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“One
The Anvil Trust is the charity behind Anvil Arts, the largest performing arts organisation in Hampshire that runs three fantastic venues.
We bring many big names to Basingstoke and attract 200,000 people into the town centre each year, who visit shops, bars, restaurants and hotels, as well as The Anvil , The Haymarket and The Forge. Our activities are worth £7.3m to the local economy every year, and support 130 jobs in addition to our own staff.
As an independent charity we:
• Make sure that we present a variety of performances for a wide range of audiences, both popular and specialist
• Help Basingstoke gain a reputation as a town with a strong cultural offer, punching above its weight on the national stage
• Give opportunities to local children, schools and colleges, young musicians and performers
• Work to benefit people on the neurodiverse spectrum and people with dementia, their carers and families, with specially designed projects Visit anvilarts.org.uk/about-us to find out more.
Now and in the future
We need your support to ensure our work continues to enrich lives in Basingstoke and the region.
Donations A one-off or regular donation will be used to support our programme of events and community engagement. Please contact the box office for details or visit anvilarts.org.uk/donate
Make a gift in your will
By including The Anvil Trust in your will, you’ll enable us to continue to give the gift of music as well as reducing your inheritance tax bill.
The Anvil Trust is grateful for the support of the following:









The Haymarket: 3 – 7 Dec / 1.30pm / Thu – Sun 10.30am

Come and join your friends from Acorn Wood at The Haymarket this winter.
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved Tales from Acorn Wood stories are brought to life on stage in an enchanting, festive lift-the-flap experience.
This special Christmas show features Squirrel’s Snowman – can you help her find everything she needs to build a snowman? Squirrel is also joined by Poor old Fox who’s lost his socks! Are they in the kitchen or inside the clock? And Rat-a-tat-tat! Who’s that keeping tired Rabbit awake? You can also join in with Pig and Hen’s game of hide-and-seek and discover the special surprise Postman Bear is planning for his friends.
Packed full of toe-tapping songs, puppetry, and all the friends from Acorn Wood, this beautiful show is the perfect festive treat for all of the family.
£19.50. Under 16s £17.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 1 and over
The Anvil: 11 Dec – 4 Jan / see performance diary for times
Wishing for the best family pantomime? Your wish is our command! Step into the enchanted world of Aladdin, where a humble boy discovers a mystical lamp that unlocks unimaginable power – and a journey of danger, love, and laughter unfolds.
This year, we’re turning up the magic to new heights. Expect jaw-dropping staging, breathtaking lighting displays, and scintillating choreography that will sweep you away on a magic carpet ride like never before.
Making his highly anticipated debut at The Anvil is none other than James Mackenzie, best known for his captivating role in the children’s adventure game show Raven, as the wickedly charming Abanazar. Joining him is Basingstoke’s favourite funny man, Chris Pizzey, returning once again to deliver his signature slapstick comedy, unforgettable routines, and a barrel of laughs that will have the whole family in stitches.

Also coming back is Nic Gibney for his fourth panto at The Anvil! Playing his favourite Dame Widow Twankey.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting adventure. Secure your seats now and make sure every member of the family’s wish is granted this festive season!
£36.50, £34.50, £28.50. Friends of Anvil Arts £4 off (except 13 & 14, 20-31 Dec). Under 16s and f/t students £3 off. Relaxed performance £14.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
by Tue 16 Dec / 6pm Mon 22 Dec / 2pm

The Anvil: Tue 20 Jan / 7.30pm
Arriaga Overture in F minor Op. 1 (1817)
Mozart Clarinet concerto
M Haydn Divertimento in G (1780)
Mozart Eine kleine Nachtmusik
Katherine Spencer clarinet
Two of Mozart ’s most popular and familiar works are showcased in this concert.
The Clarinet Concerto was Mozart ’s last orchestral work, written for his friend, the great clarinettist, Anton Stadler. The slow movement is particularly serene and beautiful.
Eine kleine Nachtmusik may be the most well-known piece Mozart ever wrote, with perfect movements written to entertain, ending with a sparkling and lighthearted finale.
Michael Haydn was Josef’s brother and a successful composer in his own right. This delightful piece is typical of his accomplished style.
The concert opens with a piece by a composer sometimes dubbed ‘the Spanish Mozart’.
£46, £42, £35, £27, £18. Under 25s and f/t students £12 (includes £4 booking fee)
6.30pm / The Forge



The Anvil: Fri 23 Jan / 7.30pm
A celebration of women who have made their mark on stage.
Featuring the best-loved songs from the West End and Broadway, including Wicked, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, Waitress , and more performed by a cast of incredible vocalists and a phenomenal band.
£36.50, £34, £29.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
The Anvil: Sat 24 Jan & Sat 11 Apr / 7.30pm
Don’t miss this unforgettable performance celebrating the 40th anniversary of That’ll Be The Day and Trevor’s farewell tour.
Experience a special blend of rock ‘n’ roll, pop, and comedy, featuring hits from the 50s through to the 80s, showcasing the energy, passion, and talent that has made this the UK’s longest-running touring theatre show.
£33 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 12 and over (contains adult humour)


“The Oramo-BBCSO partnership goes from strength to strength”

The Anvil: Thu 29 Jan / 7.30pm
Cecilia Damström ICE Brahms Violin Concerto
Beethoven Symphony no. 4
Hana Chang violin
Sakari Oramo
The short opening piece is an imaginative portrait in sound of melting Nordic ice. Shimmering and delicate textures give way to more urgent music, after which the piece ‘rewinds’, offering a glimmer of hope for the future.
Brahms ’ magnificent Violin Concerto is deservedly one of his most popular works. After a noble, expansive opening section, the middle movement is one of his most beautiful.
Beethoven ’s Fourth Symphony, sandwiched between two more famous neighbours, has a rewarding atmosphere all its own, from the mysterious slow introduction to the vigorous and joyful finale.
£46, £42, £35, £27, £18. Under 25s and f/t students
£12 (includes £4 booking fee)
6.30pm / The Forge
This concert will be recorded by BBC Radio 3
The Haymarket: Thu 29 Jan / 7.30pm
With growing evidence that we are living in a computer simulation – and a pretty glitchy, off-brand simulation at that, BBC Radio 4 stalwart and veteran of a quarter century of stand-up comedy, Simon Evans is squinting at an uncertain future, and revisiting the blue remembered hills of his youth.
£22 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 14 and over

The Anvil: Sat 31 Jan / 7.30pm
Eternal Love – The Musical Steve Steinman returns with his new hilarious rock musical.
Join Steve and his incredible cast as they take you on an epic journey into the fantastical, dark, thrilling world of vampires, where the love-struck Baron continues his quest for Eternal Love
£39.50, £29 (includes £4 booking fee)

The Anvil: Fri 30 Jan / 7.30pm
Selling Fast
You may know her as Bake-Off Sue, Taskmaster Sue, Just a Minute Sue, or the Sue that gives you travel envy – but stand-up Sue is full of surprises.
In her first live show in over a decade, Sue delivers a hilarious treatise on stigma, humiliation, and misunderstanding.
£33 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 16 and over


The Anvil: Wed 4 Feb / 7.30pm
The Anvil: Sun 1 Feb / 7.30pm
Lions and Tigers and Bears
Join award-winning wildlife photographer and filmmaker, Gordon Buchanan as he recounts his thrilling encounters with pandas, grizzlies, tigers, jaguars, and more.
Learn about the heart-stopping moments, the mud, sweat, and tears, and the tender interactions that have shaped his extraordinary career.
£35. Under 16s and f/t students £33 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 8 and over
Award-winning kora sensation Seckou Keita is on the road with his Homeland band, an all-star line-up of Senegalese musicians, for a joyous and explosive live show.
He will be joined by Grammy-winning American artist Rhiannon Giddens who has made her career out of stretching her brand of folk music, with its miles-deep historical roots and contemporary sensibilities, into just about every field imaginable.
£34 (includes £4 booking fee)



The Anvil: Thu 5 Feb / 7pm
With three Grammys and a career spanning over three decades, Lucinda Williams is a defining figure in Americana, blending blues, folk, rock and Southern storytelling like no one else.
From the raw power of Car Wheels on a Gravel Road to the dark brilliance of Good Souls Better Angels, Lucinda has built a catalogue that’s both revered and deeply personal. Live, she’s magnetic, gritty, poetic, and unfiltered.
£54, £49, £44, £41.50 (includes £4 booking fee)

The Anvil: Sun 8 Feb / 4pm
with Brighton Festival Chorus
Elgar Cello Concerto in E Minor, The Music Makers
Parry I Was Glad
Adrian Bradbury cello
James Morgan
The Anvil: Fri 6 Feb / 7.30pm
Celebrate three decades of the world’s greatest rock music with a stunning multi-million dollar sound and light show to match.
Expect songs by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen, The Rolling Stones, Eagles, AC/DC, The Beatles, The Who, Van Halen, Fleetwood Mac, and more!
Note-for-note, anthem after anthem, and riff after riff – culminating in a show-stopping guitar duel, that is definitely not-to-be-missed.
£49, £44 (includes £4 booking fee)
Experience the intimate Cello Concerto and power of The Music Makers in an unmissable opportunity to hear two Elgar masterpieces.
£45, £39.50, £29.50, £19.50. Under 25s and f/t students £12 (includes £4 booking fee)


The Anvil: Wed 11 Feb / 7.30pm
After breaking records with sold-out shows across the globe, “one of the world’s top comedians” (The Sunday Times ) is inviting you back into the room: no phones, no distractions, just humans and jokes. Don’t tell the algorithm.
£39 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 14 and over
The Haymarket: 11 – 12 Feb / 7.30pm
Degrees of Error present


“By far the best improvised show I have ever seen!”
Inter:Mission
Don your deerstalker and grab your magnifying glass as Degrees to Error use audience suggestions to create a hilarious improvised murder mystery. All you have to do... is solve it!
Ms Gold poisoned at a synchronised swimming gala? Dr Blue exploded by cannon during a hot air balloon race? Professor Violet crushed to death at a Love Island recoupling? You decide!
But will you guess whodunnit before the killer is revealed?
£29 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 12 and over (some strong language and sexual references)
The Anvil: Thu 12 Feb / 7.30pm
All About The Love
Judi Love is back with a brand-new show packed with home truths about the hustle of juggling parenting, work, and everyday life.
Judi has dedicated her life to service; as a friend, parent, in the workplace, on TV, or at home, all with a bit of humour, which has been a lifesaver. She has learned one key thing: it’s All About The Love…
£34 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: strictly ages 14 and over (may contain swearing and adult content)

The Anvil: Sat 14 Feb / 7.30pm
Senbla presents Carmen
Ellen Kent’s Farewell Opera Tour

The Anvil: Fri 13 Feb / 7.30pm
The nation’s favourite clairvoyant medium from Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights , Clinton Baptiste is back!
In a rudderless world, mankind needs an envoy to gather solutions from the all-knowing, all-seeing afterlife. But who should it be? Of course, there’s only one man for the job.
£33.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 14 and over
featuring Opera International Kyiv, Ukraine, with highly-praised soloists and full orchestra
An evening of passion, jealousy, tragedy, and unforgettable arias, featuring Bizet’s iconic melodies – from The Toreador’s Song to Carmen’s Habanera , and Don José’s Flower Song
£49, £46, £42, £39. Under 25s and f/t students half price.
Over 65s £2 off (includes £4 booking fee)
Cast subject to change. Sung in French with English surtitles


The Anvil: Tue 17 Feb / 7.30pm
The Anvil: Sun 15 Feb / 1.30pm
The Natural History Museum presents
For the first time ever, the famous Natural History Museum is taking you on a dinosaur adventure like no other.
Go on a pre-historic journey to the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and watch the life-like dinosaurs come alive on stage!
Plus, find out more about fossils, time scales and how our planet has changed over hundreds of millions of years.
Get ready for a roaring experience.
£21. Under 16s £20 (includes £3 booking fee)
Step into a frozen circus wonderland, where a talented cast of aerialists, thrilling fire performers, and jaw-dropping acrobats are combined with beautiful choreography and West End live vocals.
Set to a powerhouse pop soundtrack, follow the journey of a young girl with a vivid imagination encountering weird and wonderful characters along the way.
Visually stunning and emotionally uplifting, Cirque Enchantment is the ultimate feel-good escape this winter.
£35. Under 12s £25 (includes £4 booking fee)


The Anvil: Fri 20 Feb / 7.30pm
“The Greatest Tribute to the Greatest Decade” Get ready to step back in time and relive the sounds of the greatest musical era as The 80s Show transports you on a nostalgic journey, celebrating and showcasing the unforgettable hits that defined a generation with an electrifying production to match!
From the infectious pop melodies of Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, and Wham!, to the rock anthems of Bon Jovi and Tears for Fears, plus a few nice surprises.
£32 (includes £4 booking fee)

The Anvil: Thu 19 Feb / 11am & 2.30pm
Justin Fletcher is back on stage in a brand-new live show!
Get ready to sing, dance and laugh along with BAFTA Award-winning Justin, star of Something Special, Justin’s House, Gigglebiz, and Gigglequiz, in a show bursting with music, dancing and plenty of giggles.
When DJ Engelbert, the coolest canine in the dog-house, launches a contest to find the best rock song, Justin’s band Justin Time to Rock! are determined to win! But can they get their song to DJ Engy before the sneaky Rock Lord and his sidekick try to steal it?
With favourites like The Hokey Cokey, Music Man, and Hands Up, plus original songs, Justin Live - Justin Time to Rock! is a high-energy, feel-good family show guaranteed to get everyone dancing in their seats and leaving with a smile on their face!
£24. Under 16s £22 (includes £4 booking fee)

The Anvil: Sat 21 Feb / 7.30pm
The ultimate burlesque and cabaret experience where sensuality and unadulterated fun collide to create an unforgettable evening.
Combined with cabaret and circus set to hit tracks from Burlesque, Chicago and chart-topping tunes by Cher, Christina Aguilera and many more, Tease will linger in your memory long after the curtain falls.
£35.50, £34, £29.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: strictly ages 18 and over
The Haymarket: Fri 20 Feb / 1pm & 3.30pm
Based on the bestselling books by Liz Pichon , Tom Gates EPIC Stage Show brings alive the illustrations and music that makes it hugely popular around the world with catchy tunes and hilarious performances.
£21. Under 16s £20 (includes £4 booking fee)


The Anvil: Sun 22 Feb / 7.30pm
Jacket Potato Pizza
A kidney stone. A stray cat. An eye-themed fetish. Bridget Christie hits the road again with a brand-new show.
Creator and star of Channel 4’s The Change, Taskmaster S13 legend, and Annie in BBC’s Ghosts
£29. Under 25s £27 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 14 and over

The Anvil: Wed 25 Feb / 7.30pm
Mozart Symphony no. 39 Symphony no. 40 Symphony no. 41
Robin Ticciati OBE
Mozart ’s last three symphonies were written in a few weeks in summer 1788, unusually without performances already arranged, they make a satisfying triptych.
The Haymarket: Tue 24 Feb / 7.30pm
‘Dogger, Fisher, German Bight’: Charlie Connelly brings the shipping forecast vividly to life in this hilarious and moving celebration of a cultural institution.
Explore the broadcast’s remarkable history, unlock its beguiling mysteries, and hear rip-roaring stories of Charlie’s own adventures among the sea areas, ensuring the forecast will never sound the same again.
£22 (including £4 booking fee)

The final symphony sums up Mozart ’s achievement in the form, with a spacious opening movement, an expressive and chromatic slow movement, and one of his most famous minuets.
The finale is a five-part tour de force of pure joy.
£46, £42, £35, £27, £18. Under 25s and f/t students
£12 (includes £4 booking fee)
6.30pm / The Forge
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment is Anvil Arts Orchestra in Association

“Ticciati, perhaps the most spiritual as well as naturally gifted of the younger conductors, drew playing of endlessly fascinating precision”
The Haymarket: 26 – 28 Feb / 7.30pm / Sat 2pm

Rumpus Theatre Company presents based on To Be Read at Dusk

“Intense... We are drawn slowly but inexorably into the strange pattern of events” What’s On Stage
by Charles Dickens . Adapted by John Goodrum
When they set off for their honeymoon in Italy, Thomas Manning is happy and carefree, but his young bride, Clara, is troubled... Troubled by a dream, a dream of a face, three times dreamt in the nights leading up to her wedding.
Amid the shadowy rooms and moonstruck gardens of the peeling, overgrown palazzo where they are to spend the next few weeks, the intangible dread that haunts her reaches its terrifying climax.
Let the haunting begin.
£24 (matinees), £26. Under 25s and f/t students £15.50, Friends £21 (26 Feb) (includes £4 booking fee)
Sat 2pm

The Anvil: Fri 27 Feb / 7.30pm
Led and arranged by Mike Oldfield’s long-term collaborator, Robin Smith , you’ll hear the whole of Tubular Bells I performed in full, along with extended sections of Tubular Bells ll and lll , as well as the worldwide hit single Moonlight Shadow .
£64.50, £49.50, £39.50, £29.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 8 and over
Please note: Mike Oldfield does not appear

The Anvil: Thu 26 Feb / 8pm
The Mo You Know
Off the back of his previous sell-out tour, triple BAFTA-winning stand-up sensation Mo Gilligan is back with his biggest tour yet.
£30.50, £28.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 16 and over

The Haymarket: Sun 1 Mar / 7.30pm
Songs, Stories & All That
Join Denise Van Outen for an electrifying night of music, laughter, and stories from her dazzling career. With beautiful songs and behind-the-scenes tales, this is Denise as you’ve never seen her before – up close, unfiltered, and utterly unforgettable.
£36.50. M&G upgrade £25 (includes £4 booking fee)

The Anvil: Fri 6 Mar / 7.30pm
The Haymarket: 3 – 7 Mar / 7.30pm / Thu 1pm / Sat 2.30pm
Reduced Shakespeare Company in
by Adam Long , Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield
The worldwide comic phenomenon returns with a fast-paced, reinvented ride through all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays. After nine years in London’s West End, TV specials and global tours, the Reduced Shakespeare Company are back with this wild, irreverent show that will leave you breathless with laughter.
£25 (matinees), Tue – Thu £27, Fri – Sat £29. Under 25s and f/t students £16. Friends £22.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
Remember those exciting times getting ready while screaming along to your favourite tunes into your hairbrush? Well, it’s now in one amazing evening of music and dancing.
Fronted by three phenomenal female vocalists backed by a band of stunning musicians, expect hits by artists like Kylie Minogue, ABBA, Tina Turner, Cher, Britney Spears, Spice Girls, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Steps, and many more.
PS. Don’t forget your hairbrush!
£30 (includes £4 booking fee)


The Forge: Fri 6 Mar / 7.45pm
Internationally celebrated Nashville singersongwriter Jeff Cohen is delighted to return for a second Writers Round with special guests Alyssa Bonagura and James Slater
Come and meet the writers of songs that Luke Combs, Tim McGraw, The Shires, and Carrie Underwood have had hits with.
£29 (includes £4 booking fee)
The Haymarket: Sun 8 Mar / 7.30pm
Andy Fairweather Low came to prominence as the lead singer in Amen Corner. The 60s saw them clock up hit after pop hit. Songs such as Bend Me Shape Me, Hello Suzy, and (If Paradise is) Half As Nice are internationally remembered to this day.
Since the early days Andy has gone on to work with Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Elton John, The Who, BB King, Kate Bush... and literally hundreds more!
A remarkable front man, a remarkable band.
£34 (includes £4 booking fee)

The Anvil: Fri 13 Mar / 7.30pm
40th Anniversary Tour

The Anvil: Tue 10 Mar / 7.30pm
To mark its 25th anniversary, BBC Radio 4’s multi-award winning topical satire show takes to the road.
Long-standing cast members Jon Culshaw , Jan Ravens , Lewis MacLeod , and Duncan Wisbey will take you on a trip through a quarter century of sketches and unrivalled impressions, alongside the razor-sharp topical humour which has become the series’ trademark.
£36 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 16 and over
After 40 years, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain are still thrilling audiences with their all-singing, all-strumming, full throttle, foot-stomping concerts.
Buckle up for a helter-skelter ride through every kind of musical genre with plenty of laughs along the way in an evening of classical, pop, punk, funk, disco, bluegrass, and metal.
£37. Under 25s £27 (includes £4 booking fee)


The Anvil: Sat 14 Mar / 7.30pm
The Haymarket: Fri 13 Mar / 8pm
After his sell-out 2023 tour, the UK’s dishevelled king of stand-up, award-winning Seann Walsh returns with a brand-new hour of side-splitting comedy.
Don’t miss his trademark high-energy exasperation and razor-sharp observations that leave audiences in stitches and on their feet all around the country. This year, he’s decided to name the show after the thing he says the most in life – This is Torture
£22 (includes £4 booking fee)
Strictly for: ages 14 and over (likely to be swearing and adult content)
starring Michelle Heaton of Liberty X
We’re turning up the girl power with an electrifying celebration of the biggest female anthems of all time – with a full live band and sensational West End singers.
From the sass of the Spice Girls to the soul of Destiny’s Child, the attitude of TLC, and the pop perfection of Girls Aloud, this is the soundtrack of your life.
£33.50 (includes £4 booking fee)


The Haymarket: Sat 14 Mar / 7.30pm
Get ready for a night of pure wonder as POP! The Bubble Show bursts onto the stage!
Starring an incredible line-up of the world’s best bubble artists, this one-night-only performance is packed with breathtaking skill and imagination proving bubbles are not just for kids!
Expect to laugh, gasp, and rediscover your sense of wonder.
£19 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 6 and over

The Anvil: Tue 17 Mar / 7.30pm
A Virtuoso Concert Performance
The Master is back! Nigel Kennedy plays like no-one else on Earth. His hit recording of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons made him the biggest selling violinist of all time. Now, Nigel returns for his first UK tour in over ten years. You will be spellbound.
£53.50, £46.50. Under 25s and f/t students £5 off (includes £4 booking fee)
The Anvil: Sun 15 Mar / 7.30pm
Join expert forensics lecturer Jennifer Rees to explore one of forensic psychology’s most troubling topics – the serial killer. Using case studies you will discover how serial killers are classified, as well as the typical differences between male and female ones, and the phenomenon of killer couples, such as Fred and Rose West, and Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.
£28.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 14 and over


The Anvil: Wed 18 Mar / 7.30pm
One Mississippi UK Tour 2026
Three-time Grammy nominee Eric Bibb has become one of the most respected voices in roots and blues music.
Prepare for an unforgettable evening of music featuring both new songs and old favourites, delivered with the soul, warmth, and integrity that have made Eric Bibb an international treasure.
£32.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
The Haymarket: Thu 19 Mar / 7.30pm
Now That’s What I Call Feral
Brace yourself for 90 minutes of outrageous comedy with the award-winning cabaret girl band Flat and the Curves
Join the vocal powerhouses as they take you through the highs, the lows and the hangovers in between. Expect original songs where class meets chaos in this exuberant love letter to being gloriously untamed.
£24 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: strictly ages 18 and over



The Anvil: Thu 19 Mar / 7.30pm
Berezovsky Symphony (c. 1771)
Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 5 (Emperor)
Delius On Hearing the First Cuckoo of Spring Summer Night on the River
Beethoven Symphony no. 7
Maria Pukhlianko piano
Volodymyr Sirenko
We’re delighted to welcome back this wonderful orchestra, who begin with what is believed to be the first symphony written by a Ukrainian composer.
Beethoven’s last piano concerto is his most grand, brilliant, and powerful. The confident outer movements are balanced by an inward-looking slow movement, which moves into the finale with a simple but magical transition.
Delius’ two miniatures show the renowned delicacy of his orchestral writing to the full, expressing both the lighter atmosphere of spring and the sultry summer night to perfection.
Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony was first performed at a mammoth concert in 1813. Its joyous energy and unstoppable rhythmic impetus have made it among the most popular of all his symphonies.
£46, £42, £35, £27, £18. Under 25s and f/t students £12 (includes £4 booking fee)
6.30pm / The Forge

The Anvil: Sat 21 Mar / 7.30pm
Official Stage Show
The Anvil: Fri 20 Mar / 7.30pm
The Magic of Michael Jackson
Selling Fast
Take a journey back in time to remember Michael Jackson – the man, the music, and the magic starring the UK’s ultimate MJ tribute, Ben Bowman
Not only does he look and sound like the King of Pop, but he’s honed his routine so carefully that audiences truly believe they are watching Michael himself.
£33.50, £29, £23.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
Please note that this is a tribute production not associated with or endorsed by the Michael Jackson Estate.
The Dubliners Encore celebrates the greatest folk band of all time.
Produced by The Dubliners’ John Sheahan , this new show packs 50 years of songs, stories, and craic, into one unforgettable night.
Featuring all their hits, including The Wild Rover, Seven Drunken Nights, The Black Velvet Band, Whiskey in the Jar, and The Irish Rover.
£36.50, £33, £29 (includes £4 booking fee)


The Haymarket: Sat 21 Mar / 2pm
A brand-new tour of the joys of the English language with ‘Britain’s best-loved wordsmith’.
Susie Dent is back with a collection of facts and stories from the wonderful world of words.
With the help of funny, insightful, and head-scratching examples, Susie will entertain and educate us.
£34 (including £4 booking fee)

The Anvil: Tue 24 Mar / 7.30pm
The Anvil: Sun 22 Mar / 7.30pm
Join the fearless and fabulous Queenz for an electrifying live vocal drag-stravaganza, where dancing queenz and disco dreams collide for the ultimate celebration of pop royalty through the decades.
With more sequins, surprises, and show-stopping vocals than ever before, they’re ready to drag you to the dance floor and serve up an unforgettable fusion of fun, glamour, and disco divas!
£29.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 14 and over (some adult humour, mild language and explores themes such as gender identity)
The Music of Billie Eilish, Bridgerton, and Beyond
The Vitamin String Quartet is one of the most popular string ensembles in the world.
Best known for their musical crossover performances in Netflix’s hit show Bridgerton, where spellbinding renditions of everything from Billie Eilish to BTS, Taylor Swift to The Weeknd, and Danny Elfman to Daft Punk have erased the boundaries between classical, dance, hip-hop, and pop.
Don’t miss their Anvil debut.
£36, £32 (includes £4 booking fee)


The Anvil: Thu 26 Mar / 7.30pm
Boundary-breaking and genre-defying, the London Symphonic Rock Orchestra perform beloved anthems with breath-taking scale fusing the power of the orchestra with the rebellious energy of rock.
Delivering epic, reorchestrated hits from Queen, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, and more!
£50.50, £42.50, £37. VIP upgrade £70.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
The Anvil: Sat 28 Mar / 8pm
This nostalgic musical journey pays tribute to the life and career of four boys from Jersey who went on to become one of the most recognised groups in history.
Featuring hits such as Sherry, My Eyes Adored You, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, and many more, this show will leave you on a high saying Oh, What A Night!
£49 (includes £4 booking fee)

The Anvil: Tue 31 Mar / 7.30pm
Embrace The Chaos

The Anvil: Sun 29 Mar / 7.30pm
2024 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist World Champion, Emilio Santoro brings his award-winning show to the UK.
Performing with his authentic 50’s live band, The Creoles , Emilio celebrates Elvis’ younger years in spectacular style. So, put on your Blue Suede Shoes and get All Shook Up for the greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll hits of all time.
£36, £34 (includes £4 booking fee)
Some people are built to Embrace The Chaos ; Jason Fox is one of them, having survived some of the most hostile outposts.
Jason will share stories about his close brushes with enemy gunmen, terrorist bomb makers, and cartel leaders, while revealing his strategies for surviving and thriving in environments as life-threatening as the Arctic Circle and Afghan Badlands. Though, nothing is as terrifying as the rogue celebrity on SAS: Who Dares Wins…
£36.50 (includes £4 booking fee)


The Anvil: Thu 2 Apr / 7.30pm
The ultimate tribute to Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo
Get ready for an electrifying night of pop anthems, heartbreak hits, and fierce rival vibes.
Featuring a live band and dynamic dancers, this show brings every beat and lyric to life, immersing you in the stories, sass, and soul of two of pop’s biggest sensations.
£28.50 (includes £4 booking fee)

The Haymarket: Wed 1 Apr / 7.30pm
with support from Jenn Butterworth
Fairport Convention have been entertaining music lovers for over half a century. During that time, the band that launched British folk-rock has seen many changes, but one thing has remained the same – their passion for performance.
This tour will present a mix of long-established favourites and some surprises from albums old and new.
£39 (includes £4 booking fee)

The Haymarket: Tue 7 Apr / 7.30pm
Hosted by Steve ‘Stavros’ Parrish
Henry Cole brings his new stage show to Basingstoke.
He’s forged an illustrious TV and movie career currently presenting The World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides, Shed and Buried, Find It, Fix It and Flog It
Long-time friend and former British Motorcycling Champion, Steve ‘Stavros’ Parrish , will guide us through Henry’s incredible and varied life.
£35. Over 65s and under 25s £33.50 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 14 and over
The Haymarket: Wed 8 Apr / 7.30pm
Let the Music Play!
Tickets for this event have sold out. Please email your name, address and contact number to box.office@anvilarts.org.uk to be added to the waiting list.
£36 (includes £4 booking fee)

The Haymarket: Thu 9 Apr / 7.30pm
Miles Hunt of 90s Indie band The Wonder Stuff will be playing songs and telling tales from his 40 years in music.
£28.50 (includes £4 booking fee)

The Anvil: Thu 9 Apr / 7.30pm
The Bootleg Beatles return focusing on the Fab Four’s five top-selling albums – the Dylan-influenced Rubber Soul, the experimental Revolver, the herald of the psychedelic Summer of Love, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the eclectic mish-mash of The White Album, and their grand finale, the musically sophisticated Abbey Road.
£46.50, £42.50, £38.50 (includes £4 booking fee)


The Haymarket: Fri 10 Apr / 7.30pm
The Anvil: Fri 10 Apr / 7.30pm
starring Gareth Gates
Get ready to scream like it’s 1999! Heartthrob Gareth Gates and a cast of ripped and ridiculously talented performers star in the ultimate throwback concert.
The boys belt out the biggest hits of the 90’s and 00’s from Backstreet Boys to NSYNC, Blue to Take That – in a show that’s as nostalgic as it is naughty. It’s a celebration of pop, passion, and pecs, where the clothes come off and the heat turns up.
£38, £34. M&G upgrade £30 (includes £4 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 18 and over
Hooray for Hollywood
Some of the best-loved songs of our movie-musical lives. The Wizard of Oz to Wicked, West Side Story to La La Land
Liza Pulman and Joe Stilgoe ’s combined love and exhaustive movie knowledge is on technicolour display as they bring some of these great songs to life on the stage. No big screen, only big talents, great harmonies and lots of music and laughter.
£34, £24 (includes £4 booking fee)


The Haymarket: Sat 11 Apr / 7.30pm
Join Carol Decker and T’Pau on their first UK tour in a decade playing all their hits, fan favourites, and songs from their forthcoming album Be Wonderful
T’Pau first burst onto the music scene in 1987, and were one of the first acts to have a number one single and album in the charts at the same time with China In Your Hand and Bridge of Spies
£36 (includes £4 booking fee)

The Anvil: Sun 12 Apr / 7.30pm
Falla Three Dances from The Three-Cornered Hat
Rodrigo Concierto de Aranjuez
Ravel Suite: Mother Goose
Turina Sinfonia Sevillana
Ravel Bolero
Thibaut Garcia guitar
Roberto Gonzalez-Monjas
Vivid orchestral colours and intense melodies abound in this programme from one of Spain’s top orchestras. After the exciting dances by Manuel de Falla, the most famous of all guitar concertos transports its listeners, with rhythmic and fiery outer movements framing a heartfelt slow movement. Ravel’s delicate and touching evocation of six contrasting fairy-tales follows. Turina’s skill and sensitivity in the art of orchestration shines throughout his Sinfonía sevillana, a poetic and colourful tone poem depicting aspects of the city of his birth. The steadily building crescendo of Bolero guarantees a rousing conclusion to the evening.
£46, £42, £35, £27, £18. Under 25s and f/t students £12 (includes £4 booking fee)
6.30pm / The Forge
The Anvil: Thu 16 Apr / 7.30pm
All You Need is Gov Tickets for this event have sold out. Please email your name, address and contact number to box.office@anvilarts.org.uk to be added to the waiting list.
£34. Splash Zone upgrade £64. Meet & Greet upgrade £20 (includes £4 booking fee) Suitable for: ages 14 and over



The Haymarket: 21 – 25 Apr / 7.30pm / Thu & Sat 2pm
Thomas Hopkins , Craig Haffner & Sherry Wright present the Hope Mill Theatre production
Florence Foster Jenkins is about to blow your mind… and possibly your eardrums.
The Anvil: Fri 17 Apr / 7.30pm
Beyond the Barricade, the UK’s longest running musical theatre concert tour, is back! Join the cast for two hours of the best of Broadway and the West End, featuring songs from The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Miss Saigon, Hamilton and many others, climaxing with a spectacular finale from Les Misérables, complete with live band.
£33.50, £32, £29 (includes £4 booking fee)
Glorious! tells the true story of the American socialite famed for her flamboyant costumes, eccentric performances, and unmistakably off-key voice. Starring Wendi Peters (Coronation Street) and Matthew James Morrison (EastEnders), this 20th-anniversary production hits all the right notes to deliver a feel-good comedy.
£31 (matinees), Tue – Thu £35, Fri – Sat £39. Under 25s and f/t students £18. Friends £23.50 (21 Apr) (includes £4 booking fee)


The Haymarket: 2 – 3 May / 2pm / Sat 4pm / Sun 11am
Based on David Walliams’ number one bestselling book, comes a ssssspectacularly funny new musical.
Today is no ordinary school day – it’s Bring Your Pet To School Day, so Miranda introduces her classmates to her very special pet, Penelope the python!
Full of sillinesssss, shenanigansssss and songsssss, plus an array of awesome animals, There’s a Snake in My School teaches us to defend our friends and dare to be different.
£17 (includes £4 booking fee)
The Haymarket: Wed 27 May / 7.30pm
with special guest Tom Moriarty
Guitar marvel and powerhouse vocalist Philip Sayce comes to The Anvil fueled with a brand-new live release and a forthcoming studio album.
From blistering fretwork to soul-stirring ballads, Sayce’s performances have earned rave reviews. Sayce has shared stages from Montreux Jazz Festival to Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival, leaving audiences stunned and critics scrambling for superlatives.
£31.50 (includes £4 booking fee)



The Haymarket: Sat 10 Jan / 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Hampshire Hospital Pantomime Players presents
Come along and see some of your local doctors, nurses, and support staff on stage as they perform Sleeping Beauty but with an NHS twist!
7.30pm £25, 2.30pm £20. Under 16s £13 (includes £3 booking fee)
Suitable for: ages 16 and over (evening performance only)
All proceeds will go to The Hampshire Hospitals Charity
The Anvil: Sun 25 Jan / 3pm
The Rotary Club of Basingstoke Deane presents the 17th Annual Charity Concert featuring
Basingstoke Deane Rotary is proud to once again present the majestic Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines, joined by the outstanding Corps of Drums and honoured guests, the Chelsea Pensioners
This performance also features the Royal Marines Band Portsmouth celebrated for leading the Lionesses’ victory parade down The Mall in London last summer. They will deliver a dazzling programme of music, blending movie themes, swing and big band favourites, comedy pieces, classical highlights, timeless songs, and even a few contemporary hits.
£34, £26, £18, Under 16s £15 (includes £3 booking fee)
All proceeds will support The Royal Marines Charity and The Royal Hospital Chelsea
The Haymarket: 5 – 6 Feb / 7.30pm / Fri 2.30pm
Join Sherfield School as they journey with Dorothy, the Tinman, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion through Oz, face the Wicked Witch, and discover the true power of courage, friendship, and heart in this unforgettable production of The Wizard of Oz .
Preview (5 Feb) £13. Over 65s, students and under 16s £10. 6 Feb £18. Over 65s, students and under 16s £15 (includes £3 booking fee)
The Anvil: Sat 28 Feb / 7.30pm
Rossini Overture The Thieving Magpie
Beethoven Piano Concerto No.4
Mendelssohn Symphony No.3 ‘Scottish’
Thomas Luke piano
Stephen Scotchmer
Rossini’s Overture The Thieving Magpie is typical of the composer’s style, featuring a stirring opening drum roll, exciting crescendos and a rousing finish. Beethoven’s 4th Piano Concerto requires subtlety, discipline, control, finesse and exquisite legato. BBC Young Musician Keyboard Winner and holder of the 2025 Prix Monti from the Piano Campus International Piano Competition, Thomas Luke has these qualities in abundance. Inspired by Mendelssohn’s visit to Scotland in 1829, the ‘Scottish’ Symphony, successfully captures the spirit and imagery of the Scottish landscape and its history.
£27.50, £22.50, £15.50. Over 65s £2 off, under 16s £3, f/t students £13.75, £11.25, £7.75 (includes £3 booking fee).
Early Booking offer: £2 off if booked before Sat 17 Jan
The Anvil: Sat 7 Mar / 7pm
supporting the Mayor’s Charity Appeal
Come along to see the amazing Los Pacaminos Band starring Paul Young in aid of the Mayor of Basingstoke, Charity Appeal.
Joining them will be Jamie and the Falcons and local band the Fortunate Ones.
£30, Over 65s £28, Under 16s £15 (includes £3 booking fee)
The Haymarket: 25 – 28 Mar / 7.30pm / Sat 2.30pm
Basingstoke Amateur Operatic Society presents BAOS:
Featuring show-stopping numbers like Luck Be a Lady and Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat, this vibrant musical promises an unforgettable show of charm, romance, and excitement.
Opening night £26. Over 65s and f/t students £24, under 16s £22. Thu £28. Over 65s and f/t students £26, under 16s £21. Fri-Sat £29. Over 65s and f/t students £27, under 16s £25 (includes £3 booking fee)
Every year we work with thousands of people from across the Borough and beyond to explore their creativity in our Community Engagement programme. We provide schools and colleges with opportunities to experience classical and world music, to create their own music and theatre, and to support their careers. We work with people living with dementia to help them stay connected and tell their stories creatively in our Finding the Words project. Our popular Musication Station encourages the community to try a musical instrument, whatever their age or ability.
To find out more visit anvilarts.org.uk/get-involved

The Anvil

Red: Stalls rows A to T
Blue: Circle rows A to N
Purple: Side Circle rows CA to CD and DA to DD
Yellow: Choir seats rows A to E
The Haymarket

Blue: Stalls rows C to M
Orange: Stalls rows N to S
01256 844244 anvilarts.org.uk box.office@anvilarts.org.uk Churchill Way, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 7QR
Box Office: situated at The Anvil and The Haymarket main entrances.
Box Office Opening Hours
The Anvil Mon – Fri, 10am – 2pm Performance nights – open from 6pm
The Haymarket Open on performance nights only
Call 01256 844244 or email box.office@anvilarts.org.uk
Reserved Tickets: held for three days or until an hour before the performance, whichever is sooner. After this time, unpaid reservations will be released.
Returns Only Performances: please contact the box office to join the returns list. Some tickets may be released nearer to the performance date.
Booking Fee: all ticket prices include a booking fee. The Anvil Trust is an independent educational charity. Without the booking fee, we would not be able to offer the current level and variety of programme at our venues or our extensive work with schools, young people and people living with dementia.
The Forge


Purple: Circle rows A to D plus CC and DD Purple: Rows A to G
Group Booking
For information on group booking rates and availability, please call 01256 366935 (answer service when not staffed) or email group.booking@anvilarts.org.uk. Alternatively, visit anvilarts.org.uk/groups
Cards: Mastercard and Visa.
We do not accept personal cheques. Please do not send cash through the post.
Gift Vouchers: Anvil Arts gift vouchers can be used for tickets at any Anvil Arts venue, and are valid for 24 months. Available from the box office. Please note we do not accept Theatre Tokens.
No refunds can be given. We offer ticket cancellation protection – please contact the box office for details, or visit ticketplangroup.com
Exchange and resale of tickets
Once tickets have been printed, they can be exchanged within the run of the same event for tickets of the same value at a cost of 50p per ticket. Lost tickets can be reprinted at a cost of 50p per ticket. We operate a re-sale facility on sold out performances (admin and booking fee applies).
Foyers are open from 6pm for evening performances, and one hour before all others. Out of respect to fellow audience members and performers, re-admission to the auditorium with drinks once a show has started is not permitted.
Beat the queues with our hassle-free click & collect service. Pre-order your drinks using your e-ticket and simply pick them up from your designated collection
Please ensure you always have your ticket with you as scanned tickets are checked when entering the foyers and auditorium.
We may on occasions conduct bag and security searches. Large bags will not be permitted into the auditorium.
We will make every effort to admit latecomers at a suitable break in the performance, but we cannot always guarantee entry.
We reserve the right to refuse admission or eject audience members from our venues and events at our discretion, including for behaviour affecting people’s enjoyment of the performance.
Please switch your phone off or to silent during a performance or event.
Discounts are available for performances where stated.
Only one discount can apply to any one ticket.
You may be asked to provide proof of eligibility. Student tickets cannot be posted out or sent by text. Please show your ID on collection.
For full terms and conditions of sale, contact the box office, or visit anvilarts.org.uk/terms-and-conditions
We will send you a text message 10–48 hours before the performance, with a link to your e-tickets and other information about your visit.
point. And, try our new Order to Seat service at The Anvil, which allows you to enjoy a selection of food and drink delivered right to your seat pre-show!
We operate a Challenge 25 Policy in our venues. Please be prepared to show photographic ID on request when purchasing or pre-ordering drinks or products containing alcohol.
We do not permit the unauthorised use of cameras and recording equipment within the auditorium or foyers.
Please be aware that other audience members may stand or dance during the performance.
If you experience any problems during a performance or event, please inform a member of staff immediately, so that we can do our best to resolve the issue at the time.
Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult ticket holder; Anvil Arts cannot be held responsible for children unaccompanied by an adult.
Please be kind to our staff and to each other so that everyone can enjoy the experience
A limited number of booster seats are available on entry to the auditorium, for use free of charge. Baby changing facilities are available in both venues
Children under 18 months require an Infant in Arms ticket (available at selected performances) for the cost of £3–£4. To book, please call the box office on 01256 844244
It is the nature of live performance that start and running times may vary, and artists, programmes, and other details may be subject to last minute changes.
Anvil Arts reserves the right to introduce discounts and special offers at any time, and these cannot be applied to tickets already purchased.
Not all seats may be available at all performances or when booking opens.
Details in this brochure were correct at the time of going to press, but changes may be unavoidable.
Anvil Arts operates a free Access List in order to improve our service to patrons with access needs. Registration forms are available from the box office or anvilarts.org.uk/access
Wheelchair Users
We have up to six wheelchair spaces available in The Anvil, one in The Forge and up to two in The Haymarket. We are unable to sell wheelchair spaces or allow transfers out of wheelchairs into seats in the Circle level of The Anvil auditorium. Emergency evacuation from The Haymarket auditorium is via an emergency lift or evacuchair, all other lifts in our venues cannot be used in an emergency. Personal emergency evacuation plans can be made available on request.
Hearing Enhancement
The Anvil and The Haymarket are equipped with infra-red hearing enhancement systems for use with portable headsets and personal induction neck loops. Both are available at the Stalls Foyer counters.
Anvil Arts is committed to protecting your privacy and to this end has developed a Privacy Policy. We operate and are registered in accordance with current data protection legislation. For more information visit anvilarts.org.uk/ privacy-and-cookie-policy
Assistance dogs are welcome; please discuss availability of suitable seating areas at the time of booking.
Parking
Blue Badge parking is available in car parks within a short distance of both The Anvil and The Haymarket. Please visit anvilarts.org.uk/ visit-us/how-to-get-here for full details.
Familiarisation Visits
If you would like to look at the venues in advance, please call the box office to arrange.
Visual Stories for The Anvil and The Haymarket can be found at anvilarts.org.uk/access to assist your visit.
This brochure is available in large print and Braille on request.
For more information visit anvilarts.org.uk/access or accessable.co.uk (search for The Anvil or The Haymarket).
If you require any help in planning your visit, the box office will be happy to help.
If you have any questions about our Privacy Policy or information we hold about you, email datacontrol@anvilarts.org.uk or write to us at: Information Controller, Anvil Arts, Churchill Way, Basingstoke RG21 7QR.
We are delighted to offer a variety of discounts with local restaurants and businesses, exclusive to Anvil Arts customers. Simply present your ticket for The Anvil, The Haymarket, or The Forge.*
Find out more at anvilarts.org.uk/local-offers. Friends of Anvil Arts save even more!
*T&Cs apply










• Priority booking • Advanced copy of the brochure • Local restaurant and business offers
• Discounts at our bars and on selected shows
• Best seat in the house
• E-newsletter
• Dedicated email hotline … and much more*
As a Friend, you’ll not only be supporting us, but you’ll receive a range of exclusive benefits as well. Join from as little as just over £3 a month. * benefits dependent on level of membership


