Our work with secondary schools is supported by the Spoore, Merry and Rixman Foundation
Secondary Schools
As well as the full programme of events which runs daily at Norden Farm, we have specially chosen events which can link to the national curriculum and offer further learning opportunities for secondary schools.
Many of the live events which we have chosen for our secondary school audience offer extensive education packs, and can include post show Q&A sessions and wrap around workshops.
We also offer workshops for secondary schools which can take place at Norden Farm or at your school and at any point in the year.
For more information about the Farm Out programme please contact our Education Team at [email protected] or call 01628 682563
Flick through the 2024/2025 Secondary Schools Workshop Brochure here -
The Norden Farm Roadshow
The Roadshow is a chance for us to get to know what you want out of the Farm Out programme - help us understand the way your school diary works, so we can help you access fantastic performances at Norden Farm.
Find out about the live cinema, theatre and special events which are coming up in the following season.
We are happy to fit around your hectic schedules. To arrange a roadshow meeting email our Education Team at [email protected] or call 01628 682563.
Browse upcoming live streamed events
Varnish
Presented by Doubletake Theatre.
It takes star quality to get adopted… and Jonathan Mayor has it.
'I was chosen, you see. Right from the start. They weren’t prepared to leave the quality of their offspring to chance!'
In an explosion of sequins and songs, our prince of stage and screen is every inch the superstar.
It’s been a tough journey from the cobbled streets of Oldham to the glamour of Hollywood. Tougher still for a Scottish-Mauritian adopted son of white parents. But let’s not dwell on that… your fabulous host is here to entertain you!
Inspired by stand-up comedian Jonathan Mayor’s real life, Varnish is a blistering new play from Janet Taylor, exploring transracial adoption and the struggle for identity.
Snap up your hot ticket to join Jonathan's live, star-studded audience and buckle up for belly laughs in this darkly flamboyant, varnished version of the truth.
Studio
£16 I £14 Supporters
Pinocchio
Visit the incredible world of Stuff and Nonsense as they bring Pinocchio to our stage for Christmas 2024.
This is the unique story of ‘when dad was made of wood’...
One cold night Pinocchio, Gepetto and Sonny go on a journey in search of a place to live. Little do they know the house they’re staying in is a playground for their imaginations...
Join the trio as they embark on adventures to the land of play, inside a whale and much more!
Will Pinocchio ever turn back into a real boy?
Stuff and Nonsense are leaders in family theatre. Their adaptation of Pinocchio combines classic elements of the story – a poor woodcarver, the tell-tale growing nose, the dream of becoming a real boy – with their hallmark hilarity, skilled puppetry, original music, fantastic staging, outstanding performers and extraordinary physical tricks.
'The show was extremely clever and I was very impressed by the fantastic use of staging, which is definitely one of the key elements, along with the lively music, that kept my little boy transfixed throughout' coastalmum.co.uk
Invest in your children’s imaginations: join us in the theatre and take playfulness home with you!
Age guidance
Suitable for all the family - age guidance 3 - 10 years.
Relaxed Performances
The performances on Saturday 30 November at 11am and Friday 27 December at 11am are Relaxed. Ideal for families with babies or toddlers and children with SEND. Everyone is welcome to join us for this friendly format.
Signed Performance
The performance on Saturday 21 December at 2pm will be signed.
Run time
Pinocchio is 60 minutes long without an interval.
Tickets
£16 | £14 Under 16s
£56 Family and Friends (4 people)
Tickets for children under 18 months
For this show, tickets/seats are not required for children under 18 months who are happy to sit on laps.
Pre-School Term Time Ticket Offer
Book one Standard and one Under 5 ticket for term time performances of Pinocchio for the special price of £25. Valid on Tuesday - Friday performances until Fri 20 Dec. Offer applied in basket once logged into your account.
Creative Team
Directed by Niki McCretton
Music by Dom Coyote
With additional music by Tim Dalling
Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company's website
X Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company
Insta loadofstuff
Fb Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company
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The Carnival of the Animals - Lantern Parade
The Lantern Parade returns to illuminate Maidenhead on Saturday 7 December 2024.
This year's theme is Our Animal Neighbours!
The Lantern Parade is free to attend and open to all. You don't need a lantern to take part - just head down and celebrate with the community! The Parade encourages local people to get together, create fantastic artworks, dance and parade their fabulous creations through Maidenhead town centre.
Entertainment starts at 4.30pm and the Parade departs at 5pm. Keep an eye on our website for announcements about this year's line up!
Norden Farm are once again working with SameSky to bring you the Parade and Workshops, an award-winning community arts charity who have been creating fantastic lanterns, costumes and community events since 1987.
There will be an Autism Friendly viewing space in Maidenhead Library. If you would like to make use of this, please contact Jess Thompson at [email protected]
Rio Deli at Maidenhead library will be staying open late on the evening of the parade to supply warm drinks and snacks to parade goers.
Lantern Parade Entertainment
Ronak Mela Baja are the UK's Premier Bollywood Dhol and Brass Band! Hailing from London, Ronak Mela Baja brings the vibrant sounds of Bollywood and Bhangra to life through their unique blend of brass and dhol.
Mark Burford will join the parade as the Spirit of Norden Farm, Nordenia, walking the route on stilts as our huge, friendly puppet interacts with the crowd.
Get Parade ready and make a Lantern!
Get involved at one of our Lantern Making Workshops, running throughout November and December. Our expert lantern makers will guide you through the process to create your own lantern to illuminate at the parade.
Norden Farm Workshops
Sat 2 Nov 10.30am - 12.30pm and 2pm - 4pm
Sat 30 Nov 10.30am - 12.30pm and 2pm - 4pm
Book your workshop place online here.
Adults Lantern Making at Norden Farm
Sat 16 Nov 10.30am - 12.30pm and 2pm - 4pm [Ages 17+]
Book your adult workshop place online here.
Join a Drop In Lantern Making Workshop in the town centre or at our Festive Market on Fri 6 Dec. Get parade ready in 20 minutes – drop in any time during the session to make and decorate a simple willow and tissue lantern.
Nicholsons Centre Drop In Workshop
Sun 1 Dec 10.30am - 4pm
Festive Market Drop In Workshop
Fri 6 Dec 6pm - 8pm
Maidenhead Library Drop In Workshop
Sat 7 Dec 10.30am - 2pm
Book your workshop place online here.
With special thanks to our supporters: Spoore Merry Rixman and The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation
- 7 Dec FREE
Hauntings
Hauntings is a spellbinding evening of three tales of the supernatural during which the award-winning actor, Gerard Logan, will take you to world of invisible, but terrifyingly present, spirits.
Gerard Logan's masterful storytelling of two of the world’s greatest writers of ghost stories, E.F. Benson and M.R. James guarantees a spinetingling evening not to be missed.
From E.F. BENSON comes:
Naboth’s Vineyard - in which just desserts are meted out to an unscrupulous lawyer.
The Hanging of Alfred Wadham - in which the forces of the devil test a man of faith to his limits.
From the acknowledged master of the ghost story genre, M.R. JAMES, comes:
Oh, Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad - in which a medieval spirit strikes terrorizes an arrogant professor.
'Logan is astounding....He takes a strong script and flies it to the stars' ★★★★★ Edinburgh Festival 2016 Review
'Watching Logan work is like being privy to a wonder of nature and remains with you ... A true masterpiece of solo performance' ★★★★★ The Edinburgh Guide
Hauntings is also underscored by a beautiful, original and specially commissioned score by the award-winning RSC composer, Simon Slater.
Studio
£16 | £14 (Supporters)
X Gerard Logan
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