To celebrate our 30th Anniversary, we have brought a very special event to the Town Hall. Passamezzo specialise in British music from the 16th and 17th Centuries and will recreate Christmas in 17th Century England through music, words and song.

The group are in costume with period instruments.

‘Old Christmas Returned’ consists of ballads, lutesongs, carols, consort music, madrigals and readings, and describes how Christmas was celebrated, banned and restored in 17th Century. The programme follows the religious calendar from Christmas Day itself to the beginning of Lent and includes music by Attey, Byrd, Dowland Purcell and Wilson and readings from Shakespeare, Drummond, Herrick and Taylor. Concerts have a distinct theatrical air and all performances are researched from original sources.

All the members of the group are professional musicians in their own right:
Tamsin Lewis (Director, Renaissance Violin, Viols, Alto)
Alison Kinder (Viols, Recorders, Alto)
Robin Jeffrey (Lute, Guitar, Tenor)
Michael Palmer (Actor, Baritone)
Eleanor Cramer (Soprano, Bass Viol)

They have played in a great variety of venues including the British Museum; the Victoria and Albert Museum; Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre; Hampton Court Palace and in theatres, concert halls, stately homes, churches, palaces and ruins throughout England. Their TV and radio work is just as diverse with performances for BBC Restoration and Howard Goodall’s The Truth about Carols; Big Brother; Henry VIII and his Six Wives; and Elizabeth I.

Tickets £12 to include light refreshments and mulled wine. Available from One Stop Shop in the Market Place, or contact us on the numbers below.

We anticipate this will be a very popular concert so don’t delay!