Stuart first met Sir Elton John in 1967 where he was the office boy at the Beatles music publisher Dick James.

This was the same year that Elton Met his lyricist Bernie Taupin. Elton was employed as a staff songwriter. Stuart was immediately impressed with Elton's talent. He started working as assistant for Elton's co-ordinator and Head of DJM records Steve Brown.

This involved everything to do with Elton's career including booking studios, musicians and promoting his early records to the BBC. In the Late 60s and early 70s he toured the states with Elton and his band as his personal assistant.

Whilst touring with Kiki Dee and Elton in 1974, Stuart was at the amazing New York Madison Square concert when John Lennon performed his last gig with Elton. He then went on to work at Elton's producer Gus Dugeoens Studio The Mill in Cookham. Here he worked again with Elton recording Hits including Song For Guy and Nikita.

Stuarts talk at Norden Farm also includes his work with other artists including Led Zeppelin, George Harrison, Chris Rea, Robbie Williams and Oasis.

Studio
£16

Stuart's Website

Fb Stuart Epps

•  31 Jan from £16

A double header of comedy as two top comedians warm up ahead of the Edinburgh Festival.

Glenn Moore

Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Glenn Moore is a comedian, actor and one of the best and most prolific joke writers in the country.

Glenn is a regular face on TV, having appeared on the likes of Live At The Apollo (BBC), Have I Got News For You (BBC), Mock The Week (BBC), 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown (Channel 4), The Russell Howard Hour (Sky), Guessable (Comedy Central), and The Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV2). He is a regular guest on The Great American Joke Off (CW network) in the US.

He has his own Radio 4 comedy series Glenn Moore’s Alamanac. He can be heard daily as one quarter of The Dave Berry Breakfast Show on Absolute Radio, the UK’s biggest commercial radio breakfast show. He’s also appeared regularly on The News Quiz (Radio 4) and The Now Show (Radio 4).

Glenn’s 2022 Fringe show sold out with rave five star reviews from The Mail on Sunday, Chortle and The Courier, amongst a number of other publications. His critically-acclaimed stand-up show Glenn, Glenn, Glenn, How Do You Like It, How Do You Like It was nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award. He also toured the UK with his follow up hit Edinburgh show Love Don’t Live Here Glenny Moore. He was named one of Just For Laughs’ New Faces in Montreal in 2023.

He has written for numerous TV shows including The Mash Report (BBC) and Fantasy Football League (Sky), and has been a staff writer on the sketch comedy show Scrambled (CITV).

Pierre Novellie

Pierre Novellie is a stand-up comedian, writer, radio host and podcaster.

Pierre is co-host of The Frank Skinner Show on Absolute Radio, and his television appearances include World’s Most Dangerous Roads (Dave), The Mash Report (BBC2), and Stand Up Central (Comedy Central). Pierre’s first book Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things?: A Comedian’s Guide to Autism was published by Bonnier in 2024.

In audio, Pierre co-hosts the hit Budpod podcast alongside Phil Wang which has over 3.5million downloads, has performed on The Now Show and The News Quiz (Radio 4), and hosts the BBC Sounds podcast series Obsessed With… SAS: Rogue Heroes. As a writer, Pierre was a regular writer on the rebooted Spitting Image (ITV/Britbox) and has also written on shows including Mock the Week (BBC2), The News Quiz (Radio 4) and The Mash Report (BBC2).

One of the UK’s most acclaimed live acts, Pierre‘s latest show Must We? saw a sold-out run at the Monkey Barrel at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and was his fourth show to have been placed in the top 20 best-reviewed comedy shows across the entire festival and will tour the UK in 2024. He has released two comedy specials, Quiet Ones and Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things? via US comedy label 800 Pound Gorilla Records which have amassed over half a million views online.

'packed full of belly laughs – each topic could be a full show on its own' ★★★★★ Sharon Lougher, Metro

'A storming hour of punchy, exceptional stand up' ★★★★ Jay Richardson, The Scotsman

'Hilarious…he will go far' ★★★★ Dominic Maxwell, The Times

Studio
£12

Glenn Moore
Glen's website

X TheNewsAtGlenn
Insta glennrogermoore
Fb Glenn Moore

Pierre Novellie
Pierre's website

X PierreNovellie
Insta pierrenovellie
Fb Pierre Novellie

•  30 Apr from £12

20 years in stand up for the Taskmaster cheeky texts icon, multi-award winner, YouTube cult figure, Radio 4 favourite and recently Baby Reindeer actor.

Mark Watson returns after seasons at the Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Edinburgh comedy festivals. A recent encounter with a stranger caused Mark to spend some time pondering the uncertain future facing humanity. He explores this - along with equally pressing matters like the worst word he has ever said in public, the current state of the UK sausage industry, and much more - in a typically frantic and fun-packed new show.

'A genius-level comic doing what he does best'  ★★★★★ Time Out Melbourne

'Quite unlike anything else I’ve seen in almost 20 years of covering the Fringe...witty, warm, perfectly judged' ★★★★★ Telegraph

'One of the most genuinely joyous presences in comedy' ★★★★ The Times 

'This is a stand-up operating at the very top of his game' ★★★★ Independent

Courtyard Theatre
£22.50

Mark's website

X WatsonComedian
Fb Mark Watson Comedian

•  18 Sep from £2250

Led by Creative Eye

Norden Farm's Crafternoons are relaxed crafting sessions for older people.

Get crafty with a range of activities, or bring along your own projects to work on with support from tutor Kayleigh Robinson.

You can learn new skills, meet new people and try something new, a cup of tea is included with the ticket price. Come either Tuesday or Wednesday and join in that week's craft. If you are unable to attend in person you can log on from home to chat and join in the session.

Spring Season
Tues 14 Jan - Charcoal Drawing
Tues 21 Jan - Embroidered Photos
Tues 28 Jan - Decoupage Log Slices
Tues 4 Feb - No Session
Tues 11 Feb - Polymer Clay Octopus
Tues 18 Feb - Pin Board
Tues 25 Feb - Willow Suncatcher
Tues 4 Mar - Wire Flowers
Tues 11 Mar - Felt Keyring / Brooch
Tues 18 Mar - Woven Basket
Tues 25 Mar - Wool Hoop Art
Tues 1 Apr - Book Folded Sheep
Tues 8 Apr - Fabric Flower
Tues 15 Apr - Cube Bunny
Tues 22 Apr - Embossed Foil Decorations
Tues 29 Apr - Iris Paper Folding

Social Arts Crafternoons is a partially funded project run by Norden Farm with support from The Berkshire Community Foundation.

Local transport can be provided as part of the ticket price for those attending on a Wednesday.

If you need transport to Norden Farm for the Wednesday sessions please contact Jess Thompson at [email protected] / 01628 682563 to talk through your requirements.

Suitable for ages 60+ years.

2pm - 3pm
£6.50 per session, including a cup of tea

•  21 Jan from £650
•  28 Jan from £650
• 12 more dates...

Led by Nanda Sharma

Welcome to Bollybhangra Dance Fitness Party sessions! Nanda teaches her original choreographies to top hits from Bollywood, Bhangra, Belly dance and also other international music and dance rhythms.

The joyful music and movements encourage us to open our hearts and minds to possibilities, improve wellbeing and body-confidence and encourage us to embrace our individuality.

Enjoy the benefits of dance on flexibility and balance, health and fitness, and mood, memory, in a fun and friendly environment, at your own pace - no pressure. Beginners welcome.

Every class feels like a party and your place awaits! Dress up or dress down, some colour, sequins and a jingly bellydance scarf will add to your experience!

Bring water, a towel, wear dance sneakers or trainers.

Spring
Tues 14 Jan - Tues 29 Apr
3pm - 4pm

£10 per session

•  21 Jan from £10
•  28 Jan from £10
• 9 more dates...

Led by Seann Wilkinson

A non-audition community choir open to all. Working on everything from Madonna to Les Mis, from gospel to pop - this is an opportunity to meet people, learn some harmonies and sing your hearts out. No experience required. Enthusiasm absolutely necessary!

Spring
Tues 14 Jan - Tues 1 Apr (exc 18 Feb)
7.30pm – 9pm

£11 per session | £110 per 11 week term

•  21 Jan from £11
•  28 Jan from £11
• 7 more dates...

Led by Julie Potter

This class is particularly suited to beginners, those returning to yoga having had a break, those with specific injuries or conditions or even those that consider themselves to be of a certain age that might need a less challenging approach. We will cover general breathing practises, the basic and gentler postures, together with general information and possible discussion around movement and the potential difficulties we might come up against.

The aim will be to relax and enjoy.

The yoga I teach is an evolution of nearly 30 years of practice and study, with a broad experience of many styles and teachers. In recent years I have been moving away from ‘external’ evaluation of the postures and moving towards an internal sense of the postures, moving away from the more used traditional approach of systemised yoga to a more experiential and felt approach, influenced by teachers who have been inspired by the teachings of Vanda Scaravelli.

Please bring a blanket, a Yoga / Pilates mat, and wear loose comfortable clothing

Spring
Wed 15 Jan - 12 Feb (5 weeks)
Wed 19 Feb - 19 Mar (5 weeks)
Wed 26 Mar - 30 Apr (5 weeks)

11am - 12.15pm
£12 per session | £50 per 5 week course

This class will take place both in person and online via Zoom.

You will find the link to access the session in your booking confirmation email.

•  22 Jan from £12
•  29 Jan from £12
• 12 more dates...

Led by Emma Duncan

In each session children take part in a series of drama games and activities that develop their confidence as well as teaching them drama skills. These include focus, communication, developing a character and voice projection.

As the weeks go on the group will each have a part with some lines to learn in a small-scale show. They will rehearse as a team and share what they have learnt during the last session, more details to follow on this after half term.

Suitable for school years 2 - 6.

'Norden Farm is my favourite after school club, it always keeps me moving and relaxed. It is a great place to go for drama and within a short time, I have become far more confident and expressive' Timothy, age 7

'We have sent both of our children to Youth Theatre at Norden Farm and have seen dramatic improvements in there ability, confidence, social awareness and expressiveness generally and specifically. The environment is safe and developmental in a broad and exciting sense' Alex - parent

Spring
Wed 15 Jan - 2 Apr (12 weeks)
5pm - 6pm
£126

Junior Youth Theatre Booking Form

'The youth theatre is a nice place and I’ve only been here a short time and I Love it!' Junior Youth Theatre Student

'It is cool and welcoming' Junior Youth Theatre Student

'The youth theatre is one of the most professional classes I’ve enrolled in' Junior Youth Theatre Student

'The youth theatre is one of the best drama clubs, everyone is so friendly and we do amazing games' Junior Youth Theatre Student

'We have absolutely loved the drama classes, we have seen a tremendous improvement with our daughter's confidence, she enjoys the sessions as there is a mixture of techniques and games and has made friends along the way! Emma is great at adapting the lessons and I have only seen improvements, we Look forward to the end of summer show combined with the senior class!!! Love Norden Farm as the venue!' Junior Youth Theatre Parent

'This is my daughter’s first experience of a drama club - and it has been such a positive, confidence-boosting, creative experience for her. I particularly love that there is no pressure on the children - there is plenty of time and practice to get ready for the end of season Sharing Session, and the level of performance is just enough to stretch them, without making them worry. It’s pure joy and excitement! You can see how far the group has progressed from term to term - they are becoming a very confident and capable group of Thespians!' Junior Youth Theatre Parent

•  22 Jan
•  29 Jan
• 9 more dates...