For October, we’re embracing autumn in all its glory – among the trees, out in the fens, at orchards, pumpkin patches and harvest festivals, in our kitchens and local eateries, and at our inspirational cultural venues. Local author and naturalist Duncan Poyser helps us find the best places to soak up the season, Sally Petitt of Cambridge University Botanic Garden explains why being in tune with nature’s calendar can be beneficial to the gardener, Charlotte Griffiths provides horror novel recommendations for Halloween and pastry chef Esther Sánchez brings us treats rather than tricks! Plus, there's a sneak preview of this year's Cambridge Film Festival.
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LOCAL LIVING DONE WELL
OCTOBER 2026
WELCOMING THE WONDERS OF THE SEASON TO OUR WOODLANDS, PARKS, FENS AND FIELDS c oa ul ot uu rmsn of all the
AUTUMNAL FUN Apple days, harvest festivals, Halloween scares and more
PARTY TIME! Top tips for organising a Christmas knees-up to remember
KITCHEN CLASSICS Achieve core interior design styles using the latest trends
WELCOME
NATURE’S SPECTRUM This month, we find ourselves immersed in the new season. The fading light and cooling temperatures might not please everyone, but the pumpkin spice contingent (of which I am a lifetime member) have been waiting for this moment since June. Now is the time for long woodland walks in wellies, inhaling the fresher air, admiring the autumn colours, foraging for sweet chestnuts and kicking through piles of leaves with childlike joy before heading home to cosy up on the blanket-strewn sofa, clutching mugs of steaming cocoa. In this issue, we’re embracing autumn in all its glory – among the trees, out in the fens, at orchards, pumpkin patches and harvest festivals, in our kitchens and local eateries, and at our inspirational cultural venues. There’s also a goodly dose of spookiness, with Halloween-themed events, baked treats and a host of horror novel recommendations to see you through the month. Among these features is our cover story, penned by local naturalist Duncan Poyser We’re embracing autumn in all its glory – among the trees, in our kitchens and cultural venues
EDITORIAL Editor Louise Hoffman 01223 492249
louisehoffman@bright.uk.com Editorial director Nicola Foley 01223 499459 nicolafoley@bright.uk.com
Chief sub editor Matthew Winney Sub editor Chris Young
ADVERTISING Sales director Sam Scott-Smith 07875 711967 samscott-smith@bright.uk.com Ad manager Maria Francis 01223 492240 mariafrancis@bright.uk.com CONTRIBUTORS Sarah Bonelle, Charlotte Griffiths, Phoebe Harper, Sally Petitt, Charlotte Phillips, Duncan Poyser & Esther Sánchez DESIGN & PRODUCTION Design director Andy Jennings Magazine design manager Lucy Jeffery Junior designer & ad production Holly May MANAGING DIRECTOR Andy Brogden TYPEFACE Nyght Serif / Maksym Kobuzan from Tunera Type Foundry
(who you may remember from our fen focus in the July 2025 issue). As co-author of Fenland Nature , alongside Simon Stirrup, he is well qualified to help us find the best places in the county from which to soak up the season. You can read his reflections and recommendations on page 8. Sally Petitt of Cambridge University Botanic Garden also honours the turning wheel of the year, explaining why being in tune with nature’s calendar can be so beneficial to the gardener (page 78). Be sure to catch some of this month’s big calendar events too: Cambridge Film Festival returns for its 45th edition, Anglesey Abbey celebrates the centenary of Winnie- the-Pooh, and a momentous new exhibition opens at the Fitzwilliam Museum, giving art lovers the chance to see works by William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelites up close. You can find news of all these exciting events and more beginning on page 14.
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With all best wishes,
Illustration by Holly May, inspired by a photo from @hannahsukwanders
Louise Hoffman, editor
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ON THE COVER 08 / SEASONAL SPECTACLES Author Duncan Poyser welcomes the wonders of the season to our region – with advice on where to go to enjoy nature’s autumn show 34 / AUTUMN DAYS OUT From fun with fungi to apple days, pumpkin patches and spine- tingling entertainment, make the most of these opportunities for a family day trip 52 / PLANNING TO PARTY Cambridgeshire venue hosts share advice and inspiration to help you start organising your work or family festive do 64 / GET THE LOOK Phoebe Harper looks at some classic kitchen styles with local design experts, and discovers how to achieve them using today’s interior trends
CULTURE EDITION 18 / CULTURE NEWS Key updates from the region’s cultural scene, including a preview of this year’s Cambridge Film Festival, which returns this autumn for its 45th edition! 28 / MYTH AND MAGIC Louise Hoffman catches up with mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston ahead of a rather special Greek-myth-inspired performance at West Road Concert Hall 30 / BOOK CLUB Charlotte Griffiths dares to peek out from behind the sofa and select some Halloween-ready horror novels, including Darker Days by Thomas Olde Heuvelt 33 / SCREEN TIME This month’s most- anticipated film releases and where to see them, featuring Verity , starring Anne Hathaway
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FOOD EDITION 40 / FOOD NEWS The latest gastro goings-on around Cambridgeshire, which includes Regent Street favourite De Luca celebrating its 20th anniversary this year 42 / FOOD FOR THE SOUL Our winter dining guide features five local eateries to visit over the coming months 44 / COOKING UP CAMBRIDGE Sarah Bonelle visits an independent deli to find ingredients for a Spanish-style stew that’s sure to warm the cockles 48 / HOME COMFORTS Trick or treat? Esther Sánchez shows us how to bake up a spooktastic swirl cake specially for Halloween
HOME EDITION 74 / EDITION LOVES Brew up with this tempting selection of teatime accessories 77 / A DAY IN THE LIFE OF… Sarah Woodvine’s daily responsibilities as soft furnishings buyer at Glasswells 78 / NATURE’S CALENDAR Observing seasonal cycles can help in the planning and maintaining of our gardens, as well as rooting us to nature, says Sally Petitt EDUCATION EDITION 88 / SUPPORT TO SUCCEED With SEND reforms on the horizon, Charlotte Phillips finds out how some of our schools are responding to diverse learning needs
97 / BELONGING AT SCHOOL Kate Latham of Kimbolton School explains the importance of inclusion and identity REGULARS 06 / INSTACAMB Showcasing our favourite social media snaps of the season 14 / THE AGENDA A round-up of events taking place across the region this month, including some spooky shenanigans! 60 / LOCAL NEWS Achievements, charity appeals and a call for memories of one of our longest-running businesses 98 / I ♥ CAMBRIDGE A local comedy genius shares her passion for the pubs, places and people of the city
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Seasonal spectacles Local naturalist and author Duncan Poyser welcomes the wonders of autumn to our region
whenever we focus our senses upon the natural world and notice seasonal change. The Cambridgeshire naturalist Leonard Jenyns, curate of Swaffham Bulbeck for 22 years from 1827, made meticulous and systematic notes on climate and seasonal change. An exceptional observer, he was first choice for ship’s naturalist aboard HMS Beagle in 1831, but ill health and parish commitments led him to turn down the offer. He suggested that his friend, Charles Darwin, might be considered instead and the rest, as they say, is history. Jenyns’ detailed notes have been suitably archived and provide a valuable baseline, allowing for comparison with current data to evidence significant phenological shifts – the effect of climatic warming – over centuries. We now experience a shortened or ‘squeezed’ winter period, with the vestiges of autumn lingering later and the markers of spring appearing earlier than those recorded by Jenyns 200 years ago.
n 1913, The Times published a letter from Richard Lydekker, a keen naturalist and keeper of palaeontology at the British Museum, who reported hearing a cuckoo in Hertfordshire on the exceptionally early date of 4 February. A week later, he wrote again confessing his mistake – he had discovered that a labourer working nearby had the
gift of producing a note-perfect rendition of the cuckoo’s call. The pair of letters amused readers of the paper so much that they started to write in when they heard their first cuckoo of the year, and The Times continues to notify the world of this annual event through its letters page. Phenology is the study of biological cycles in plants and animals and how these are influenced by seasonal and climatic changes. It’s a tricky, but important, area of study that we all engage with
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OUT AND ABOUT
TROOPING THE COLOUR The awe-inspiring spectrum of autumn is a visual delight, with leaves turning gold, bronze, copper and red before they fall
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Changing times Our first sight of a swooping swallow, nodding snowdrop flower or pollen- dusted hazel catkin are all signifiers of an expectant spring, but the shifts from the height of summer into a balmy autumn are more subtle, protracted and diffuse. The heatwaves of the past two summers may have confused the amateur phenologist further, as the drought has prompted trees and shrubs to drop their leaves early and hasten their production of mast (fruits, seeds and nuts). This appears to the human eye as a ‘false autumn’, as plants bid for survival in response to extremes of heat and a baked earth. As I look out of my kitchen window, writing in late August, the leaves on the sycamore are reddening, bruised blue sloes hang off the blackthorn and the branches of the lone silver birch at the bottom of the garden are almost bare. This may not be so unusual, but strikingly the scene is very similar to the one at the tail end of July. It is the colour changes that we most notice as high summer fades and swathes of plants transition from vibrancy, fertility and growth towards a muted winter dormancy. In Cambridgeshire, the palette across the fields and fens shifts from the chlorophyll- drenched greens of spring, through the parched ochring of summer to pitch into a rich autumnal patina of gold, bronze and copper. Beneath these vivid washes of colour, the tonal drones of the soil provide an earthy canvas – be it dark peats, flint- peppered chalk, grey clays or dusty silts. Autumn is an uncloaking, a landscape- wide chemical reveal, as green pigments in
Autumn is an uncloaking, a landscape-wide chemical reveal , as green pigments in plants fade away
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ALL CHANGE As well as transformed leaves, the other signs of autumn in Cambridgeshire include mists on the fens and fungi appearing on the woodland floor
plants fade away to allow the yellow and orange of carotenoids and the russet, claret and red of anthocyanins to take the lead and colour the leaves before they fall. Soaking up the season In the US, visitors flock to New England to view the autumnal colours through the woodlands and across the hillsides. As much as $8 billion is spent annually within this foliage economy. Likewise in Japan, millions of tourists visit the most impressive sites to view Koyo (the seasonal colours of yellow, orange and red) and Momiji (the intense reds of maple leaves) – and the term Momijigari means ‘hunting red leaves’. So where might you set about your own Momijigari this autumn? It’s usually wise to start local, spending time searching for the reddest leaves you can find in a garden, along a riverside, lode bank or in a park. But if you want to go bigger and see the Koyo – the autumnal spectrum – in all its kaleidoscopic glory, a visit to a woodland is a must. Although not the most wooded of counties, Cambridgeshire does boast plenty of mature woodland where you can seek out the best of the seasonal colours. Taking points of the compass, a visit to Castor Hanglands in the north, Chippenham Fen in the east, Hayley Wood to the south or Brampton Wood in the west should be productive. Each of these woodlands has its own character and feel, its own sense of place and its own deep ecological history. To see colours in a more structured, curated setting, Anglesey Abbey offers
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impressive stands of beeches within the extensive parklands, and the bonus of gardens designed with the changing seasons in mind. It’s not just plants that reflect the changes into the autumn. Avian summer visitors such as swallows, swifts and an array of warblers move southwards as insect numbers decrease, while a wave of winter visitors – waders, wildfowl and berry-eating thrushes – arrive from the north and east to feed across wetlands and hedgerows. Hedgehogs feed voraciously through the night preparing for a winter hibernation, and on the woodland floor, fungi – the fruiting bodies of mycelial networks hidden beneath the soil and within decaying trunks and branches – emerge to release spores and reproduce. No matter our surroundings, urban or rural, there is seasonal change to observe and enjoy if, like Jenyns and Darwin, we keep our eyes and minds open.
FIND OUT MORE Turn to page 78 to learn about the Phenology Project that is underway at Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
BERRY GOOD In autumn, a variety of birds move into the area in search of food, and Cambridgeshire offers many places where the changing of the season can be witnessed, from woodlands to parks
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THE AGENDA
14 MUSIC Transvision Vamp , by Wendy James and Nick Christian Sayer, with their breakthrough debut album Pop Art released in 1988, Transvision Vamp are back, playing their first UK tour since 1991. 18 MUSIC Pasadena Roof Orchestra, Saffron Hall Take a step back into the glamorous era of The Cambridge Junction Formed in west London Great Gatsby , flappers and speakeasies for a celebration of the music of the Roaring 20s and into the 30s – a period famed for its style, wit and sophistication. 19 THEATRE Operation Mincemeat, Arts Theatre Cambridge A fast-paced, hilarious and unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that helped win WWII, the award-winning musical Operation Mincemeat is running in Cambridge until 24 October. 21 TALK Michael Palin in the Philippines, Cambridge Corn Exchange Sharing photographs, stories and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, Palin takes us on a journey through this politically charged, complex country.
An array of events to enjoy in Cambridgeshire this month
10 MUSIC Mind Cambridge Benefit, The Portland Arms Marking World Mental Health Day, this fundraising evening sees Mr Griff and his eight- piece band The Grifters, plus singer-songwriter Angie Collins, take to the stage. All proceeds go to Mind Cambridge in Burleigh Street. MUSIC Brazenose Violin Competition Final 2026, St Martin’s Church, Stamford Hear the outstanding finalists perform in the concluding stage of the inaugural Brazenose Violin Competition. Morning and afternoon sessions are followed by a prize presentation and winner’s encore in the evening.
11 MUSIC Hue and Cry, Cambridge Corn Exchange
6 THEATRE King Lear, ADC Theatre
9 THEATRE Call Me John, Newnham Social Club Jane Bower’s solo play is based on the memoirs of Enid Barraud, who became a Cambridgeshire Land Army girl in WWII. Enid lived as a man, with a female partner, and struggled with disability.
Making its final stop in this year’s Cambridge American Stage Tour is this bold reimagining of King Lear , in which power is fragile, love is tested and certainty begins to fracture. Runs until 10 October.
Following the release of their 16th studio album Everybody , and a run of intimate electro-acoustic shows, platinum-selling duo Hue and Cry bring their autumn tour to Cambridge, with British soul artist Roachford co-headlining.
FAMILY Dance in the Dark,
Cambridge Junction J2
Come in your favourite PJs for a slumber party in a giant sleepover den! Featuring contemporary dance, live music, immersive sound, scents and audience interaction, this relaxed, multi-sensory show is suitable for ages 3+.
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THE AGENDA
26 THEATRE The Forbidden
27 MUSIC Huey Morgan, Cambridge Junction After founding Fun Lovin’ Criminals and writing and producing their seminal hits, Huey Morgan marks 30 years since the release of Come Find Yourself with a brand-new band and a 13-date UK tour.
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THEATRE Top Girls, ADC Theatre
With time-bending narratives and sharp dialogue that explores the conflict between ambition, success and family that women still face today, Cambridge University Amateur Dramatic Club brings Caryl Churchill’s celebrated comedy to the stage.
Scarlatti: Stabat Mater, Church of St Mary the Virgin , Linton This New Cambridge Singers concert showcases Domenico Scarlatti’s punchy repertoire, written for ten different voice parts, and the music of 17th- century Rome.
Realm of Conspiracies: Uncovered, Cambridge Corn Exchange An immersive live experience blending cinematic projection, soundscapes and live polling, plunging its audience into the world of conspiracy theories.
24 EVENT Horror Mania , Wimblington, March Experience pure adrenaline and terror as you journey through dark rooms, forests and mazes being hunted by chainsaw maniacs, killer clowns, demonic creatures and more! Runs until 1 November. 28 BOOKS An Evening of Horror, Waterstones Cambridge Enjoy a haunted evening of cursed objects, ancient ruins and eerie worlds as authors V Castro, Dan Coxon and Matt Hill discuss their horror short stories with author and Arthur C Clarke Award judge Tiffani Angus.
20 EXHIBITION
An Enamel Revolution: China and the World, Fitzwilliam Museum Beginning with the transfer of painted enamel technology from Europe to China in the late 17th century, this new display offers fresh perspectives on cross-cultural exchange, artistic innovation and global trade. Until 21 February 2027.
31 TALK
Things I Took From the Dark, Cambridge Corn Exchange Co-creator of The League of Gentlemen and Inside No 9 Reece Shearsmith moves between storytelling and performance as he guides us through the bizarre artefacts and obsessions that shaped everything he has made.
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IN THE LOOP The latest updates from Cambridgeshire’s cultural scene
CLASSICAL CHARACTERS Mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston voices three women of Greek myth
TERRIFYING TALES Dare you turn the pages of this month’s horror-inspired reading list?
Opening on 23 October and running until 3 May next year, a major new exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Museum is set to re-examine the work of visionary creative William Morris and his circle, which included Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal. Through a wide selection of well-known and rarely seen paintings (such as Joan of Arc by Rossetti, oil on panel, 1882, pictured), designs and art objects drawn from the Fitzwilliam collection and on loan, A Call to Art: William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelites will explore the way in which these artists and designers looked backward in time to reimagine a new future – and how, in our own digital age, their ideals, challenges and contradictions feel newly relevant. fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk Pre-Raphaelite perspectives
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CAMBRIDGE FILM FESTIVAL GOES BIG FOR 45TH ANNIVERSARY The Cambridge Film Festival (CFF) returns this autumn for its 45th edition, marking a milestone year with 11 days of international cinema, British filmmaking, family favourites and films from some of the most distinctive directors working today. Running from 22 October to 1 November, the 2026 festival will showcase almost 100 titles from more than 25 countries, including scores of UK premieres, alongside European and world debuts. Meanwhile, over 50% of the line-up is female-directed, marked with the festival’s signature F-Rating, championing women filmmakers. Among the highlights is Cannes Festival prize winner The Dreamed Adventure by Valeska Grisebach. Set in the Bulgarian border town of Svilengrad, it follows archaeologist Veska as an attempt to help an old acquaintance whose car has been stolen draws her into criminal networks. From Britain comes I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning , directed by Clio Barnard and adapted by Enda Walsh from Keiran Goddard’s novel. Five childhood friends from the same Birmingham estate approach 30 and find themselves confronting the distance between the futures they imagined and the lives they are now living. I Love Boosters , Boots Riley’s second feature, brings a very different energy. The director of Sorry to Bother You turns his attention to a crew of professional shoplifters targeting a ruthless fashion figure, with Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige, LaKeith Stanfield, Will Poulter and Demi Moore among its ensemble cast.
Featuring films, Q&As, special events and opportunities for emerging talent, the full CFF45 programme and ticket information will be revealed on 30 September at camfilmfest.com Plus, Cambridge Family Film Festival returns with Wicked , Beauty and the Beast (1991) and Little Women (1994). Gavron’s Rocks , about a teenager trying to keep herself and her younger brother together after their mother disappears; and 24 Hour Party People , Michael Winterbottom’s exuberant account of the Manchester music scene. Then there’s The Debut , the third feature written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg, starring Julianne Moore, Paul Giamatti, Halle Bailey and Bernadette Peters. The film follows a shy woman unexpectedly cast in a local production of a musical. Under the influence of its strong-willed director, she becomes increasingly absorbed in the role and the world of the theatre company. CFF45 is also part of Rip It Up, the BFI Film Audience Network’s UK-wide 2026 season exploring youth rebellion, culture and self-expression on screen over the past 75 years. The Cambridge programme includes Bend It Like Beckham , Gurinder Chadha’s coming- of-age comedy starring Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley; Sarah
The latest from the cultural scene in Cambridge
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SHOWREEL
Three minutes with Cambridge Film Festival submissions, events and outreach coordinator and Youth Lab lead Hannah Hitchin How long have you been involved with the Cambridge Film Festival? For a long time – I started off as a volunteer in 2013 and have worked in many different roles since then! Film submissions that caught your eye this year: I was lucky enough to watch a fantastic selection of local films this year; some great work is being created around Cambridgeshire. I have programmed our free Family Film Festival and I am really excited to be showing The Secret Garden (1993). It was a big favourite of mine as a child. What makes you proud to be part of Youth Lab? It’s a privilege to see a great bunch of young people getting to take part in educational activities, work together and fulfil their potential. Many of our alumni have moved on to careers in the film industry. The showing that you’re most excited for audiences to see: Favourite genre: I am happy to give most things a whirl, although I do love a musical or a 90s teen film. (Not sure I’m winning any cool points here!) Try as you might, you just can’t get into: I am not usually a huge fan of science fiction, but there are exceptions: Blade Runner and the recent Dune films. Movie music that always puts a smile on your face: Everything from The Sound of Music . (Cool has officially left the building.) Film you keep rewatching: I am partial to The Rocky Horror Picture Show , it never gets boring.
ON SCREEN (Clockwise from above) The Dreamed Adventure , I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning , Rocks , I Love Boosters and Beauty and the Beast
Most memorable movie moment: The end of Bicycle Thieves stayed with me for a very long time.
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Openspace welcomes exhibition duo for October Coming to Openspace in Cherry Hinton this month are two must-see art exhibitions. Up first is a Syd Barrett 80th Birthday Celebration from 3 to 11 October, featuring original paintings and sketches along with prints of larger works by the creative force who co- founded Pink Floyd and shaped the psychedelic rock scene. The exhibition will also include work by contemporary artists honouring Syd’s life, including his nephew Ian Barrett, Mark Wilkinson, Spadge Hopkins, Mikey Georgeson, Rob Martin and James Wilkinson. Then, on the weekends of 17 to 18 October, 24 to 25 October and 31 October to 1 November, a Julia Ball exhibition will offer a rare chance to see a selection of large paintings by this influential abstract artist, who distilled the landscapes of East Anglia into pure, luminous fields of colour. These will be shown alongside supporting study material exploring Julia’s
process towards the finished work. Find out more at camopen.space
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES The paintings and sketches of Julia Ball (top left) and Syd Barrett (above) are on show in two exhibitions
CDS Autumn Exhibition returns to the Pitt Building After its familiar event in spring, this October will be the first time since 2021 that the Cambridge Drawing Society (CDS) has held its Autumn Exhibition at the city centre’s Pitt Building. Opening to the public from 25 to 31 October, the exhibition will showcase more than 200 new artworks by CDS member artists, including paintings, mixed media and sculpture, exploring a variety of themes, media and techniques. It’s also an opportunity for art lovers and collectors to buy original artwork, as nearly all of the art will be for sale – both framed pieces and a selection of unframed works, as well as CDS artists’ greetings cards. Free to enter, the exhibition will be open daily from 10am to 4pm. Find out more about CDS at cambridgedrawingsociety.org
ARTS THEATRE LAUNCHES AUTUMN SEASON Booking has opened for the Arts Theatre Cambridge’s autumn 2026 season, and the principal cast is revealed for this phenomenon Six (16-27 February), while dramas include A Man for All Seasons (27-31 October) starring Martin Shaw. This month will also see the return
year’s Christmas pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk (27 November to 3 January). Matt Crosby returns as Dame Trott with UK Pantomime Award winner Steven Roberts as Jack. The cast is completed by Jessica Martin ( 9 to 5 the Musical ), Zweyla Mitchell Dos Santos ( A World Elsewhere ), Emma Williams ( Top Hat ) and Stuart Simons ( La Cage aux Folles ). Musical theatre fans can enjoy a host of West End smash hits throughout the season, including the worldwide
of the triennial Cambridge Greek Play , with Ion by Euripides (14-17 October) set to be performed in ancient Greek by Cambridge University students. Plus, there is an audacious retelling of Jane Austen’s classic novel in Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) (9-14 November); the spinechilling The Haunting of Hill House (17-21 November); for younger theatregoers, Dog Man the Musical (8-10 October); and lots more! The full programme is at artstheatre.co.uk
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4 OCTOBER Ballads and Songs: Sam Carter Sings Nic Jones BBC Folk Award winner Sam Carter celebrates Nic Jones: a towering figure of the English folk revival whose emotive singing and groundbreaking guitar style continue to inspire generations of musicians and listeners. junction.co.uk 18 OCTOBER The Little Concert Taking place at St John the Evangelist Church on Hills Road is Autumn Nocturne , the next in The Little Concert series for toddlers and parents, a unique live musical performance during which children 29 OCTOBER Lucas Krupinski In a recital at West Road Concert Hall, world- renowned British-Polish pianist and Steinway Artist Lucas Krupinski will play the music of Bach, Brahms, Chopin and Schumann. adcticketing.com 6 NOVEMBER Roderick Williams sings Mystical Songs Legendary baritone Roderick Williams sings Vaughan Williams’ 5 Mystical Songs alongside choral classics by Purcell, Mozart, Fauré and Holst, amid the beautiful surroundings of Trinity College Chapel. musicinaction.org.uk are welcome to join in, dance and play! masterminds cambridge.com MUSIC NOT TO MISS
Celebrating the centenary of Winnie-the-Pooh This autumn, visitors to Anglesey Abbey in Lode
a chance to take a closer look at the original books and enjoy some interactive elements that bring AA Milne’s world to life. The story trail and exhibition open on 3 October and run until 3 January. Learn more at nationaltrust.org.uk/ angleseyabbey
beloved bear’s 100th anniversary, the trail will weave together Milne’s classic stories, Shepard’s enchanting illustrations and fun activities. In the house, a special exhibition tells the story of how Winnie-the- Pooh and his memorable friends were created, with
can rediscover the timeless world of Winnie-the-Pooh in a family-friendly story trail and exhibition inspired by AA Milne and EH Shepard. Created in collaboration with HarperCollins Publishers in order to celebrate the
LOCAL LITERATURE The Secret on the Second Shelf JONATHAN WHITE Set in and around present-day Cambridge (with a 300-year time- slip twist), this supernatural mystery audiobook for readers 8+ follows Tim Shaw, whose mum vanishes on Bonfire Night, sending him back in time to confront shape-shifters. Narrated by David Sweeney-Bear, it’s available on Audible, Apple Books and Amazon.
CAMBRIDGE CORN EXCHANGE UNVEILS WINTER PROGRAMME Cambridge Corn Exchange is set to bring audiences together during the darker months with a packed programme. Offering something for everyone, the season gets underway with comedy, live music and talks, before moving into a festive programme featuring Tony Hadley’s Christmas Big Band Tour, Christmas in Ireland, The Unthanks in Winter, Step into Christmas, Kate Rusby at Christmas, Swing Into Christmas with Down for the Count Swing Orchestra, as well as ballet productions including The Nutcracker and Swan Lake . For the full programme and ticket information, visit cornex.co.uk
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CAMBRIDGE MUSIC FESTIVAL’S AUTUMN SERIES SOON TO OPEN Taking place from 23 October to 1 December, this year’s Cambridge Music Festival Autumn Series spans six concerts in some of the city’s most historic chapels and concert halls. Opening the series with Schubert’s Four Impromptus D899 and D935 at Trinity College Chapel is Imogen Cooper, who retires from public performance in early 2027, making this a last chance to hear one of the great Schubert interpreters of our time live in Cambridge. Also this month, The Tallis Scholars (pictured), conducted by Peter Phillips and Daniel Hyde, bring their pure-toned polyphony to King’s College Chapel with Byrd’s Mass for Five Voices interspersed with motets by Lassus, Gombert and Josquin. The series then continues through November with the BBC Singers and Choir of King’s College, the Danel Quartet and Marc-André Hamelin, concluding on 1 December with a specially curated performance of North Indian classical raag by the Jasdeep Singh Degun Quintet. For full programme details and tickets, visit cambridgemusicfestival.co.uk
Local magician turns Cambridge’s secrets into magic After performing magic across the UK and around the world, Cambridge-born magician Matthew Le Mottée is bringing his latest project back to where it all began. Having spent months delving into the people, places and peculiar stories that have shaped his home city, Matthew is launching a new live experience combining true stories and impossible magic from 800 years of Cambridge history. “I’ve lived in Cambridge almost my entire life, and I thought I knew the city well, but once I looked deeper, I realised how many extraordinary stories were hiding behind the gates I’d walked past thousands of times,” he explains. Whispers of Wonder: The Magic of Cambridge will be performed at the Clayton Hotel Cambridge throughout October, November and December this year, with general admission including a three-course meal in the Tamburlaine Restaurant & Bar and a complimentary drink. Tickets are adult only and available at wowcambridge.co.uk
THE WONDERS OF WEAVING AT FEN DITTON GALLERY
Designed as a response to Swiss-born textile designer Marianne Straub’s Textiles Today exhibition at Kettle’s Yard over 40 years ago, Fen Ditton Gallery is bringing together three generations of artist weavers in a brand-new show. Taking a wide angle on the world of weave, exhibitors will include Jo Barker, Jacob Monk, Amber Fry, Eleanor Pritchard, Jun Tomita and Ann Sutton, who was recently awarded a medal for Lifetime Achievement by the Worshipful Company of Weavers. Also present will be works by two artists from that original 1982 exhibition: Mary Restieaux and the late Mary Farmer. To coincide with the show, Fen Ditton Gallery has commissioned an exclusive limited-edition Fen Ditton blanket, designed by Eleanor Pritchard and inspired by East Anglian and Fen landscapes. Taking place from 1 October to 1 November, visit Textiles Today at Fen Ditton Gallery, 23 High Street, Fen Ditton
WARP AND WEFT Exhibited work includes that of Eleanor Pritchard (top), who has designed a limited-edition blanket, and Jacob Monk (bottom) among several others
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CULTURE EDITION
VIRAL COMEDIAN COMES TO CAMBRIDGE Known for his hit series Background Singers , which sparked collaborations with such stars as Sugababes, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Olly Alexander, along with his viral characters Your Cat and The Millennial, all-round showman Christopher Hall is heading our way with his brand-new stand-up show Pizazz . Once first on the dancefloor and last on the night bus, Christopher is now in his early-mid-30s (a different era from the late-earlys) and reckoning with the life- of-the-party version of himself he used to be. Theatrical, joyous and hilariously self- reflective, this live stage show promises dancing, glamour, storytelling and, of course, plenty of pizazz. Taking place on 30 October at Cambridge Junction J2, book tickets at junction.co.uk
3 OCTOBER Gianmarco Soresi Cambridge Corn Exchange One of the most talked-about comedians to emerge from the New York circuit in recent years, Gianmarco is now bringing his Misery Loves tour to Europe. cornex.co.uk 17 OCTOBER Nish Kumar Cambridge Corn Exchange Angry Humour From a Really Nice Guy sees political comedian Nish enter his 40s. Expect existential angst and political disquiet from comedy's cheekiest boy. cornex.co.uk 17 OCTOBER Stand-up in the Great Hall The Leys, Trumpington Road Featuring comedy heavyweights Hal Cruttenden and Reginald D Hunter, get ready for an evening of hilarious storytelling. comedybuoys.com Big Deal Comedy is hosting one of 26 heats taking place throughout England, Scotland and Wales for this prestigious competition. bigdealcomedy.co.uk 25 OCTOBER Maisie Adam Cambridge Corn Exchange Straight off the back of Taskmaster , A League of Their Own and Last One Laughing , Maisie is back with her brand- new show Whatsherface . cornex.co.uk 29 OCTOBER Michael Spicer Cambridge Junction J2 Hope All’s Well is a hilariously entertaining satirical stage show packed with sketches, short 22 OCTOBER British Comedian of the Year Heats Town & Gown THE COMEDY CONTINUES!
New stand-up experience from Simon Amstell
Following a sell-out five-week London residency earlier this year, award- winning comedian and filmmaker Simon Amstell will bring his critically acclaimed latest stand-up show I Love It Here to Cambridge Corn Exchange on 8 October. At a friend’s beach house just outside Los Angeles, Simon finally finds peace: he is in love, released from the need to perform. But when an invitation arrives from the man who first ignited his teenage desire, that fragile calm is thrown into chaos. What follows is a desperate but hilarious attempt at surrender during a night of overwhelming stimulation – the raw material for
films and stories. junction.co.uk
this extraordinary new show. Find out more at cornex.co.uk
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CULTURE INTERVIEW
Myth and magic Ahead of this month’s Ancient Greek Meze performance, alongside Britten Sinfonia and stand-up classicist Natalie Haynes, mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston tells Louise Hoffman what it means to embody three powerful women of myth
Can you briefly introduce us to the three women of Greek myth you’ll be portraying this month? Daughter of the Cretan king Minos and his wife Pasiphaë, sister to Ariadne and half-sister to the Minotaur, Phaedra’s place in mythology is rooted to her marriage to the great King of Athens, Theseus, and the tale of her overwhelming lust for his son, Hippolytus. Upon Hippolytus’ inevitable rejection of her advances, she is humiliated and, aware of the irreversible consequences of her actions, kills herself. Ariadne was put in charge of the labyrinth where the Minotaur was imprisoned. Regular sacrifices of children were made to the Minotaur, and one year Prince Theseus takes the place of one of these children, set on killing the Minotaur. Ariadne fell immediately in love with the prince, giving him the fateful ball of thread with which he could retrace his steps and escape the labyrinth unscathed. He succeeds and escapes, running away with Ariadne. But on their journey back to Athens, the fleet stopped on Naxos and Ariadne is left behind. Very much from a different family line, Medea is granddaughter of the sun god Helios and niece of Circe. She is powerful, adept with magic and ends up using it time
and time again to ensure her survival and to enact revenge. She uses her power to help Jason (and the Argonauts) to victory, falling in love with him and building a new life together away from her family, but he eventually betrays her – leading her to enact her revenge. What is it about their stories that particularly resonates with you – both personally and from a performance perspective? I find it liberating to live a little of the fire and passion of our heroines through this programme. Their situations are so extreme, and thankfully not ones I have experienced in my own life, but it’s amazing to step into their shoes guided by such brilliant music. Do you have a favourite? Musically, Phaedra. Britten conjures an amazing sound world: the vibrancy of the string orchestra with the otherworldly additions of solo cello and harpsichord, and the representation of her sometimes madness, sometimes strength, in the percussion parts. In terms of wider story, Medea is the queen for me. She is an amazing mouthpiece for the injustice of being an outsider. At a time when women were given
so little right to talk, she makes herself heard and impossible to be ignored.
Greek myth has of course been much in the spotlight in recent months. Was this concert in any way influenced by the release of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey ? It’s completely unplanned, but a nice coincidence! This programme has been an idea for many years; the anniversary of Benjamin Britten’s death this year and the opportunity to collaborate with Britten Sinfonia gave the impetus it needed to jump to life. It’s certainly apposite that many in the audience will have The Odyssey in their mind (and Odysseus does make a brief appearance in one of the orchestral pieces – Ulysses Awakes by John Woolrich). It’s exciting to think they might draw some of their own connections that we never even intended. Does it feel good to be dedicating such a powerful programme – and yourself – to women of myth, given that their stories
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CULTURE INTERVIEW
© BPA
We don’t have to make an argument for these women to be in the limelight
are so often sidelined, misunderstood or twisted? The quick answer is, of course, yes! The wonderful thing is that these stories already show us fully fleshed-out characters: people full of as much contradiction and darkness as life and light. They may not make significant appearances in The Odyssey , but Ariadne, Medea and Phaedra are very much not sidelined; their stories are firmly rooted in mythological retelling. To think that Euripides wrote a play titled Medea in 431 BC and used the depiction of her grief to expose the inequalities of women in Athenian society at the time can’t be ignored! We don’t have to make an argument for these women to be in the limelight: they’ve made their own way there, and we get to be part of that re-telling. Which pieces of music will you be performing in the voices of Medea, Phaedra and Ariadne? Haydn originally wrote Arianna a Naxos for piano and voice (1789) and had intended to orchestrate it but died before he did.
Nothing can stop her: with poison coursing through her veins, her final dying words resound through Britten’s brash string texture: “My eyes at last give up their light, and see the day they’ve soiled resume its purity.” It’s the most extraordinary way to finish a piece, and one of my favourite death scenes to sing! What do you hope audiences will take from this concert? I really hope our audiences will lose themselves in the labyrinth of these stories. Myths let our minds run wild, and with music from so many different composers side by side, I hope these performances will be a whirlwind of imagination away from the everyday. Ancient Greek Meze takes place at West Road Concert Hall on 21 October. Find out more at brittensinfonia.com
So, in our programme, we perform it in an arrangement for string orchestra, emulating that world he hoped Ariadne would eventually find herself in. Haydn portrays her nobility with such beauty that there is no way that we cannot feel sympathy for her. In the final aria, she girds herself for death in a flash of strength. Quel prix de mon amour ( What a reward for my love ) comes from Charpentier’s 1693 opera Médée and is a wonderful anthem for the stories of all three women. Medea is so powerful and yet still her loyalty and love of Jason is her downfall: she has stopped monsters and yet ends up betrayed by the one who so deeply needed her powers. The programme ends in the dark world of Phaedra by Benjamin Britten (1975). Here we fall into a world of the madness where lust and temptation are in control. The whole piece leads towards Phaedra’s fatal decision to kill herself.
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LITERATURE
October Book Club With Halloween on the horizon, Charlotte Griffiths opens the creaking door to hit horror fiction Darker Days THOMAS OLDE HEUVELT
Everything always goes well for the residents of Bird Street, a quiet cul-de-sac in the Pacific Northwest. Promotions, academic grants, child prodigies: you name it, these lucky families get it. Life is sweet. But every year, at the start of November, their bill for all this good luck comes due and the Darker Days are upon them. It requires a huge sacrifice to settle the debt and the sooner the payment can be made, the better – because the longer the Darker Days go on, the worse it gets, as the families’ good luck unravels and the more desperate they all become to return to their usual state. Thomas Olde Heuvelt is a master at ratcheting up the horror and suspense. You’ll find yourself re-reading sections after an odd word or turn of phrase catches your eye in an otherwise- normal-seeming passage (all of which is expertly translated from the author’s original Dutch) – and like the occupants of Bird Street, you might have to cover your own mirrors in case you spot something sinister lurking in the shadows. One for fans of Stephen King and suburban horror, this brilliant novel forces the residents and readers alike to confront just how far they’d go for their own family’s happiness… but can you ever be truly happy if someone else has to suffer for your good fortune? Heuvelt is a master at ratcheting up the horror and suspense
The Lamb LUCY ROSE
Margot and Mama are content with their lot. Margot takes the bus to school, her Mama keeps house, entertains lovers and watches out for incoming strays: all beautifully depicted by Rose’s lyrical writing, as well as horrifyingly domestic and almost recognisable. That is, until the enigmatic Eden turns up, reveals she shares their appetites, and this queer, feminist, body-shock, coming-of-age debut really gets going. Rose’s particular gift for mouth- watering food descriptions makes reading this an extremely unsettling and challenging experience. Completely compelling in a nightmarish way, this is a dark fairytale that’ll have you reading with one hand over your mouth – and might also make you temporarily vegetarian.
Occasionally a book resets the bar for use of a descriptive term. After reading The Lamb , writer Lucy Rose’s debut novel, it’s the word visceral: I won’t be throwing that around so easily from now on! This contemporary folk horror is indeed the most visceral, bodily, raw piece of writing I’ve encountered. You’ll know if it’s for you from the eyebrow-raising opening sentence, which I encourage you to seek out and read for yourself. Margot and her Mama live in a pebble- dashed cottage in the woods, hidden from society – which is probably for the best, because they have a very particular diet. Sometimes a lost traveller wanders too near to their cottage, but the ‘strays’, as the small family refer to their infrequent visitors, don’t make that same mistake again.
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LITERATURE
Hunger and Thirst CLAIRE FULLER
possessions, but their outlandish dares and behaviour keep getting more intense, and as the saying now goes, the ‘saxophones keep getting louder’. What makes this tale more unsettling is that, at the same time as this, it’s also 2023 and grown-up Ursula, now a reclusive artist, has been located by a documentary- maker to comment on her new film about the infamous events that took place at The Underwood in the summer of 1987. Having avoided media speculation for decades, Ursula is finally ready to tell her side of the story, and you won’t be able to put this down until you hear every terrifying detail. The pages crackle with anticipation: Claire Fuller’s writing is stark and clear on the page as she jumps between teenage Ursula and clips from the documentary, where now-older characters talk haltingly about what they heard, or felt, or saw. Chilling and unforgettably haunting, this horror isn’t one to read alone after dark.
It’s early 1987 and Ursula is 16, working at the local art school in a job found by her social worker. She’s aged out of children’s homes and is currently in a halfway house with ex-prisoners and recovering alcoholics, so is unused to family dynamics, even weird workplace ones. Her colleague Sue defends Ursula against older men who take advantage of her naive nature, but approves when another colleague, Vince, suggests moving in with him to a house called The Underwood. Even though it sounds like a squat, with no rent or landlord, it’s better than anything Ursula has been offered before, and she throws her stuff into a binbag and heads over to her new home – which seems to have been abandoned, entirely furnished with a couple’s belongings, and with no trace of the owners. It isn’t long before Sue turns up and the three of them settle into uncanny domesticity among the previous occupants’
HOUSE OF HORRORS Claire Fuller’s chilling story is told over two timelines, in 1987 and 2023, to make the unfolding events even more suspenseful
Branch out into other genres with this month’s new and upcoming releases SOMETHING DIFFERENT
As You Wake, Break the Shell
A shimmering beauty of a novel. Young pianist Livia escapes an abusive childhood to follow her dream when her heart, then spirit, is broken: will her much older self choose to reconnect with those who hurt her? Stunning, as always – this is an unmissable read. Partita BARBARA KINGSOLVER
Under Story CHLOE BENJAMIN
BECKY CHAMBERS
The book everyone is (correctly) talking about. Laurel has taken a job at the end of the Earth to escape the wreckage of her marriage, yet her ex- husband soon turns up to investigate a natural phenomenon that might enable them to turn back the clock and slip into an alternate timeline. Epic, intimate, truly unforgettable.
Chambers is always a treat, and this immaculately structured alternating timeline is no exception. The book jumps between horticulturist Signy and pilot Cora finding each other, and their beautifully domestic future together, in a resource-starved outpost on the edge of civilisation.
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SCREEN TIME
LOCAL CINEMAS Arts Picturehouse picturehouses.com Everyman everymancinema.com The Light cambridge.thelight.co.uk
The Uprising 9 October Based on the story of the 1381 English Peasants’ Revolt, Andrew Garfield plays the leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II. As war rages across England, he forms an army of the people to fight for justice and survival.
Verity 2 October
Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson) uncovers disturbing truths after being hired by Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett) to ghostwrite novels for his bestselling author wife Verity (Anne Hathaway), who has suffered a mysterious accident. Based on the novel by Colleen Hoover.
Digger 2 October
In this satirical black comedy starring Tom Cruise, the most powerful man in the world embarks on a frantic mission to prove he is humanity’s saviour before the disaster he has unleashed destroys everything.
Wicker 30 October An ostracised fisherwoman commissions the local basketmaker to weave her a husband, but when the wicker creation proves unexpectedly extraordinary, his presence turns life in the quiet village upside down!
Klara and the Sun 23 October
Based on the bestselling novel by Kazuo Ishiguro and written and directed by Academy Award winner Taika Waititi ( Jojo Rabbit ), Klara and the Sun follows Artificial Friend Klara (Jenna Ortega) who wants nothing more than to find the perfect home. When Klara meets Josie (Mia Tharia), each immediately senses a kindred spirit in the other.
Movie magic not to miss this month
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