-3264 days before the Arts Festival starts. Plan ahead – book your tickets NOW!
Here are synopses of 3 randomly selected events to whet your appetite …
U3A organised walk around HungerfordSunday 16 July 10:00am Town Hall  Leader: Carol Shanahan Contact: carol@cottages-beer-devon.co.uk Meet Hungerford Town Hall. Canal towpath, Freemans Marsh and onto the best view of Hungerford (spot the Town Hall clock) returning via Eddington and the Pepperpot Cottages. Look out for the Stocks! Take a drink and a snack and binoculars if you have them! For more walks and other activities, see the Hungerford U3A website. |
Secrets of the River: Early Morning WalkSaturday 9 July 6:30am Freeman’s Marsh  Rob Starr, River Keeper for the Town & Manor of Hungerford, will lead an exploration of the River Dun, a chalk stream which is a globally rare habitat abundant with wildlife See wild brown trout and grayling and go river dipping for bullhead and a fascinating variety of invertebrates including caddis and freshwater shrimp Followed by Breakfast (£4) in the Croft Hall prepared by Hungerford WI – tickets are required See separate event below The walk starts at St. link |
The Second Best BedSaturday 2 July 7:30pm The Croft Hall  By Avril RowlandsShakespeare famously left his wife Anne only one thing: the second best bed This critically acclaimed play stars Liz Grand as Anne Hathaway, alone on the night of his funeral, recalling with humour and pathos her life with the most talented playwright the world has ever seen Or was he? Did he really write the plays? Surely his widow would know wouldn’t she? |
Over 50 events in 17 days in July
The Arts Festival has a wide range of events and you can see your favourite ‘genre’ via our Events by Type page – or click on a link below.
| children | comedy | dancing | exhibition | family |
| film | music | photography | poetry | quiz |
| talk | theatre | tour | walk | workshop |
Tickets are available online – and you can save the booking fees by ordering your tickets before 1st May. We have also added a ‘shopping basket’ feature to enable multiple tickets purchase in one transaction.
Theatre events for HADCAF 2016
The Fossil Lady of Lyme
Friday 8 July 7:30pm The Croft Hall
The story of Mary Anning. She discovered the first complete fossil of a prehistoric reptile in Britain at the age of 12.
Just So Kipling: An exceedingly good story
Wednesday 13 July 7:30pm The Croft Hall
Using Rudyard Kipling’s stories and poems, Newbury Dramatic Society explores his life and times in an attempt to unravel the mixed feelings about him.
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Friday 15 July 8:00pm The Croft Hall
Combining edge-of-seat thrills with stunning physical theatre, this award-winning show brings Stevenson’s classic chillingly to life.
The Second Best Bed
Saturday 2 July 7:30pm The Croft Hall
Shakespeare famously left his wife Anne only one thing: the second best bed. This critically acclaimed play stars Liz Grand as Anne Hathaway, alone on the night of his funeral.
If music be the food of love …. we have a feast for you!
Apologies to William Shakespeare but we wanted to draw your attention to the wonderful range of music on offer in the Arts Festival this year.
| Hank Wangford Trio | British alt country music | Friday 1 July | |
| Kennet Opera | Opera | Saturday 2 July | |
| Blues in the Park : inc. Jacqui Dankworth | Jazz, Blues & Poetry | Sunday 3 July | |
| Jessica Wise & Guy Murgatroyd | Recital | Monday 4 July | |
| Songs For Summer | Singing workshop | Saturday 9 July | |
| A Jazzy Soiree : with Steph Richardson | Jazz | Saturday 9 July | |
| HADFEST featuring HAIZE | Indie-rock | Saturday 9 July | |
| Hungerford Town Band Concert | Brass band | Sunday 10 July | |
| Villiers Quartet | Classical | Sunday 10 July | |
| Organ Recital | Organ | Thursday 14 July | |
| Reading Community Gospel Choir | Soulful and groovy | Saturday 16 July | |
| Phoenix Brass Open Air Concert | Brass band | Sunday 17 July | |
| Moscow Drug Club | Cabaret | Sunday 17 July |
And we haven’t forgotten that it’s the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death – why not come and see
The Second Best Bed on Saturday 2 July
– a play set on the evening of Shakespeare’s funeral.
Tickets for all events are available online NOW and no booking fees are applicable at the moment.
Maureen Lipman and Jacqui Dankworth to headline HADCAF 2016
Hungerford & District Community Arts Festival (HADCAF) celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with an extra-special programme headlined by actress Maureen Lipman and jazz singer Jacqui Dankworth who, together with Jeremy Robson and Charlie Wood, appear in an unmissable evening of poetry, music and wit.
Further exciting events include performances by Hank Wangford, ‘the grizzled godfather of alt country music’, award-winning Australian comedian Sarah Kendall, the Villiers Quartet (‘one of the best young quartets around today’), the Reading Community Gospel Choir (finalists in last year’s BBC ‘Songs of Praise’ Gospel Choir of the Year competition), and the virtuosic cabaret quintet, Moscow Drug Club. The Second Best Bed, a play set on the evening of Shakespeare’s funeral, marks the 400th anniversary of his death, while more drama includes a thrilling production of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and the story of fossil hunter Mary Anning, the ‘Fossil Lady of Lyme‘.
The full Festival programme is designed to be diverse and inclusive, embracing a wide range of arts and leisure-related events: theatre, music of all kinds, literature, film, exhibitions, talks, children’s activities, workshops and opportunities to learn about local history, conservation and wildlife through guided walks in our beautiful countryside.
The 2016 Festival runs from Friday 1st – Sunday 17th July.
Tickets are available now online and as an incentive to book early, booking fees will not come into effect until May 1st. Printed programmes and tickets will be available from mid May from Newbury Building Society (Hungerford branch).
HADCAF is run entirely by volunteers and is funded by Hungerford Town Council, The Town and Manor of Hungerford, and Greenham Common Trust, together with sponsorship by local businesses and individuals whose generous help enables ticket prices to be kept as low as possible. Please see our 2016 list of sponsors here. Box office facilities are kindly provided by Newbury Building Society (Hungerford branch) and tickets are also available online.
If you would like to help out with the Festival or offer sponsorship, we would love to hear from you via the form on the CONTACT page.
