Theatre comes to Ropery Hall

Back by popular demand! Justin has extended his tour so anyone who missed his performance here in February now has a chance to see him.

The story covers subjects ranging from pantomimes to dreams, how to behave in hospitals, small talk, realising his Mum is a northern version of Columbo, and how being a smart-mouthed kid saved him from a life of continually being beaten up.

Above all else, it’s the Justin you have to come to expect. It’s funny and interesting, and perhaps there’s a little bit that warms the soul, too.

“What sets him apart is the craft. Lightning fast wit, masterful delivery.” ★★★★ Chortle

“If joke-telling is your thing, then Justin Moorhouse is your man…very high gag rate” ★★★★Fest 

★★★★“Skilful crafting…he keeps the laughs coming” British Theatre Guide

“He charms the pants off the crowd” Sunday Times

“The amount of first-rate comic craft that goes into his routines is worthy of admiration” Guardian

“Simultaneously down-to- earth and out of this world” The List

 Age guidance: 14+

The silent masterpiece with a brand-new live score by Chris Green

Made in the immediate aftermath of the First World War, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) is the quintessential German Expressionist film masterpiece. Robert Wiene’s distorted sets, sinister shadows and unnerving characters creating a paranoid, unreal world at a time of despair throughout Europe.

At a local carnival in a small German town, hypnotist Dr. Caligari presents the somnambulist Cesare, who can purportedly predict the future of curious fairgoers. But at night, the doctor wakes Cesare from his sleep to enact his evil bidding…

Incalculably influential, the film’s nightmarishly jagged sets, sinister atmospheric and psychological emphasis left an immediate impact in its wake (horror, film noir, and gothic cinema would all be shaped directly by it). But this diabolical tale nevertheless stands alone.

Chris Green’s new score is a haunting blend of electronic and acoustic instruments performed live by the composer.

The Composer

Born into a musical family in Coventry, Chris Green began playing guitar at the age of eight and piano from the age of nine, and plays most things with fretted strings or keys. Largely self-taught, he’s worked in a variety of musical genres including folk, theatre and early music. He’s a regular musician at Shakespeare’s Globe and was also one of the musicians on BBC’s Poldark, appearing in series 1 and 2.

He also writes and composes, having adapted The Wind in the Willows (2017) for
GreenMatthews as well as A Christmas Carol: In Concert (2018), which London Theatre Reviews described as “A delightful show… a lively retelling”

In 2018, he released his first solo album Switched-On Playford, which fuses 17th-century dance music with electronica, using a blend of early instruments, synths and loops. It was described by fRoots as “bloody brilliant…. an exquisitely-rendered and endlessly satisfying piece of work.”

After a fallow year (for very good reasons) Paul returns to the Edinburgh Fringe with a brand new show. Join him for this work in progress on the road to Edinburgh. 

Award-winning comedian, writer and broadcaster and that quizzy bloke in the white suit off The Chase, Paul recently added author to his many credits, with his memoir, One Sinha Lifetime. 
As seen on Taskmaster, Would I Lie To You?, QI and Countdown, one of the circuit’s busiest comedians is back at Ropery Hall. Catch him while you can.

‘This is what a good stand-up should be. Hilariously funny, passionate and articulate.’ Chortle

‘An exceptionally skilled stand-up…. truly wonderful’ The Scotsman 

‘Full of insight and delight’ The Times

In an almost Zelig-like career, the Belfast-born troubadour has jammed with the Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant at ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris’s birthday party (the veteran DJ Harris regards Houston as ‘one of Britain’s great songwriters’) and Houston opened for the likes of Van Morrison and Elvis Costello. But in 2009 Brian Houston topped the lot, when he had breakfast with none other than US President Barack Obama – well, kind of…

“It was thirty seconds in when I realized what a really special piece of music this was. One of Britain’s great song writers!” Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2

“The audience went mad after he did a live session on my show!” Janice Long BBC Radio 2

“If Ron Sexsmith and Elvis had a baby; gave it to Bob Dylan to raise but hired Van Morrison as a nanny they’d call it Brian Houston…”  The Drew Marshall Show

A writer of considerable warmth and wit. Uncut

“Bristling with hope joy love and fabulous songs” Mojo

Since first getting together in 2001, St Agnes Fountain have brought musical invention and laughter to the star-dust atmosphere of the Christmas season.

Founder member David Hughes left the band in 2020, and very sadly died recently. However remaining members Chris Leslie, Chris While, and Julie Matthews carry on in the same spirit as before, keeping the Christmas Aggie spirit alive and touring as a trio with some new material, some old classics, and a doff of the fedora to David.

Although the albums accompany the putting up of a thousand Christmas trees throughout Britain and around the globe as their reputation reaches further afield, it is, without question, St Agnes Fountain’s magical live performances that have endeared them to an ever-growing audience.

Christmas, as they say, starts with St Agnes Fountain. Carols with a curve.

This duo show is a celebration of Yuletide Past guaranteed to warm the cockles of the most Scrooge-like heart. Featuring Christmas carols, winter folk songs, toe-tapping tunes and a plethora of weird and wonderful instruments, the show is brought to life with GreenMatthews’ trademark wit and humour.