There is no better way to enjoy your favourite books than outdoors, whether you're gardening, boating or exploring faraway places! Come and have your best pick from the BIG Summer Booksale, where you'll find a wide selection of books at great prices, starting from just 50p.
Explore the history of gladiatorial fights in Britain. The events of the amphitheatre – its wild beasts and enslaved fighters – are one of the most enduring aspects of Roman culture that still capture the public imagination today. This touring exhibition brings together some of the country's most important objects to tell the story of Britain's entertainment venues and the people who died to the roar of the crowd. It will reveal the violence of the arena, and the importance of spectacle within Roman culture. Highlights include the Colchester Vase loaned by Colchester Museums, which records an actual battle between two real gladiators, and the Hawkedon Helmet, the only confirmed piece of gladiatorial armour from Roman Britain. These iconic loans will be supported by a selection of other items that reveal the popularity of gladiators throughout Roman society. This tour is in partnership with Colchester and Ipswich Museums and is inspired by the recent exhibition at Colchester Castle, Gladiators: A Day at the Roman Games which featured British Museum loans. It will explore Roman spectacle in the local region, following in the footsteps of the gladiators who fought in the amphitheatres of Britain.
For centuries, landscape was considered an unworthy subject for serious artistic exploration. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Until Sunday 4 October When landscape did appear in paintings, it was often relegated to the background—merely a setting for religious or historical scenes. This perception began to shift in the 17th century with the work of Nicolas Poussin and Claude Lorrain. These pioneering artists crafted idealised rural vistas to illustrate the myths of Ancient Greece and Rome, imbuing natural elements with metaphorical meaning. Through their romantic and structured visions of the countryside, landscape painting began to gain recognition as a meaningful art form. It was not until the 19th century, however, that landscape truly came into its own. Artists such as J.M.W. Turner and John Constable redefined the genre, capturing the drama, emotion, and grandeur of the natural world. Their work affirmed landscape as a powerful subject in its own right—one that continues to inspire artists to this day. Drawing from the museum collections, this exhibition explores the evolution of landscape painting, where nature takes centre stage.
We are very pleased to be hosting this exhibition across all our galleries here at 78 Derngate. Simon James is a multi-disciplinary artist who explores themes of nature and the urban environment in mostly abstract or semi-abstract forms and takes inspiration from his surroundings in the cities of Asia and Europe or, more recently, the English countryside. James trained in Fine Art and Printmaking at London’s Royal Academy and Royal College of Art and he now works across the spectrum from painting and drawing to video and photographic works, having adopted the expressive potential of digital media while working as a designer and independent artist in Asia. Having held solo shows in London, Berlin, Singapore, Shanghai and Tokyo, whilst also designing for TV, publishing and the music industry, Simon was also a university lecturer in multimedia and photography. www.simonjames.com
With inspiration, ingenuity, humour and skill, creative recycling artist Val Hunt has created a fascinating selection of large and small sculptural pieces which are both appealing and informative Saturday 28 June - Sunday 10 August 2025 Animals, exotic birds, fish, dinosaurs and species of flora, all on the edge or now extinct, have been made from a selection of throwaway material especially Val’s favourite medium, drinks can metal. This exhibition presents a subtle message about recycling and preservation, raising awareness of why the creatures on show are endangered or extinct. Find out why species are disappearing from this planet at an alarming rate.
Singer songwriter Lucy Spraggan brings to Northampton her unique blend of folk, indie pop and acoustic sounds paired with powerful and emotive lyrics have captivated audiences worldwide. Lucy Spraggan, the incredibly talented British singer-songwriter, has taken the music scene by storm with her unique blend of folk, indie-pop, and acoustic sounds. Hailing from Buxton, Derbyshire, Lucy’s powerful and emotive lyrics have captivated audiences worldwide.
Come and sing your favourite songs with your friends or family, Students come and enjoy your Student deal drinks, cheaper then anywhere in town! Make a night of it Live At The Optimist!
This is VCL’s first Summer Youth Project in Northamptonshire the cast comprises of young performers from around the county who are “breaking free” to showcase their talents in the dynamic musical “We Will Rock You: Young@Part.” Is a special adaptation of the iconic Queen musical is tailored for a younger cast and offers a vibrant platform for our aspiring actors, singers, and dancers to bring the legendary music and story to life. Set in a dystopian future where musical instruments and rock music are banned, “We Will Rock You” follows a group of rebels led by Galileo and Scaramouche as they fight to restore freedom and individuality through the power of rock ‘n’ roll.
The Mystery Tours - 'The Great Fire of Northampton' Sunday 29th June at 5pm, Sunday 31st August at 5.30pm and Saturday 20th September at 5.30pm. Step Into the Flames of History! Join us for an immersive journey back to September 20th, 1675, when a single spark ignited a catastrophic fire that reduced much of Northampton to ashes. Guided by our enigmatic Time Traveller, you’ll witness the unfolding disaster, hear the tales of survival, and see how the town rose from the ashes. Tour Highlights St. Mary’s Street Stand at the very spot where the fire began and discover how a single flame in a thatched house led to devastation. Market Square Hear the dramatic accounts of desperate townsfolk, the crumbling of historic buildings, and the narrow escapes from the inferno. All Saints’ Church See how this iconic landmark rose from the ashes, thanks to King Charles II’s donation of timber. Sessions House Marvel at one of the first buildings to be rebuilt, symbolizing the town’s determination to recover. Meeting Point: St. Peter’s Church, Northampton (Outside main gate) End Point: Top of Abington Street Duration: 90 minutes (approximately) Suitable for: Adults & children over 10 Tickets: £15 (including booking fee) Important...
Heritage Open Days Tour Will be held on Saturday 13th September & Wednesday 17th September 2025 First tour at 10:00 am, last tour at 3:00 pm This is a free event The Old Savoy and The Deco Theatre are now one of Northampton’s premier venues available for hire for theatrical productions, conferences, meetings, wedding receptions, parties and other social or corporate events, and although it certainly didn’t start that way when it was first built, it has always been a home of family entertainment. The building first opened on Saturday 2 May 1936 in a blaze of publicity as “the Savoy”, described as “Northampton’s only super Cinema” and reported to be “the last word in comfort”. It was part of the ABC group, designed by their prolific house architect WR Glen and built in under nine months on the site of the original Technical College. It was constructed in the International Modernistic style and is arguably the best remaining example of Glen’s work, with all the main features still in place and sympathetically renovated. The Savoy was very popular and originally held almost 2000 people in the 696 seat circle and 1200 seat stalls. It was designed both as a...