RETURN TO THE HIDING PLACE - A Searchlight Theatre Performance
2024-02-03 19:00 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Emmanuel Church Chippenham, Emmanuel Church, Goldney Avenue, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1ND
Everyone is welcome to join us for the theatrical performance of “Return to the hiding place”, the story of Corrie Ten Boom. Doors open at 6:45 and only £7 per ticket!
A reimagining of Corrie Ten Boom’s biographical tale of forgiveness and reconciliation in the shadows of WW2. The family bravely hide Jews in their small clock shop. The consequences are dark and devastating.
The production looks not only at the story from Corrie’s viewpoint but also from a German army officer’s angle as well. How do they both regard their families, their faith, the Jewish people and the occupation of Holland?
They begin in different worlds, but eventually come face to face with each other. Moving and inspiring, and relevant for today.
Suitable for anyone age 12+

Love Stories
2024-02-14 19:30 - 22:30 | The Rotary Club, Station Hill, Chippenham
A Valentine’s Day you’ll never forget 🎭❤️
Kandu Arts is bringing a show to Chippenham that promises a whirlwind romance of stories, chat and laughs about love. Love Stories, by Mark Rutterford, promises a Valentine’s Day event like no other and one you’ll never forget. As the audience eats Love Heart sweets, they will hear tales of love affairs and heartache but like any romantic encounter, Love Stories is not a passive experience.
Audience engagement is a big part of the show. It’s the audience that decides who wins the World Cup of Love Songs, what happens in one story and, having heard Mark’s best and worst romantic moments, they’ll be invited to share their own triumphs and disasters. Laughs and empathy are guaranteed.
This interactive theatre piece is that latest offering from Kandu Arts, a Chippenham based company that has been using the arts and activities to explore a wide range of issues and nurture strong relationships within the community for 25 years.
An alien reports that he just ‘doesn’t get it,’ but the 4-Star Review from last year’s Bath Fringe Festival says that you will feel the connection and that you might be beguiled into leaving your cynic at the door.
“the connection…is what makes the night – during our short time together we become friends hanging out”
Background
Mark Rutterford is a writer-performer that has been performing stories across the South West for a decade. Love Stories is Mark’s first solo show – it made its debut at Bath Fringe Festival in May 2023 (4-Stars) and went on to Shaftesbury Fringe in July and Camden Fringe in August last year. The mix of performance, props, emotions and audience engagement are key features in the inclusive, funny and entertaining show Mark wanted to create. He is delighted to be working with Kandu Arts and to be performing in Chippenham for the first time – he hopes to do more of both in future.
Kandu Arts for sustainable development is based in Chippenham, Wiltshire, and has worked since 1998 with communities, often the most marginalized and hardest to reach up and down the country. They use music, film, visual arts & sport as a means to explore a wide range of issues. Combined with nurturing strong relationships, this approach is highly effective in areas of engaging the disaffected, increasing community cohesion and development.

Rent the musical! Excerpts from the show at Wine Monkey
2024-02-24 20:00 - 22:00 | The Cellar by Wine Monkey, 20 Borough Parade, Chippenham, SN15 3WL, United Kingdom
Catch excerpts from the upcoming musical Rent, performed by the fabulous cast of the Maple Theatre Company—experience the essence of ‘La Vie Boheme!’ A sneak peak before the full production at the Rondo Theatre, Bath, 13-16 March.
Wine Monkey opening hours as usual. First come, first served; no table bookings are being accepted for this event.
The Chippenham Fringe Feb Festival kicks off from Friday 23rd until Sunday 25th February packed with a diverse range of entertaining events for all ages across Chippenham. Highlights include comedy shows, live music performances, an art exhibition, interactive workshops, and family-friendly activities, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy – with affordable entry fees or free! Details and the full programme can be found here https://onechippenham.org.uk/fringefeb/.
Suitable for 18+

aKa Dance Theatre present Shed-ache, Fringe Feb
2024-02-25 16:00 - 17:00 | Constitutional Club, 36 Foghamshire, Chippenham, SN15 1HB, United Kingdom
Be prepared to be blown away by aKa’s brand new family friendly show which is bright and sunny!
Today’s forecast includes brisk boogying, severe silliness and spells of confetti showers.With extreme movement travelling in all directions, we predict joy spreading across large areas.
You’ll need to hold on to your hats, as we foresee a high chance of slapstick, with all predictions pointing towards it raining snacks and socks.
Unpredictable and unusual conditions prompt us to travel hand in hand as we join together to soak up the silly.
With 100% chance of laughter you’ll be reminded of the importance of embracing experiences whatever the weather.

Aimed at 3-8yrs but older and younger children very welcome
Tickets – on the door £5-7, but pre-book in advance for £5 here

This event is part of a three-day arts festival happening around Chippenham from the 23rd-25th February. Find out more about Chippenham Fringe Feb 2024 and the other creative and vibrant Fringe performances and activities taking place by visiting here.
Chippenham Fringe Feb is produced and delivered by Melt Productions in collaboration with Chippenham Borough Lands Charity (CBLC) and the Chippenham Chat group. Funding for the event is provided by Chippenham Borough Lands Charity.
#FringeFeb24 #FringeFeb #ChippEvents

Annie Get Your Gun (musical)
2024-03-02 14:30 | Neeld Community & Arts Centre, The Neeld, High Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3ER, United Kingdom
🌟SADDLE UP🌟
Join us for Annie Get Your Gun from 28th Feb – 2nd March, and see Annie’s high flying adventure through the Wild West 🤠
Featuring classic hits “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better” & “There’s No Business Like Showbusiness”, it’s a sharp-shootin’ sensation 🎶
Wed – Sat 7:30pm
Sat 2:30pm
Tickets available NOW! 🌟
🎟️ https://thelittleboxoffice.com/neeld/book/event/191555
🗓️ 28 Feb – 2 March
📍Neeld Community & Arts Centre in Chippenham

Tell Your Story - Theatre Acting and Directing workshop
2024-08-01 11:00 - 15:00 | Central Methodist Church, Monkton Hill, Chippenham, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 1EP, United Kingdom
Work with professional Theatre Director and writer, Marnie Forbes-Eldridge. Whether you have already tried acting or directing, or whether you just want to give it a go, all levels of experience are welcome.
Warm up and get to know each other from 11am; free pizza at 12pm; masterclass from 1pm
Marnie is a professional Theatre Director, Writer and Storyteller. Having trained in Body Aware, Mask, Japanese and Chinese Theatre, as an actor and director, Marnie uses the body and text to tell a story. She uses her work in the Arts as a Creative Facilitator and has worked for Theatres throughout the British Isles – Salisbury Playhouse, The Everyman, Cheltenham and The Roses Tewkesbury. She has worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company and Prime Theatre. Directing and using drama skills is part of what she does and her work with RADA has been used for communication and confidence projects.
You will gain experience of professional working methods and tools to use in your own acting work.

Shakespeare Live: The Prince & The Knave
2024-10-26 20:00 - 22:00 | The Cause Music and Arts Centre, 42 The Causeway, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3DD, United Kingdom
In extracts from Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Shakespeare Live’s team of actors take multiple roles to tell the story of the tortuous relationship between Prince Hal, the future Henry V, and the dissolute knight Sir John Falstaff. Shakespeare mingles comedy, drama and pathos in the tale of the young prince coming of age and finding his destiny, while the boastful, blustering Falstaff follows haplessly in his wake. The scene moves from the seedy streets and taverns of London, across highways and battlefields, to reach the final denouement at the court of the newly-crowned King Henry V.
This long-established and well-regarded Shakespeare theatre company produces annual productions in the grounds of Cleeve House, Seend, Wiltshire, SN12 6PG.
Shakespeare Live has been running for over 30 years and is a group of talented and skilled actors and technicians who give their time and energy for free. The organisation is a registered charity.

Drama improvisation 18+
2025-01-06 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-01-20 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-02-03 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-03-03 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-03-17 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-03-31 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-04-07 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-05-19 19:00 - 21:00 and 2 more dates | The Cause Music and Arts Centre, 42 The Causeway, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3DD, United Kingdom
‘The most fun I have all week – I haven’t laughed so much in ages’
Alternate Monday’s at the Cause Arts Centre 7-9pm
Improvisation Workshops delivered by Laura.
If you’re interested but not sure what it is – just come and watch a session and have a cup of tea!
Come and join a lovely bunch of local budding thespians, who like to mess about, play games, take part in drama exercises and generally have fun while learning how to think on the spot, make up scenes and not be restricted by the script.
You’ll explore scenes, develop strong characters then improvise the content with some idea of the outcomes – Mike Leigh style. Some of our short form games are like ‘Who’s line is it anyway’ if you’re old enough to remember that!
If you have always wanted to try some drama, but are not sure that you want to commit, just pop in and do the bits that you want to, or just come and watch a session. We’d love you to join us – and can guarantee that you’ll meet some brilliant and supportive people along the way.

Basic introduction, get to know each other, ground rules for improv and how to let your brain avoid filtering (too much)
Introduction to creating characters to use in scenes – emphasis on the physical. Levels of performance style – 1-10
Further character development – using the voice to compliment the physical. Tone, pitch, accent. Introducing costume for characters.
How to respond to offers and add value to a scene. Can we develop a plot using the people that we have found?
What do we need to do to become more believable? What clues can other actors give each other when in an improvised scene?
Feedback – audience to watch. Teens invited to join us.

£65 for 5 week blocks
Block 1 – Monday January 6th and 20th, Feb 3rd, March 3rd and 17th
Block 2 – Monday April 7th, May 19th, June 2nd and 16th July 7th.
(Thursday evening Improv Slams also running at the Old Road Tavern 7.30 – 9pm £10 – drop in on second Thursday of the month if you can’t commit to blocks and want to do short form only. January 9th, Feb 13th, March 13th, April 10th, May 8th, June 12th. No booking needed)

Little Voices - Drama & Singing
2025-02-25 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-03-04 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-03-11 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-03-18 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-03-25 16:00 - 19:00, 2025-04-01 16:00 - 19:00 | Pewsham Community Centre, Lodge Road, Chippenham, SN5 3SY
We’re SO excited to be welcoming lots of new pupils, tutors, and schools to Little Voices this year – 2025 is going to be BIGGER and better than ever!
We have recently launched at Pewsham Community Centre on Tuesdays, term time and have a selection of lessons available for ages 4-18yrs (school age)
We would love to welcome you along to join us for a free trial lesson, and for us to be a big part of Pewsham community – helping children find their voices, learn new skills and make new friends, having fun along the way.
Holiday workshops may be in the offing too if weekly lessons don’t suit your current timetables.

Rag & Bone Arts CIC Stage Combat Workshop with Rebecca Osborne
2025-04-07 11:30 - 15:30 | Neeld Community & Arts Centre, The Neeld, High Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3ER, United Kingdom
Come along and work with: Rebecca Osborne Actor and Stage Combat instructor.
Step Into the shoes of your heroes as you learn to punch, kick and grapple for the stage! If you want to move a bit quicker, or have tried stage combat before, this session would suit you.
Group 2 – (14-18 or improvers)11.30 – 1pm
Pizza 1 – 1.30pm
Group 1 (11-13’s/beginners) 1.30 pm – 3pm
Youth Cafe 3-4.30pm (Feel free to perform if you wish)
The founder of Brazen Steel, and a core member of the teaching team at Rebel Action, Rebecca has spent time instructing at the Royal Shakespeare Company, LAMDA and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Rebecca is nearing the end of her stage combat instructor apprenticeship with the Academy of Performance Combat, and has helped to guide a plethora of students from their first taste of combat to daring fight scenes and everything in between. Her teaching style is patient, empathetic, and encouraging; she is committed to helping each student as an individual to grow and achieve.

Rag & Bone Arts CIC Acting Improvisation with Emile Clarke
2025-04-09 11:30 - 15:30 | Neeld Community & Arts Centre, The Neeld, High Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3ER, United Kingdom
Come along and work with: Emile Clarke: actor, educator and photographer.
Group 1 (11-13’s or beginners) 11.30 – 1pm
Pizza 1 – 1.30pm
Group 2 (14-18 or improvers) : 1.30 pm – 3pm
Youth Cafe 3 – 4.30pm (Feel free to perform if you wish)
Develop your acting, improvisation and devising skills with Emile. In a playful and fun learning environment, Emile will enable you to build your performance skills whatever your level of prior experience.
Emile has worked in theatre, on stage and in film. He trained at LIPA (Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts) and he has been in award winning plays, like The Little Mermaid (Pins and Needles/The Egg) and films, such as The Cartographer (Berlin Short Film award winner). He is also a champion of equality and diversity, designing workshops for many institutions. Emile also runs a headshot photography company.

Rag & Bone Arts CIC Writing for Performance Workshop with Florence Espeutt-Nickless
2025-04-15 11:30 - 15:30 | Neeld Community & Arts Centre, The Neeld, High Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3ER, United Kingdom
Come along and work with: Actor and writer Florence Espeutt-Nickless
Learn how to write for stage: based on Florence’s award winning one-woman show, Destiny, this workshop will focus on how you create an engaging character who can tell the stories you want people to hear.
Group 2 (14-18 or improvers)11.30 – 1pm
Pizza 1 – 1.30pm
Group 2 : (11-13’s or beginners) 1.30 pm – 3pm
Youth Cafe 3 – 4.30pm (Feel free to perform if you wish)
Florence Espeut-Nickless is an award-winning writer and actor from Chippenham. She attended Hardenhuish School and Wiltshire College before training as an actor at Uni and Drama School. Her play DESTINY is inspired by her experiences growing up on Hill Rise in the noughties. It has won awards and toured extensively across the UK and in Denmark. She was 2024 Writer in Residence at Bristol Old Vic and has recently written plays for the National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic, Trowbridge Town Hall and Restoke.

Rag & Bone Arts CIC Lighting Design & Operation Workshop with Luke Emmett
2025-04-15 11:30 - 15:30 | Neeld Community & Arts Centre, The Neeld, High Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3ER, United Kingdom
Come along and work with: Luke Emmett lighting designer
Group 1 (11-13yrs /beginners) 11.30 – 1pm
Pizza 1 – 1.30pm
Group 2 (14-18’s/Improvers) is 1.30pm – 3pm
Youth Cafe – 3-4.30pm.
In this hands-on workshop, young people will explore the fundamentals of lighting design and how it transforms theatre and live events. Through practical exercises, they’ll learn about different types of lighting, how to shape mood and atmosphere, and the role of colour, angles, and intensity. Participants will get the chance to experiment with lighting equipment, create their own lighting states, and gain an understanding of how lighting designers bring productions to life. No prior experience needed—just creativity and curiosity.
Luke John Emmett is an award-winning Lighting Designer (Wizard of Oz – 2015), freelance Technical Manager, and Event Manager based in Bath, with twenty years of experience in the live entertainment industry. He founded Theatre Bath and led the conversion of a single-decker bus into a mobile theatre, the Theatre Bath Bus.
He has worked on a variety of high-profile events, including a press launch for Alicia Keys, a global conference for Pinterest, and live streams for English Heritage and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (UK Parliament). Locally, he Production Managed Theatre on the Downs for the Wardrobe Ensemble and Produced Forest of Imagination for two years.

Rag & Bone Arts CIC Make-Up For Stage Workshop with Anna Randall
2025-04-16 11:30 - 15:30 | Neeld Community & Arts Centre, The Neeld, High Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire, SN15 3ER, United Kingdom
Come along and work with: Anna Randall – Film and TV make-up artist
Come and learn how to create realistic bruises. (Content warning – will use photographs of real life bruising for reference)
Group 1 (11-13’s or beginners – bruises) 11.30 – 1pm
Pizza 1 – 1.30pm
Group 2 (14-18 or improvers – bruising and wounds) : 1.30 pm – 3pm
Youth Cafe 3 – 4.30pm (Feel free to perform if you wish)
Anna is a Hair And Makeup Effects Artist, with a Masters Degree in prosthetic effects. She has worked in TV and Film industry for over seven years, on films, commercials, music videos, feature films and short films, and her work has led to nominations and awards for Best FX.

Shooting Roots Youth Folk Arts Workshops
2025-05-24 13:00 - 20:00 | Masonic Hall, Emery Lane, Chippenham, SN15 3AU, United Kingdom
Across Chippenham Folk Festival weekend, nationally-renowned youth folk arts organisation Shooting Roots are offering a series of workshops, which are heavily discounted for local young people.
There are workshops in singing and theatre, with evening folk arts activities, and a chance to perform on the festival’s main community stage on Monday.
Expect songs, harmonies, devising ridiculous plots, tableaus, games, music, and a chance to meet new friends. All take place at the Masonic Hall in Emery Lane, the YOUTH HUB for the festival weekend.
Local (all SN postcodes, plus BA14 and BA15) 11-17 year olds can access each Shooting Roots workshop for just £3 on the door. Or £20 for all sessions if a wristband is purchased from Chippenham Folk Festival box office.
More details here

Stagecoach presents Into the Woods Jr
2025-06-22 18:00 - 19:00 | The Neeld
Stagecoach Chippenham and Melksham students follow Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Jack and his Beanstalk, and the Witch and journey ‘into the woods’…
Students from Stagecoach Theatre Arts Chippenham & Melksham will offer the audience an amusingly different way to think about everyone’s favourite fairy tale characters in this production. The show features 15 of their Further Stages students (aged 14-18).
From the first rehearsal, the students have collaborated to gain a new perspective on these fairy tales and the ethical issues they present. The tutors hope you will join them in applauding the unique ways in which each student has contributed to the show, including: performing; designing props, lights and scenery; assistant directing; and working backstage.
Tickets: Standard £11 | Concession £8 (over 60s or under 5s)
Age Restrictions: None
Please contact the venue for any access requirements.
Tickets are also available through our Box Office on 01249 446699, from the Neeld Box Office or at the Town Hall.
Tickets are non-refundable unless this event is cancelled or postponed.
