THORNBURY Arts Festival will be the first event to be hosted by the town’s reopened Cossham Hall.
Stand-up comedian Alfie Moore will launch this year’s festival – and help celebrate the re-opening of the first phase of The Armstrong performance and community venue (above).
Thornbury Arts Festival used the former Armstrong Hall complex as its main venue before the building closed in 2020.
After the shutdown, the team behind the annual arts festival was forced to use a variety of other venues in and around Thornbury, and move the festival from spring to the autumn.
But organisers say it was a long-held ambition to go back to their traditional ‘home’ and time of year, and “jumped at the chance” of running this year’s programme in the new-look Armstrong.
Policeman turned-comic Alfie Moore (below) will appear at the Cossham Hall on April 10, making a return to the festival after a sell-out show in 2023.
The Cossham is the smaller of the two spaces being refurbished thanks to a major local campaign driving the £2.35 million project to reopen the venue.
It will feature a new bar, foyer and 120-seat theatre space.
Building work started last summer, after new operator Thornbury Community Arts, a non-profit charitable incorporated organisation, was given the keys by the Armstrong Trust.
Although it will be just six months after the 2025 event.
‘Thrilled’
Arts festival committee chair Gill Dunkley said: “We are thrilled at the prospect of The Armstrong rebirth.
“Thornbury Arts Festival, being more than 50 years old, and so many other local groups were so entwined to its original creation.
“We are delighted to welcome it back and to be able to hold our 2026 events there.”
Armstrong spokesperson Jackie Jackson said: “When The Armstrong opens its doors in early April, the first event will be the opening night of Thornbury Arts Festival, back in its home at last.”
The festival will hold four evening events in the Cossham Hall on the Fridays and Saturdays of April 10, 11, 17 and 18.
There will also be the added extra of an afternoon science show for families and a Sunday guided walk around Thornbury.
Alfie Moore is star of the hit BBC Radio 4 comedy series It’s a Fair Cop, which challenges “sworn in” audience police-officers-for-the-night to say what they would have done in real-life scenarios from his casebook – with often unexpected and entertaining results.
April 11 will see Cardiff Cotswold Opera bring Murder at the Opera to town – billed as an evening of music, mischief and murder.
The company said: “It’s not over till the fat lady sings – but what if someone’s killed her?”
Appearing on April 18 will be The Churchfitters (above), a folk band producing a high energy show with a wide range of instruments, including a double bass made from a saucepan, a musical saw and a glass harp.
Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show on the afternoon of April 17 is designed for children and adults alike, and aim to put paid to the idea that science is boring.
Mark explores the strange and magical properties of matter, which could include exploding elephants’ toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins and even howling jelly babies.
The full festival programme was still to be completed as Voice went to press: details of events and ticket information will appear on the festival website www.thornburyartsfestival.org.uk once the schedule has been finalised.
Tributes to festival ‘leading light’ Daphne
TRIBUTES have been paid to one of the key figures in Thornbury Arts Festival’s history.
Daphne Ashton, who died in December, was a “leading light” in the festival and served as its director, as well as founding the Thornbury Eisteddfod music festival.
The Armstrong’s Jackie Jackson said: “Daphne was a leading light in Thornbury Arts Festival from the 1970s to the 1990s and was there when the Armstrong Hall was first opened.
“She helped in all of the many Festival activities, including Mumping Night and the Mop Fairs, as well as contributing to the organisation of the 10-day festival.
“She eventually became Deputy Artistic Director and later Artistic Director from 1991 to 1995, bringing great imagination and enthusiasm to the role.
“She loved music and drama of all genres but also thought outside the box and broadened the scope of events to attract a wider audience.
“Perhaps her greatest and most enduring achievement was the creation of the Thornbury Eisteddfod, which Daphne started in 1989 – the annual event is still flourishing to this day.
“In that first year there were 30 classes for instrumentalists and vocalists aged 18 and under.
“It was very inclusive, so beginners were welcome as well as more experienced musicians and vocalists.
“Later speech and drama classes were added and over the years thousands of young people have participated in this wonderful event and many have gone on to careers in music.”
Daphne (above) and husband Jack continued to host young musicians after moving to France.
Jackie said: “When eventually she came back to live in Thornbury she then spearheaded a fundraising group to help with Armstrong renovations and the huge sum of money raised by Daphne and her group have helped The Armstrong to re-open this year.
“Her contribution to the arts and community in Thornbury has been immense.”
Arts Festival chair Gill Dunkley said: “I remember Daphne as a driving force to get things sorted and just so committed to the arts in all forms.
“She would be so thrilled to see The Armstrong back.”