If you need somewhere in Thornbury to hold a meeting or event, the Armstrong Hall complex offers a wide range of facilities.
The original Cossham Hall was presented to Thornbury in 1888 and is suitable for small concerts, cinema screenings and meetings, with a capacity of 140, including 40 in a gallery.
The main Armstrong Hall seats around 350, and is readily adaptable for all types of functions, dances, discos, trade promotions and exibitions.
It has a stage and dressing rooms, lighting and sound equipment, cinema screen and raised seating. There are also kitchen facilities, smaller meeting rooms and a licensed bar.
A refurbished bakery forms an annexe to the main building and is available as an extra meeting or activity room.
Large numbers of local groups and organisations use the complex on a regular basis, including the Women's Institute, Townswomen's Guild, Blood Donors, Horticultural Society, Flower Club, Weight Watchers, Stamp Club, Camera Club, Northavon Youth Theatre, Age Concern, Rosemary Conley Fitness, Eastwood Gardeners Club, Choices Club for The Disabled and Country Music Club.
The complex is also the venue for part of the Thornbury Arts Festival and for productions by the Thornbury Amateur Dramactic Society and the Thornbury Musical Theatre Group.
If you would like to hire any part of the Armstrong Hall complex, see the Town Council's Armstrong Hall web pages for more details or contact office staff at the Town Hall.
Nearby free parking is available at St Mary Street (limited to 2 hours stay before 6pm), and at Rock Street.
Arts and entertainment
Performing arts
Film
Thornbury Town Council
Local organisations
Tuesday 31 March - Saturday 3 April, with evening performances at 7.30 pm [Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday], plus an afternoon performance only on Good Friday at 3pm, Armstrong Hall, Thornbury
Set in the same era as last year's successful version of Fiddler on the Roof, yet demonstrating such a different picture of life on the other side of the world, more than 50 young people, who together make up the Northavon Youth Theatre Company, are proud to display their versatility by staging a brand new version of an old favourite: Half A Sixpence, this Easter.
This is the musical that gave star status to a young Tommy Steele, in the rôle of Arthur Kipps, both on stage and screen and NYTC is delighted to be one of the first groups in the country to bring this exciting revival to audiences.
Seats will once again be at a premium for this celebrated group, which is now in its 34th year of bringing high quality youth productions to Thornbury, and has an impressive list of theatrical awards, plus more than 40 successful productions to its credit.
Half A Sixpence is based on the novel Kipps by HG Wells and tells the story of a young man who meets eccentric actor Harry Chitterlow and suddenly finds himself unexpectedly rich. He is consequently transported from a poor existence and a seemingly everlasting draper's apprenticeship, 'All In The Cause of Economy', to becoming 'A Proper Gentleman'. Arthur has three soul mates and close friends in Sid, Pearce and Buggins, plus their female counterparts: Kate, Victoria and Flo and a childhood sweetheart named Ann, but they are all quickly forgotten when he befriends the Walsingham family, especially the beautiful Helen, although he sings that 'She's Too Far Above Me'. He wins her over, however, and in spite of exchanging a lover's token with Ann ('Half A Sixpence') plans to marry Helen! He comes to his senses and realises Ann is the girl for him and they enjoy a blissful wedding ~ 'Flash, Bang, Wallop! with their friends, but then Artie's big plans cause a rift when Ann tells us: 'I Know What I Am'.
To find out whether money does bring happiness to this young man, or if he learns a different lesson, join NYTC for a musical comedy that will appeal to all ages, with an eleven-piece orchestra bringing nearly 30 numbers to life, including some great song and dance classics! With special party rates and Family Tickets available on Good Friday, demand for seats will be high, so to avoid disappointment, either ring: 01454 613172, call into our Box Office at Wildings, Thornbury High Street from 15 March, or post your booking to: NYTC, c/o Jarvis Woodhouse Events Ltd, 19 High Street, Thornbury, South Glos BS35 2AE.
www.nytc.org.uk
7.30pm (Doors open 7pm), Armstrong Hall, Chapel Street, Thornbury (PG with subtitles)
If you love movies, it is impossible not to love Cinema Paradiso. If you love cinema and Italian food and wine, you will really enjoy a fund raising evening organised by Thornbury Picture House which includes all three of these elements to be held in aid of the Armstrong Hall Dressing Rooms Refurbishment Appeal.
Giuseppe Tornatore’s classic Academy Award winner is a heart-warming, nostalgic celebration of youth, friendship, and the everlasting magic of movies which follows the love affair of a young fatherless boy in a post war small Sicilian town where the local cinema, Cinema Paradiso, becomes his home and the movies his parents. In time he is taken under the wing of the projectionist and their relationship sets him on his life’s journey to become a successful director.
Join us for this wonderful film, followed by Italian food prepared to recipes by gourmet Laura Geraci of Pomodoro Mediterranean Catering, accompanied by a free glass of Italian wine - all for the sum of £10. Tickets are available for this fund raising event from the Town Hall and at Thornbury Picture House.
For more information, call 01454 412272 or click below.
www.thornburypicturehouse.org
Email:
8pm, Armstrong Hall, Thornbury
A good crowd attended the first show of the year. As the previous month evening had to be cancelled due to the bad weather. Good news is the duo Spur will now make an appearance at our Christmas show instead in December. We welcomed many new faces to the club and hope to see you all again very soon.
Our act for February was the local duo McCoy Country (Mike & Tim), they have a lot of followers in the surrounding areas. Mike on the vocals sang the old & new classics such as Cattle Call, Okie from Muskogee, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. With the song Auctioneer Mike rattles of all of the bids, as if you were in an auction sale room.
Tim showed his talent with his guitar instrumentals tunes on the guitar, playing the tunes such as Apache. Even the crowd had chance to sing along too, joining in the tunes like can’t help falling in love by Elvis, and them to howl along to the turn of Ghost riders in the sky. To end the night we ended with favourites songs of the club, ‘Where are we going to live when we get home’ and Happy Trails. Dance floor was kept full for most of the evening.
If you have not been to this club, it is worth a visit. A friendly atmosphere will await you.
Come along and join us for our next evening on Saturday 10th April when we will have three artists on one evening. We will have Steve Chase and Middy & Dean Austin all from the north and midland area of the country. It will be one evening’s entertainment not to be missed. An evening of pure Country Music to enjoy.
www.mythornbury.co.uk/thornbury/a...
9.15am Body Vive, 10.20am Yoga-lattes, 11.10am Pre and Post Natal, Armstrong Hall, Thornbury
For your first class free visit the website below or call 07810 068722.
BodyVive
Who is it for?
BodyVive is for everyone, any age, any fitness level who enjoys a gentler level of aerobic and toning exercises with options of a harder or easier workout. BodyVive choreographes fun routines to great music to create a fabulous atmosphere for all to enjoy while improving cardios fitness, strength and flexibility.
What will BodyVive do for me?
- Make you feel fitter by increasing heart and lung fitness
- Make you feel stronger by increasing muscular strength and endurance
- Reduce the risk of bone and joint degeneration
- Meet with friends and have workout together
BodyVive uses Vive ™ balls and Vive ™ tubes and starts with a simple aerobic warmup and progresses through 4 aerobics tracks to complete the Heart Fitness section. Then comes the functional strength componant to tone your upper and lower body, ending with core and restore to strengthen and lengthen.
Yoga-lattes
Who is it for?
Yoga-lattes is a perfect partner to more vigorous programmes allowing the muscles to lengthen and relax. It gives you the opportunity to unwind whilst strengthening your whole body and is also ideal as a gentle introduction to group exercise.
What will Yoga-lattes do for me?
- Make you feel stretched by increasing flexibilty & range of motion
- Make you feel relaxed by using great music and smooth transitions
- Increase Core strength
- Improve posture and alignment
Starting with a Tai Chi inspired warm up and moving through traditional yoga poses, participants are then guided through a range of toning Pilates movements to finish with a stretch and meditiation.
Pre & Post Natal class
Who is it for?
This is a class dedicated to mums both pre and post birth of their little ones. Mums are invited to bring babies to the session and can feel fully supported in seeing to them whenever they need their mum!
What will it do for me?
- Make you feel great
- Help restore pre-pregnancy fitness & posture
- Give you some ‘Mum’ time and somewhere to meet up with your Mum friends!
- Weightloss through calories usage and training in fat burning zone
Warming up with a low level aerobics routine we’ll continue through a cardio section, use toning exercises, add in gluteal firing, balance, core stability and round up with a stretch and relax. All in 45 mins! My aim is for you to finish the class feeling great and like you’ve made a difference.
Please note: Mothers are welcome to breastfeed at any time.
www.armstrongfitness.co.uk
7.30pm (Doors open 7pm), Armstrong Hall, Chapel Street, Thornbury
Thornbury Picture House aims to bring the best of world cinema to Thornbury at affordable prices while avoiding unnecessary trips to out-of-town venues.
Each film costs £3 if you join TPH for £30. Entrance to individual films will cost £5 if you are not a member.
www.thornburypicturehouse.org
8pm (No interval), Armstrong Hall
Reserved seating, Tickets £18
Award winning foreign correspondent and BBC News presenter George Alagiah investigates the global food chain and uncovers the absurd and explores the controversial.
George will take questions at the end of his presentation. Presented in association with
Sympathetic Developments.
www.thornburyartsfestival.com
8pm, Armstrong Hall
Reserved seating, Tickets £12
Words and music complementing each other in a scintillating night of stories, poems, music, comedy and improvisation. Presented in association with UK Touring agency.
www.thornburyartsfestival.com
3pm, Armstrong Hall
Tickets £8.00 (concessions £6)
Conductor Christopher Hill, Leader Janet Lewis. A welcome return to the Festival for the local group of orchestral musicians playing a varied programme featuring soloist Rosemary Stoner playing Edward Lalo's Cello Concerto.
www.thornburyartsfestival.com
7.30pm (No interval), Armstrong Hall
Tickets £9 (concessions £7)
Who are we and where do we come from? Through stones and bones and genes the story unfolds.
www.thornburyartsfestival.com
7.30pm (No interval), Armstrong Hall
Tickets £5
A beautifully photographed award-winning documentary film following a family of colourful street performers over a six year period.
www.thornburyartsfestival.com
7.30pm, Armstrong Hall
Tickets £10
Tim Whitnall's 2009 Edinburgh Festival hit set in a hide on the Suffolk marshes graduates from tense thriller to black comedy. A must-see treat. Presented in association with Theatre Tours International Ltd.
www.thornburyartsfestival.com
8pm, Mezze at the Royal George
Free entry
Come along and listen to some cool jazz at the Mezze.
www.thornburyartsfestival.com
