An Audience with Ethan Davids and Nat McConnell

Step inside another ‘Real Talk Fridays’ for an evening with two of Wiltshire’s most inspiring creators; Ethan Davids of the Chickpea Group and Nat McConnell of Bluestone Vineyard.

In an honest, lively conversation about craft, community, and the courage to build something meaningful, these founders will share the stories behind their growing empires, from restoring beloved local pubs to cultivating sparkling wine on family farmland. Join us for a rare chance to hear how vision becomes reality, how place shapes purpose, and why good food, good drink, and good people remain at the heart of everything they do.

Ethan Davids is the founder, driving force and the heart, behind Chickpea, a creative food venture built on the belief that delicious, conscious eating should be available to everyone. With early roots in design and cultural research, Ethan forged a path that blends aesthetics, sustainability, and storytelling into a single, thoughtful vision.

Part designer, part storyteller, and part relentless tinkerer, he oversees Chickpea’s brand identity, product strategy, and long-term innovation, ensuring every project reflects the company’s values of simplicity, authenticity, and ethical production.

His work extends across Chickpea’s growing family of pubs, including The King’s Arms in Shaftesbury, The Silver Plough in Pitton, The Queen’s Head in Broad Chalke, The Bell & Crown in Zeals, The Grosvenor Arms in Hindon, The Pembroke Arms in Wilton, The Dog & Gun in Netheravon, The Market Inn in Salisbury, The Manor House Inn in Ditcheat, and The Fleur de Lys Inn in Cranborne. Each venue is shaped around community, good food, and warm, unpretentious hospitality.

Bluestone Vineyard is a family‑run vineyard and producer of premium English sparkling wine nestled in the Wiltshire countryside near Salisbury, just minutes from the ancient World Heritage site of Stonehenge. The vineyard was established in 2016 by brothers Nat (Nathaniel) and Toby McConnell on their family’s Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm, a 42‑acre site known for its roaming peacocks, alpacas, and welcoming rural charm.

Nat’s passion for English sparkling wine and deep connection to the land quickly took root, and by 2019 he released their first vintage sparkling wines made from estate‑grown fruit.

Today, Bluestone Vineyard continues to grow its reputation for producing elegant English sparkling wine and welcoming guests to explore the vineyard, learn about the winemaking process, and enjoy memorable moments among the vines.

Tickets: £18

The peasant girl Giselle has fallen in love with Albrecht. When she discovers that he is actually a nobleman promised to another, she kills herself in despair.

Her spirit joins the Wilis: the vengeful ghosts of women hell-bent on killing any man who crosses their path in a dance to the death. Wracked with guilt, Albrecht visits Giselle’s grave, where he must face the Wilis – and Giselle’s ghost.

Peter Wright’s 1985 production of this quintessential Romantic ballet is a classic of The Royal Ballet repertory. Set to Adolphe Adam’s evocative score and with atmospheric designs by John Macfarlane, Giselle conjures up the earthly and otherworldly realms in a tale of love, betrayal and redemption.

Duration: 3h 30m (to be confirmed)

Cast:
To be confirmed

Creatives:
Choreography MARIUS PETIPA after JEAN CORALLI and JULES PERROT
Music ADOLPHE ADAM Edited by LARS PAYNE
Conductor VELLO PAHN
Scenario THÉOPHILE GAUTIER after HEINRICH HEINE
Production and Additional Choreography PETER WRIGHT
Designer JOHN MACFARLANE
Original Lighting JENNIFER TIPTON Re-created by DAVID FINN

Tickets: £15. Members, Friends and under 18s £12.50.

Embark on A Ticket to Ride with The Fourmost, a captivating journey into one of music’s most exciting eras.

As seasoned veterans of the Merseybeat scene, The Fourmost bring unparalleled authenticity and passion to the stage, performing a beloved collection of timeless hits.

This dynamic show features a vibrant ‘hit parade’ that delves into the songbooks of the era’s most influential bands, including iconic tracks from The Beatles, The Searchers, The Hollies, The Kinks, The Who, and The Move, alongside The Fourmost’s own celebrated repertoire. Each song is delivered with the energy and precision that made them legendary.

A Ticket to Ride transcends a traditional concert; it’s a heartfelt tribute and a nostalgic voyage that encapsulates the essence of Beatlemania and the profound cultural shift of the 1960s. Experience an authentic 60s vibe brought to life through stunning musicianship and a genuine connection to the era. This immersive and thoroughly entertaining experience promises to evoke cherished memories and introduce a new generation to the timeless soundtrack of a revolution.

Get your ticket for this unforgettable ride!

Tickets: £22. Under 18s £18.

An Audience with: Penny Mallory 

Join us for an intimate evening of life stories, Q&A and grazing boards!

Long before she became a celebrated rally champion, award-winning broadcaster, international keynote speaker, and expert in Mental Toughness, Penny’s world looked very different.

At just 14, she ran away from home and found herself living in London’s derelict squats, surrounded by danger, chaos, and addictions that claimed the lives of many around her. With no money, no qualifications, and no stability, Penny’s future seemed predetermined. But even in the darkest moments, she carried an unshakeable belief that life could be different—that she could be different.

That belief became the spark that transformed everything.

Fuelled by a mixture of grit, courage, and a refusal to be defined by circumstance, Penny rebuilt her life piece by piece. She trained, worked, learned, and fought her way from homelessness to the driver’s seat of a rally car—a place few women had ever sat. In an arena dominated almost entirely by men, Penny rose to become the first and only woman to compete in a World Rally Car, achieving what even seasoned professionals considered impossible.

Her success on the rally stage became the foundation of a new mission: helping others harness the resilience, focus, and mental toughness that had saved her life.

Today, Penny Mallory is one of the UK’s most respected performance and mindset specialists. She has presented on live TV, authored bestselling books, and delivered powerful keynote speeches for global brands including Google, Coca-Cola, Mercedes-Benz, and the Ministry of Defence. Her work is trusted by elite athletes, corporate leaders, frontline services, and high-performance teams worldwide.

Then came TV presenting, extreme sports, running multiple marathons, climbing the world’s highest mountains and fighting in the boxing ring twice. She is now training, with her team, to row 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, in a small boat in December 2026.

Tickets: £18

The Kast off Kinks Not to be missed!

The Kast off Kinks, Has always included former members of the legendary band ‘The Kinks’. Past Kinks members include, John Dalton, Jim Rodford, Ian Gibbons, John Gosling & Bob Henrit. Ray Davies has also graced the stage on the odd occasion.

The current great line-up features Mick Avory (Founding member of The Kinks & the original drummer on all the classic hits from 1964-84), Mark Haley (keyboards/vocals, Kinks 1989-93, also played with The Rubettes), Mike Steed (bass/vocals, playing history with Love Affair, Chip Hawkes, Marmalade, The Rubettes & Mike Pender).

These high-class professionals are then fronted by the equally talented & charismatic Robin Bibi (guitar/main vocals). Robin is an award winning guitarist in his own right & has worked as a session man with such artists as Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, The pretty Things, Ben E. King and Helen Shapiro to name but a few.

Expect all the hits, including You Really Got Me, Dedicated Follower of Fashion, Sunny Afternoon, Lola, Days, Waterloo Sunset, Come Dancing, and many more for a great night out!

“A full house, and a standing ovation. To anyone wondering about going, do not hesitate” (The Stables, Milton Keynes)

“Nothing short of superb. From start to finish it was filled with hit after hit” (Mad Ferret, Preston)

Tickets:

Adults: £25

Members, Friends & Under 18s: £22

Get ready for an electrifying night of brass brilliance!

Since forming in 2009, East London’s boundary-pushing musical innovators Hackney Colliery Band have been reshaping expectations of what a brass band can be. Over the past fifteen years, they’ve built a dedicated following through their uplifting live performances and a series of acclaimed releases. Their journey has included some extraordinary moments — including performing to a crowd of 80,000 at the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

Now, the nine-piece ensemble arrives at Shaftesbury Arts Centre as they get ready to release their sixth full-length album, the eagerly awaited Collaborations: Volume Two. While their previous record, Collaborations: Volume One, brought together iconic world-music artists such as Grammy-winning Beninese vocalist Angélique Kidjo and Ethiopian jazz legend Mulatu Astatke, the new album shifts its focus. Volume Two explores songs and vocalists, mixed with a selection of instrumentals that feature harp, guitar, cello — and even conch shells.

As anyone who’s ever tried to organise a group will know, gathering nine musicians in one place on a regular basis is no small achievement — let alone touring the globe to perform instrumental music together. In an industry that often urges artists to settle into a single genre, HCB have joyfully refused, carving their own creative path for a decade and a half. The sense of community and camaraderie within the band is extraordinary, and it shines through in everything they do. Frontman and composer Steve Pretty, along with composers Olly Blackman and Luke Christie, say of the new release: “It’s a privilege and joy to still be playing together after all these years, and especially to be pushing each other to be as creative and innovative as we can be. The process of collaborating with so many amazing artists, and the freshness that’s brought to the project is endlessly inspiring. Some of this music started life almost a decade ago, and other tracks are only a few months old, but we’re so proud of the breadth of musical talent on display with this record.” Their new album stands as a vibrant and original continuation of their already diverse catalogue, celebrating the band’s collaborative spirit and inventive approach.

Expect an evening filled with energy, bold creativity, and the unmistakable joy that Hackney Colliery Band bring to every stage. This is a show not to be missed.

Tickets:

Standard: £24.00

Members, Friends, & Under 18s: £21.50

Eabhal have made a significant impact on the Scottish music scene with their vibrant and energetic folk music. The band’s distinctive West Coast sound and dedication to their craft have earned them a prestigious Folk Band of the Year nomination in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2022 amongst multiple other awards and nominations over the past 10 years. Eabhal have released two albums to date, the debut This is How The Ladies Dance in 2018 and the second Aisling, released in 2022, showcasing an array of arrangements of Gaelic and English songs. The band’s focus on kinship and connection to people, land, elevation and language are all reflected in their music. Although they all come from different backgrounds and places, each member was immersed in traditional music, and their collective passion for their craft is evident in every song and performance.

Eabhal’s achievements in their career include the successful releases of both their albums, taking them on extensive tours to stunning locations throughout the Highlands, Scottish Isles, and much of Europe. Additionally, the band has been fortunate enough to showcase their talents at World Music Asia in Shanghai and perform at various shows in the US in 2018.

Tickets:

Adults: £18

Members & Friends: £16.50

Under 18s: £15

An Audience with Marlow Renton from Wild Food UK

You’re Walking Past Dinner Every Day. What if your next meal was growing just beyond the footpath?

Real Talk Fridays Presents: An audience with Marlow Renton from Wild Food UK Join Marlow Renton from Wild Food UK for a powerful, eye-opening Real Talk Fridays talk that will completely change the way you see the land beneath your feet. From the edges of Kingsettle, through Duncombe Woods, to the hedgerows, lanes, and chalk landscapes surrounding Shaftesbury, this is an invitation to rediscover the familiar and realise just how much abundance we’ve been walking past all along.

Marlow is a leading voice in modern foraging, an expert forager and educator, and the founder of Wild Food UK a movement dedicated to reconnecting people with nature through ethical, sustainable, seasonal wild food. This isn’t about gimmicks or survival skills. It’s about rebuilding a relationship with the land, noticing what’s already there, and rethinking where food really comes from. His work challenges modern food systems and invites us to look beyond supermarket shelves towards a more connected, sustainable way of living.

Marlow is co-author of two of the countries most popular foraging books, both Amazon Bestsellers. In addition, he has recently released a Wild Food Cookbook that has been shortlisted for a World Gourmand Award. He is also the founder of Youtube Foraging Channels with over 75,000 subscribers.

Drawing on years of experience foraging across the UK, Marlow will share real stories from the field, practical foraging insights, and eye-opening perspectives on food, sustainability, wellbeing, and lost knowledge which will help us to enjoy even more our woods and everyday green spaces within our lovely Cranborne Chase and Blackmore Vale.

Whether you’ve wandered through the countryside a hundred times or you’re simply curious about what grows along local paths and fields, this talk will leave you seeing your surroundings, and your food, in a whole new way.

This talk is for nature lovers, foodies, locals, sustainability thinkers, and the curious!

“Once you know what you’re looking at, every walk becomes a conversation.”
“I’ll never walk through the woods the same way again.”
“Grounded, inspiring, and completely mind-shifting.”

Tickets: £20

An Audience With Jess Gough: A Modern Smallholder: The Road to Self-Sufficiency

What does self-sufficiency really look like in 2026, and is it possible without giving up modern life?

In this engaging and refreshingly honest Real Talk Fridays session, Jess Gough invites us into her world as a modern smallholder, sharing how she transformed a patch of land in Somerset into a thriving, wildlife-rich homestead while still working full time.

From growing almost all her own fruit and vegetables to keeping chickens, ducks, bees and pigs, and even brewing her own beer, Jess tells the real story behind the dream.

She shares what’s worked, what hasn’t, and the lessons learned along the way, with practical tips and down-to-earth insights you can actually use. Rooted in organic growing and working with nature, Jess explores how encouraging biodiversity builds resilience, boosts productivity, and makes food growing more joyful and sustainable.

Motivated by the hugely positive impact gardening has had on her own wellbeing, Jess launched @happy_smallholding in 2023 to inspire others to start growing their own food, whatever their space, time or experience level.

Her message is simple and empowering: self-sufficiency isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress, passion, and getting your hands dirty.

Perfect for aspiring growers, smallholders and anyone curious about living closer to the land and nature, this talk will leave you inspired, informed, and ready to take your own first (or next) step towards a more self-sufficient life.

Tickets: £18

The Momentum Group Presents, What The Dickens? An open air festival celebrating the works of Charles Dickens through words and music.

Step into a world of great stories and glorious music at ‘What the Dickens’

An open-air twilight festival celebrating the unforgettable works of Charles Dickens.

As dusk falls, enjoy live theatre inspired by Great Expectations, evocative readings from Dickens’ most loved novels, against a stirring musical backdrop from David Grierson’s Phoenix Café Orchestra, evoking the charm and elegance of a bygone age.

Setting: Open-air performances in the gardens of a country house

Food & Drink: Ticket includes pie and mash (Vegetarian option available, please email Diana Banham at dianabanham61@gmail.com to request)

Pay bar on site

Important Information: Please note, there is no on-site parking, but nearby road parking is available in the surrounding roads of St James and Enmore Green.

As this is an outdoor event, it is weather dependent and will only proceed if conditions allow for a safe and enjoyable evening. Should postponement be necessary, ample notice will be given and all ticket purchases will be fully refunded.

Guests are encouraged to bring folding chairs, and those who wish to dress in period costume are warmly invited to do so.

Location:
Milland House
53, Breach Lane
Shaftesbury
SP7 8LF

Tickets: £25
Booking coming soon.

After the roaring success of Belle Street’s previous collaboration with The Brave and Determined charity, Belle Street Productions are returning with another wildly entertaining evening.

With amazing performances from some of Shaftesbury’s favourite musicians as you have never seen them before, you will be taken on a journey of laughter, chaos and occasionally wondering what on earth might happen next.

Belle Street will guide you through the evening – serving as your charming and comedic hosts … or so they think?!

An amazing opportunity to support The Brave and Determined charity. 100% of all ticket sales will go to this life saving charity.

Tickets: £20.

Special Early Bird Offer – until April 30th 2026 £17.50.

After the roaring success of Belle Street’s previous collaboration with The Brave and Determined charity, Belle Street Productions are returning with another wildly entertaining evening.

With amazing performances from some of Shaftesbury’s favourite musicians as you have never seen them before, you will be taken on a journey of laughter, chaos and occasionally wondering what on earth might happen next.

Belle Street will guide you through the evening – serving as your charming and comedic hosts … or so they think?!

An amazing opportunity to support The Brave and Determined charity. 100% of all ticket sales will go to this life saving charity.

Tickets: £20.

Special Early Bird Offer – until April 30th 2026 £17.50.

After the roaring success of Belle Street’s previous collaboration with The Brave and Determined charity, Belle Street Productions are returning with another wildly entertaining evening.

With amazing performances from some of Shaftesbury’s favourite musicians as you have never seen them before, you will be taken on a journey of laughter, chaos and occasionally wondering what on earth might happen next.

Belle Street will guide you through the evening – serving as your charming and comedic hosts … or so they think?!

An amazing opportunity to support The Brave and Determined charity. 100% of all ticket sales will go to this life saving charity.

Tickets: £20.

Special Early Bird Offer – until April 30th 2026 £17.50.