Box of Delights Marvellous Makers -Short Films and Workshop
2024-07-25 10:00 - 12:30 (Europe/London) | SpArC Theatre
Box of Delights Marvellous Makers.
Join us for a morning of film and making.
Watch a series of animated short films to help inspire us to make our own junk character.
Eight award-winning short films from the British Animation Awards, specially selected for 4-7s. A more cheerful collection of stories from around Europe you will not find, full of music, colour and character but no dialogue.
or Maybe you are inspired by a character in a book you have been learning about in the Summer reading challenge.
Session will be from 10-12.30:
10-10.15 Arrival and Intro
10.15- 11 Short animated films
Little break
11.10-12.30 Making session open- scrap making session with guidance and all materials but with plenty of freedom to create your own thing .

FILMS :

A Sunny Day
Gil Alkabetz / Germany / 2007 / 6 min
From rising to setting, the sun is always cheerful except when everyone hides in the shade. How ungrateful!
Whistleless

Siri Melchior / Denmark / 2010 / 5 min
How can one tiny bird find its voice amid the sounds and rhythms of the busy town?

Fouding or Not Fouding

Youlia Rainous / France / 2008 / 5 min
Chop! Cut! Slice! Grate! A kaleidoscope of crazy fruit and veg to have you dancing in your seat; in French, the words ‘fou’ and ‘dingue’ mean ‘crazy’!

The Little Red Plane
Charlotte Blacker / UK / 2010 / 4 min
In a world crafted of wool, the postboy and his cat fly through the clouds and stars to deliver their parcels.
Dodu the Cardboard Boy: The Balloon Moon
José Miguel Ribeiro / Portugal / 2010 / 5 min
With one little rip of his cardboard box, Dodu’s imagination lets in the sea and sweeps him away to adventure.
Trim Time
Gil Alkabetz / Germany / 2002 / 2’30 min
In spring and summer the tree’s leaves keep the barber busy. What will they do in autumn and winter?
Calamity Island
David Johnson / UK / 2011 / 9 min
In spring and summer the tree’s leaves keep the barber busy. What will they do in autumn and winter?
Mobile
Verena Fels / Germany / 2010 / 6’30 min
Across a crowded animal mobile, a lonely cow notices a smiley mouse.

Under 8’s must be accompanied by a willing helper
Accompanying adults please book a free place ( so we can make sure there’ s enough seating for the film)

FILM: La Chimera (15)
2024-07-25 19:00 - 21:15 | SpArC Theatre
Just out of jail and still searching for his late beloved Beniamina, crumpled English archaeologist Arthur reconnects with his wayward crew of tombaroli accomplices – a happy-go-lucky collective of itinerant grave-robbers who survive by looting Etruscan tombs and fencing the ancient treasures they dig up. Arthur isn’t interested in the artefacts, though; he’s seeking a legendary door to the underworld, and to Beniamina.
clever, ambitious, and funny throughout, but it also works as an intelligent meditation on our attitudes toward life, love, and death. A group of archaeologists and the black market of historical artifacts.
7.4 IMDB

★★★★★Alice Rohrwacher’s uproarious adventure teems with life. Set in 1980s Tuscany, Rohrwacher’s captivating film follows a lovelorn Englishman plundering Italy’s historical artefacts with a bizarre gang. The Guardian
“Is the Perfect Kind of Film to Get Lost In.” Time

Romantic drama film written and directed by Alice Rohrwacher, Staring osh O’Connor, Carol Duarte, Vincenzo Nemolato, Alba Rohrwacher and Isabella Rossellini. La chimera was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.
In Italian and English w/subtitles

GOING WILD FAMILY FUN
2024-08-15 10:00 - 14:00 | SpArC Theatre
Join the Bishop’s Castle Going Wild Team and Liz from Sparc Theatre for a brilliant day of outdoor and creative activities . Plus a film or short animated films TBC
Under 7’s most be accompanied by an adult
Please bring lunch and a drink.

FILM: ROBOT DREAMS (PG)
2024-08-16 17:30 - 19:10 | SpArC Theatre
7.6 IMDB
Award winning Oscar nominated animation
★★★★★”Kids will respond to the cute characters and gentle wit. Adolescents and adults will recognise the angst and awkwardness of trying to function alone. Bittersweet buddy movie is one of the best animations in recent years.” The Guardian

★★★★★ “Robot Dreams is a film based on the enchanting 2007 graphic novel by Sara Varon, given new life for the big screen in glorious 2D animation by Pablo Berger. Like its source, it’s told wordlessly but is full of incident, imagination and, above all, emotion.” Empire
★★★★★ ” wonderous and wordless!” The telegraph
DOG lives in Manhattan and he’s tired of being alone. One day he decides to build himself a robot, a companion. Their friendship blossoms, until they become inseparable, to the rhythm of 80’s NYC. One summer night, DOG, with great sadness, is forced to abandon ROBOT at the beach. Will they ever meet again?

D&D 1 Shot Game Session
2024-08-27 12:30 - 16:30 | SpArC Theatre
Enter the World of Dungeons and Dragons
Suitable for all levels
“Always wanted to play D&D but didn’t know how to begin?
This “Learn while you Play” will focus on the three traditional “pillars” of RPGs: combat, exploration, and social interaction/roleplaying.
Official D&D Dungeon Master’s (DM) will be your teachers and guides
There will be pre-generated characters and the DM will work with the players to understand the character sheets for the adventure. For example, explain what a fearless fighter, a sneaky Rouge or even a highborn wizard can bring to the table . The DM will walk through combat and skill checks to provide the best experience for the game.”
Age 11+

WORKSHOP: Samba Drumming and Carnival Making
2024-08-29 10:00 - 14:00 | SpArC Theatre
Come and join experienced Samba leader Peter Piper and Community Arts Practitioner Liz Still for a day Samba drumming & making Brazilian carnival inspired costume and props .
Drumming is a fun physical and creative outlet.
Come and make some beautiful noise, Learn a skill , try something new, socialise and building confidence. Play a groove, Make a break, play a call, hear the response. Create your own fill.
Make colourful props and costumes from all kinds of materials- Think big and flamboyant! inspired by Brazilian carnival! All materials provided .
There is no expectation or pressure to wear the things we make or them or perform in front of people- We are just making and playing for fun !
You can take your makes home-
Suitable for beginners Age 9+
Bring lunch / wear comfortable clothes / £8 or 2 for £15

FILM: That They May Face The Rising Sun (15)
2024-08-29 19:00 - 20:50 | SpArC Theatre
7.5 IMDB
Based on internationally acclaimed Irish author John McGahern’s award winning novel of the same name, That They May Face the Rising Sun is a vivid evocation of nature, humanity and life itself, set in a 1980’s rural community in Ireland.
★★★★★”… after years ago being spell bound by the book and also moved by hearing John McGahern on radio and in real, reading from this novel. I thought it would be hard to capture the beauty of his words in cinema. I was not disappointed at all with the film, in fact the opposite it was a powerful and slow moving just like the book.” Audience review
“…an exercise in memory and a reminder to cherish the natural world. Philip King believes the film may have touched people ‘because everything is so virtual, augmented and artificial now, whereas this is tactile, human, visceral” The Irish Times
“1980s Ireland provides a slice of the good life in Pat Collins’ ode to John McGahern’s final novel” Screen Daily

The Royal Opera House: The Marriage of Figaro
2024-09-15 14:00 - 18:00 | SpArC Theatre
The Royal Opera THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO [Revival]
It’s Figaro’s wedding, and you’re invited to join the Almaviva household for an uproarious day of revelation and scandal. Mozart’s comic opera is packed with plot twists, forbidden desires and unforgettable melodies, combining laugh-out-loud comedy with moments of breathtaking beauty.
Count Almaviva lives with his Countess on their estate near Seville. The Count has his eye on his wife’s maid Susanna, who is about to marry the Count’s servant, Figaro. Much to Figaro’s dismay, the Count plans to seduce Susanna on the night of the wedding. Meanwhile, Cherubino, the Count’s young page, has a crush on the Countess, but has just been dismissed after being discovered with Barbarina, the gardener Antonio’s daughter.
Figaro decides he must foil the Count’s attempt to seduce his wife-to-be and enlists the help of the Countess, Susanna and Cherubino – the latter disguising himself as a woman. A series of mistaken identities, misunderstandings and thwarted plans ensue, with all members of the household participating as each tries to get what – and who – they want.

Running time: 240 minutes, One interval
Sung in Italian with subtitles
CAST: FIGARO Luca Micheletti, SUSANNA Ying Fang, COUNT ALMAVIVA Huw Montague Rendall, COUNTESS ALMAVIVA Jacquelyn Stucker, CHERUBINO Ginger Costa-Jackson, BARTOLO Peter Kálmán, MARCELLINA Rebecca Evans, DON BASILIO Adrian Thompson, ANTONIO Jeremy White, DON CURZIO Alasdair Elliott, BARBARINA Isabela Díaz, ORCHESTRA Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, CONCERT MASTER Vasko Vassilev, CHORUS DIRECTOR William Spaulding, CHORUS Royal Opera Chorus
Creatives: DIRECTOR David McVicar, CONDUCTOR Julia Jones, MUSIC Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, LIBRETTO Lorenzo da Ponte, DESIGNER Tanya McCallin, LIGHTING DESIGNER Paule Constable, MOVEMENT DIRECTOR Leah Hausman

Afternoon Film: Younger (PG)
2024-09-17 14:00 - 15:15 | SpArC Theatre
“Exercise is not a luxury. It is the key to healthy ageing.”
Olga Kotelko (1919-2014) World record holder – Masters’ athletics
In a quiet corner, far removed from big money, celebrity status and drug scandals lies the true value of sport. This is a film about friendship and purpose in masters athletics, a place where every five years, getting older means becoming the youngest.
Younger follows a group of female athletes in their 60s, 70s and 80s over the course of a year as they prepare to compete in masters competitions. In these competitions, athletes compete in age groups that span five years, 60-64, 65-69 etc. When an athlete moves up an age group they are then the youngest, and this means they are more likely to win or break records. So, as they approach the top end of their classification, they look forward to being a year older and moving up to the next group where they will be the new kid on the block again.
Dorothy, 85, loves the camaraderie of her gang (as she calls them). Joylyn, 69 hopes to keep going into her 80s and 90s. Sue, 69, says pole vaulting has helped her cope with cancer, twice. Noel, 74, loves the technical challenge of race walking.
For all of them, training and competing in masters athletics is about being part of a supportive community, achieving personal goals and living a purposeful life full of adventures and fun. In doing so, these women show an energy, joyful determination, and fulfilment in older age, that offers a powerful antidote to lazy stereotypes around ageing.
PLUS -Short film Older: A portrait of photographer and activist, Alex Rotas.
Dir. Danielle Sellwood. 6m 32s.
Supported by the Friends of Bishop’s Castle Community, Care Home and Hospital.Tea and biscuits £1,
No stairs, tables & chairs,
Hearing loop,
Free Dial–a-ride bus service from Bishops Castle and Lydbury North please phone 01588 638350
All Tickets £4 Accompanying Carers FREE

NTLIVE: Present Laughter (PG)
2024-09-19 19:00 - 22:00 | SpArC Theatre
Present Laughter
by Noël Coward
★★★★★‘Andrew Scott’s revelatory performance shows why Noël Coward is hailed a genius’ Telegraph
★★★★★ ‘Andrew Scott is wondrous in this revelatory refresh of Noël Coward’s classic comedy’
Time Out
The multi award-winning production of Noël Coward’s provocative comedy featuring Andrew Scott (Vanya, Fleabag) returns to the big screen.
As he prepares to embark on an overseas tour, star actor Garry Essendine’s colourful life is in danger of spiralling out of control. Engulfed by an escalating identity crisis as his many and various relationships compete for his attention, Garry’s few remaining days at home are a chaotic whirlwind of love, sex, panic and soul-searching.
★★★★★ ‘The show belongs to Scott’ The Times
★★★★★ ‘illuminating and luminously funny’ WhatsOnStage
★★★★★ ‘A treat of a production’ Financial Times
Filmed live from The Old Vic in London during a sold out run in 2019, Matthew Warchus (Matilda The Musical) directs this giddy and surprisingly modern reflection on fame, desire and loneliness.
We screen this in 2019 but it was so good we thought there might be people who didn’t catch it last time or want to see it again!

FILM: Wilding (PG)
2024-09-26 19:00 - 20:40 | SpArC Theatre
7.5 IMDB
★★★★”Nature is healing in this soul-enhancing, hopeful ode to the British countryside ” Time Out
Based on Isabella Tree’s best-selling book by the same title, WILDING tells the incredible story of a young couple that bets on nature for the future of their failing, four-hundred-year-old estate.
They set to work with their groundbreaking vision, battling entrenched tradition and major forces along the way, daring to place the fate of their farm in the hands of nature.
Ripping down the fences, they set the land back to the wild and entrust its recovery to a motley mix of animals both tame and wild.
It is the beginning of a grand experiment that will become one of the most significant rewilding experiments in Europe and beyond.
“Mapping the regeneration of over-farmed and polluted land given over to the wild in 2000, this is a welcome story about nature’s ability to just get on with it.” The Guardian

FILM: Back to Black (15)
2024-10-03 19:00 - 21:00 | SpArC Theatre
The extraordinary story of Amy Winehouse’s early rise to fame and the making of her groundbreaking album, Back to Black and the tumultuous relationship at the center of it.
6.3IMDB

FILM: Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry (15)
2024-10-10 19:00 - 20:50 | SpArC Theatre
7.1 IMDB
★★★★★” Elene Naveriani’s warm, wise dramedy makes merry with a midlife crisis
Georgian film about a fearless 48-year-old heroine who has never wanted a husband, preferring blackberry-picking, cake and solitude. ” The Irish Times

★★★★ “a marvellously tender story of loneliness and love” The Guardian

“A New Life Beckons For a Late Bloomer in a Wry Georgian Charmer. A stoically independent Georgian woman in her late 40s experiences a gentle existential awakening during an affair with a local deliveryman in Elene Naveriani’s offbeat, low-key drama.” Variety

A near-death experience sparks an existential and sexual awakening for taciturn shop owner in Elene Naveriani’s enchanting film.
In Georgian with English Subtitles

Afternoon Film: Nobody Has to Know (12A)
2024-10-15 14:00 - 15:40 | SpArC Theatre
A farmhand working on a remote Scottish island suffers amnesia following a stroke. A lonely local woman, taking care of him claims they were lovers before the accident.
Tickets £4 Carers FREE
Supported by the Friends of Bishop’s Castle Community, Care Home and Hospital.
Accessible Cabaret seating/no steps/ hearing loop/ tea and biscuits £1/local Free Bus available

DOCUMENTARY FILM- John Singer Sargent- Fashion & Swagger
2024-10-17 19:00 - 20:30 | SpArC Theatre
John Singer Sargent is known as the greatest portrait artist of his era.
What made his ‘swagger’ portraits remarkable was his power over his sitters, what they wore and how they were presented to the audience.
Through interviews with curators, contemporary fashionistas and style influencers, Exhibition on Screen’s film will examine how Sargent’s unique practice has influenced modern art, culture and fashion.
Filmed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Tate Britain, London, the exhibition reveals Sargent’s power to express distinctive personalities, power dynamics and gender identities during this fascinating period of cultural reinvention.
Alongside 50 paintings by Sargent sit stunning items of clothing and accessories worn by his subjects, drawing the audience into the artist’s studio.
Sargent’s sitters were often wealthy, their clothes costly, but what happens when you turn yourself over to the hands of a great artist?
The manufacture of public identity is as controversial and contested today as it was at the turn of the 20th century, but somehow Sargent’s work transcends the social noise and captures an alluring truth with each brush stroke.
Step into the glittering world of fashion, scandal and shameless self-promotion that made John Singer Sargent the painter who defined an era.
Explore the unique creative process of the late 19th century’s favourite portrait artist and the way in which his portraits captured the spirit of a vibrant and rapidly changing age.

ROB: ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
2024-10-20 14:00 - 17:20 | SpArC Theatre
The Royal Ballet: ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND [Revival]
Screening Via Satellite
Family Ticket Available : £35 ( 2 ADULTS AND UP TO 3 CHILDREN)
Tumble down the rabbit hole in this ballet adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s famous family story. Journey through Wonderland with Alice and encounter a host of curious characters in Christopher Wheeldon’s unique theatrical interpretation.
At a garden party on a sunny afternoon, Alice is surprised to see her parents’ friend Lewis Carroll transform into a white rabbit. When she follows him down a rabbit hole, events become curiouser and curiouser…As Alice journeys through Wonderland, she encounters countless strange creatures. She’s swept off her feet by the charming Knave of Hearts, who’s on the run for stealing the tarts. Confusion piles upon confusion. Then Alice wakes with a start. Was it all a daydream?
ENCORE: Sunday 20 October 2024, 14:00 BST
Running time: 205 minutes, Two intervals
Creatives: CHOREOGRAPHY Christopher Wheeldon; CONDUCTOR Koen Kessels; MUSIC Joby Talbot; ORCHESTRATION Christopher Austin and Joby Talbot; DESIGNER Bob Crowley; SCENARIO Nicholas Wright; LIGHTING DESIGNER Natasha Katz; PROJECTION DESIGNERS Jon Driscoll and Gemma Carrington; ORIGINAL SOUND DESIGNER Andrew Bruce

LIVE Theatre: : Early Weaves-Ascension Dance Company
2024-10-24 11:00 - 14:30 | SpArC Theatre
11am show
1.30pm show
Fun. Playful. Heart-warming, beautiful , a wonderful introduction to dance
theatre for early years children and everyone else .
Using movement in this non-verbal show with a set and props made almost entirely
from willow.
” My children,4 & 2, were transfixed from the moment we entered
the room, sat in silence and stillness throughout apart from the occasional
appropriate laughs”
Meet Willow and Weave as they explore the possibilities of this versatile material as inspire each other to dive deep into their own sense of imagination. See the endless possibilities they unpick and if you and your young person can be entertained by what they discover with a little bit of creativity. Performances for primary schools and public
All Welcome : Discounts for schools nurseries, homes and groups

Dungeons & Dragons Halloween Special 1 Shot
2024-10-31 10:00 - 14:00 | SpArC Theatre
Halloween Themed I shot play.
Spooky Dress or Cosplay most welcome!
If you missed out on the session in the summer or you want to continue the adventure Join Us!
“Always wanted to play D&D but didn’t know how to begin?
This “Learn while you Play” will focus on the three traditional “pillars” of RPGs: combat, exploration, and social interaction/roleplaying.
Official D&D Dungeon Master’s (DM) will be your teachers and guides
There will be pre-generated characters and the DM will work with the players to understand the character sheets for the adventure. For example, explain what a fearless fighter, a sneaky Rouge or even a highborn wizard can bring to the table . The DM will walk through combat and skill checks to provide the best experience for the game.”
we will have a 30min break so bring a packed lunch or snacks to keep you going.
Suitable for all levels
Participants must be Age 11 +

FILM: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (12A)
2024-11-01 19:00 - 20:45 | SpArC Theatre
7.0 IMDB
Three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River after an unexpected family tragedy. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia’s life soon gets turned upside down when her rebellious teenage daughter discovers a mysterious portal to the afterlife. When someone says Beetlejuice’s name three times, the mischievous demon gleefully returns to unleash his very own brand of mayhem.
★★★★ “It’s not every day that a sequel manages to surpass the original. But Tim Burton’s sequel to his 1988 cult classic Beetlejuice Beetlejuice may just manage to do so. Bringing back most of the original’s cast (bar Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis whose ‘presence’ (get it?) is briefly missed but not to the detriment of the film) it’s clear to see that everyone is having fun in this silly follow up.” KickBackTimes
“Tim Burton has fun with pleasingly idiosyncratic sequel “.The Guardian

LIVE MUSIC: All New Sticky Wicket’s Rhythm Band
2024-11-02 20:00 - 22:00 | SpArC Theatre
“ The King of Rhythm” Robert Plant
A brand new line up feat- vocals , 3 piece horns and rhythm section. Popular music and Rhythms from around the world From Stevie Wonder to The Upsetters. Soul, Funk, Ska, Latin, Swing and more. You know it will be a good night!
https://www.youtube.com/@stickywicketdrums

Film: Fly Me to the Moon (12A)
2024-11-07 19:00 - 21:10 | SpArC Theatre
Starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, a sharp, stylish comedy-drama set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing.
Marketing maven Kelly Jones wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’s already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, the countdown truly begins.
6.6 IMDB
“Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson lift rocket-powered romcom A Nasa launch director and a marketing whizz spark and squabble in this 1960s-set nostalgia-fest” Financial Times
★★★★Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum ignite delight in refreshingly witty and touching romcom Fly Me To The Moon about the rumoured fake Moon landing. The Daily Express

RESCHEDULED Afternoon Film: Past Lives (12A)
2024-11-26 14:00 - 15:45 | SpArC Theatre
Rescheduled date after cancellation on 19/11/24 due to snow and Ice.
7.8 IMDB
Two deeply connected childhood friends, Parted when a family emigrates ,are reunited decades later for one fateful week as they confront destiny, love and the choices that make a life.
★★★★★ “A must-see story of lost loves, childhood crushes and changing identities. This article is more than 1 year old. Celine Song’s feature debut about two people whose lives intertwine again after years apart is delicate and sophisticated, but also simple and direct.” The Guardian
★★★★ “A wry, moving debut from director Celine Song. Three lives are interwoven in this beautifully acted movie” Financial Times
★★★★ “A gentle drama about first love and thirty something melancholy. Childhood sweethearts reunite, then reunite again, in Celine Song’s vaguely autobiographical time-hopping romance, which nicely avoids easy answers.” The Independent
Part of Winter Warmers Season so you can get a FREE Cuppa and a snack as well what’s not to like !
Open to All !
Tickets £4 Carers FREE
Supported by Arts Alive and Friends of Bishop’s Castle Community, Care Home and Hospital
Accessible Cabaret seating/no steps/ hearing loop/ tea and biscuits £1/local Free Bus available
Free Dial–a-ride bus service from Bishops Castle and Lydbury North please phone 01588 638350All Tickets £4 Accompanying Carers FREE

LIVE THEATRE: Make Good- PENTABUS
2024-11-28 19:30 - 21:20 | SpArC Theatre
Post-office. Scandal. Musical.

A Pentabus and New Perspectives co-production
Make Good: The Post Office Scandal
A new musical by Jeanie O’Hare (book) & Jim Fortune (music & lyrics)
Directed by Elle While
A vibrant & compassionate new musical, inspired by the Post Office Scandal which tore communities apart & jailed innocent people.
Maxine Peake on Instagram  – ’It’s chuffin’ marvellous!! Go and see it you won’t be disappointed!… ♥️‘
“If we knew that this was going to happen to us, that we were going to become criminals by buying a Post Office, we would never, ever have done it.” Subpostmaster
For twenty years Subpostmasters all over the UK were jailed for stealing money that never existed. Directly informed by conversations with affected Subpostmasters, Make Good dives into these most local of stories, capturing the raw emotion, the betrayals, and the collective disbelief that this could be happening to innocent people.
A new musical, three years in the making, tells the story of the resilience of the Sub-Postmasters and their families, in what is now recognised as the gravest miscarriage of justice in British history. Can the Post Office ever make good the damage they have done?
“The musical is full of feeling. And that’s what we need to portray to people now, so that they can feel and understand what we felt, all the heartache that we went through. The songs bring so much to the story, they’re heartfelt and there’s humour in it too, it’s funny. It made me smile as well as being touching.” Subpostmaster
Touring Autumn 2024 – Celebrating 100 years of rural touring, and marking the 50th anniversary of leading rural theatre companies Pentabus and New Perspectives.
Make Good is accessible for blind and partially sighted audiences, with Audio Description integrated into every performance.
Suitable for ages 11+
90 minutes (approx.), plus interval

Produced by two of Rural Touring’s leading theatre companies, with a team of notable theatre makers. Directly informed by conversations with affected sub-postmasters, Make Good dives into this most local of stories, capturing the raw emotions, the bewilderment and the unbreakable bond of faith and family that were put to the test.

Ludlow Assembly Rooms – Preview Performance
‘Full of energy and vitality – fantastic performance’
‘Heart rending – lost for words’
‘Enthralled, Outraged, Entertained – Always love Pentabus’
‘Fantastic, Emotional, Memorable – a really brilliant production from start to finish’
‘Exciting, moving, full of community – the additional of the community choirs is lush – more of this!’
‘Masterpiece, best thing we’ve seen this year.’
CONTENT WARNINGS
The following is a list of specific content that may impact audience members. This may include actions and themes as well as technical triggers. The content warnings are updated as a production evolves through the rehearsal process. Make Good includes the following:
Thematic Triggers

Suicide
Some strong language

Technical triggers

Haze (at some venues)

Pentabus are champions of rural touring and are ‘one of British theatre’s unsung treasures.’ The Guardian

YOUTH SAMBA BAND XMAS SESSIONS
2024-12-06 17:45 - 2024-12-13 18:45 | Sparc Theatre, Bishop's Castle, United Kingdom
FRI 6 DEC SESSION
FRI 13 DEC XMAS SESSION

Youth Samba Band
Last sessions of 2024 including a Christmas Party come and join us
No experience necessary
Come and have fun!
Drumming is a fun physical and creative outlet.
With opportunity to perform at community events or just come and make some beautiful noise
Learn a skill , try something new, socialise and building confidence.
Come and join experienced Samba leader Peter Piper in a new Samba band for 9-14 year olds. Take thew chance to be part of building this new band- Play a groove, Make a break, play a call, hear the response. Create your own fill.
5.45pm- 6.45pm Sparc Bishop’s Castle
sparctheatre.co.uk 01588 638038
Suitable for all levels
Supported by The Dylan Price Foundation and the Ashley Foundation

LIVE MUSIC: GREY WOLF
2024-12-06 19:30 - 21:30 | SpArC Theatre
LIVE MUSIC : Grey Wolf

Old Time American from Welsh Marches banjo, fiddle, guitar, and double bass alongside fine vocal and harmony singing.
These boys never fail to get your feet tapping and spirits lifted!

Grey Wolf is an acoustic Americana/old-time folk band from the Welsh Marches playing traditional instruments such as banjo, fiddle, guitar, dulcimer, mandolin and double bass alongside fine vocal and harmony singing. The band has headlined several of the prestigious UK’s Old Time American Music and Dance Festivals; has appeared on radio, at folk clubs, festivals, and music and literary venues throughout the UK.

Grey Wolf was born in 2010 when Jim Allen and Martin Thomas began playing as a duo blending their shared love of American old time music with British folk music. These two gifted multi instrumentalists were joined by a third some years later – the immensely talented Ben Walsh. The fourth member of the band, widely experienced and versatile bass player Andy Offer joined them in 2021.

The Birmingham News said of Grey Wolf’s performance at the Kitchen Garden Cafe in Birmingham “There’s an equality to the group’s spread of sound, but each player is continually soloing-in-motion, rising up in turn, according to where the ears of the audience might alight at any one moment”.

Adults £15 Students / Child £5

ROB: Cinderella
2024-12-15 14:00 - 17:15 | SpArC Theatre
The Royal Ballet CINDERELLA [Revival]
Screening Via Satellite
Family Ticket Available : £35 ( 2 ADULTS AND UP TO 3 CHILDREN)
This Christmas, The Royal Ballet invites you to the ball with Frederick Ashton’s spectacular Cinderella. A fairytale like no other, this magical ballet boasts astonishing stagecraft, enchanting design and exquisite dance. This much-loved ballet is a masterpiece for all the family to enjoy this festive period .
Ashton’s adaptation of Cinderella received its premiere on 23rd December 1948 with Royal Ballet dancers Moira Shearer and Michael Somes in the lead roles. The production was received rapturously with Ashton’s reworking of Charles Perrault’s famous rags-to-riches story proving a compelling showcase for the choreographer’s musicality and the beauty of Sergey Prokofiev’s transcendent score.
Cinderella made a welcome return to the stage in 2023 after an absence of over 10 years in a new production with an award-winning creative team steeped in the magic of theatre, film, dance and opera, bringing new atmosphere to Cinderella’s ethereal world of fairy godmothers and pumpkin carriages. Set design is by Tom Pye (My Neighbour Totoro, Olivier award for Best Set Design), costume designs by Alexandra Byrne (Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Academy Award for Best Costume Design), lighting design by David Finn (Brokeback Mountain), video design by Finn Ross (Les Miserables, Frozen) and illusions by Chris Fisher (Harry Potter and The Cursed Child).
This Christmas, be transported into an ethereal world where a sprinkling of fairy dust makes dreams come true.
Stuck at home and put to work by her spoiled Step-Sisters, Cinderella’s life is dreary and dull. Everything changes when she helps a mysterious woman out…With a little bit of magic, she is transported into an ethereal new world – one where fairies bring the gifts of the seasons, where pumpkins turn into carriages, and where true love awaits.
Creatives: CHOREOGRAPHY Frederick Ashton; MUSIC Sergey Prokofiev; SET DESIGNER Tom Pye; COSTUME DESIGNER Alexandra Byrne; LIGHTING DESIGNER David Finn; VIDEO DESIGNER Finn Ross; ILLUSIONS Chris Fisher; CONDUCTOR Jonathan Lo
Sunday 15 December 2024, 14.00 GMT
Running time: 195 minutes, Two intervals

Afternoon Film: Last Christmas (12A)
2024-12-17 14:00 - 15:40 | SpArC Theatre
Yuletide Romance
6.5IMDB
Nothing goes right for Kate. Working as an elf in a Christmas shop is not good for the wannabe singer. Then she meets Tom and life takes a new turn- Staring Emelia Clarke, Henry Golding With Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh
Andrew Ridgely from Wham even makes an appearance !
Tickets £4 Carers FREE
Accessible Cabaret seating/no steps/ Subtitles/ hearing loop/ tea and biscuits £1
local Free Dial-a-ride Bus available: 01588 638350

Stickman Family Christmas Workshop
2024-12-23 10:30 - 12:30 | SpArC Theatre
THIS EVENT HAS SOLD OUT BUT WE ARE GOING TO RUN A DROP IN SESSION FROM 12.30-1.30 WHEN YOU CAN COME ALONG AND JOIN IN WITH OUT XMAS NATURE MAKES AND MAKE A DONATION TO SPARC.
Feel Festive Together.
Watch the animation of classic Julia Donaldson story followed by making our own Christmassy Stick people and other festive making with Bishop’s Castle Going Wild .
Accompanying Adults FREE but please book a place so we know for seating and we would j grateful of a donation on the day if you want to make things to.
All ages welcome. Under 7’s must be accompanied.
10.30-10.40- arrive
10.40-11.10- watch Stickman on the big SpArC Cinema Screen
11.10-12.30 Making session- Christmas Stick people and Other festive nature makes with Bishop’s Castle Going Wild

ROB / Little Bulb Theatre :Wolf, Witch, Giant, Fairy
2025-01-05 14:00 - 15:10 | SpArC Theatre
Do not miss this ‘enchantingly staged’ family folk opera, following the triumphant, Olivier Award-winning run in 2021.
Red Riding Hood is tasked with delivering bread to her Grandmother, deep in the heart of the fairy-tale forest. But en route, Red meets a cunning Wolf who tricks her into taking a different path. Along the way, Red stumbles into a colourful cast of characters, including a scary witch, a talking cat and a rather persuasive Peddler. Join our ragtag band of wild musicians as they guide all the family through this famous tale with new twists, turns, magic and song.

FILM: Perfect Days (PG)
2025-01-16 19:00 - 21:00 | SpArC Theatre
IMDB: 7.9
★★★★ “A beautiful portrait of everyday life in Tokyo. This Oscar-nominated drama from Wim Wenders about a toilet cleaner’s daily life is a lovingly detailed character study. ” The Telegraph
Hirayama feels content with his life as a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Outside of his structured routine, he cherishes music on cassette tapes, reads books and takes photos. Through unexpected encounters, he reflects on finding beauty in the world.
★★★★ “Wim Wenders’s zen Japanese drama is his best feature film in years. The German director makes a strong case for simple living with this achingly lovely tale starring Kōji Yakusho as a Tokyo public toilet cleaner who finds quiet joy in the world around him.” The Guardian

★★★★ “Wim Wenders finds joy in Tokyo toilet attendant tale. The veteran filmmaker brings moments of real beauty to the gentle routine of one man’s life.” The FT
