Events 2013
To find out what’s on during the festival click on a day. Unsure where something is? Click on a venue for a map.
Saturday 21 | Sunday 22 | Tuesday 24 | Wednesday 25 | Thursday 26 | Friday 27 | Saturday 28 | Sunday 29
Aardman Animations
Make Shaun the Sheep or Gromit
Enter the small world of Aardman and become an apprentice model-maker… Choose a one hour workshop to make either Shaun the Sheep or Gromit under the guidance of a genuine Aardman model-maker. Take home what you make! [Image © Aardman Animations Ltd (2013)]
How to book and more details…
Venue 14: Tannery Drift School (SG8 5DE)
Saturday 21 September
£10 (+ 10% booking fee)
Royston and District Local History Society
Royston Cave – Normal Opening
Normal Opening. View the medieval chalk carvings.
Venue 18: Royston Cave
Saturday 21 September, 2.30-5pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Adults (16+) £4, Concessions (60+) £3, Accompanied children FREE
Friends of Tannery Drift School
Art & Food: Travel the world with Tannery Drift children
Explore world art and food with children from Tannery Drift School. A chance for adults and children to try their hand at artistic styles and techniques from different countries. Food from each country represented will also be on sale.
Venue 14: Tannery Drift First School
Saturday 21 September, 2-4pm
FREE
Mary Bance
Your Chance to Dance – Cancelled
Do you like to dance? Are you a dancer? Is dance something you have always wanted to try?
Then come and join in a FREE jazz dance class at Greenway Drama Studio, led by Mary Bance.
4-4:45pm – 5-11yrs
5-6pm – 12-18yrs
6:15-7:15pm – Adults
Venue 12: Greneway Middle School (SG8 7JF)
Saturday 21 September, 4pm-7.15pm
Email dance@marybance.com to book your FREE place.
Arcadia Reign Ltd
QA
Queen Anne returns to reflect on her twelve year reign. This last of the Stuarts explores her love of cards, gardens, racing, and her bitterwseet relationship with Sarah Churchill. It’s all there: sacrifice – the treacherous usurping of her father – heartbreak.
Genevieve Cleghorn as Queen Anne. Written and directed by Stephen Loveless.
Venue 5: The Old Bull Inn (SG8 9AW)
Saturday 21 September 7.30pm
Tickets £8/£6 concessions from enquiries@arcadiareign.com
Royston Picture Palace
Wadjda (PG)
The film charts the life of a bright, inquisitive, fun-loving 10-year-old girl trying to make her way in a deeply conservative country. All sorts of issues are gently tackled in this tale of a girl determined to compete with the boys and win enough money to buy that threat to every girl’s virtue … a bicycle. As a German funded film directed by a female director from Saudi Arabia and shot in her own country (where cinemas are banned), this film supports the Royston Arts Festival’s ‘small world’ theme.
Venue 20: Town Hall (SG8 7DA)
Saturday 21 September, doors open 6:45pm Starts 7:30pm (running time 1 Hr 38 Mins)
For tickets see www.roystonpicturepalace.org.uk
Live@ Coombes 
Local bands (incl. The Royston Ukulele Orchestra)
A variety of local bands.
Venue 9: Coombes Community Centre (SG8 5PT)
Saturday 21 September, 7.30-11pm
FREE
Live@ The Green Man
Indie Bands
Indie night at the Green Man.
Venue 8: The Green Man (SG8 9JU)
Saturday 21 September
FREE
Royston and District Local History Society
Royston Cave – Normal Opening
Normal Opening. View the medieval chalk carvings.
Venue 18: Royston Cave
Sunday 22 September, 2.30-5pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Adults (16+) £4, Concessions (60+) £3, Accompanied children FREE
Churches Together
Songs of Praise
A Churches Together service to launch this year’s Arts Festival with prayer and worship. The service will celebrate the town and acknowledge some of those who support our community. Contributors will be interviewed and choose hymns.
Venue 1: Parish Church (SG8 7LG)
Sunday 22 September 6.30-8pm
FREE
Royston Library
Room to Read: The Room by Emma Donoghue
Ever wondered what happens when a Reading Group meets? Find out during an informal gathering to discuss The Room by Emma Donoghue. Interested? Get your own book or borrow one for free (register at the library by July 27 and we will order the book in for you to collect after September 2). All you have to do is read it and come along September 24 to find out what happens next…(Places limited: first come first served)
Venue 4: Library, Market Hill (SG8 9JN)
Tuesday 24 September, 7pm (for 7.30pm)
FREE
Tom Doig
Local women in 1800s
A local history talk by Tom Doig vice-president for the Cambridgeshire Association for Local History.
Venue 4: Library, Market Hill (SG8 9JN)
Wednesday 25 September, 7pm (for 7.30pm)
£2 from the Library
Corvus Amateur Drama Society (CADS)
Little Shop of Horrors
A comedy horror rock musical about a hapless florist-shop worker who raises a plant called Audrey II that turns out to feed on human blood and flesh. Directed by David Atkins with musical direction by Louise Atkins.
Allocated seating.
Venue 13: Meridian School (SG8 7JH)
7.30pm (Also Thursday 26 & Friday 27 September)
Tickets £10 & £5 (students). On sale from 2 September via www.cadsroyston.org.uk or CADS Box Office 07925 674 967
(Playgoers will also be able to view the Meridian Art Exhibition and It’s behind you… A revealing behind-the-scenes slideshow of the Royston pantomime.)
Corvus Amateur Drama Society (CADS)
Little Shop of Horrors
A comedy horror rock musical about a hapless florist-shop worker who raises a plant called Audrey II that turns out to feed on human blood and flesh. Directed by David Atkins with musical direction by Louise Atkins.
Allocated seating.
Venue 13: Meridian School (SG8 7JH)
7.30pm (Also Wednesday 25 & Friday 27 September)
Tickets £10 & £5 (students). On sale from 2 September via www.cadsroyston.org.uk or CADS Box Office 07925 674 967
(Playgoers will also be able to view the Meridian Art Exhibition and It’s behind you… A revealing behind-the-scenes slideshow of the Royston pantomime.)
Royston Bellringers
Bellringing Open Practice
Our Thursday evening bellringing practice session will be open for visitors to see the bells in action. We will be on hand to show how bellringing works, explain all the ups and downs and invite visitors to have a go!
Venue 1: Parish Church (SG8 9LG)
Thursday 26 September,
7.30pm-9pm FREE
Royston Fringe
Salvador Dali: Explained (Professor Anthony Slinn)
Anthony spent the summer of 1988 at Dali’s home at Port Lligat and his museum at Figueras. Through Dali’s own voice and Anthony’s searching, he explains the works of this Surrealist master.
Venue 10: Methodist Church (SG8 7AU)
Thursday 26 September, 7.45pm
Tickets £5 from Box Office on 07895 095 455
A Musical Tour
Clare Hammond (piano)
Returning after a very well-received festival Occasional Event in 2012, local pianist Clare Hammond has devised this special programme for the festival that takes us on a musical tour from Austria to Argentina and from Russia to Germany.
Acclaimed by The Daily Telegraph as a musician of “amazing power and panache”, Clare Hammond, regularly features on BBC Radio 3 and has performed across Europe, Russia and Canada and has appeared at the Wigmore and Barbican Halls in London and the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. Her Purcell Room debut for the Park Lane Group concert series was praised by The Guardian for its “crisp precision and unflashy intelligence”.
This event is supported by Curwen’s Solicitors.
Venue 12: Greneway School (SG8 7JF)
Friday 27 September, 7.30
Tickets £10 (early bird discount £8 before 1 September) 10% online booking fee applies. Also available from the Stationery Cupboard, High Street, Royston.
Live@ Royston Folk Club
Two Coats Colder supported by Sky West
Two Coats Colder are a quirkily progressive four piece folk band from North Essex. They perform self-penned songs and borrowed gems from the wider world. Their music is influenced by compelling storytelling and evocative melodies of traditional and contemporary folk music. Sky West are a three piece playing folk, blues & jazz.
www.roystonfolk.org
Venue 5: The Old Bull Inn
Friday 27 September, 7.30pm.
£6 in advance, £8 on the door. Contact Michael – 01763 249296 or farrow.m@tiscali.co.uk
Corvus Amateur Drama Society (CADS)
Little Shop of Horrors
A comedy horror rock musical about a hapless florist-shop worker who raises a plant called Audrey II that turns out to feed on human blood and flesh. Directed by David Atkins with musical direction by Louise Atkins.
Allocated seating.
Venue 13: Meridian School (SG8 7JH)
7.30pm (Also Wednesday 25 & Thursday 26 September)
Tickets £10 & £5 (students). On sale from 2 September via www.cadsroyston.org.uk or CADS Box Office 07925 674 967
(Playgoers will also be able to view the Meridian Art Exhibition and It’s behind you… A revealing behind-the-scenes slideshow of the Royston pantomime.)
Churches Together
Drop-in Art Workshops
“Have a go” workshops for adults and children. A variety of techniques to be explored including calligraphy, painting in acrylics, and pen and wash drawing. Just drop in… www.ct-royston.org.uk
Venue 1: Parish Church (SG8 7LG)
Saturday 28 September, 9.30-5pm
FREE
Live@ the market
Royston’s Busking Slot
Featuring the Cambridgeshire Caledonian Band, the Royston Ukulele Orchestra, Meridian School Musicians and many more.
Venue 6: The Marketplace (SG8 9JT)
Saturday 28 September, 10am-12noon
FREE
Royston Music School
World Rhythms
No previous experience needed. (Age 10-adult).
Venue 13: Meridian School (SG8 7JH)
Saurday 28 September, 10am-12.20pm
FREE (PRE-BOOK)
Royston Arts Festival
Free Workshop Programme (supported by NHDC)
Our free workshop programme runs from 10am to 1pm.
Workshops include batik, world rhythms, poetry writing: evoking a sense of place, flower-arranging andRoutes into theatre.
More details…
Venue 12: Greneway School (SG8 7JF)
Saturday 28 September, 10am-1pm
FREE
Royston and District Local History Society
Royston Cave by Candlelight
Join us for a glimpse into the past as Royston Cave turns out the lights and goes back to the middle ages. The Cave will be open for viewing by candlelight. For more details on the Cave, the mystery of its origins and use, please visit www.roystoncave.co.uk
Venue 18: Royston Cave (SG8 7BZ)
Saturday 28 September, 10am-1pm
£2 at the Cave entrance on the day. No advance booking, first come first served. Accompanied children enter free
Royston Museum
The World Inside the Museum
Royston Museum celebrates ‘Small World!’ Explore a trail of objects taking you around the world without even leaving the building and make your own ‘Small World’ souvenir to take home.
www.roystonmuseum.org.uk
Venue 15: Royston Museum, Lower King Street (SG8 5AL)
Saturday 28 September, 10am-4.45pm
FREE
Royston Library
Baby Rhyme Time
Bookstart Bear makes a special appearance at Baby Rhyme Time. Open to all 3 year olds and under with carers.
Venue 4: Library (SG8 9JN)
Saturday 28 September, 11am
FREE
Royston Fringe
GSTARS Dance Extravaganza
An extravaganza of Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Commercial, Street, Contemporary and Musical Theatre from 2 years up to adult. A must see show with vibrant and energetic performances of dazzling dancers and singing sensations. Something for everyone.
Venue 10: Methodist Church (SG8 7AU)
Saturday 28 September, 11am-12noon (The first of two shows. The second is at 2.30-3.30pm).
Tickets £3 from the Box Office Tel: 07895 095455. Children under 3 free.
Royston Family History Society
Find your past
Ever watched Who do you think you are? and wondered about your own family? Members of Royston Family History Society will be available to help you trace your ancestors with the aid of the the Census and Ancestry.com. Just drop in and find out more.
Venue 4: Library (SG8 9JN)
Saturday 28 September, 11am-1pm
FREE
Make and Create Jewellery Workshops
Drop-in Jewellery Workshops
Jewellery workshops including beading, polymer clay and more.
www.makeandcreate.co.uk
Venue 19: Intercounty Estate Agents (SG8 7BP)
Saturday 28 September, 12noon-4pm
FREE
Palazzo
Pizza and Pasta Art
Create your own pasta bracelet or pizza.
Venue 16: Palazzo, Kneesworth Street (SG8 5AB)
Saturday 28 September, 12 noon-4pm (also Sunday)
(This is a popular event. At busy times you may have to wait. Pre-book to ensure your place: 01763 226225)
£1.50 minimum donation to Royston Arts Festival
Churches together
A Small Hungry World?
A simple festival lunch with a thought-provoking twist! After lunch diners will be invited to discover (on a world scale) what proportion of them would have been well fed. There will also be a talk from Sue Jagelman of Save The Children. Come to the lunch, talk or both!
www.ct-royston.org.uk
Venue 17: Roman Catholic Church Hall (SG8 7DB)
Saturday 28 September, 12.15pm (lunch). 2.15pm (talk)
LUNCH £3.50 Adults, £2 Children. (From 01763 271054) TALK FREE.
Royston Arts Festival
Small @ Greneway
A developing project including…
Small: stage
Short films / film-making Q&A (Paul Vernon), Bollywood dance (Kriti Kobulsz), poetry and enchanting music from Fensong, a taste of the Caribbean with Sawston Steel and world songs from Singing Aloud.
Small: Royston
A huge projected map for you to add your house to!
Small: things to do
World Cookery demonstrations: get hints on cooking Chinese and Italian food.
Try your hand at Bollywood dance,
Experiment with the British Science Association,
Join in with world songs workshop (Singing Aloud).
Small: things to see
Small Royston, model engines (Royston & District Model Engineering Society)
More details…
Venue 12: Greneway School (SG8 7JF)
Saturday 28 September, 1.30-5pm
FREE
Royston Bellringers
Open Tower and Bell Ringing Demonstration
Royston Bellringers open the bellringing chamber to visitors. This will hopefully include a live-feed, enabling visitors to have a close-up look at the church’s eight bells in action. Your chance to learn the basics of bellringing.
Venue 1: Parish Church (SG8 9LG)
Saturday 28 September, 2-4pm (when the organ is not being played)
FREE
Royston Fringe
GSTARS Dance Extravaganza
An extravaganza of Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Commercial, Street, Contemporary and Musical Theatre from 2 years up to adult. A must see show with vibrant and energetic performances of dazzling dancers and singing sensations. Something for everyone.
Venue 10: Methodist Church (SG8 7AU)
Saturday 28 September, 2.30-3.30pm (The second of two shows. The first is at 11am-12noon)
Tickets £3 from the Box Office Tel: 07895 095455. Children under 3 free
The Small World of
Meera Syal
Comedian, writer, playwright, journalist, producer and actress Meera Syal shares stories from her incredibly diverse world. Meera Syal rose to prominence as one of the team that created Goodness Gracious Me and portrays Sanjeev’s grandmother, Ummi, in The Kumars at No. 42. Her TV appearances have included All About Me, Horrible Histories, Dr Who, Holby City, Minder, Absolutely Fabulous and Room 101 and she was featured on Who do you think you are? She has written two novels and screenplays. She had a number one hit single for Comic Relief with the cast of The Kumars and Garet Gates and in 2012 played Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford. She was awarded the MBE in 1997 and reputedly also enjoys to box.
Venue 12: Greneway School (SG8 7JF)
Saturday 28 September, 7.30pm
£14 (early bird discount £12 before 1 September) 10% online booking fee applies. Also available from the Stationery Cupboard, High Street, Royston. BOOK EARLY.
Live@ The Green Man
Indie bands
Indie bands night.
Venue 8: The Green Man (SG8 9JU)
Saturday 28 September
Live@ The Royal British Legion
Easy Livin
Covers from the 1960s to today.
www.easylivinlive.com
Venue 11: Royal British Legion Club, Mill Road (SG8 7AE)
Saturday 28 September, 8.30-11.45pm
£3 members, £6 non-members
Live@ The Old Bull
Jazz4All
Local four-piece Jazz band who also play blues, bebop and swing.
Venue 5: The Old Bull Inn (SG8 9AW)
Saturday 28 September, 9.30-11pm
FREE
Palazzo
Pizza and Pasta Art
Create your own pasta bracelet or pizza
Venue 16: Palazzo, Kneesworth Street (SG8 5AB)
Sunday 29 September, 12 noon-4pm
(This is a popular event. At busy times you may have to wait. Pre-book to ensure your place: 01763 226225)
£1.50 minimum donation to Royston Arts Festival.
F John Smith
A walk through the small world of Royston
Royston’s history is brought to life in this one-and-a-half mile walk around the town centre with local historian F John Smith. Explore what made Royston the town it is today. Starts at the Parish Church
Venue 1: Parish Church (SG8 9LG)
Sunday 29 September 2-4pm approx.
Tickets: £5 from The Stationery Cupboard, High Street. (Ticket money wll be donated to Parish Church CHALLenge Appeal).
Brass in the Park
Royston Town Band
Royston Town Band in their annual brass band concert spectacular.
Venue 1: Priory Memorial Gardens (SG8 9LG)
Sunday 29 September 2.30-4.30pm
FREE
Royston and District Local History Society
Royston Cave – Normal Opening
Normal opening. View the medieval chalk carvings.
Venue 18: Royston Cave
Sunday 29 September, 2.30-5pm (last entry 4.30)
Adults (16+) £4, Concessions (60+) £3, Accompanied children FREE
Play Music Play
DadSing Tea Party
Dads and granddads of the Royston area sing live at the launch of their CD DadSing songs for young children. Every penny made goes to Homestart, the charity which helps young families.
Venue 9: Coombes Community Centre (SG8 5PT)
Sunday 29 September, 3.30-5.30pm
£5 per family from 01763 246145
Local Schools, Royston Youth Choir, Senior windband
Youth Finale Concert: Last night of the Proms
Students from local schools, the Royston Youth Choir and Hertfordshire Music Service’s Senior Windband @ Stevenage bring a Last Night of the proms atmosphere to the festival Finale Concert. We supply the flags – you supply the enthusiasm. Directed by Susan Pettitt (Head of Royston Music School). Special guest soloist: Camille Maalawy (whose work embraces music from many cultures). www.camillemaalawy.com
Venue 1: Parish Church (SG8 9LG)
Sunday 29 September, 7pm (doors open at 6.30pm)
£8 (early bird discount £5 before 1 September). 10% online booking fee applies. Also available from the Stationery Cupboard, High Street, Royston. This event sells out. BOOK EARLY.
- Details and times were correct at time of publishing but may be subject to change.
- The Royston Arts Festival Management Committee accepts no liabilty for any loss, damage or injury sustained by any member of the public visiting any venue participating in the festival events listed in this programme. It is the artists’ own responsibility to have public liability cover.
- We may take photographs and video for publicity purposes. All people attending festival events will be deemed to have consented to having their photograph taken and their image used in this way.
- Visiting adults are responsible for the supervision of any children in their care.
- We have a ‘no refunds’ policy.
- Full Terms & Conditions here.