Not Now, Bernard: intergenerational Workshop

Join Roustabout for a joyful, playful one-hour workshop inspired by Not Now, Bernard. Through drama games, storytelling and imaginative activities, children and their invited adults will work together, communicate, create and – most importantly – have fun.

No acting experience is needed. Just bring your imagination and a willingness to join in! These workshops run pre-show so why not join us for the workshop and performance straight after?!

Led by a member of the Roustabout team, the workshop is designed to be welcoming and inclusive, giving children and adults the chance to discover the joy of playing together in a relaxed, supportive environment. 

Not Now, Bernard

Bernard’s got a problem but his mum and dad are too busy to notice – David McKee’s much-loved story about being heard, with integrated Makaton, brought to the stage by Roustabout Theatre (Dinosaurs & All That Rubbish, Little Red Riding Could, Luna) for ages 3-8 and their families.

‘There’s a monster in the garden and it’s going to eat me.’

What happens when nobody listens?

David McKee’s wickedly funny story roars on to the stage in Roustabout Theatre’s fantastical and colourful adaptation of this classic and much-loved picture book. Through physical comedy, a live soundtrack performed on instruments and household objects, and an ENORMOUS purple monster, this show explores big themes of attention, imagination, and being heard, offering lots to talk about for both children and adults.

Fancy joining us for a pre-show intergenerational workshop? CLICK HERE

With integrated Makaton, this accessible production is suitable for everyone aged 3+.

Supported by Arts Council England, the egg, and Front Room Theatre.

Not Now Bernard © David McKee 1980, published by Andersen Press Ltd

Created by Roustabout Theatre, based on the book by David McKee.

NUTSHELL NETWORK: CREATIVE CO-WORKING

NOW EVERY TUESDAY!


As part of our commitment to fostering creative exploration and connection, we are opening our doors weekly for creative co-working 🖤

With our refreshed venue and new foyer space, it really is the perfect spot to get all your creative thoughts and plans in order.

We envisage a shared workspace throughout our ground floor area which will be available for use by those working in the creative industries. WiFi available throughout so bring your laptops, notebooks and stationary for a day of planning!

The Plan
The use of a spot in our ground floor studio is FREE >>> plus we will be serving Roasting Party barista coffee (local Winch represent 🤘🏻) availbale for purchase at our new ground floor cafe. Sweet treats will be available too - payments taken at our Box Office.

Need More Space?
Have a bigger working group in need of a larger space to test out ideas? On Creative Co-working days we will be offering our performance studio for hire at a reduced rate of £10 per hour. Bookable in person on the day and first-come, first-serve. Please pay at the Box Office for this.

The Bigger Picture
We want to meet more creatives who are based in Winchester and grow our network! Come join us every month 🖤 the group may start small but big things are most definitely on the horizon.

A Tale of Us

Sleep is like an old friend I’ve not seen for a long time. She’s stopped returning my calls. But some nights feel sort of magic. Just you and me watching a new day being born.

Ivy’s just had a baby. She’s never felt so full of love – or so alone. Days (and nights) can be tough. But she’s working it out.

A Tale of Us is a brand new play for parents and their babies. Join Ivy and her little one on a funny, frank and magical journey through their first year of life together. Blending drama and multi-sensory playtime in a relaxed and beautifully designed environment, this is a celebration of the wonder, joys and challenges of becoming a new parent.

After each performance there will be a guided Stay and Play session – a chance for everyone to explore the world of the show and meet other parents and babies.

Made for parents with children ages 0-18 months.

Creative Careers Fair

A half-day discovery fair for young people to learn more about creative careers in Winchester.

This November, during Discover Creative Careers Month we are hosting a half-day discovery fair for young people to learn more about creative careers in Winchester.

This free event will bring together professionals from across the creative industries to help young people discover the wide variety of careers available and learn more about the pathways into them. This is an opportunity to have real conversations with the people doing these jobs every day. Students can ask questions, hear personal career stories and learn about the skills and qualifications that helped others get where they are today.

Whether you are a young person, an educator, or a guardian there is something for everyone to experience and learn more about the breadth and depth of creative careers and the various ways to get there!

Flotsam

Half Moon Presents Flotsam an OperaUpClose production for ages 2-5 based on the picture book by David Wiesner.

When a curious child discovers a mysterious camera washed up on the beach, the photos inside reveal a chain of children linked across time and space and an extraordinary underwater world.

Turtles carry cities, starfish dance, octopi read by lamplight – but who took the pictures and where will the camera travel next?

Kerry Andrew’s luminous new score and text blends music, movement and storytelling to explore curiosity, connection and the boundless power of imagination – a spellbinding adventure for audiences of all ages.

Building on OperaUpClose’s reputation for creating “spell-binding, magical, inventive theatre” (A View from Behind the Arras) for children and their parents, Flotsam brings David Wiesner’s much-loved picture book to life.

THE NUTSHELL JAZZ CLUB: Alex Garnett's Trio

Tonight, Alex Garnett's Trio will be paying homage to the late legend of soul jazz "Papa" Lou Donaldson.

Lou Donaldson was best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone along with the deep influence of bebop courtesy of Charlie Parker. Lou was always concerned with pleasing the people and was already reaching out to audiences beyond the realms of hard core jazz fans, long before the critics coined the term "cross over" music. Garnett follows Lou's ethos and is accompanied by two top tier musicians from the heart of the London scene!

Alex Garnett- Sax
Liam Dunachie - Hammond
Dave Ingamells - Drums

THE NUTSHELL JAZZ CLUB

Join us on the third Thursday of every month* for an evening of Jazz in an intimate cabaret style setting.

In partnership with Winchester Jazz Festival and Alex Western-King we will host some of the UK’s best Jazz musicians on The Nutshell stage.

*please check dates as due to holiday season we will occasionally shift from the third Thursday!

Lantern Making Workshop

During this workshop you will create your own traditional lantern made from willow and tissue - ready to take to the Winchester Lantern Parade or to hang in your home. 

All materials and instructions will be provided - just bring your ideas and a pair of secateurs if you have some.  Young children will need to be supported by their parents to create a lantern. 

Suitable for age 5+

DUO Destino - Flamenco Fusion

Back in Winchester by popular demand!

Following their much‑loved previous performances at The Nutshell, Duo Destino return to with their exhilarating Flamenco‑Fusion sound that has captivated audiences across the UK and Europe.

Fresh from the success of their latest original composition Heartbeat - a vibrant, cinematic track resonating with listeners in the UK, France, and Italy - guitarists Ben Bruant and Will Cashel arrive at the height of their creative energy.

A Sound Bigger Than Two Guitars

Ben and Will deliver a musical experience that feels almost impossible: dazzling fingerwork, rhythmic percussive techniques, and an infectious energy that fills the room. Their sound is so rich and layered, you’d swear there were more than two musicians on stage.

World‑Class Musicianship, Born in London

Since meeting at the Royal Academy of Music in 2011, Ben and Will have built a partnership grounded in precision, passion, and a shared love of reimagining familiar music in bold new ways.

• Ben Bruant, from Le Havre, trained at the Conservatoire National de Paris and completed a PhD exploring guitar legends such as Castelnuovo‑Tedesco and Segovia.

• Will Cashel, from Bath, won a scholarship to the Purcell School of Music at 13 before continuing his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music.

During the pandemic, Duo Destino became a national symbol of gratitude by performing 70 free concerts in the gardens of NHS workers - a gesture that touched communities across the UK. Since then, they’ve performed for the King of Spain, Prince William, and on iconic stages including Glastonbury, the Liverpool Philharmonic, and the Bahrain Grand Prix. Their work has been featured on Scala Radio (now Magical Classical), BBC Radio 2, and the hit podcast My Wardrobe Malfunction.

An Evening You Won’t Forget!

Whether you’ve seen them before or are discovering them for the first time, Duo Destino’s return to The Nutshell promises an unforgettable night of passion, artistry, and world‑class musicianship in an intimate setting.

Expect passion. Expect virtuosity. Expect to be surprised. Once seen, never forgotten.

Anthem for Dissatisfaction

"Songs aren’t just about love or breakups. They’re about desire. Gambling. Shouting. Being skint. Frustration. Love too. They’re about us. Me and her. This is our language, our way of consistently telling each other: It’s alright mate I’ve got you! I get it!" 

The Credit Crunch, 2007. ‘Irish Twins’ Sarah and Jamie are growing up in Belfast with a shared obsession of music and the weight of parents on the breadline. Pop, rock and punk rails against austerity Britain and an ever-failing Tory-government, giving these siblings an epic score to navigate lives that are destined for different paths.

Oasis, The Jam, Springsteen and Sam Fender songs scream at the state of the nation, tugging at the memories of what it means to grow up on benefits in a country where poverty became a punchline. Benefits Britain never sounded so good…

A defiant “rip-roaring tour de force” fuelled by the music and people who speak to your soul and punch you in the gut. The multi-award-winning gig-theatre show Anthem For Dissatisfaction rejoices in working class strength with wit, integrity, and disarming honesty.

Produced by SkelpieLimmer Productions and Brassneck Theatre Company 
Written by Gina Donnelly 
Directed by Gina Donnelly and Tony Devlin
Starring Simon Sweeney and Emily Lamey