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Soft or Spiky?

Presented by Half Moon and Polka Theatre.

What question would you want your baby to answer? What would you like them to ask you? In a world full of astonishing unknowns and surprising possibilities, how do you find the right answers or questions?

This playful and interactive new show is full of shapes, sounds, textures and words exploring different ways to connect and understand each other.

Inspired by heartfelt conversations with new parents, this humorous production explores the multiple ways we communicate, ensuring that no one is left out.

At the end of the performance there is a stay and play session where audiences can enter the sensory landscape of the production.

Devised and directed by Daryl Beeton, Soft or Spiky? is a Polka Theatre and Half Moon co-production: an exciting collaboration by two of the UK’s leading children’s venues and touring companies.

This show has very limited language. This makes it accessible to a range of people, including d/Deaf, hard of hearing and non-English speakers.


Performances last 25 minutes (no interval) followed by a 10 minute play and stay session.

Studio
£15 for 1 adult and 1 child | £12 additional adults


Half Moon's website

X Half Moon Theatre


Polka Theatre's website

X Polka Theatre
Insta polkatheatre
Fb Polka Theatre
Tiktok polkatheatre

other events you may be interested in

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Crafternoons - Tuesdays

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.

Autumn Season
Tues 8 Oct Leaf Imprint Trinket Dish
Tues 15 Oct Charcoal Drawing
Tues 22 Oct Wooden Pumpkin
Tues 29 Oct Paper Pumpkin Quilling
No Session Tues 5 Nov and Wed 6 Nov
Tues 12 Nov Hoop Weaving
Tues 19 Nov Glass Painting
Tues 26 Nov Block Printed Cards and Tags
Tues 3 Dec Scrap Fabric Baubles
Tues 10 Dec Christmas Stocking
Tues 17 Dec Wire Christmas Tree

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
£5 per session, including a cup of tea

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André Rieu: Gold and Silver

Celebrate the holiday season with André Rieu's dazzling Christmas Concert, Gold and Silver, exclusively in cinemas!

This magical event embodies the festive spirit of Christmas, bringing joy, warmth, and sparkle to the big screen.

Get ready to be transported to the wondrous world of enchanting glamour that is André's winter wonderland! Under the sparkle of 150 chandeliers and 50 Venetian candelabras, feel your heart warm with the magical melody of all your favourite Christmas classics.

André Rieu will be joined on stage by his beloved Johann Strauss Orchestra, along with special guest artists and the young and talented Emma Kok.

Don’t miss this chance to celebrate music, love, and Christmas sparkle, with André Rieu's new Christmas Concert.

Courtyard Theatre Cinema
£16

Run time 150 minutes

Andre Rieu's website

X andrerieu
Insta André Rieu
Fb André Rieu

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The Royal Ballet: Cinderella

Event cinema screening.

This Christmas, be transported into an ethereal world where a sprinkling of fairy dust makes dreams come true.

This enchanting ballet by The Royal Ballet’s Founding Choreographer Frederick Ashton is a theatrical experience for all the family.

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.

Courtyard Theatre Cinema
£16

Running time: 195 minutes, two intervals

Royal Opera & Ballet's website

X Royal Opera House
Insta RoyalOperaHouse
Fb Royal Opera House

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Norden Farm Choir

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!

Autumn
Tues 10 Sept - 17 Dec, exc 29 Oct (14 weeks)
7.30pm – 9pm
£11 per session | £140 per 14 week term

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Acoustic Guitar - Absolute Beginners

Led by Jim Maving

Always wanted to learn guitar but never got around to it? Want to trade your air guitar skills for real guitar skills? It is never too late to learn. Learn guitar right from the very beginning. This is a foundation course for those with little to no experience of playing guitar. You will learn how to hold a guitar and to make the right noises out of it. The aim of these lessons is to get you playing your first song within 4 weeks of lessons, as no-one takes up guitar to strum random chords, it’s all about the songs.

If you are returning to guitar having not played for some time and can barely remember chords this is a great way of getting back into the swing of things.

If you've never played guitar you need to book on the Absolute Beginners course!

These classes are split by skills level;

Beginners A - Recently completed the Absolute Beginners course but still some way to go. Yet to tackle bar chords and complicated rhythms.

Beginners B - Well on the way and able to do bar chords

Beginners C - Almost Intermediate but not quite yet.


Autumn
Tues 10 Sept – 8 Oct (5 weeks)
Tues 15 Oct – 19 Nov, exc 22 Oct (5 weeks)
Tues 3 Dec – 17 Dec (3 weeks)

7.45pm - 8.45pm

£50 per 5 week course | £30 per 3 week course

Suitable for 18+ years.

  •  10 Dec
  •  17 Dec
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Beginners/Gentle Yoga

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

Autumn
Wed 11 Sept - 9 Oct (5 weeks)
Wed 16 Oct - 13 Nov (5 weeks)
Wed 20 Nov - 18 Dec (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

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Norden Farm Youth Theatre (Junior)

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


Autumn - Improvisation Term
Wed 11 Sept - 18 Dec, exc 30 Oct (14 weeks)
5pm - 6pm
£145


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

  •  11 Dec
  •  18 Dec
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Norden Farm Youth Theatre (Senior)

Led by Emma Duncan.

Each term we will be focusing on developing the participants confidence and well-being through a series of drama games and activities.

This term the Senior Youth Theatre group are focusing on developing drama skills. They’ll learn a deeper understanding of performance and managing their nerves as well as some more specialised techniques including comedy and physical theatre.

Suitable for school years 7 - 12.

'Drama has upped my confidence remarkably and I’m getting better every time, it’s my favourite club and I look forward to it each week' Youth Theatre Seniors Student

'The youth theatre is one of the best dramas clubs ever, we can express ourselves' Youth Theatre Seniors Student

'The instructor is very supportive and everyone is very respectful' Youth Theatre Seniors Student

'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' Youth Theatre Student

'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

Autumn - Improvisation Term
Wed 11 Sept - 18 Dec, exc 30 Oct (14 weeks)
6.05pm - 7.30pm
£180

Senior Youth Theatre Booking Form

'Drama has upped my confidence remarkably and I’m getting better every time, it’s my favourite club and I look forward to it each week' Senior Youth Theatre Student

'The youth theatre is one of the best dramas clubs ever, we can express ourselves' Senior Youth Theatre Student

'The instructor is very supportive and everyone is very respectful' Senior Youth Theatre Student

  •  11 Dec
  •  18 Dec

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