Gulbenkian Arts Centre 23/24 Season

Welcome back!

To the Gulbenkian Arts Centre. Year Three.

As many of you will already know, we relaunched ourselves as the Arts Centre two years ago with a bold new mix incorporating our concert hall, theatre and cinema and an Associate Artist initiative bringing a range of exceptional creative forces to work in our venues.

In spite of all the challenges we have had two remarkable years with hundreds of amazing performances, dozens of premieres and exclusives (two Nobel prize winners!) and countless unmissable experiences.

And now we bring you our third season: our boldest and most ambitious yet!

This year’s extraordinary slate of Associates incorporates a range of world-class artists working in theatre, dance and music who will bring a truly unique mix of new and original work to the programme.

Renowned UK theatre companies Improbable and 1927 are joined by our first international Associates, legendary Italian performance company Socìetas (formerly Socìetas Raffaello Sanzio) in a unique series of presentations over the coming seasons.

We are delighted to also welcome Matthew Herbert, internationally beloved musician and polymath with three separate projects illustrating his incredible range; and from the world of dance, choreographer superstar

Julia Cheng, most recently responsible for the lauded West End revival of Cabaret.

Returning to the season, the incomparable BAC Beatbox Academy return with our alternative Christmas show, The Pied Piper and our digital artists Aoi & Esteban continue their groundbreaking work on our Medway site.

Throughout the season you’ll also find the musical diversity we pride ourselves on here at The Gulb – from Jeremy Deller’s Acid Brass to Dr Feelgood, from Soft Machine to Nouvelle Vague – an epic season of musical legends.

Add to this a season of first-rate family performances, an A-list roster of comedy and a stunning line-up from our long-time partners Folk in The Barn –unquestionably a programme full of reasons to be cheerful!

We hope to see you here often.

Enjoy!

David Sefton

DavidSefton

Artistic Director, Gulbenkian Arts Centre Director, Culture & Creative Projects, iCCi

Associate Artist Programme

Our Associate Artist programme draws on a diverse pool of extraordinary artists in the season to work with our campus and community in a range of different ways.

From student and community engagement to commissioning and co-producing, this ground breaking initiative showcases the connections between our artistic programme and the University though a number of bold, new projects.

Julia Cheng

Julia Cheng founded House of Absolute in 2014. She is a creative director, choreographer and dance artist whose work has been presented internationally.

Her critically acclaimed choreography on Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club (was the winner of 2022 Stage Debut Awards, and was also nominated for the 2022 Olivier Award (Best Theatre Choreography).

Other notable projects to date include an opera double-bill for Royal Opera House in London and a 2 year-long residency with the Philharmonia Orchestra (with House of Absolute).

Julia is also a judge and mentor for BBC Young Dancer, mentor for Breakin’ Convention (the biggest Hip Hop Festival in the UK), and patron of Next Generation Youth Theatre in her hometown of Luton.

1927BAC Beatbox Academy

Founded in 2005 by Director, Writer & Performer Suzanne Andrade and Animator & Illustrator Paul Barritt, 1927 is a multi-award winning company based in Margate & London that specialises in combining performance and live music with animation to create magical filmic productions.

Their work is startlingly original and generates an incredible atmosphere. To watch a 1927 show is to get lost in a rich, bizarre, funny world conjured through stylised performances, animation, live music and song.

We are delighted that Please Right Back, new work by 1927 will feature in our 2023/24 season.

The Battersea Arts Centre Beatbox Academy is where young people aged 12–21 can learn to beatbox, jam with other young musicians, make their own music and perform in their own show.

Conrad Murray has led the BAC Beatbox Academy since 2008. He has developed a musical and theatrical devising practice to create new forms of performance and theatre, creating different theatre productions over the years, including the 5 star-rated (Observer, The Stage) Frankenstien (Gulbenkian 2021).

BAC Beatbox Academy return in Dec 23 with their exciting new version of Pied Piper.

Societas & Dewey Dell

Societas, formerly Societas Raffaello Sanzio, is one of the most celebrated, acclaimed and significant contemporary theatre companies in Europe, arguably the world.

Formed in Cesena in 1981 by by Claudia e Romeo Castellucci, Chiara e Paolo Guidi (who was part of it till 1996), the company evolved a completely unique approach to performance, developing a distinct visual language applied to work of scale and ambition.

Since 2006 the three founder artists have developed, under the name of Societas, three distinct paths, as well as working closely with Dewey Dell, founded by three children of Chiara and Romeo: Agata, Demetrio, Teodora Castellucci.

For the first time outside Italy, and exclusive to the Arts Centre, the artists who make up Societas and the Castellucci family will together be the Gulbenkian’s first international Associate Artists.

Rarely seen in the United Kingdom, over the course of the next few seasons we will present work from all of the artists and creative voices beginning with Chiara Guidi’s legendary Buchettino (p.38) and then Dewey Dell's Le Sacre du Printemps (p8).

Matthew Herbert and The Radiophonic Institute

Matthew Herbert is one of the most important British artists of his generation. From the upper echelons of cinematic scoring and avant-garde composition to iconic, leftfield dance floor tracks and remixes, his accomplishments in music and sound are monolithic.

Matthew founded and leads The Radiophonic Institute, an organisation born from the profound legacy of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop that ‘creates, connects and champions innovation in sound and music’. The Institute aims to inspire and enable a new generation of diverse creative practitioners to collaborate, and to challenge the pre-existing conventions of music making and sound design.

As part of our season, Matthew will be presenting three events (p 26 & 27).

AΦEImprobable

AΦE is a state of the art future technology arts collective founded in 2013 by Aoi Nakamura and Esteban Fourmi, with the vision to bring the art of dance and the possibilities of technology closer to audiences. Their mission is to create high-quality productions that are not bound by a stage, working with technology to create new and incredible experiences for audience.

Since 2021, Aoi & Esteban have been the Gulbenkian Arts Centre’s Digital Artists in Residence, working closely with our team on the development of our Digital arts programming, and developing a digital studio on our Chatham Dockyard site.

Pioneering improvisers, theatre makers, conversation facilitators and winners of Producer of the Year in The Stage Awards 2023.

Over the past 25 years, they have staged epic outdoor spectacles like Sticky (which was seen by over 250,000 people); theatrical classics like The Tempest at Northern Stage and the Oxford Playhouse; intimate puppetry like Animo in studios across the country; adaptations like Theatre of Blood at the National Theatre; operatic triumphs like Satyagraha and Akhnaten at the English National Opera in London and the Metropolitan Opera in New York; female-led impro project Permission Improbable and most recently the multi-award-winning, record breaking My Neighbour Totoro at the Barbican in London.

In 2023/24 they come to Gulbenkian with Day=Night (p16), an evening of improvised music and storytelling.

Dewey Dell

Deriva Traversa / Le Sacre du Printemps

UK PREMIERE ASSOCIATE ARTISTS

Dewey Dell is an extraordinary contemporary dance company formed by Italian siblings Teodora, Agata and Demetrio Castellucci, and Vito Matera. They are renowned internationally for their experimental and interdisciplinary approach, combining dance with visual arts, music, and technology. They perform at festivals and venues around the world, gaining critical acclaim for their innovative productions.

Rarely seen in the UK, this programme features a celebrated earlier work and the UK Premiere of their unique take on Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.

When: Thu 28 & Fri 29 Sep, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £16 (Concessions available)

Age: 12+

Mark Thomas in England & Son

A play written by Ed Edwards and directed by Cressida Brown.

‘A nation that devours another will one day devour itself.’

Set when the Great Devouring comes home, England and Son is a one-man play written specifically for the award winning political comedian Mark Thomas by award winning playwright Ed Edwards (The Political History of Smack and Crack, Paines Plough’s Roundabout, Soho and UK tour).

This is the first play Mark has ever performed in that he has not written himself.

With some deep, dark laughs – and some deep, dark love – along the way, England and Son emerges from characters Mark knew in his childhood and Ed’s lived

experience in jail. Prepare for Mark to take you on a kaleidoscopic odyssey where disaster capitalism, Thatcherite politics and stolen wealth merge into the simple tale of a working class boy who just wants his Dad to smile at him.

When: Wed 20 Sep, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £16 (Concessions available)

Age: 14+

John Hegley and Friends

National Poetry Day

John Hegley presents his fresh from Edinburgh Fringe 2023 hour-long show of poem, drawing, cardboard creature, song and story alongside three terrific turns telling their own Canterbury tales, including the plick pluck plaintive plenty of Diego Brown and the Good Fairy, plus poet Rachel Pantechnicon, whose favourite word is quiver (the noun rather than the verb).

Be most wary of this event should you wish to avoid rhyming language.

On National Poetry Day at a canter I come with some chums and in Canterbury, we will play with opposable thumbs and disposable words and our strings and our strums and Gulbenkian birds if you've ever been eight then don't leave it too late you should put on a skate and the otherno need for a third.

Presented in partnership with Canterbury Festival.

When: Thu 5 Oct, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £16 (Concessions available)

Age: 8+

Wonderful Welsh storyteller, comic, raconteur and wit Shôn Dale-Jones returns to the Gulbenkian with his brand new show.

After cracking an egg on his mother’s forehead, Shôn opens his door to find real life Internet trolls on his doorstep threatening to turn his world upside down. CRACKING is a dark and funny story that blends reality and fiction into one seamless whole.

CRACKING is a true life story that is almost completely made up - about polarised perspectives, lying like you’re telling the truth and how stories can help us get in and out of trouble.

Shôn Dale-Jones

Cracking

“the great Welsh storyteller”

Lyn Gardner

When: Fri 20 & Sat 21 Oct, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £16 (Concessions available)

Age: 14+

“A legend of the Edinburgh festival”

The Stage

“A natural comic”

The Guardian

When: Tues 31 Oct – Sat 4 Nov, 7.30pm & Tues 31 Oct, Wed 1 & Fri 3 Nov, 2pm followed by Q&A

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets:

£16 (Concessions available)

Age: 14+

The Actor’s Lounge

Things I Know to be True

Uncover the complexities of life and the powers that bind or break a family in The Actor’s Lounge company’s exquisitely poignant, humorous, and daring production of Things I Know to Be True by Andrew Bovell.

Bob and Fran have dedicated their lives to providing a life for their four children that they never had themselves. As the Price children grow up and leave the family home to embark on their own journeys, Bob and Fran look forward to enjoying the fruits of their labor. However, as the seasons change, shocking revelations come to light, raising the question of whether love can ever be too much.

The Actor’s Lounge is a theatre company intricately woven into the fabric of the community, with a mission to create and present exceptional productions that are reflective of the voices and perspectives of its members.

John-Paul Zaccarini

The MixRace MixTape

A stand-up, hip-hop and spoken word odyssey of passion, hope and humour – taking you on a poetic journey through everyday racism, homophobia and classism, John-Paul Zaccarini explores the political and emotional minefield of intersectionality with poignancy in this highly personal and provocative performance.

John-Paul is an award-winning solo theatre artist, lecturer and poet and ex member of DV8. As if this isn’t enough, he is also a ‘Dragademic’, working class, queer hip-hop, drama clown queen of colour. Homo-funky and street spunky, serving up South London shade and immigrant working class realness, he blends the brains with the bitch and the spectacular with the serious.

When: Fri 10 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £16 (Concessions available)

Age: 16+

When:

Thu 23 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets:

£16 (Concessions available)

Age: 13+

Feel Me is an interactive theatre show by leading devisied theatre company, The Paper Birds, which asks you who and what you care about, via your own mobile phone.

Together we journey through landscapes and across borders, through weather storms and paperwork, endless queues and interviews. Worlds unfold from backpacks, each scene and location temporary, like a transient teenager in search of safety, acceptance and a new place to call home.

A stunning mixture of live performance and screened filmic content, Feel Me will speak to your heart and connects you with the performers and fellow audience members as you discover who you care about and why.

Feel Me is made by The Paper Birds in Partnership with Theatre Centre. A Co-Production with New Wolsey Theatre. Supported by Padepokan Seni Bagong Kussudiardja (Indonesia) and The Point, Eastleigh. Funded by British Council International Collaboration & Arts Council England

The Paper Birds

Feel Me

“The ease in which the music flowed is magnificent and exciting to watch created before you. A unique one-off performance delivered by world-class talents.”

Beyond The Curtain on An Improbable Musical “Improv masters hit a glorious sweet spot”

The Guardian on An Improbable Musical

Improbable

DAY = NIGHT

An evening of live improvised music and story.

On a dark February evening join The ImprobaBand for an evening of live music inspired by special guests.

Musical director Chris Ash leads the band on keys, with Joley Cragg on percussion, Juliet Colyer on cello and Max Gittings on woodwind.

When: Wed 7 - Fri 9 Feb, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £16 (Concessions available)

Each night the band will improvise a unique score, joined by special guests. A jazz tune sung by Josie Lawrence inspired by a local architect? A cello sonata inspired by chat between a chef and a designer? Ruth Bratt sings an operatic aria, inspired by a master carpenter? Part-gig, part-show this is a night for the musically curious brought to you by award-winning theatre company Improbable (My Neighbour Totoro, Lifegame, Satyagraha) and the team behind the hit production An Improbable Musical.

Jasmin Vardimon Company

JV2: 2024

Each year we host a brilliant dance ensemble, hand-picked by Jasmin Vardimon from her student cohort, showcasing an exciting and energetic mix of inventive choreography and exceptional new talent.

When: Tue 26 Mar, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £10 full (Concessions available)

Frozen Light

The Bar at the Edge of Time

The glasses are polished, the lights are down low, and time will be hopping. The Bar at the Edge of Time waits only for you, so what are you waiting for?

Leave the hours, minutes, and seconds behind, step across the threshold and meet the bar's maestro mixologists, crooners and hosts. But a mystery lies at the heart of this place, a mystery hidden even from them. One that can only be solved when we spend our time together.

Frozen Light’s sixth multi-sensory touring spectacular for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities. We can’t wait to see you on the road!

When: Fri 20 & Sat 21 Apr, 11am & 1.30pm

Venue: Jarman Building

Tickets: £8 with free carers

Age: 16+

Amazing

Full £40 Uni Kent Staff: £10 / Students: £5

40% off selected theatre

20% 10% off in Gulbenkian Café

PLUS – no booking fees!

Buy now:

Julia Cheng:

New Work

When: Thu 20 - Sat 22 Jun, 7.30pm, plus 2pm Sat 22 Jun

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £16 (Concessions available)

UK PREMIERE ASSOCIATE ARTIST

Gulbenkian Arts Centre is excited to present a new work by Associate Artist Julia Cheng.

Cheng is a dancer and one of the UK’s leading choreographers, combining contemporary dance with street dance and martial arts to create a unique movement language. She has performed in venues such as Sadler's Wells, Royal Opera House, and the Southbank Centre, and has received critical acclaim for her innovative works, most recently Cabaret (2021) which stared Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley, and Warrior Queens (2022) at Sadler’s Wells.

This new piece is being developed in 2023 and will premiere at Gulbenkian Arts Centre in June 2024.

UK PREMIERE ASSOCIATE ARTISTS

All he has to do is jump off the train, hand a perfectly innocent briefcase to a man called Jones, and get back to his family in time for tea. Easy Peasy.

But the journey doesn’t stop here, neither do the stories.

I’ll probably have to help, which is fine, because I have a waterproof coat, a beer and some Babybels. I am ready for anything.

Except perhaps the truth.

Part social realism, part science fiction with a healthy dose of mischief and a dash of dystopia, Please right back is a eulogy to the power of the imagination, storytelling and make believe.

Using 1927’s multi-award-winning hybrid theatrical practice of synchronising performance and music with stunning projected handcrafted stop-frame animation Please Right Back is a show for audiences aged 8-108+.

Please Rig Back 1927

A 1927 & Burgtheater Vienna Co-Production Funded by Arts Council England & Kent County Council

When: Wed 24 - Sat 27 Jul, 7.30pm

Plus Fri & Sat, 2pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £16 (Concessions available)

Age: 8+

ght

“1927 conjure a world so complete it feels as if you've fallen down a rabbit hole”

Guardian

Bob Harris & Colin Hall - The Songs the Beatles Gave Away

BBC’s Whispering’ Bob Harris and author/music journalist Colin Hall set out upon an intimate speaking tour based around their mutual love and appreciation of The Beatles, including previously unseen footage from Bob Harris’ archive with Lennon & McCartney.

By 1963 the pair had written so many songs they simply couldn’t all be accommodated on just their own Beatles releases, so it made artistic and economic good sense to be offered to other artists for recording and the Merseybeat boom of 1963 & 1964 gave them a tailor-made outlet in artists such as Cilla Black, Billy J. Kramer and Tommy Quickly. This is the story behind those songs, the hits, the misses and the demos that the group never released: ‘The Songs The Beatles Gave Away’.

When: Sun 19 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Linda Smith Lecture: Jan Ravens

We’re delighted that Jan Ravens has agreed to give the 2023 Linda Smith Lecture.

After decades at the forefront of British comedy, both on screen and on radio, Jan Ravens is uniquely qualified to talk about every aspect of making people laugh, from satire to stand up, and most famously, impressions. Her pin sharp and hilarious takes on women in the public eye and insights on her varied career make this evening with the Radio 4 Dead Ringers star an unmissable event.

Tickets: £17.50

When: Wed 8 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £6

Age: 14+

Artist and visionary Jeremy Deller combined the people’s music of the past with the people’s music of the present when he united one of the world’s leading works brass bands with acid house.

The combination proved to be pure genius and Acid Brass has been performed to huge acclaim in major music festivals all over the world. Now they make a rare appearance in our opening weekend.

Undoubtedly, one of the World’s leading brass bands. Since its founding in 1937 by a group of employees at the Fairey Aviation Works in Stockport, the Band has won multiple domestic and international awards and is in constant demand for concerts, both at home and abroad.

When: Sat 30 Sep, 8pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £25 (£20 restricted view, £15 student)

Williams Fairey Brass Band

Acid Brass

Matthew Herbert and The Radiophonic Institute present

Gulbenkian Arts Centre is delighted to be working with Associate Artist Matthew Herbert and The Radiophonic Institute on a series of events across our season.

Through a series of collaborative workshops held at Gulbenkian, Matthew will be creating a completely new musical instrument, devising a new audio play from scratch, and then turning that play into a physical book.

Matthew Herbert, Metta Shiba and Theon Cross

Henry Dagg and Evan Parker

Throughout the day, alumni of the esteemed Oram Awards (awards for women and gender minority artists working in electronic sound and music) will lead an open workshop where together with attendees they will design and build an experimental musical instrument that can generate 100 new sounds to be used in that evening’s concert.

2.30pm

Panel session plus a Q & A from renowned instrument makers Henry Dagg, Eva Justka and Hugh Jones. Where they will talk about their techniques and experiences making unusual musical instruments.

8pm

Henry Dagg and Evan Parker will launch their new album: Then Through Now.

Matthew Herbert, Metta Shiba, Alabaster de Plume, Coby Sey and Theon Cross (Sons of Kemet) will perform a new show using as the basis the brand new musical instrument made earlier in the day.

When: Sat 7 Oct, 8pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £16 (£10 Student)

Matthew Herbert, with Kirsty Housely, Chloe Lamford, Ella Kay and Imogen Knight

When: Sat 25 Nov, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £16 (£10 Student)

Building on the stories and 100 sounds captured at the first event on October 7th Matthew Herbert will be joined by Kirsty Housely - dramaturg and co-director of Complicité’s The Encounter - to create a staged audio play. They will be joined by fellow theatre makers, creatives and actors to devise, create, rehearse and stage a brand new audio play in the Gulbenkian Arts Centre.

2.30pm

Tickets are available to observe and potentially join in with the creative session.

8pm

Live performance of the new audio play.

Matthew Herbert and Max Porter

A Staged Audio Play in a Day A Book in a Day

Matthew Herbert and #1 best selling author Max Porter (Grief is the Thing with Feathers, Lanny, Shy) devise and create both a brand new physical book and an audiobook in real time in a day. Based on sounds and stories from the Play in a Day event (25 Nov) they will work with an actor who will perform and narrate the work. They will also collaborate with a designer and bookbinder who between them will design and create a physical version in real time.

2.30pm Tickets are available to observe and potentially join in with the creative session.

8pm

The day will culminate in a performance and reading of the book in full.

When: Sat 17 Feb, 8pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £16 (£10 Student)

Henge

with support from Dogshow

Attention Humans! This is HENGE.

Extra-terrestrial joymongers – HENGE – have been delighting audiences in the UK and Europe since they landed on Planet Earth seven years ago. Their scintillating live performances earned them ‘Best Live Act’ at the Independent Festival Awards and they have since cemented their reputation with two acclaimed albums, numerous tours and regular main-stage festival appearances.

Their music boldly defies definition, occupying a space between rave and prog rock that nobody knew existed. It is energetic, subversive and invigoratingly playful, jovially going ‘where no one has gone before’.

Truly unmissable.

When: Wed 4 Oct, 8pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £15 (£10 Student)

Wild Billy Childish & CTMF

with support The Shadracks

Painter, writer, maverick - and song and dance manWild Billy Childish, who has been recording and performing since the 1977 Punk explosion, a key player in the now-mythical Medway Sound, the multi-hyphenated Billy Childish makes a long overdue return to Canterbury.

Between painting and poetry, Billy has released over 170 albums with artists as diverse as Mudhoney, Kylie Minogue and The White Stripes citing him as an influence.

Raw, primal and uncompromising Childish draws inspiration from Blues, punk, and early British R n B, but with a personal style that is thoughtful and introspective.

Sure to be an unforgettable and intimate evening in the company of a local legend.

When: Fri 27 Oct, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £18 (£10 Student)

When: Fri 3 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £20 (£10 student)

Brodsky Quartet

Bach - Sonata for Solo Violin in G minor (arr. Paul Cassidy)

Britten - String Quartet No. 3

Schubert - String Quartet in D minor

A natural curiosity and an insatiable desire to explore has propelled the Brodsky Quartet in a number of artistic directions and continues to ensure them not only a prominent presence on the international chamber music scene, but also a rich and varied musical existence.

Throughout their career of nearly five decades, the Brodsky Quartet have enjoyed a busy international performing schedule, and have extensively toured the major festivals and venues throughout Australasia, North and South America, Asia, South Africa and Europe, as well as in the UK

Ashley Wass

Beethoven - Sonata in E major, Op. 109

Alexey Shor - Piano Sonata

Bach - Partita No. 1 in B flat major Shostakovich - Prelude and Fugue No. 24 in D minor

Ashley Wass is a British classical pianist known for his imaginative programming and virtuosic performances. He has won numerous awards, including the London

piano at the Royal Academy of Music. Wass has recorded extensively and collaborated with renowned musicians and ensembles.

When: Sat 18 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £10

Ashley Wass appears thanks to the kind support of the European Foundation for Support of Culture.

When: Sat 11 Nov, 8pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £27.50 (£25 restricted view, £10 student)

Selling fast!

Nine Below Zero & Dr Feelgood

Two of the finest UK Rhythm 'n' Blues bands on one incredible bill.

Nine Below Zero released their classic debut LP 'Live at the Marquee' in 1980, the band kept the momentum going with 'Don’t Point Your Finger' in 1981 before releasing their third and final LP on A&M Records, 'Third Degree' (1982).

Dr. Feelgood formed on Canvey Island in Essex in the early 1970’s and have enjoyed a string of hit singles in many countries including 'Milk & Alcohol', 'Down at the Doctors', 'Roxette', 'She’s a Wind Up' and 'See You Later Alligator'. The current line-up of Dr. Feelgood is led by their drummer Kevin Morris, and features Gordon Russell on lead guitar, Phil Mitchell on bass and charismatic vocalist, Robert Kane.

Soft Machine

When: Fri 9 Feb, 8pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £23 full (£20 restricted view, £15 student)

One of the greatest UK avant/jazz-rock bands of all time and a key part of the Canterbury Sound, Soft Machine were contemporaries of, and shared stages with, Syd Barrett’s Pink Floyd and the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Whilst the line-up of Soft Machine may have changed many times since the heady days of the late 1960’s, the band’s spirit of musical adventure, and the ease with which it freely avoids being pigeon holed and can move from powerful progressive jazz fusion to atmospheric psychedelia to free improvised jazz-rock to ambient loop music continues to make it both unique and totally contemporary.

Nouvelle Vague

With support from Dead Chic

The French musical collective who took the world by storm with their innovative and sophisticated approach to cover songs, blending bossa nova and other styles with new wave and post-punk classics.

Bossa Nova = Nouvelle Vague = New Wave. This was the starting point for Marc Collin and the late Olivier Libaux’s unique project, which, by appropriating the punk and post-punk canon and running it through the Bossa Nova filter, reinvented the cover band genre.

The group’s first two albums, Nouvelle Vague (2004) and Bande A Part (2006) defined their unique sound and the band have performed to rapturous audiences worldwide throughout their career.

Their 2024 worldwide tour celebrates 20 years since the release of their seminal first album alongside the launch of their next classic LP, timed specifically to coincide with their UK Tour.

When: Wed 6 Mar, 8pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £32.50

Gavin Bryars Ensemble

Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet

Live in Canterbury Cathedral

The Flower of Friendship

The Sinking of the Titanic

Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet

Experience Gavin Bryars' seminal minimalist orchestral work performed in the atmospheric surroundings of the Cathedral.

First released in 1975, the piece features a looped recording of a homeless man singing a religious song, which Bryars discovered on the streets of London. The recording is accompanied by a live orchestra playing a simple melody, which gradually builds in intensity and complexity to a moving crescendo.

Haunting, powerful and deeply moving, Jesus' Blood has been performed across the world and is widely regarded as a landmark work of Twentieth Century classical music.

A celebration of Gavin Bryars’ 80th birthday, presented in association with Canterbury Cathedral.

When: Fri 5 Apr, 7pm

Venue: Canterbury Cathedral

Tickets: £20 (£10 Student)

In Association with Folk in the Barn

FiBFEST III with Ralph McTell, Edwina Hayes & Banter

The Gigspanner Big Band and Raynor Winn present – Saltlines

Celebrating 20 Years of Folk in the Barn

Join Folk in the Barn in celebrating 20 years of promoting and hosting some of the World’s most beautiful and inspiring Folk and Acoustic Music in East Kent, with a line-up of their’s and the UK’s best loved Folk & Roots Artists, including Ralph McTell, Banter and Edwina Hayes.

When: Sat 9 Sep, 7pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Skerryvore

Tickets: £30 (Under 25s £15)

Taking audiences by storm, SALTLINES is an inspiring ‘Prose and Music’ collaboration between bestselling author Raynor Winn (The Salt Path) and folk-roots supergroup The Gigspanner Big Band, which features some of the biggest names on the folk scene.

When: Sat 11 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £28 (Under 25s £14)

Beverley Craven & Judie Tzuke –‘Strings Attached’

Skerryvore represent the best in contemporary Scottish traditional music. This brilliant band create a wonderful atmosphere for all ages and deliver a high energy set that excites and captivates the audience… a feel-good sound of folk rock with bagpipes, accordions and fiddle combined with kicking rhythms of guitar, bass and drums and keys.

When: Wed 22 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £24 (Under 25s £12)

Fresh from the highly acclaimed, sold-out Woman To Woman UK tour with fellow artistes Julia Fordham and Rumer, Beverley Craven & Judie Tzuke make a welcome return to the stage. Performing with the Gabriella Swallow string quartet this intimate acoustic show will feature songs and stories spanning their careers as singer/songwriters.

When: Fri 24 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £35 (Under 25s £17)

The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican

Albion Christmas Band

Put on yer finest knitted glad-rags, style your barnet, put on your dancing shoes and bring your finest singing voices, as we cordially invite you to witness the Greatest Show On Earth (in tank-tops).

Over the past few years, every night on their annual Winter Woollies Tour has sold out. They can’t wait to return to Canterbury, and promise that they WILL rock you… but gently.

When: Sat 2 Dec, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £18 (Under 25s £9)

Described in The Guardian as "the perfect antidote to the corporate Xmas" the AXB are now in their 22nd year selling out such venues all over the country in the two weeks leading up to Christmas.

Featuring seasonal songs and tunes smattered with humorous readings and the occasional silly dance. Tickets sell fast so don’t leave it too late to book

When: Sat 16 Dec, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £23 (Under 25s £11)

Alongside our own programme, we hire our venues out to community groups, student companies, and touring companies. You can find full details of these on pages 54-56. If you would like to enquire about hiring a space, please contact Becca Brown on R.M.Brown@kent.ac.uk

Down for the Count

A Century of Swing

Join the UK’s hardest swinging band Down for the Count All-Stars for “one hellova celebration of vintage music” (TimeOut London) as they celebrate A Century of Swing. Be taken on a musical voyage through time as the band brings a taste of the best jazz clubs to Canterbury.

When: Sat 10 Feb, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £25 (Concessions available)

Our

Music

Department

Based in the award-winning Colyer-Fergusson Building on the Canterbury campus, our Extra-Curricular Music Department presents a vibrant programme of music-making, open to all students and staff at the University, and to the local community, throughout the academic year. From orchestral works to big band swing, choral concerts, Musical Theatre, chamber opera and more, from our outstanding concert-hall to Canterbury Cathedral and Deal Memorial Bandstand, there are plenty of opportunities to rehearse and perform, whatever you study.

Music Performance Scholarships are also open to talented instrumentalists and singers, offering a cash bursary and the opportunity to continue with instrumental or singing lessons, as part of being involved in University musical life. Practice-rooms are available for use throughout the year, including a dedicated band-room for amplified instruments.

For details about our Extra-Curricular Music Department activities and Music Performance Scholarships, please visit kent.ac.uk/music

Lunchtime Concerts: Daisy Veacock

The Music Department’s new Lunchtime Concert season launches with singer-songwriter Daisy Veacock’s appealing blend of lyricism and cheerfully reflective melancholy, painting an intimate picture of finding your feet in London at 19, with a strong pop and jazz influence.

When: Weds 18 October, 1.10pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: Free, suggested donation £3

Matthew Schellhorn

British pianist Matthew Schellhorn has been a leading performer for over twenty years, regularly appearing at major venues and festivals. His recital will include music by Herbert Howells, which Matthew has recorded for the Naxos label.

When: Wed 8 Nov, 1.10pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: Free, suggested donation £3

The Telling: the secret life of carols

Acclaimed early music group The Telling are known for their special performances of carols, using lighting to create a very special atmosphere. Their programme brings together a mixture of the earliest medieval English carols and traditional carols from across Europe.

When: Wed 6 Dec, 1.10pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: Free, suggested donation £3

University of Kent Chorus & Symphony Orchestra

Simon Thorpe baritone

Andrew Macnair tenor

Dan Harding conductor

Programme to include: Mussorgsky Night on a Bare Mountain Mendelssohn Die erste Walpurgissnacht

The Water Goblin

A wild and dramatic programme exploring mythology, folklore and the word of witches.

When: Sat 9 Dec, 7.30pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £13 (full) / £7 (students)

Lunchtime Concert: Trish Clowes

Duo

Trish Clowes saxophone

Ross Stanley piano

Their programme will include music by Duke Ellington, Nikki Iles, Marcel Dupré, Lili Boulanger, as well as original compositions dedicated to their respective heroes, Wayne Shorter and John Taylor.

When: Wed 13 Mar, 1.10pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: Free, suggested donation £3

Societas

Buchettino

Presented by our Associate Artists Societas.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest pieces of children's theatre ever made, Chiara Guidi's classic Tom Thumb (Buchettino) has only once been seen in the UK, to huge acclaim. Gulbenkian Arts Centre is enormously proud to bring it back as the first presentation of Associate Artists Societas.

In the dimness of a large wooden bedroom, the Storyteller welcomes you and invites everyone to lie down on small, wooden beds wrapped up ready for a bedtime story.

The Storyteller then sits in the middle of the room under a glowing light bulb. As her tale unfolds, the sounds of the story whirl around outside the room, seeping in and bringing Buchettino to life.

Buchettino is part of the bOing! International Family Festival 2023.

When: Sat 26 & Sun 27 Aug, 11.30am & 3.30pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £6

Age: 7+

trickyart

Crockodogopig

Based on the book by Ricky Tart, produced by Filskit Theatre.

This incredible family show smooshes together live music, puppetry, comedy, and beatboxing.

Follow Crock as he embarks on a quest to retrieve his stolen Happy from the wicked Kangalouse. What sinister scheme does the Kangalouse have up his sleeve? Find out as you join the Crockodogopig on this exciting journey!

Tutti Frutti Productions & One Tenth Human

The Lightbulb Princess

A delightful new show full of sparkle and song, for everyone aged 4 and up.

Can you help a very unusual princess solve an unexpected problem? Without the twinkle of fairy lights, the holiday season could be cancelled! It’s up to our intrepid explorer, her pals and YOU to illuminate the world again.

Tutti Frutti Productions have teamed up with One Tenth Human (Curious Investigators) to create a fun-filled, sparkling extravaganza exploring the sensational science behind electricity.

When: Sat 7 Oct, 2pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £8 (Groups of 4+ £6.50)

Age: 4+

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £8 (Groups of 4+ £6.50)

When: Sat 14 Oct, 2pm

Age: 4+

Adapted from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s award-winning picture book.

Follow the Gruffalo’s Child on her adventurous mission in Tall Stories’ enchanting adaptation of the much-loved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

One wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warnings about the Big Bad Mouse and tiptoes out into the deep dark wood. She follows snowy tracks and encounters mysterious creatures – but the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist... does he?

Let your imagination run wild with songs, laughs and scary fun for everyone aged 3 to 103.

Tall Stories

The Gruffalo’s Child

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £14 adult / £12 child (Groups of 4+ 10% discount)

When: Wed 18 & Thu 19 Oct, 10.30am & 4.30pm

Age: 3+

“Warm, witty and beautifully made… a fantastic family favourite”

LondonTheatre1

Tiny Echoes

Adalberto and Sophia are happy. They look to the future and gaze at the stars... until, one day, disaster strikes. After a sudden and tragic loss, Adalberto travels through the cosmos in an attempt to keep his one true love alive.

Using Make Mend and Do's unique blend of puppetry, animation and music, Tiny Echoes is an enchanting performance about a Love as big as Space and a Loss as constant as Time, that will charm audiences of all ages.

“This top-notch, visually wonderful, technically clever and beautiful puppet theatre show tells a universal love story.” out.be, Belgium

String!

A celebration of the string quartet featuring the Gildas Quartet.

This informal performance includes a diverse programme from Haydn to Jessie Montgomery; Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges to Dvorak and everything in between.

Creatively staged to bring the audience into the music this fun concert is guaranteed to open eyes and ears to the fabulous, joyful world of the String Quartet. STRING! is the first UK production to be shortlisted for a prestigious YAM Award for Best Schools Concert 2022.

“…one of the most memorable performances of Nottingham Chamber Music Festival. The Gildas Quartet captivated our kids and adults in equal measure.”

Carmen Flores, NCMF

When: Sun 29 Oct, 2pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £8 (Groups of 4+ £6.50)

Age: 7+

When: Sat 3 Feb, 2pm

Venue: Colyer- Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £8 (Groups of 4+ £6.50)

Age: 7+

Make, Mend & DoMish Mash Productions

Christmas Show

2023

‘Brilliant. An old story made electrically alive’

The Stage on Frankenstein: How to Make a Monster FOR FAMILIES & EVERYONE AGED 6+

Following the awardwinning, five-star smash-hit stage show and BBC film, Frankenstein How to Make a Monster, the BAC Beatbox Academy returns to Gulbenkian Arts Centre with the world premiere of hip-hop musical, Pied Piper.

It’s the eve of the mayoral election, and the kids of Hamelin aren’t happy. The mayor and owner of the local pie factory has imposed a music ban, and to make matters worse, there’s a serious rat problem. But, there have been whispers of a mysterious rat catcher in town… sometimes he plays a pipe… sometimes a microphone. Can this curious stranger help Hamelin to find its voice once more?

Pied Piper is a raucous musical re-imagining of a medieval fairy-tale. Featuring a hugely talented cast of beatboxers, musicians and special guest performances from the local community, get ready for an electrifying night of vocal wizardry for all the family.

A Battersea Arts Centre, Beatbox Academy & rODIUM Co-Production

Conceived, written and co-directed by Conrad Murray

When: Wed 6 - Sun 10 Dec, times vary

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £12 (Groups of 4+ £10)

Age: 6+

Commissioned by Battersea Arts Centre, Gulbenkian Arts Centre, Belgrade Theatre, and ARCADE. Supported by Arts Council England. BAC and rOdium would also like to thank the following individuals for their generous support of Pied Piper: Eric Bensaude, Alison and Chris Cabot, Justin Shinebourne.

PHOTO: JOYCE NICHOLLS ‘FRANKENSTEIN HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER’

Little Seeds Music and Z-arts present

Luna Loves Library Day

Join Luna and her Dad for an adventure among the library shelves in this exciting new musical for families.

Luna looks forward to one special day… Library Day! It’s the day when she discovers magic among the library shelves, but is also a chance to spend time with Dad, making it all the more special.

Based on the critically acclaimed book by Waterstones Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho and illustrator Fiona Lumbers, Luna Loves Library Day is the perfect treat for children aged 3+ and their families.

Luna Loves Library Day is a co-production from Little Seeds Music and Z-arts.

There’s a Monster in Your Show

Based on the bestselling Who's In Your Book? children's series by Tom Fletcher (lead singer of Brit-award-winning band McFly).

There’s a Monster In Your Show is a brand new interactive stage show set to bring to life the wonderful and popular There’s a Monster In Your Book series, in a charming, musical puppetry production with original music (composed by Tom).

When: Tue 13 Feb, 2pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £8 (Groups of 4+ £6.50)

Age: 5+

When: Wed 22 & Thu 23 May, 10.30am & 4.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £15 adult / £13 child (Groups of 4+ 10% discount)

Age: 3+

Little Bulb

Four Seasons

Four Seasons is a theatrical love letter to nature for children and their families.

Join our intrepid team of magical gardeners as they tend to the marvellous menagerie of flora and fauna at every stage of nature’s miraculous journey. Four Seasons is a celebration of the wonder and weirdness of nature and our place within it, all set to an exciting score of seasonally inspired tracks including, of course, Vivaldi’s iconic piece.

Expect enchanting and innovative theatre featuring puppetry, dance and clowning fun – everything we’ve come to expect from Olivier Award-winning Little Bulb (Hibernation, CBEEBIES’ The Nutcracker).

Written and devised by Little Bulb in collaboration with Hanora Kamen, Vic Llewellyn and Shamira Turner. Supported by Bristol Old Vic, Theatre Orchard and Arts Council England.

When: Sat 23 Mar to Mon 25 Mar, times vary

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £8 (Groups of 4+ £6.50)

Age: 3+

NT Connections 2024

Gulbenkian Young Company are entering their 11th year of taking part in National Theatre Connections!! Come and see why the company have received such success and phenomenal feedback over the last few years.

Connections is the National Theatre's annual, nationwide youth theatre festival, championing the talent of young people from across the UK. Our Young Company are brought together with director Emma Willatts, who has directed all 10 of the previous years' shows, including two that were chosen for the National Theatre.

When: Sun 10 & Mon 11 Mar, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £5

GENFest 2024

GENFest is a free festival curated by and for 13-25 year olds, celebrating young people’s creativity and giving a platform to young creative voices in Kent. The programme showcases up-and-coming local creatives and will feature a mix of live theatre, dance, music and stand-up comedy, plus short film screenings and an art exhibition.

There will also be a whole host of free artist-led workshops as well as networking sessions where young creatives and professionals can connect.

Keep your eyes peeled for our call out for creative acts and ideas in late 2023.

When: Sat 29 Jun

Venue: Gulbenkian Arts Centre

Tickets: Free

Follow @art31kent on Twitter and Instagram for updates.

ART31 is a vision created with, by, and for young people aged 13-25 in Kent.

We believe that amazing arts and culture is a human right and want to make sure every young person gets the chance to get involved. ART31 empowers young people to achieve their creative potential and makes young people equal partners in any decision making that affects them.

Gulbenkian Arts Centre is home to ART31, where we run various youth projects. We also work closely with partners who deliver activity across Kent.

ART31 is funded by Arts Council England and Kent County Council.

To get involved:

Follow @ART31KENT on Instagram and Twitter

With ART31 young people aged 13-25 across Kent can….

1 2 3

TAKE PART

“Youth theatre created a space where I felt I could be myself more than any other environment in my life during the time I was there. It remains one of the more important things that have happened to me so far.”

TAKE THE LEAD

“There is so much trust put into us. We’ve been given some freedom and it’s resulted in... just the best experience.”

TAKE ON THE WORLD

“ART31 has very much opened my eyes to being able to enjoy and work in the creative industries, and definitely made me more confident in myself and my ideas.”

Join the ART31 mailing list via Gulbenkian’s website

Email creativeengagement@kent.ac.uk

Some of the free ART31 activity that takes place at Gulbenkian Arts Centre:

Youth Theatre – for ages 13-15 and 16-18, Wednesday evenings

Gulbenkian Young Company – an auditioned company aged 13-19 creating their own production for the National Theatre Connections Festival

Gulbenkian Performance Company – a theatre-making ensemble for ages 18-25, Monday evenings

Square Pegs Arts – weekly drama club for people aged 16-25 who have a learning disability, autism or who struggle to fit in with mainstream activities, monthly singing for all abilities, aged 14+ & a monthly Relaxed Film Screening.

ART31 Generate – is made up of young people from across Kent aged 13-25. They steer ART31's governance, influence arts policy and practice and plan and programme events including the annual ART31 Youth Takeover Festival, GENFest.

All activity is free to access, thanks to ART31 funders Arts Council England and Kent County Council.

Email creativeengagement@kent.ac.uk to find out more or register interest in any of these groups.

KRAN Fam – a drama group with members of Kent Refugee Action Network

TECH31 – workshops in technical theatre, ages 13-25

SCREEN31 – workshops in filmmaking, ages 13-25

Bridget Christie: Who Am I?

Bridget Christie is hot, but not in a good way. The 51 year old critically-acclaimed stand-up cannot ride the motorbike she bought to combat her mid-life crisis because of early osteoarthritis in her hips and RSI in her wrist; and wonders why there are so many films, made by men, about young women discovering their sexuality, but none about middle-aged women forgetting theirs.

When: Wed 11 Oct, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £20

Age: 14+

Ivo Graham: Organised Fun

After dismantling a barge, doxxing himself in the Doubletree, and blanking on the 1992 Ipswich Town crest (Taskmaster, Off Menu, University Challenge), Ivo ropes his audience into more chaos against the clock.

“Humiliation’s your thing, right?” his brother asked him at Christmas, with the full existential ramifications of that still being processed.

When: Tue 24 Oct, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian

Theatre

Tickets: £16

Age: 14+

John

Robins: Howl

Edinburgh Comedy Award winning comedian and ARIA award-winning broadcaster John Robins embarks on his first stand-up tour since 2019.

If you’ve seen him before you know what to expect; rage, anxiety and a lot of laughs.

If you haven’t seen him before, strap the f**k in.

Jordan Gray: Is it a Bird?

Fresh off a sold out run at the Edinburgh Fringe...…a historic performance at The London Palladium, a game-changing set on Channel 4’s Friday Night Live, and a triumphant season at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, Jordan returns to the UK to take on babies, boobies, bigots and Batman in this blistering music and comedy show.

When: Sun 15 Oct, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £21.50

Age: 16+

Alfie Brown: Red Flags Galore!

In his new show, award winning comedian Alfie Brown is showing signs that he probably can't have a healthy relationship and proceeding down the road with him would be emotionally dangerous.

But what are these signs? Alfie Brown is the most hated man in an internet forum that he is not even the main subject of.

When: Sun 22 Oct, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian

Theatre

Tickets: £25

Age: 16+

Linda Smith LectureJan Ravens

We’re delighted that Jan Ravens has agreed to give the 2023 Linda Smith Lecture.

After decades at the forefront of British comedy, both on screen and on radio, Jan Ravens is uniquely qualified to talk about every aspect of making people laugh, from satire to stand up, and most famously, impressions.

When: Tue 7 Nov, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Cafe

Tickets: £14

Age: 16+

When: Wed 8 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian

Theatre

Tickets: £6

Age: 14+

Seann Walsh: Back from the Bed

Hello, Seann here. Sticking with ‘Same Again?’ felt a bit triggering after the year we’ve had. So the tour is now called Back from the Bed. Some of the material will be the same as I had always planned and some of it will be new because it will be difficult to avoid mentioning the last year in which millions of decent people tragically lost their lives to TikTok.

Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time

Attributed to Mark Twain, humour is defined as Tragedy Plus Time.

Come and join Ed as he tests that formula by mining the most tragic event in his life for laughs.

Babatunde Aleshe: Babahood

Babatunde is one of the fastest rising stars in British Comedy. A powerhouse performer, his stand up presents a hilariously fresh perspective, oozing charisma whilst showcasing impeccable stagecraft and comic timing.

When: Thu 9 Nov, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £15

Age: 14+

Reginald D Hunter: The Man Who Could See Through Shit

In these supercharged socio-political times the challenge is more and more becoming separating what's true and what's real. Lucille Hunter proudly proclaimed: 'It's easy to see through shit, the hard part is acting like you ain't'.

When: Wed 29 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £27.50

Age: 14+

Iain Stirling: Relevant

The BAFTA-winning comedian, ‘national sensation’ (Evening Standard) and ‘extremely funny’ (Daily Telegraph) Iain Stirling, is bringing his intuitive razor-sharp humour back on tour with a brand new stand-up show for 2024.

When: Sun 21 Jan, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian

Theatre

Tickets: £13.50

Age: 16+

When: Wed 28 Feb, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £24

Age: 18+

When: Fri 12 Apr, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £22.50

Age: 14+

Funny Rabbit: Funmbi

Omotayo & Ben Van Der Velde

When: Fri 27 Oct

Gulbenkian’s monthly comedy club –radical and exciting, but also warm and snuggly as a bunny rabbit

Funny Rabbit: Howard Head & Pauline Eyre

When: Fri 29 Sept

All events £7-£5

Tickets:

Venue: Café

Time: 8pm

Age: 16+

Venue: Café

Funny Rabbit: Peter Brush & Kate Martin

When: Fri 24 Nov

Venue: Café

Funny Rabbit: Scott Bennett & Joe Wells

When: Fri 15 Dec

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Student Productions

Through our season we are always delighted to host student productions by groups, including T24 and MTS.

Keep your eyes posted on our website for details.

Canterbury Orchestra: A Musical Farewell

After 17 years, Andrew Lowen, Musical Director of the Canterbury Orchestra is retiring. Here, he conducts his final concert, the first half comprising three musical works on the theme of ‘bidding farewell’ whilst the second half is dedicated to Brahms’ epic First Symphony.

When: Sat 26 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Jukebox 1264

Fleetwood Mac: Tango in the Night

Few bands have played such an epic role in uniting audiences across generations like Fleetwood Mac! In this showcase, expect to hear their 1987 album Tango in the Night played in full as well as even more hits from Fleetwood Mac such as Go Your Own Way, Dreams, Rhiannon and The Chain.

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne

BIKES AND BANTER are proud to present a very special evening with SIX TIME British Superbike Champion Shane ’Shakey’ Byrne.

Join the most successful domestic British motorcycle racer of all-time and our special guest interviewer Matt Roberts as they discuss the highs and lows of his incredible career, the crash that has threatened to end it and his plans for the future.

When: Sat 21 Oct, 8pm

Tickets: £20

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Gryphon

Impossible to pigeonhole, the legendary Gryphon enjoyed success throughout the 1970s, touring extensively in the States and Europe with Yes, Steeleye Span and Mahavishnu Orchestra.

When: Sat 25 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £25

Soul Wonderland

Join our East Kent Soul Choirs for a night of festive inspired soul and pop classics! Take your seat and let their 100 plus member strong choirs lead you into a wonderland of soaring, toe tapping and uplifting music!

Tickets: £15 (£8 Student)

When: 30 Nov, 7.30pm Tickets: £20

When: Fri 1 Dec, 7.30pm Tickets: £18 (£15 Concession)

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

UK Soul Choirs

Langton Music Primary Schools Christmas Festival

Opening Night: Mon 11 Dec

Join Blean, Canterbury Primary, Pilgrims Way, St Johns, St Peters, Aylesham, St Thomas & Beech Grove for a night of magical Christmas music.

Closing Night - Tue 12 Dec

Join Adisham, Barham, Bridge, Chislet, Hoath, Littlebourne, Petham & Wickhambreaux for a night of magical Christmas music

When: Mon 11 & Tue 12 Dec

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Canterbury Music Club

Tickets: £7

The Gulbenkian Arts Centre are delighted to welcome Canterbury Music Club back for their 82nd Season of chamber music concerts featuring the best of young as well as established performers.

Should you be unable to attend these concerts in person, CMC offer the chance to enjoy the performances online, as a live stream and/or as a recording after the event. Please see the Gulbenkian website for details.

CMC Tickets for Under 26s are available FREE with support of the CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust “Free Ticket Scheme”.

Jukebox

1264Canterbury Operatic Society

Tapestry: An evening in Laurel Canyon

This event sends us back to California in the ‘60s and ‘70s when hippies took over the Sunset Strip. Expect to hear Laurel Canyon classics by the likes of Neil Young, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and The Doors as well as Carole King’s masterpiece Tapestry performed in its entirety!

9 to 5 The Musical

Canterbury Operatic Society bring this uplifting and funny musical to the Gulbenkian, with it’s jubilant score and relatable story, we find three unlikely friends taking control of their office, finding there is nothing they can’t do, even in a typically man’s world.

When: Fri 16 Feb, 8pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £20

London Bridge Piano Trio

Ben Hancox, violin and Cara Berridge, cello of the acclaimed Sacconi Quartet join international soloist Daniel Tong, piano as the London Bridge Trio to perform an exquisite set of piano trios by composers old and new.

When: Wed 24 to Sat 27 Apr, 7.30pm (plus Sa 2.30pm)

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: From £17

When: 24 Sep, 3pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Kosmos redefines the relationship between classical and world music, performed with “telepathic rapport, dazzling virtuosity, serious scholarship, intellectual curiosity and impeccable musicianship” Richard Morrison, chief music critic, The Times. Harriet MacKenzie, violin, Meg Hamilton, viola, Milos Milivojevic, accordion.

When: 22 Oct, 3pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Harriet Mackenzie and the Kosmos Ensemble

Ensemble Renard, Wind Quintet

Ensemble Renard carefully curate compelling and contrasting programmes and aim to include repertoire rarely given the light of day. From Gershwin to Knussen, each piece they play demonstrates their kaleidoscopic versatility, while their concert will feature works especially written or arranged for the ensemble.

BONE-AFIDE Trombone Quartet, Countess of Munster Artists

“An ensemble… with a collective sound that shimmers and playing that quite simply makes you feel good” - Robin Sheffield, Royal Philharmonic Society.

BONE-AFIDE showcase the versatility of the Trombone as they present a Christmas themed programme laced with classical repertoire, much arranged by members.

Clare Hammond, piano

Acclaimed as a “pianist of extraordinary gifts” (Gramophone) and “immense power” (The Times), Clare Hammond is recognised for the virtuosity and authority of her performances –and is welcomed back to Canterbury for another exhilarating recital.

When: 19 Nov, 3pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Matthew Rose, bass singer and Anna Tilbrook, piano

“this deep-toned, lyric bass sings with such nobility and beauty that he is surely a world-class Wagnerian in the making” – The Financial Times; while “Anna Tilbrook is an outstanding accompanist: discreet … but able to make the simplest phrase … tell”. BBC Music Magazine.

When: 18 Feb, 3pm Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

When: 17 Dec, 3pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Ryan Corbett, accordion (Tillett Trust Artist)

Ryan Corbett is a classical accordionist who has been described as “one of Scotland’s most exciting young musicians” (The Scotsman). His repertoire ranges from Baroque keyboard works to original contemporary compositions for accordion. Ryan plays a Bayan Spectrum classical piano accordion made in Italy.

When: 17 Mar, 3pm Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

When: 21 Jan, 3pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Kent and Medway Young Musicians Trust Concert

The concert will provide a great performance opportunity for Young Musicians and raise significant funds to support more youngsters. “The talent that has been shown by our young performers … was just incredible…” Lady Colgrain, Patron and Lord Lieutenant of Kent (Inaugural concert, March 2023).

When: 21 Apr, 3pm Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

About Your Visit

Ticket Office Opening Hours (vary with programme)

Monday to Friday 5-8pm Saturday & Sunday 1pm - 8pm

Discounts

Concessions

Where advertised apply to children aged under 12, young people aged 12-25, full and part time students, registered unemployed, senior citizens, disabled person and a companion. Proof of status may be required.

Schools

Gulbenkian offers creative engagement opportunities for school students and staff, including discounted tickets for specific events. Please contact creativeengagement@kent.ac.uk for more information.

Family shows

Gulbenkian welcomes children with a valid ticket and accompanied by an adult at all times. Age ranges are provided as a guide and we ask you to consider whether the show is suitable for your child. Baby-on-lap-tickets - £1 tickets for age 0-18 months are available on selected family shows.

Access

We now have a dedicated Access Membership Scheme, with members able to book access, wheelchair spaces and carer tickets for free online (when available).

We offer an infrared audio system in the cinema for audiences, wheelchair spaces in all our venues (booking essential), dedicated parking spaces, level access through automatic doors to the theatre, foyer and bar, disabled accessible toilet.

Assistance dogs are welcome. We offer an infrared audio system for audience members who are hard of hearing. Headsets available from the Ticket & Information office.

Gulbenkian, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NB

Tel: 01227 769 075 (see opening hours below)

Free booking online: thegulbenkian.co.uk

Email: Boxoffice@kent.ac.uk

How to find us

https://www.thegulbenkian.co.uk/your-visit

Parking

Free parking is available to Gulbenkian customers after 5pm on weekdays and all day at weekends in any University car park.

For Gulbenkian customers attending events between Monday and Friday 8am to 5pm please park in the Visitor Pay and Display car parks on Campus. The nearest Visitor Pay and Display is the Central Visitor Car Park.

When attending events we strongly recommend customers to allow extra time to find your space and park in designated parking spaces only. Please be advised that yellow lines on campus are enforced and we advise customers to park in designated car parking spaces.

Coach/Mini bus parking

Safe, convenient drop off points are available close to the Gulbenkian. Please contact the Tickets & Information team boxoffice@kent.ac.uk and let us know in advance how many vehicles/coaches and what size they are so that we can make the necessary arrangements.

Bus Service

A regular bus service operates from Canterbury City centre to the University. Please see www.stagecoachbus.com

We charge a booking fee of £1 per ticket across most events. This is for tickets purchased online, by phone or in person at the Box Office.

If you would like a text copy of this brochure in large type please email boxoffice@kent.ac.uk

All information and dates correct at time of printing, but due to the nature of our programme we strongly recommend checking the website for the latest information before attending.

23/24 Season Calendar

Details of events are correct at time of print (June 23). Please check thegulbenkian.co.uk for latest events and details.

AugustNovember

Sa 26 & Su 27

September

Sa 7pm 9

bOing! International Family Festival Inc. Buchettino

F 7.30pm 3 Brodsky Quartet

Tu 8pm 7 Alfie Brown: Red Flags Galore!

W 7.30pm 8 Linda Smith Lecture: Jan Ravens

Th 8pm 9

Seann Walsh: Back from the Bed

FIBFEST III

W 7.30pm 20 Mark Thomas in England & Son

Su 3pm 24 CMC London Bridge Piano Trio (Guestlist)

Th 28 & F 29 7.30pm Deriva Traversa/Le Sacre du Printemps

F 8pm 29

Funny Rabbit: Howard Head & Pauline Eyre

Sa 8pm 30 Acid Brass

October

W 8pm 4 Henge

Th 7.30pm 5 John Hegley and Friends

Sa 8pm 7 The New Radiophonic Workshop: An Instrument in a Day

Sa 2pm 7 Crockodogopig

W 8pm 11 Bridget Christie: Who Am I?

Sa 2pm 14 The Lightbulb Princess

Su 8pm 15 John Robins: Howl

W 18 – Th 19 10.30am & 4.30pm The Gruffalo’s Child

F 20 & Sa 21 7.30pm Cracking

Sa 8pm 21

Su 3pm 22

Fleetwood Mac: Tango in the Night (Guestlist)

CMC: Harriet MacKenzie and the Kosmos Ensemble (Guestlist)

Su 7.30pm 22 Jordan Gray: Is it a Bird?

Tu 8pm 24 Ivo Graham: Organised Fun

F 7.30pm 27 Wild Billy Childish + CTMF

F 8pm 27

Funny Rabbit: Funmbi Omotayo & Ben Van Der Velde

Su 2pm 29 Tiny Echoes

Tu 31 Oct – Sa 4

Nov. 7.30pm, plus 2pm Tu, W, F

Things I Know to be True

F 7.30pm 10 The MixRace MixTape

Sa 8pm 11 Nine Below Zero & Dr Feelgood

Sa 7.30pm 18 Ashley Wass

Su 3pm 19

CMC: Ensemble Renard (Guestlist)

Su 7.30pm 19 Bob Harris and Colin Hall – The Songs the Beatles Gave Away

W 7.30pm 22 Skerryvore

F 7.30pm 24

F 8pm 24

Sa 7.30pm 25

Beverley Craven & Judie Tzuke

Funny Rabbit: Peter Brush & Kate Martin

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne (Guestlist)

Sa 8pm 25 The Radiophonic Institute Makes a Staged Audio Drama in a Day

Su 7.30pm 26 Canterbury Orchestra: A Musical Farewell (Guestlist)

W 7.30pm 29 Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time

Th 7.30pm 30

December

Gryphon (Guestlist)

F 7.30pm 1 UK Soul Choirs: Soul Wonderland (Guestlist)

Sa 8pm 2 The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican

W 6

Show 2023: Pied Piper

Sa 7.30pm 9 University of Kent Chorus and Symphony Orchestra

F 8pm 15 Funny Rabbit: Scott Bennett & Joe Wells

M 7pm 11

Tu 7pm 12

Langton Music Primary Schools

Christmas Festival – Opening Night Concert (Guestlist)

Langton Music Primary Schools

Christmas Festival – Closing Night Concert (Guestlist)

Sa 7.30pm 16 Albion Christmas Band

Su 3pm 17 CMC: Bonafide Trombone Quartet, Countess of Munster Artists (Guestlist)

January

Su 3pm 21 CMC: Clare Hammond (Guestlist)

Su 8pm 21 Babatunde Aleshe: Babahood

February

Sa 2pm 3 String!

W 7 – F 9 7.30pm Day = Night

F 8pm 9 Soft Machine

Sa 7.30pm 10 A Century of Swing (Guestlist)

Tu 2pm 13 Luna Loves Library Day

F 8pm 16 Tapestry: An evening in Laurel Canyon (Guestlist)

Sa 8pm 17 The Radiophonic Institute presents A Book in a Day

Su 3pm 18 CMC: Matthew Rose & Anna Tilbrook (Guestlist)

W 8pm 28 Reginald D Hunter: The Man Who Could See Through Shit

March

W 8pm 6 Nouvelle Vague

Su 10 & M 11, 7.30pm NT Connections

Su 3pm 17 CMC: Ryan Corbett (Guestlist)

Sa 23 – M 25, Times vary Four Seasons

Tu 7.30pm 26 JV2: 2024

April

F 7pm 5 Gavin Bryars ‘Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet: Live in Canterbury Cathedral.

F 8pm 12 Iain Stirling: Relevant

F 20 & Sa 21 11am & 1.30pm The Bar at the Edge of Time

Su 3pm 21 CMC: Kent and Medway Young Musicians Trust Concert (Guestlist)

W 24 - Sa 27 7.30pm (plus Sa 2.30pm)

May

W 22 & Th 23 10.30am & 4.30pm

June

Sa 29GENFest 2024

Th 20 - Sa 22 7.30pm, plus 2pm

Sa 22

July

W 24 – Sa 27. 7.30pm, plus 2pm F & Sa

Julia Cheng NEW WORK

Please Right Back

9 to 5 The Musical (Guestlist)

There’s a Monster in Your Show