Shakespeare and history: the Real War of the Roses
Shakespeare’s earliest plays deal with the most turbulent period in English history, from the loss of France through to the Battle of Bosworth. Along the way he addresses the burning of Joan of Arc, the murder of a king and … More details …
Craft: Quilt-as-you-go
Learn many different P&Q techniques while making this Sampler lap quilt. Taught using a Quilt-As-You-Go method so that each of the blocks is ‘finished’ by the time they are joined together. Relaxing hand sewing (but can be machined at home!). … More details …
The Enthralling Chamber Music of Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Schubert’s contribution to the 19th century is unparalleled, with many of his works revered as absolute masterpieces. This six week course will explore Schubert’s huge contribution to chamber music, including his Lieder (secular songs for solo voice), his solo piano … More details …
Infinite Variety: Amazing Adaptations of Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s plays have prompted some astonishing reactions, from West Side Story to Macbeth with a machine gun. This day-school explores the endless variety of Shakespearian adaptations, not just on stage and in cinema, but also in paintings, music, and haute … More details …
More Hand Quilting
Make a lap-sized Sampler quilt whilst learning many different hand sewing patchwork techniques. Then quilt and assemble using a Quilt-As-You-Go method. Ideal for beginner and experienced sewers alike. Although a continuation of the previous 5 week course, all the basics … More details …
Using the Present to explore the Past
Read two best-selling historical novels in which a child acts as a ‘go-between’ for lovers separated by class. What do they tell us about the periods they portray? The Go-Between, by LP Hartley, is a deceptively simple but effective story … More details …
Doris Hatt and Rosa Bonheur
Two remarkable women artists: Doris Hatt, a modernist working in Clevedon, and animal painter Rosa Bonheur, the most successful of the 19th-century. DORIS HATT (1890-1969) was a remarkable woman who lived in Clevedon for much of her life. A recent … More details …
Toulouse-Lautrec: the Painter of Montmartre
This study day will look at the life and work of the Post-Impressionist painter Henri Toulouse-Lautrec. The main focus will be the period in which the artist lived and worked in the Parisian district of Montmartre. Lautrec, through his paintings … More details …
Germany after the Wall
Find out how Germany changed when the Berlin Wall came down, how Angela Merkel and her two predecessors dealt with major social and economic challenges – and how Germans in these uncertain times are building train stations! The course will … More details …
Craft: Making Summer Jewellery
Learn how to use tiger-tail wire to make colourful, summer necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Tiger- tail is a thin, flexible wire encased in nylon which comes in a variety of colours and is mainly used for stringing beads. Crimps are … More details …
Astronomy
Chris Sperring MBE may be known to some for his work in Wildlife Conservation for which he was awarded the M.B.E by the Queen in 2001. Chris also presents on TV and Radio bringing his enthusiasm for the natural world … More details …
Masters of Baroque Music (1600 – 1750)
Masters of the Baroque (1600-1750) : Discover the seamless beauty of some of the most exquisite music ever written, and how the great composers of this age influenced everything since. We will explore a wide range of works by Vivaldi, … More details …
It is a truth universally acknowledged……
…that Jane Austen remains one of our most popular authors. Austen’s use of irony, social commentary, humour and realism are some of the reasons why her novels have remained popular over the last 200 years. This course will look at … More details …
Against the Odds: from Shakespeare’s sister to Virginia Woolf
Based on literary texts, this is an exploration of how women writers confronted gender stereotypes, found their voices and found publishers and readers. [Part One] Virginia Woolf said that ‘Intellectual freedom depends upon material things.’ In Day One of Two,* … More details …
Craft: More Cartonnage
Using a modern, no sew technique based on 19th century cartonnage, we will be making a fabric covered Victorian etui style sewing box. By removing the lid, the sides drop down to reveal the interior of the box. You will … More details …