Here’s your essential guide to what’s on in Bedford over the next 10 days – including the ever-popular Christmas Tree Festival at St Paul’s Church, music of all genres, film, theatre, dance and culture.
Enjoy!
Friday 25 – Sunday 27 November 2022
Festive family fun: Kempston Christmas Tree Festival
Church of the Transfiguration, Kempston @ 1.30pm – 4.30pm
Free entry
Everyone’s welcome to the free event in the Church Hall. The perfect way to get in the Christmas spirit or just come and keep warm.
Friday 25 November 2022
Comedy: Lava elastic Neurodivergent Comedy Night
The Place Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £9
Those that aren’t ‘Neurotypical’ (the usual) are known as ‘Neurodivergent’ with differences that include Autism/Aspergers, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, Tourette’s Syndrome, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia and other types of brain that aren’t ‘Neurotypical’.
LAVA ELASTIC is a night for brilliant performers who are considered from the ‘problematic’ to the ‘niche’, alongside other fantastic acts who are as varied in their styles…as their brains…which of course everyone is – but we choose to celebrate
that at LAVA ELASTIC!
Neurodivergent performers often struggle to get booked and to navigate the social codes around working with promoters. As a result, there are many talented people you simply don’t get to see. LAVA ELASTIC is here to change that. Neurotypical performers are of course also on the bill. Join us for a night celebrating humans of all
kinds – just doing their comedy/performance thing
LAVA ELASTIC is the UK’s FIRST openly neurodiverse comedy/performance/poetry night…brought to you by neurodivergent performer (late diagnosis of Aspergers) Sarah Saeed (aka operatic comedy diva Marianna Harlotta).
Friday 25 November 2022
Live music: The Style Councillors
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: £15
Friday 25 November 2022
Live music: Gaz Brookfield + guests
Bedford Esquires @ 8pm
Tickets: £10
With the success of his tour earlier this year, Gaz Brookfield takes to the road once more, playing songs from his top ten album ‘Idiomatic’, plus plenty of old favourites.
Support on this tour comes in the form of, ‘Heartwork’, aka, Dan O’Dell.
Saturday 26 November 2022
Dance: Ananda Arts: Odissi Student Showcase
The Place Theatre @ 6pm
Tickets: Free
Ananda Arts is an arts organisation focussed on creating a centre of artistic excellence and development in Odissi Dance in the South East of England, with the hope of developing the art form and bringing the rich tradition and heritage of Oriya dance and music to the local community and surrounding areas.
As well as holding performances, artist development opportunities and weekly dance classes, the organisation engages with Odissi dance artists and emerging artists on a wider international level, inviting practitioners from all over the world to attend our Odissi Festival, the first of its kind in Bedford.
Saturday 26 November 2022
Dance music: Normski
Herd, St Cuthbert’s Street @ 9pm
Free entry
Normski heads to Herd this weekend, alongside Leigh Dickson, Andy Green and Russell Wade in the basement and Dave Christie and Raoul French in the bar.
Saturday 26 November 2022
Choral music: Bedford Choral Society – A celebration of Vaughn Williams
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £10
A concert of beautiful music and ‘sweet harmony’ to celebrate the 150th birthday of Vaughan Williams.Saturday 26 November 2022
Live music: Dirt Box Disco
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: £15
Dirt Box Disco Live at Esquires with support from local legends The Tendons, a very rare show from classic 80s punk band, Flare Up and the debut of Vomit.
Sunday 27 November 2022
Live music: The Feelgood Band play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
Following the sad announcement of the death of Wilko Johnson this week, this Sunday’s session is bound to be an emotional tribute to the Dr Feelgood guitarist.
Sunday 27 November 2022
Live music: Kempston Concert Band’s 50th Anniversary Party
Goldington Academy, Haylands Way @ 7pm
Tickets: £8 / £5
Come along along and celebrate Kempston Concert Band’s 50th anniversary.
Performance with Kempston Choral Society.
Sunday 27 November 2022
Live music: The Story of Soul
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £28/£26
Featuring songs by Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind and Fire, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Sam and Dave, Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, The Pointer Sisters, Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Ben E King, Barry White and many, many, more.
So, make this the Night to Remember. Get your tickets now, for the must-see show of the year!
Monday 28 November 2022
Live music: The Stylistics 2022
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £34.50
Direct from Philadelphia USA , one of the most Legendary Soul Artists Of all time. The Stylistics with a record-breaking run of 12 top 10 including the Grammy-nominated ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New’, plus numerous classics including ‘Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)’, ‘Lets Put It All Together’, ‘Stop Look Listen’, ‘You Are Everything’, ‘Betcha By Golly Wow’, ‘Sing Baby Sing’, ‘I’m Stone In Love With You’ and many more.
The Stylistics remain the real deal, fabulously entertaining and musically breathtaking.
Monday 28 November 2022
Film: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
The Place Theatre @ 7pm
Tickets: £5
The Bedford Film Programmers invites you for a trip into the magical music world of Jacques Demy for another special screening of the French musical classic.
We are excited to be offering delicious hot chocolate including cream, marshmallows and mini umbrellas followed by a brief introduction and screening of the film. Guaranteed to warm your heart and soul on a chilly late autumn’s night!
This simple romantic tragedy begins in 1957. Guy Foucher, a 20-year-old French auto mechanic, has fallen in love with 17-year-old Geneviève Emery, an employee in her widowed mother’s chic but financially embattled umbrella shop. On the evening before Guy is to leave for a two-year tour of combat in Algeria, he and Geneviève make love. She becomes pregnant and must choose between waiting for Guy’s return or accepting an offer of marriage from a wealthy diamond merchant.
Wednesday 30 November – Sunday 4 December 2022
Christmas: Bedford Christmas Tree Festival
St Paul’s Church @ Wednesday – Saturday: 10am-5pm / Sunday: 12pm-4pm
Entry: £3 / under 16s free
The ever-popular Christmas Tree Festival returns to St Paul’s Church and this year’s theme is Musicals. With over 60 decorated trees and entertainment from 30 choirs, if this event doesn’t get you in the festive mood, we don’t know what will!
Read: The magic of musicals at this year’s Bedford Christmas Tree Festival
Money raised will go towards funding much-needed equipment for Bedford Hospital and supporting projects including the Primrose Car Service taking patients to and from Addenbrookes Hospital for radiotherapy, and travelling in comfort.
Wednesday 30 November 2022
Film: Cinema @ 3 St Peter’s presents – Citizen Kane
3 St Peter’s Street @ 7pm
Tickets: £12/£10.50/£9/£6
When a reporter is assigned to decipher newspaper magnate Charles Foster Kane’s (Orson Welles) dying words, his investigation gradually reveals the fascinating portrait of a complex man who rose from obscurity to staggering heights.
Though Kane’s friend and colleague Jedediah Leland (Joseph Cotten), and his mistress, Susan Alexander (Dorothy Comingore), shed fragments of light on Kane’s life, the reporter fears he may never penetrate the mystery of the elusive man’s final word, “Rosebud.”
Wednesday 30 November 2022
Classical music: Philharmonia Orchestra – Benjamin Grosvenor plays Chopin
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £39 – £15
Artists:
Joana Carneiro – conductor
Benjamin Grosvenor – piano
Programme:
ANNA CLYNE This Midnight Hour
CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 1
-interval-
STRAVINSKY Pulcinella Suite
This season’s Featured Composer Anna Clyne’s This Midnight Hour opens this performance. An emotive piece full of vivid colours, it takes inspiration from two poems by Baudelaire and Jiménez.
Chopin’s First Piano Concerto’s sparkling heart-on-sleeve melodies are in the hands of electrifying British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, before we hear Stravinsky’s imaginative and lively Pulcinella Suite, conducted by Joana Carneiro.
Thursday 1 and Friday 2 December 2022
Children’s Theatre: The Lost Present
The Place Theatre @ 11.30am, 1.30pm and 4pm
Tickets: from £8
Topsy Turvy Theatre, the company who brought you Ruby Flew Too! are back and would like to invite their young audiences on a Christmas adventure like no other.
It’s Christmas Eve, and having tumbled to earth through the night sky, Elva sets out on a journey to find her best friend – a little girl she hasn’t even met yet. Has the lost present got what it takes to find her way through the cold winter night? Will she arrive in time for Christmas morning? Will Elva be everything the little girl wished for?
Written especially for children and brought to life using handmade puppets, original music and delightful storytelling, The Lost Present is an enchanting tale about true friendship. It really is the perfect gift for Christmas.
Thursday 1 December 2022
Live music: The ELO Show
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £22/£20
The ELO Show – The World’s greatest tribute to the music and genius of Jeff Lynne & ELO
Internationally acclaimed musician Brian Cummins brings his brand-new show celebrating the music of Jeff Lynne and E.L.O. with a band of amazing musicians including a female string section this will be a fabulous night of hit after hit from such a vast back catalogue.
The ELO SHOW has a stunning lightshow and 3D video screens very similar to Jeff’s current backdrop.
Expect songs like, ‘Evil Woman’, Don’t bring me down’, ‘Telephone Line’, ‘Sweet Talkin Woman’, ‘Turn to stone’, ‘Wild west Hero’, ‘The Diary of Horace Wimp’ and of course the legendary ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ plus many more with a surprise or two.
Thursday 1 December 2022
Live music: RATS + guests
Bedford Esquires @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £9
Liverpool’s finest new export RATS make a welcome debut at Esquires.
Friday 2 December 2022
Classical music: Bedford Christmas Tree Festival Concert
St Paul’s Church @
Tickets: £17.50
The annual Festival Concert features the Woburn Piano Trio performing pieces by Mendelssohn, Vivaldi and Beethoven in addition to Christmas favourites.
Tickets are £17.50 and concert-goers will be treated to a truly memorable evening, enjoying the beautiful trees at night in the majestic setting of St Paul’s. Tickets can be purchased here and the price includes a glass of wine.
Money raised will go towards funding much-needed equipment for Bedford Hospital and supporting projects including the Primrose Car Service taking patients to and from Addenbrookes Hospital for radiotherapy, and travelling in comfort.
Friday 2 December 2022
Live music: 80s Live!
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £25
Whether you were born in the 80s, were lucky enough to hear these sounds from your very own Sony Walkman or you’ve had a Stranger Things glimpse of 80s life, once you’ve seen 80s Live, you’ll want to relive it again and again.
Blending pop and soft rock, the show includes hits such as Living on a Prayer, The Final Countdown, Don’t You Want Me Baby, Relax, Never Gonna Give You Up, It’s Raining Men, Rio, Tainted Love and so much more.
Move aside Doc, we don’t need The DeLorean to create our time machine…
Saturday 3 December 2022
Craft: It’s a wrap – sustainable gift wrapping
IMPAKT Interiors Shop, Edwardian Arcade @ 11.30am
£10/£8
Learn how to wrap your gifts in a more sustainable way that has bags of style! This workshop provides an introduction on how to fold and knot pieces of fabric to beautifully present your presents. Materials provided and we will also cover recycling and alternative wrapping ideas.
Saturday 3 December 2022
Saturday 3 December 2022
Live music: UK SUBS
Bedford Esquires @ 7pm
Tickets: £18
The UK SUBS return to Bedford with support from local legends The Tendons and special guests, Special Duties.
Saturday 3 December 2022
Poetry and Spoken Word: Dossers and Drabs, Muckworms and Mumpers
The Quarry Theatre @ 7.30pm
Tickets: from £8.50
Siskin, small and frail, won’t survive another winter on the streets. Kite, the lamplighter, takes him in and finds love—rather more of it than he intended.
Mrs Parrot, the midwife, imagines that she will be the instrument of the Second Coming. It’s Christmas Eve, and she has just been called to Three Kings Court… More stories of London low-life in the eighteenth century.
Family-friendly, but more suitable for an older audience. Recommended 10+ Mince pies and hot chocolate included with the ticket.
Sunday 4 December 2022
Dance music: Roll Your Own Records
Herd, St Cuthbert’s Street @ midday
Free entry
The ROYR crew are back at their spiritual home at Herd for a Sunday session. Collectors and selectors of all styles and abilities will be playing their favourite tunes. The perfect soundtrack to a Herd Sunday roast.
Sunday 4 December 2022
Film: The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Place Theatre @ 1.30pm and 5pm
Tickets: £5
Join The Place Theatre, Bedford on 4th December for a joyous singalong screening of The Muppets Christmas Carol!
Arguably the greatest version of Dicken’s classic tale of loneliness and redemption, you are invited to an evening of hot chocolates, mince pies and muppet mayhem.
The fun will begin at 1.30pm and 5pm, so make sure you arrive in time to stock up on pre-show mince pies.
Sunday 4 December 2022
Live music: Vintage Stuff play the Sunday Afternoon Session
Bedford Esquires @ 5pm
Free entry
The return of the Bedford boy band who refuse to grow up.
Vintage Stuff return for their last Sunday afternoon session of the year.
Sunday 4 December 2022
Dance: Crown Ballet present Sleeping Beauty
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 2pm
Tickets: £24
Sleeping Beauty is the classic story of love and innocence, mystery and magic set to Tchaikovsky’s sublime score, presented by Crown Ballet from Moldova in their UK debut.
Stunning choreography, sumptuous costumes and wonderful sets form the fantasy world in which the Lilac Fairy struggles against the evil Carabosse.
There are no scores more successful in supporting the full range of ballet than those by Tchaikovsky with highlights including the Famous ‘Rose Adagio’ when Princess Aurora is introduced to four princes.
Sunday 4 December 2022
Poetry: Read Poets Society – Autumn Season
The Eagle Bookshop @ 7pm
Tickets: Free but please book online via The Place website
Join the Read Poets Society for their monthly poetry reading of poems reflecting the
season: Midwinter Chills from Poe, Dickens, M R James and others. This regular
event takes place at The Eagle Bookshop in St Peter’s Street.
Sunday 4 December 2022
Dance: Crown Ballet present The Nutcracker
Bedford Corn Exchange @ 7.30pm
Tickets: £24
Crown Ballet company from Moldova bring their production of The Nutcracker – the eternal seasonal favourite – to Bedford Corn Exchange. A charming and kindly fairy tale, The Nutcracker is one of the jewels of Tchaikovsky’s repertoire.
Prepare to enter a magical new world – the story of Marie, a sad little girl, whose godfather, Drosselmeier, gives her a Nutcracker doll as a present on Christmas Eve. In her lively imagination it turns into a prince and the magic starts…
This timeless ballet is the perfect family outing in the run-up to Christmas and an ideal introduction to audiences of any age to the magic that is classical ballet.
Until April 2023
Art and culture: Changing Times: A century of modern British art
The Higgins Bedford
Free entry
Some of the most well-loved British artists of the 20th and 21st centuries feature in a new exhibition at the Higgins Bedford on Castle Lane this autumn.
From Eric Ravilious, Edward Bawden and Paul Nash to Elisabeth Frink, David Hockney and Lucian Freud, the exhibition brings together some of the biggest names in British art, and explores its history since the 20th century.
Changing Times: A Century of Modern British Art is the first large-scale exhibition since the post-pandemic reopening of The Higgins Bedford.
Read more: David Hockney and Lucian Freud shine in new Higgins autumn exhibition
Theatre highlights by Paula Walker
