Upcoming Events

Feeling different, teased by his friends and not accepted by his family, the Ugly Duckling is sad and lonely.

Through a series of adventures he soon learns who he really is and his family realises it doesn’t matter what you look like but how good your heart is. 

From the creators of The Princess & the Frog, Teddy Bears’ Picnic, Alice in Wonderland, The Princess & the Pea, Cinderella, The Magic Word, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty comes this lovely ballet for the whole family. With the crystal-clear story telling, larger than life characters and gorgeous costumes you’d expect from this innovative company, The Ugly Duckling tackles themes of social acceptance and liking yourself in a child-friendly, humorous manner. 

Great for the whole family, especially children aged 2-12, including people with special needs. 

Thank you for the amazing performance today at the East Greenwich Pleasuance! We will certainly be back for future shows. Thank you again xx Valentina, East Greenwich

With sell-out performances across the UK, Let’s All Dance Ballet Company is renowned for bringing classic children’s stories to life, combining narrative driven productions with traditional ballet repertoire.

Running time 45 minutes + photo opportunity with the cast!

PART OF THE HEMSTED PARK WINTER FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

A collection of performances from world class musicians, spanning the genres of Jazz/Funk, Orchestral & Chamber music. This November Hemsted Park are delighted to present the The James Taylor Quartet, Britten Sinfonia, Trio Bohémo & Sheku Kanneh Mason accompanied by Harry Baker. 
Purchase tickets three events for an automatic 10% discount. Purchase tickets to all four events for a 20% discount. 
 

Max Richter's The New Four Seasons: Vivaldi Recomposed is a thrilling and hypnotic way to hear Vivaldi's genius with fresh ears, seemingly taking us up into the cosmos to look down on the piece and the world from above. Britten Sinfonia has a special relationship with the piece, having given its first ever concert performance in 2012 and more recently performed it to a rapturous reception for a sell-out crowd of 5,000 people at the 2023 BBC Proms.


Purcell              Chaconne 5’

Vivaldi              Concerto for 2 violins in A minor, RV522 10’

Philip                 Glass Company for strings 9’

Steve Reich     Duet for 2 violins and strings 5’
JS Bach            Brandenburg Concerto No 3 10’

Join us for a lunchtime concert showcasing the huge variety of music for trumpet and piano, from the jazz-inspired exuberance of Gershwin to the lyricism of Poulenc. With Enescu’s folk-influenced melodies and Lili Boulanger’s serene Nocturne also on the programme, this is a concert full of musical treasures.
 

Enquiries about any of the free events should be directed to music@benenden.school.

PART OF THE HEMSTED PARK WINTER FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

A collection of performances from world class musicians, spanning the genres of Jazz/Funk, Orchestral & Chamber music. This November Hemsted Park are delighted to present the The James Taylor Quartet, Britten Sinfonia, Trio Bohémo & Sheku Kanneh Mason accompanied by Harry Baker. 
Purchase tickets three events for an automatic 10% discount. Purchase tickets to all four events for a 20% discount. 
 

Bach & Beyond

Few artists possess a musical influence as far-reaching and cross-disciplinary as J. S. Bach.

Kanneh-Mason’s (cello) and Baker’s (piano) examination of this legacy begins with the music of Leoš Janáček, who, like Bach, found inspiration in age-old beloved melodies; in Janáček’s case, Czech folk song. Intricate works by Bill Evans and Pat Metheny are symbols of the roster of jazz musicians moved by the German composer’s output.

The second half of the programme showcases Bach’s diverse generic scope —Cello Suite No. 1, Prelude & Fugue in D-flat major, and his chorale, Ich ruf zu dir — alongside more direct homages by Baker and Brazilian composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos.

Running Time: 2 x 45 minute halves with a 20 min interval 

PART OF THE HEMSTED PARK WINTER FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

A collection of performances from world class musicians, spanning the genres of Jazz/Funk, Orchestral & Chamber music. This November Hemsted Park are delighted to present the The James Taylor Quartet, Britten Sinfonia, Trio Bohémo & Sheku Kanneh Mason accompanied by Harry Baker. 
Purchase tickets three events for an automatic 10% discount. Purchase tickets to all four events for a 20% discount. 
 

Experience the electrifying fusion of funk, soul, and jazz with the renowned James Taylor Quartet, led by Hammond organ maestro James Taylor. Known for their dynamic performances, the quartet seamlessly blend groovy rhythms with soulful melodies, with Taylor's virtuosic organ playing taking centre stage. Drawing inspiration from the golden era of jazz while infusing it with a modern edge, their sound is both nostalgic and contemporary.
 
In this special concert, enjoy a selection of pieces from James’s Te Deum featuring the Benenden Chapel Choir, adding a unique and captivating element to the evening. Don't miss out on the infectious energy and undeniable talent of the James Taylor Quartet, leaving audiences grooving and craving more with each mesmerizing performance.

Running Time: approx. 110 mins including interval 

PART OF THE HEMSTED PARK WINTER FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

A collection of performances from world class musicians, spanning the genres of Jazz/Funk, Orchestral & Chamber music. This November Hemsted Park are delighted to present the The James Taylor Quartet, Britten Sinfonia, Trio Bohémo & Sheku Kanneh Mason accompanied by Harry Baker. 
Purchase tickets three events for an automatic 10% discount. Purchase tickets to all four events for a 20% discount. 
 

Trio Bohémo, hailed for their precision, dedication and outstanding talent.

From acclaimed debuts at venues like Wigmore Hall to winning top prizes at prestigious competitions, Trio Bohémo brings exceptional classical music to the stage

Programme

Dmitri Shostakovich: Piano Trio No. 1 in C Minor, op. 8
Franz Schubert: Notturno in E-flat Major
Bedřich Smetana: Piano Trio in G Minor, op. 15

Running Time 60 mins - No interval

Please note that this event is not being held at Benenden School but at Tudeley Church.
 

FAULTY TOWERS THE DINING EXPERIENCE

THE INTERNATIONAL IMMERSIVE COMEDY SENSATION

TO PLAY AT HEMSTED PARK

Direct from London’s Theatreland via the legendary Sydney Opera House, Interactive Theatre International are proud to bring Faulty Towers The Dining Experience, to Hemsted Park, Cranbrook, on 12 & 13 December 2024.

The world-renowned immersive phenomenon is currently celebrating its twenty-seventh anniversary as the world’s most sought-after tribute to the BBC sitcom. Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is an unmissable highly interactive comedy spectacular, where audiences enjoy a 3-course meal alongside 5-star comedy.

When the audience become diners in the ‘Faulty Towers’ restaurant, pretty much anything can happen – because 70% of the show is improvised. The fun starts as guests wait to be seated. It then hurtles along in a 2-hour tour de force of gags and shambolic service as Basil, Sybil and Manuel serve a ‘70s-style 3-course meal together with a good dollop of mayhem.
Expect the unexpected!

All tickets include an arrival drink, a 3-course dinner and a 2-hour interactive show.

MENU

ARRIVAL DRINK
~~~
STARTER
Roasted Tomato Soup & Basil
Served with Bread Rolls and Butter
~~~

MAIN

Coq au vin, purée de pommes de terre crémeuse
(Chicken braised with wine, lardons & mushrooms. Creamed Potato, Seasonal Root Roast)

or

Vegan Coq au Vin Creamed Potato, Seasonal Root Roast
~~~
DESSERT
Christmas Crème Brûlée

or

Vegan Christmas Crème Brûlée

- ‘Immersive theatre at its startling best’ ★★★★★ Best of Theatre, London West End

- ‘Fantastic!’ ★★★★★ What’s on Stage

- ‘A two-hour eat, drink and laugh sensation’ ★★★★★ The Daily Telegraph

The cast for Hemsted Park will be TBC (Sybil), TBC (Basil) and TBC (Manuel).
* Performer biogs are on the About/Actors page at www.faultytowersdining.com 

Devised by Alison Pollard-Mansergh, Andrew Foreman and others, the show has been touring the UK and internationally since 2008, having appeared in 41 countries to date, and employing 56 actors per season. The show has toured to over 1000 venues, with approximately 400 shows per year on average across the UK, and has recently celebrated its tenth year in London, cementing its status as London’s longest running immersive experience.

Note
Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is a loving tribute to Fawlty Towers. Faulty Towers The Dining Experience uses scripts and a dining experience format devised by Imagination Workshop Pty Limited and is not endorsed in any way by John Cleese or Connie Booth.

Beyond the Barricade, the UK’s longest running Musical Theatre Concert Tour features past principal performers from Les Miserables and delivers over two hours of the best of Broadway and the West End, ending of course with a stunning finale from Les Mis. This brand new show will include many of the best numbers that have made Beyond the Barricade the most popular musical theatre concert in the country.

The concert features David Fawcett (Valjean) Andy Reiss (Enjolras & Resident Director for the National Tour of Les Miserables) Katie Leeming (Eponine) and Poppy Tierney (Cosette), together with a live band who capture the feel of the original orchestrations of the chosen musicals.

To this day every musical note is still played and sung live – very rare indeed. Beyond the Barricade gives musical theatre songs a bold concert format treatment – but with the conviction and intention to deliver the material as if the audience are watching the original performance.

Running Time: Approx. 2h20min (including interval).

Ho, Ho, Ho...it's the Scummy Mummies Christmas Show! Due to popular demand, comedians Helen Thorn and Ellie Gibson are bringing their special Christmas themed comedy show back to... the Benenden Theatre! Expect scummy carols, yuletide sketches, festive stand-up and very scummy Santa stories! Book your tickets now, before it sells out!

Guaranteed to make you feel normal about your parenting skills, or very smug about being child-free. Bring your mates, pop a panty liner in, and let’s party!

‘Highly recommended! 5 stars’ – One4Review
‘Very funny’ – The Guardian
‘Hilarious’ – Broadway Baby

Age Restriction: 16+

Running time: 2hrs, incl. interval

CINEMA SCREENING: MACBETH: David Tennant & Cush Jumbo

David Tennant (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) and Cush Jumbo (The Good Wife, Criminal Record) lead a stellar cast in an ‘enthralling’ (★★★★★ Daily Telegraph) new production of Shakespeare’s MACBETH, filmed live at the Donmar Warehouse in London, especially for the big screen. Unsettling intimacy and brutal action combine at breakneck speed as Max Webster (Life of Pi, Henry V) directs this tragic tale of love, murder, and nature’s power of renewal. With staging ‘full of wolfish imagination and alarming surprise’ (★★★★★ The Guardian), the immersive 5.1 cinema surround sound places the audience inside the minds of the Macbeths, asking are we ever really responsible for our actions?

Running Time: 1hr 50mins, no interval.

Entertainers presents

Thank You For The Music – The Ultimate Tribute To ABBA

Calling all Dancing Queens, this is your night to say, Thank you for the Music!
This international smash-hit tribute show brings all ABBA’s number one hits to the stage in a production like no other. The hugely popular show, now in its 21st year, with a brand-new show for 2024 combines the unmistakable harmonies, colourful costumes, and dazzling performances by our all-star cast.

Join us for the party of the year, you can dance, you can jive, and have the time of your life as we bring you all the hits, including Waterloo, Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, Mamma Mia, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, The Winner Takes It All and many many more!

Thank you for the Music! For without a song or a dance what are we! Touring the nation. Tickets on sale now!

This is a tribute show and is no way affiliated with any original artists/estates/management companies or similar shows.

Promoter reserves the right to alter the programme.

Running time: Approx. 2h30min (including interval).