Book your tickets now for this World Premier at Ilmington Village Hall

From Wednesday 12th to Saturday 15th July the hall will be hosting this brand new comedy featuring Mark Carey and Dani Carberry with music by Kevin Oliver Jones

When Benny Hill died alone in his spartan flat in 1992, he was 68. His body was undiscovered for several days. Benny was, had been and still is, one of the most successful comedians of all time. When Apollo Eleven landed on the moon in 1969, millions watched live on TV but that evening many more had tuned in to “The Benny Hill Show”. Today “The Benny Hill Show” is broadcast regularly in over a hundred countries around the world. But in Britain he has, effectively been 'cancelled'.

“What’s wrong with Benny Hill?” is a brand-new comedy that explores the life and legacy of a very peculiar and brilliant comedian. It tells the story of his life and shows why he was considered by many of his peers to be the best, an “Imperial Clown”. Benny was Charlie Chaplin's favourite comedian. Anthony Burgess described him as “One of the great artists of our age.” He has millions of avid fans all over the world so why has he been airbrushed from British Comedy History? Why is there no statue or memorial in his home town of Southampton?

Mark Carey, in his latest play sets out to address these questions and to show how funny this unique and deeply private man was.

Book your tickets here

An evening with Monty Panesar

Join us on June 17th to hear all about Monty Panesar’s Cricket career. As a former English international cricketer he was one of the world's best left-arm spinners.

Enjoy this opportunity to ask your questions to, and hear from, one of the most recognisable faces of English cricket. This is also the perfect opportunity to reflect on the Ashes action of the day.

Tickets (from Eventbrite) include a complimentary drink.

Coming up in July

Benny Hill died alone in his spartan flat in 1992, he was 68. His body was undiscovered for several days. Benny was, had been and still is, one of the most successful comedians of all time. When Apollo Eleven landed on the moon in 1969, millions watched live on TV but that evening many more had tuned in to “The Benny Hill Show”. Today “The Benny Hill Show” is broadcast regularly in over a hundred countries around the world. But in Britain he has, effectively been 'cancelled'.

“What’s wrong with Benny Hill?” is a brand-new comedy that explores the life and legacy of a very peculiar and brilliant comedian. It tells the story of his life and shows why he was considered by many of his peers to be the best, an “Imperial Clown”. Benny was Charlie Chaplin's favourite comedian. Anthony Burgess described him as “One of the great artists of our age.” He has millions of avid fans all over the world so why has he been airbrushed from British Comedy History? Why is there no statue or memorial in his home town of Southampton?

Mark Carey, in his latest play sets out to address these questions and to show how funny this unique and deeply private man was.

“What’s wrong with Benny Hill? features Mark Carey and Dani Carberry.

Tickets available here

Flo Smith - Now and Then - Saturday May 6th

If you think you’ll have had enough of the Coronation coverage and activities by the evening of 6th May, this is just right for you.  An evening of high quality entertainment to be filmed in our own village hall for national distribution.  Doors open at 7:00pm in time to get a drink from the bar before the show starts at 7:30pm, tickets at £12 available from the Community Shop or on Eventbrite.  Read more here

Set in 1969, a woman looks back on her life in London recalling the turbulent times at home and in the world beyond her front door.

More information can be found here and you can get your tickets here

Quiz Night Saturday 11th February

Click here to buy tickets

Village Hall Warm Hub

The Village Hall will be operating a ‘warm hub’ from the beginning of December to the end of March. This will provide an opportunity for tea, coffee and cake, and chat with village friends in the lounge area.

Our first meeting is at the village hall on Monday 5th December from 1:00 to 3:00pm. There will be mulled wine and warm mince pies and the opportunity to hear from Alvynne Curley from Act on Energy who can provide helpful advice on the use of energy and can help with communication with your suppliers. It's free of charge but if you would like to make a small contribution to the cost, it would be welcome.

At the next meeting on 12th December we will have representatives of the Stour Health and Wellbeing Partnership (SHWP) to explain what they are about and how they can help villagers. They have been in existence for just one year and have already delivered over 200 health and wellbeing sessions, opened the Shipston Warm Hub and created strong links with numerous health and wellbeing agencies including the NHS, local authorities and voluntary bodies working in this sector. It promises to be another interesting and useful discussion.

New online booking form

You can now begin your hall booking process by using our newly launched online booking request form. Click here to give it a try and we’ll aim to reply and confirm your booking within 48hrs

An Evening With Sunny Ormonde: Lilian Bellamy from BBC Radio 4’s “The Archers”

Saturday 26th November - tickets (available from the shop) are priced at £15 and include a glass of mulled wine and a warm mince pie.

You can now also buy tickets online

Sunny has been playing the “outrageous and raunchy Lilian Bellamy” in Radio 4’s The Archers for the past 22 years and has become one of the listeners most favourite characters! Her antics have kept the nation gripped and entertained, whether it be riding round Ambridge on a Harley Davidson, drinking The Bull and Cider shed dry with Eddie Grundy, absconding to Costa Rica with her beloved and recently departed Tiger! (Oh the louse!) or recklessly kicking off her sling-backs and leaping into bed with Tigers brother Paul. Not to mention the Knitting, the Collagen, the Calendar Girls, furlong frolics (and almost wedding) with Justin Elliot AND the renaming of THE BULL!!!!!

In the show Sunny will fill you in on all the behind-the-scenes stories about the Worlds longest running soap opera - an evening of anecdotes, banter, and favourite pieces from Sunny’s long and distinguished acting career - humorous and touching in turn.

PLUS a question and answer session with the audience about the making of the Archers, now in its 71st year. Where did that laugh come from? Did Victoria Wood really pull a pint in The Bull?  How big are Toms sausages?

And last but not least – A prize for the most original Archers question!!!

“Sunny dances in and out of Lilian’s character with ease, but also with Drama….Shirley Valentine…..Under Milk Wood……stories and anecdotes galore…….an evening to remember!”

You don’t have to be an Archers listener to enjoy this highly entertaining evening! There is something for everyone!