I don’t think we’ve ever had a year quite like it with so many different shows and projects we’ve been involved with!
January we performed a special one off celebrating the 150 year history of St John’s in Hedge End.
February & March we filmed lots of Jane Austen promos and our latest feature – The Armada Chronicles which we premiered at Hanger Farm in May.
June saw our various Jane Austen shows begin in earnest. We organised a special Jane Austen concert celebrating Jane’s personal music collection thanks to Jeff Henry and Nicola Pritchard-Pink. We also supported a number of heritage walks and study days too. Not to mention performing a new Jane Austen show – The Stinking Fish of Southampton.
Then we went straight into telling the tale of the Spanish Armada with a special Study Day (with the University of Southampton) and a special historical armada pageant lead by the Reverend Shapcott!
We’ve loved our joint working with the Steamship Shieldhall this year. We joined them on two cruises telling tales of Jane Austen’s time in Southampton (in August) and the ill fated maiden journey of another Southampton ship – the Titanic (back in May). We also got to use the ship for our Halloween Show too – a fantastic setting to tell spooky true tales of sailors and the sea.
Then we were back all things Jane for a special Austen Birthday Regency Ball. Our final performance of the year was on our dear Miss Austen’s 250th birthday as we celebrated her life through her prose and characters in Jane Austen in her own words.
So in 2025 we’ve performed at Chawton House, God’s House Tower, Tudor House, Steam Ship Shieldhall, St Johns (Hedge End), St Michael’s Church, Peartree Church, The Masonic Hall, Townhill Park House (the Greg School) not to mention the streets of Southampton itself to name just a few.
What will 2026 hold in store? We’re not quite sure but hopefully it’s a little quieter that this year!