very structured everyday routine he enjoys his passion for music and for books.  And he loves trees and takes photos of them.  A series of unexpected encounters gradually reveal more of his past.

Perfect Days

Their play, Death at Sea, is a thrilling murder mystery set on a small ship carrying just five passengers and its Captain.  When one of the passengers, Mr Inus, is found dead, the remaining passengers speculate and turn on each other until the real murderer is caught...  But that isn’t how this play goes!

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Peter Knight’s Gigspanner

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