EVENTS
Tree Dressing // 4 Dec Tree dressing is a magical occasion for all the family, celebrating the importance of trees in our lives. Join in traditional songs and dances. Turn a jam jar into a lantern and join the procession illuminated by hundreds of lanterns before dressing the aspen trees as darkness falls. The day’ s finale takes place as darkness falls, with a spiral dance around the aspen trees, which are dressed with hundreds of lanterns. Younger visitors are well catered for, with lantern making, headdress making, crafts and storytelling. Winter warmers for sale include mulled cider, mulled apple juice, spiced biscuits and roasted chestnuts. The museum’ s cafe kiosk will also be open, selling hot and cold snacks, light lunches and drinks.
Based on an ancient custom that celebrates the life-giving properties of trees, tree dressing takes place during National Tree Week. With its origins in the green man legends and other ancient customs, visitors to the tree dressing day can enjoy( and join in with) traditional songs, dances, plays and stories which celebrate trees and the natural world.
From 12.30am. Price: £ 13( children 4-15, £ 7) Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton, Chichester PO18 0EU www. wealddown. co. uk / 01243 811363
5pm. Price: £ 17.50 The Picture House, High Street, Uckfield TN22 1AS www. picturehouseuckfield. com / 01825 764909
Madame Butterfly // 7 Dec
Riccardo Chailly will conduct this original version, marking this the first time the performance has returned to La Scala since its hotly contested debut in 1904. This signifies an opportunity to rediscover the opera that is more audacious in its dramaturgical design and remains one of Puccini’ s most performed works to date. The performance will be directed by Alvis Hermanis, with Cio-Cio-San played by Maria José Siri, an emerging soprano on the greatest international stages.
Mr Popper’ s Penguins // 7-11 Dec Painter and decorator by day, Mr Popper spends his time dreaming of Antarctic adventures. He is astounded when one day a packing crate arrives on his doorstep, out of which waddles a penguin! With heartwarming songs and endearing puppets recreating a family of penguins, this delightful musical adaptation of Richard and Florence Atwater’ s popular book( also made into a Hollywood film starring Jim Carrey) is brought to you by the producers of The Tiger Who Came to Tea and We’ re Going on a Bear Hunt.
Various times. Price: from £ 12.50 Chichester Festival Theatre, Oaklands Park, Chichester PO19 6AP www. cft. org. uk / 01243 781312
A Christmas Night At The Opera // 8 Dec
With London Festival Opera. A Christmas Night at the Opera features some of the greatest arias and ensembles from the operas of Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Bizet, Puccini, Offenbach and Gilbert & Sullivan. The artists appear in sumptuous period evening dress recreating the atmosphere and grandeur of past times. Accompaniment will be a select chamber ensemble. Join in the Christmas spirit by singing popular carols with the soloists! The programme will be introduced by the baritone, Philip Blake-Jones.
7.30pm. Price: £ 20- £ 22 Congress Theatre, Carlisle Road, Eastbourne BN21 4BP www. eastbournetheatres. co. uk / 01323 412000
Vegetarian Festive Feast // 9 Dec
Repast Supper Club’ s historical vegetarian supper in May 2016 was a resounding success. Several people have asked when they will be doing another meat-free dinner, so they have decided to create a vegetarian menu for the festive season. This vegetarian feast features dishes that have appeared on their historical menus over the past 12 months.
Time, price and location available on request www. repastsupperclub. co. uk / 07525 159005
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