Each month Arts for Hungerford usually brings you four events, two being films (generally on a Friday) and two music or spoken-word (generally on a Saturday). The details of each event is usually confirmed about two months in advance.
We aim to provide a varied mix of top-quality entertainment. To get a flavour of the calibre of what we offer, have a look at our past events in the areas of performing arts, film, literature and visual arts. Expect more of the same this season.
For more about Arts for Hungerford generally, please visit our website.
April 2022
We discovered a great duo The Dunwells who played for us on Saturday 12 March, and really got people dancing. We were so impressed that they are headlining our outdoor music festival on Sat 3 September – more on that to follow.
Anthony Bailey played some outstanding clarinet to a really appreciative audience having given a masterclass in the afternoon to three local musicians. Our varied film programme continued with romance and gritty social drama in Ammonite, and epic drama in Dune.
Our April programme includes…
- Saturday 6 April 7.30pm in the Croft Hall Music – Flats and Sharps. “The picking is exhilarating the harmonies precise. You can but admire…” Fred Deller, Mojo. Bluegrass band on tour promoting their new album
- Friday 22 April 7.30pm In the Croft Hall Film – West Side Story. Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus: “Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story presents a new look at the classic musical that lives up to its beloved forebear and in some respects might even surpass it.”
Our May Programme includes…
Two very different films on Friday 6 May: Spencer, the story of three days in the life of Princess Diana (played by Kristen Stewart) as she decides to end her marriage. Then on Friday 20 May we have Parallel Mothers, a brilliant forum for Penélope Cruz’s talent, reaffirming the familiar pleasures of Almodóvar’s filmmaking.
We are very pleased to have secured a performance by Henry Normal of his show The Escape Plan on Wednesday 18 May. This promises to be an evening of pure escape with stories, jokes and poems from the writer, poet and TV and film producer. Henry Normal is co-author and producer of some of the biggest hits of British TV and film of recent years – he co-wrote Mrs Merton and The Royle Family among others and produced Gavin and Stacey, Alan Partridge, the Oscar-winning film Philomena and many more.
March 2022
Thanks to Storm Eunice we made the decision to postpone the screening of Promising Young Woman by a week but still had a good audience for a challenging film. The entertainment continues in March with our unique blend of home with friends meets big screen and great stage acts.
Next up we have Ammonite on Friday 11 March. Mary Anning, an acclaimed fossil hunter, is forced to care for a rich visitor’s sick wife and the two develop an intense bond that forces the two women to re-examine their relationship.
This is followed on the 12 March by the critically acclaimed duo The Dunwells, a successful Leeds based Indie-folk/Americana band with strong vocals, powerful melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Tickets are starting to sell fast so we recommend booking now. Take a look at their website here to get a flavour.
On 18 March we’re showing the film Dune from Frank Herbert’s cult science fiction novel about the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy. The scope and vision of this adaption are visually thrilling definitely one for the big screen. Scored 8.1 on IMDB which rates it in the top 150 films of all time.
The month’s programme ends on 26 March Anthony Bailey rounds off the month with some stunning clarinet supported by Daniel King Smith (who accompanied Robert Cohen on his last visit).
Coming up in April…
- Friday 1 April 7.30pm In the Croft Hall Film – Mothering Sunday. A maid living in post-World War I England secretly plans to meet with the man she loves before he leaves to marry another woman.
- Saturday 6 April 7.30pm in the Croft Hall Music – Flats and Sharps. “The picking is exhilarating the harmonies precise. You can but admire…” Fred Deller, Mojo. Bluegrass band on tour promoting their new album
- Friday 22 April 7.30pm In the Croft Hall Film – West Side Story. -Rotten Tomatoes Critics Consensus: “Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story presents a new look at the classic musical that lives up to its beloved forebear and in some respects might even surpass it.”
February 2022
February started with a sold-out show as Cloudbusting performed an electric two-hour live set of Kate Bush’s incredible hits. It’s no wonder Simon Mayo says this band is the next best thing to the real star herself. We’ve had two sold-out shows in the past few months so we do recommend signing up to our newsletter on our website so you’ll be the first to hear about our events.
We had a good crowd for No Time to Die, the final James Bond starring Daniel Craig. Our next film for the month is Promising Young Woman on 18 February This isa psychological thriller with dashes of black humour and satrs Carey Mulligan who plays a young woman, traumatised by a tragic event in her past and meeting out vengeance against those who crossed her path.
Look out for a very different film in March: Ammonite, a thoughtful and beautifully shot period drama starring Kate Winslet as the fossil-hunting Mary Anning.
While our live music gigs have attracted a good audience it would be great to see a few more people viewing our carefully chosen films. With a bar, candles, and cafe-style seating it is a relaxed, sociable event.
Tickets and more information available from ArtsForHungeford.com.
What’s coming up…
- Friday 18 February, 7.30pm in The Croft Hall – Promising Young Woman starring Carey Mulligan.
- Friday 11 March, 7.30pm in The Croft Hall –Ammonite, starring Kate Winslet.
- Saturday 12 March, 7.30pm in the Croft Hall – The Dunwells, great indie Americana (all the way from Leeds).
January 2022
After rescheduling our January events, Arts For Hungerford starts February with a fanfare hosting one of the most authentic tribute bands in the world followed by a screening of the huge hit No Time to Die.
On 3 February, Kate Bush fans will not want to miss Cloudbusting. To quote Simon Mayo: “If you missed seeing Kate herself, Cloudbusting is the next best thing!” The band’s passion for Kate’s music has won over sceptical fans everywhere, challenging perceptions of what a tribute band can be and resulting in sell-out performances across the UK.
They will perform a two-hour live set of incredible hits from Kate’s repertoire, including Wuthering Heights, Hounds of Love, Wow and many more. They sold out last time they played at The Croft and tickets are selling fast so don’t hang around.
Our Friday Films restart with No Time to Die on 4 February. If you didn’t make to to the cinema to catch Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007 then now’s your chance. James Bond has left active service. His peace is short-lived when Felix Leiter, an old friend from the CIA, turns up asking for help, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
To book tickets for our events please go to www.artsforhungerford.com
What’s coming up…
- Thursday 3 February, 7.30pm in The Croft Hall – Cloudbursting, acclaimed Kate Bush tribute band (see above for more).
- Friday 4 February, 7.30pm in The Croft Hall – No Time to Die, the latest 007 blockbuster (see above for more).
December 2021
It was wonderful to see such a great turn-out for the Oscar-winning film, Nomadland, starring Frances McDormand. We subsequently showed another Oscar-winner, Another Round: despite dealing with divorce and depression was a surprising uplifting story featuring a group of teachers experimenting with drink to enhance their lives. A very different beast – Eaten by Lions – was a sharp comedy with many recognisable names including Jonny Vegas. Though full of jokes it was also touching, containing poignant messages about family and cultures.
We have a committee of film members that read reviews, check-out critics’ opinions and we also watch a lot of trailers. We think this means the films we show are going to be well worth a watch – so do come along, and enjoy a drink with friends at your table while you view.
Music-wise it was great to welcome back Classical Young Musicians – an enjoyable evening watching these rising stars perform. Don’t miss them next time. It would be marvellous for more people to enjoy this quality of music, and good practice for them to perform to a larger crowd. Many of these musicians go on to do great things so catch them in the Croft Hall first!
Lively Spanish guitars and mouth-watering tapas meant that our sold-out evening with the De Fuego was a hugely enjoyable, with the audience demanding an encore and dancing at the end. They brought the house down and we hope to welcome them back in the future.
To close the year local singer songwriter, Victoria BeeBee & her band treated us to some of her own songs as well as covers. Her exquisite vocals carried us away.
What’s coming up…
We get off to a flying start with another European Blues Artists of the Year Kyla Brox: a great Christmas present.
- Friday 7 January, 7.30pm at the Croft Hall – Ammonite. An acclaimed but overlooked fossil hunter Mary Anning and a young woman sent to convalesce by the sea develop an intense relationship
- Saturday 8 January, 7.30pm at the Croft Hall – Kyla Brox Band. Kyla Brox won the European Blues Challenge 2019 in The Azores, within days of releasing her thrilling, expansive new album, Pain & Glory. We are very proud to be able to continue bringing artists of this quality to Hungerford.
- Friday 21 January, 7.30pm at the Croft Hall – Promising Young Woman. Everyone said Cassie (Carey Mulligan) was a promising young woman, until a mysterious event abruptly derailed her future. But nothing in Cassie’s life is what it appears to be…
- Saturday 22 January, 7.30pm at the Croft Hall – The Dunwells. The Dunwells are a successful Leeds based Indie-folk/Americana band with strong vocals, powerful melodies and heartfelt lyrics.
November 2021
Biography was a bit of a theme for our second weekend in October. The film Pain and Glory was a semi-biographical piece and Pedro Almodovar’s return to his best form (with an excellent reveal at the end which added a plot twist). This was followed by an wonderful mix of biography, anecdotes and exceptional cello playing by Robert Cohen.
What’s coming up…
November’s events range from the road to the bottle and from aspiring classical musicians to established Flamenco stars:
- Friday 5 November, 7.30pm at the Croft Hall – Nomadland. A woman in her sixties, after losing everything in the great recession, embarks on a journey through the American West in this triple-Oscar-winning drama.
- Saturday 6 November, 8.00pm at the Croft Hall – Classical Young Musicians, the latest in our series of concerts showcasing the talents of some remarkable young players.
- Friday 19 November, 7.30pm at the Croft Hall – Another Round, Mad Mikkelsen leads the cast in vintage form in this deftly directed and Oscar-winning tragic-comedy which takes an intoxicating look at mid-life crisis for four teachers.
- Saturday 20 November, 7.30pm at the Croft Hall – De Fuego, award-winning Spanish guitar duo playing energetic instrumental flamenco and rumba music (tapas will be served to help get you in the mood).
October 2021
Our new season got off to a brilliant start with a typically eclectic range of events in the Croft Hall.
Our first Friday Film was Portrait of a Lady on Fire – beautiful to watch not only in terms of the cinematography but the deep-felt emotions portrayed by the characters (unusually, all of whom were female). The final scene in particular had viewers rapt and will linger long in the memory.
The following night was a different mood altogether with the 16-piece Wantage Big band (which just about fitted onto the stage) playing recognisable hits from the ’40s through to the ’60s. It was an upbeat evening with most audience members up and dancing,
Later in the month Keith James took us back to the classic songs of Yusuf (Cat Stevens), weaving in some biographical tales of the musician’s life as he went. We were also treated to a bit of Leonard Cohen.
Now we are looking forward to our second film of the month, Pain & Glory, on October 15th, starring Antonio Banderas as an ageing film director. This is followed by internationally acclaimed cellist Robert Cohen on October 16th. In words and music Robert tells us his story which includes studying with Jacqueline du Pré and working with Yehudi Menuhin.
What’s coming up…
Here are the details of the events in the rest of October:
- Friday 15 October, 7.30pm at the Croft Hall – Pain & Glory. This remarkable film by Pedro Almodóvar “at the height of his powers” stars Antonio Banderas as a writer/director in his declining years looking back on the successes and failures of his life. “Witty, intelligent and sensuous.”
- Saturday 18 October, 7.30pm at the Croft Hall – Robert Cohen: Cello. Described as “an international cellist’s journey” the evening will describe, in words and music, the highs and lows of life on the road as a soloist.
September 2021
The Arts for Hungerford 2021/22 programme kicks off with a great programme of live music, film, theatre and spoken-word events. There was a prequel event on 26 August when singer and songwriter extraordinaire Jack Lukeman managed to squeeze in a gig in town: but the regular action starts on Friday 17 September with a showing of Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
What’s coming up…
We’ve taken a quick peek into the Arts for Hungerford schedule – here are the events coming up over the next four weeks:
- Friday 17 September, 7.30pm at the Croft Hall – Portrait of a Lady on Fire. This won the Best Screenplay Award at Cannes and is a spell-binding tale of a clandestine romance between two women that examines the connection between an artist and their muse.
- Saturday 16 October, 7.30pm at the Croft Hall – The Wantage Big Band. With compelling rhythms and a large playlist, the 18-piece Wantage Big Band are the local kings (and queens) of swing.
- Friday 1 October, 7.30pm in the Croft Hall – The Father. Another award-winning film. It’s a tremendously powerful story about a man who begins to question the fabric of his reality and features powerhouse performances from Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman.
- Saturday 2 October, 7.30pm in the Croft Hall – Keith James presents the music of Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens). This acclaimed guitarist and singer/songwriter looks back at the life and legacy of Cat Stevens illustrated with performances of several of his most well-loved songs.
