Ashcroft Arts Centre

Only two weeks to go until out Winter Ale Festival, with an excellent selection of local ale and cider, hot food from Southsea's Pie and Vinyl and music from the Portsmouth Shantymen, Brigands' Brew and more! 🍻

Winners of the 2016 BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Original Track, The Rheingans Sisters make playful, powerful and richly connecting music that is wholly contemporary while deeply anchored in folk traditions. Don't miss them here 23 March.

Here 4 April, bluegrass band Midnight Skyracer have been tearing up the UK scene since their inception less than two years ago. Their all star lineup and exciting live performances have sent them racing skywards at an astounding pace right from the start, with Leanne Thorose’s powerhouse vocals and driving mandolin; Tabitha Agnew’s sweet voice and virtuosic banjo playing; Eleanor Wilkie’s rock solid bass grooves; Laura Carrivick’s flair, being equally adept on both fiddle and dobro; and twin sister Charlotte’s agility on the guitar, with both sisters filling in the vocal harmonies.

Starting 25 Feb: YOUTH THEATRE (AGES 4-7). Our spring course will assist in building your child's confidence and improve their concentration and communication skills. The sessions will allow your child to express themselves and use their imagination in a fun and creative way.

Did you catch James Alderson & Friends here last night? He'll be back next month (5 March) with a brand new line up, including Erich McElroy, Joe Sutherland, Troy Hawke and Paul McCaffrey. Book online now (line up subject to change).

INTRODUCTION TO SILK PAINTING: 30 March. During this introduction to silk painting you will learn the skills to paint on to silk using special brushes. You will get to take home at least two silks that you have painted. Places available from £25.

Originally a dictatorship formed by the cunning Mr Tea, the Minions have since overthrown him and their chaos has brought forth a musical democracy where cheekiness, fun and a love for the music bind the band together into one massive colorful explosion!
They’re on a mission to ignite crazy dancing by audiences everywhere, with their brand of Gypsy flavoured party music to get their audience stirred into a big bouncing frenzy of fun! A hugely popular festival band, they have ...played raucous gigs at festivals including Glastonbury, Boomtown, WOMAD, Nozstock, Goulash Disko (Croatia), among many others. September 2016 saw the release of their debut album, ‘Tea Your Mind’.
The Minions play their own unique take on high energy Balkan party music – combining Gypsy flavoured Ska, Dub and Swing with an infusion of soulful melodies, cheeky Eastern riffs and booming beats and bass to put a smile on your face and your knees up past your ears!
“The Minions seamlessly weave Balkan Beats with ska, dub and swing to create a bouncing set. It’s impossible not to get involved.” The Independent
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ACTING TECHNIQUES FOR ADULTS: This new and exciting six week course, starting 25 February, provides the exploration of various acting techniques, through a diverse range of different mediums. These include; general acting and rehearsal techniques, acting for film, green screen acting, and acting for radio.

Gripping drama for 2019: DRIP DRIP DRIP, here 19 March. In an overstretched NHS hospital, a trainee nurse from Eritrea and a Muslim doctor treat David - cancer patient, discredited academic, and racist. As life ebbs, reality splinters, jumping between time and place. But the most pressing reality of all is that Professor David Jeffs has a lecture to finish, and time is running out... Watch the trailer now.

MULTI RESIST FELT TECHNIQUES: 26 March. Whether you are continuing on from a previous felt workshop or joining for the first time to learn new skills, this workshop will teach you an array of 3D wet felting techniques. All materials are provided and the cost is included in the workshop fee. Places available from £48.

During this Introduction to silk painting you will learn the skills to paint on to silk using special brushes. You will get to take home at least 2 silks you have painted.
The final pieces will be 10 x 15 cm wide and mounted ready to be taken home and admired!
All materials will be provided and the cost is included in the workshop fee.

Calling all witches and wizards! Are you crazy about Harry Potter? Join Kelly Daniels for a day of magical crafts on 20 February. Make secret spell scrolls and house banners, flying keys and Golden snitches. You will even get a chance to decorate your own magic wand! This will be a day full of magic, making and fun.

We've released some additional seats because this is so popular - don't miss out! This Tuesday 5 February, 7.30pm

Brass Volcanoes 9 Feb, 7.30pm https://www.ashcroft.org.uk/event/brass-v olcanoes

WARNING: Tickets for our Sara Pascoe warm up show on 7 March are flying out the door! Book now to avoid disappointment.

A delicious mix of Blues, Ragtime, Hot Jazz, songs and dances - working backwards from the 1930s, The FB Pocket Orchestra, here 16 March, explores repertoire that formed the embryo of what is now known as popular music. Vibrant and charming, the orchestra aims to present a contemporary slant on popular acoustic music from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Perfect for fans of Derren Brown and Dynamo, Luke Jermay - Mind Reader is here with his new show Intuition on 13 February. Intuition is a strange thing and Luke Jermay is even stranger. Jam packed with phenomenal jaw dropping demonstrations of intuition, telepathy and prediction, your mind will be read, your choices will be predicted and your future will be revealed!

In March, Monthly Shakes is looking at Jazz! Jazz dance is a performance dance which can be danced to all different types of music. Lots of pointed toes, nice stretched arms and of course a shimmy! Get your Jazz hands ready with fun one off workshop! 5 March, places available from £18. 👯

Whether you are continuing on from our last workshop or join for the first time to learn new skills, this workshop will teach you an array of 3D wet felting techniques.
You will explore a variety of techniques and come away with a finished 3D sculpture or several samples.
Sarah is a textile artist with a passion for feltmaking that originates from her love of sheep. Living in the New Forest, her work reflects her desire to connect with nature and the importance of sustainabi...lity. She currently runs her own textiles business teaching, exhibiting in the UK and internationally and selling her work through galleries and online.
All materials are provided and the cost is included in the workshop fee.
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Watched Lee Nelson here.

Really friendly staff and the venue is perfect for a comedy gig

Thank you to all the staff at The Ashcroft Centre for looking after us during our stay with The Flint Street Nativity. Special thanks to Ben for his technical work.

Saw Stephen Amos last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Great atmosphere and venue. Will definately be booking another evening show.

My kids loved the play activities here and want to do the rest thus week. They are so pleased with their screen printing t shirts!

My kids had an amazing day building volcanoes and learning about dinosaurs! They have asked to come back again!

Lovely little venue and excellent sound quality in the theatre. Well priced drinks too!

Love this place! Great comedy nights, staff are friendly and great atmosphere

Love this intimate venue for comedy gigs ,all the top stand ups play here. Staff are always very friendly and helpful too.

I attended Lucy Dorothy's 'Introduction to Free Machine Embroidery' at the Velmore Community Centre in Chandlers Ford last week. I gather a first for this venue. A most excellent day and I learned a huge amount - now all I have to do is practice hard. Lucy is a very experienced tutor and everything was clear and at my own pace. My other half did 'Making a Leather Belt' at Wyvern College last weekend, bringing home a really fantastic green leather belt - monogrammed! - of which he is justly proud. Thank you, Ashcroft, for both classes. Ten out of ten in all respects.

Fantastic venue! Love going and would keep going!

Excellent venue for drama comedy and music. Have been on both sides of stage and staff are friendly and great atmosphere.

Came to see Jenny Eclair, she was brilliant. Venue was fantastic and brilliant access for anyone using a wheelchair. Will definitely be visiting again very soon.

Good job guys...thank you x

A great show, Lucy Porter was lovely, laughed out loud lots. Staff were nice too. I like a smaller venue. Never to far from the action.

A delightful venue with an intimate welcoming atmosphere it has a jam-packed programme of Events throughout the year something for one and all whether you want to enrol in a class or workshop,view an exhibition,see an artist,listen to music or watch some live theatre, sit on the sofa and have one of an assortment of locally sourced beverages in the calming cosy cafe bar.

Fun and Friendly for all ages.

We saw Judie Tzuke last night - 26 Nov 2016. Lovely, intimate venue, where everyone gets a decent view. The facilities are pretty good and there's ample, free parking within a couple of hundred yards' walk.

My first visit on friday evening ( 17-03-17.To see my friends in concert.A most enjoyable evening.A lovely environment and a warm greeting with helpful and friendly staff.

Absolute gem of a venue, friendly staff, great gigs.

Went to a Real Ale night and found it ok as I've never been in there before.

Nice intimate venue . Portchester players fantastic ! The men's toilets are poor. Two normal toilets where the flushing didn't work. For a full house in particular this is v v poor!

Watched Lee Nelson here.

Really friendly staff and the venue is perfect for a comedy gig

Thank you to all the staff at The Ashcroft Centre for looking after us during our stay with The Flint Street Nativity. Special thanks to Ben for his technical work.

Saw Stephen Amos last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Great atmosphere and venue. Will definately be booking another evening show.

My kids loved the play activities here and want to do the rest thus week. They are so pleased with their screen printing t shirts!

My kids had an amazing day building volcanoes and learning about dinosaurs! They have asked to come back again!

Lovely little venue and excellent sound quality in the theatre. Well priced drinks too!

Love this place! Great comedy nights, staff are friendly and great atmosphere

Love this intimate venue for comedy gigs ,all the top stand ups play here. Staff are always very friendly and helpful too.

I attended Lucy Dorothy's 'Introduction to Free Machine Embroidery' at the Velmore Community Centre in Chandlers Ford last week. I gather a first for this venue. A most excellent day and I learned a huge amount - now all I have to do is practice hard. Lucy is a very experienced tutor and everything was clear and at my own pace. My other half did 'Making a Leather Belt' at Wyvern College last weekend, bringing home a really fantastic green leather belt - monogrammed! - of which he is justly proud. Thank you, Ashcroft, for both classes. Ten out of ten in all respects.

Fantastic venue! Love going and would keep going!

Excellent venue for drama comedy and music. Have been on both sides of stage and staff are friendly and great atmosphere.

Came to see Jenny Eclair, she was brilliant. Venue was fantastic and brilliant access for anyone using a wheelchair. Will definitely be visiting again very soon.

Good job guys...thank you x

A great show, Lucy Porter was lovely, laughed out loud lots. Staff were nice too. I like a smaller venue. Never to far from the action.

A delightful venue with an intimate welcoming atmosphere it has a jam-packed programme of Events throughout the year something for one and all whether you want to enrol in a class or workshop,view an exhibition,see an artist,listen to music or watch some live theatre, sit on the sofa and have one of an assortment of locally sourced beverages in the calming cosy cafe bar.

Fun and Friendly for all ages.

We saw Judie Tzuke last night - 26 Nov 2016. Lovely, intimate venue, where everyone gets a decent view. The facilities are pretty good and there's ample, free parking within a couple of hundred yards' walk.

My first visit on friday evening ( 17-03-17.To see my friends in concert.A most enjoyable evening.A lovely environment and a warm greeting with helpful and friendly staff.

Absolute gem of a venue, friendly staff, great gigs.

Went to a Real Ale night and found it ok as I've never been in there before.

Nice intimate venue . Portchester players fantastic ! The men's toilets are poor. Two normal toilets where the flushing didn't work. For a full house in particular this is v v poor!