Christmas Gift Ideas 2024
Struggling for Christmas gift ideas? Well look no further and give your loved ones an experience this Christmas at The Courtyard! By supporting and visiting The Courtyard, you’re helping the charity to deliver a comprehensive programme of inclusive, accessible live and participatory events, for the whole community. Whether your friends and family love contemporary drama, stand up comedians, or a good old tribute act, there is something for everyone! Check out some of our ideas below…
For the music lovers…
A tribute to Sting & the Police starring The Rozzers | Saturday 25 January, 7.30pm
Fronted by Sting look and sound-a-like Owen James and his band ‘The Rozzers’, ‘A Tribute to Sting & The Police’ is the most authentic Sting tribute in Europe. The band have performed all over the world for several years and now embark on their biggest ever UK tour.
Orchestra of the Swan: Safety Last | Wednesday 26 February, 7.30pm
Orchestra of the Swan performs a specially composed score by Artistic Director David Le Page to accompany the iconic 1923 silent comedy Safety Last! pratfalls will have you convulsed with laughter and the breathtaking stunts will have you holding on to your seats as the tension rises! Directed by Fred Newmeyer and Sam Taylor, Safety Last! remains a firm favourite 100 years on.
Bowie Experience | Friday 4 April, 7.30pm
Direct from London’s West End, Bowie Experience is a spectacular concert celebrating the sound and vision of David Bowie. A must see for all Bowie fans, the latest production features all the hits from A to Ziggy.
Ryan Young | Thursday 17 April, 7.45pm
2022 MG ALBA Musician of The Year nominee Ryan Young brings new and exciting ideas to traditional Scottish music, receiving international praise for his spell-binding interpretations on the fiddle.
For the drama fans…
Ludwig Theatre Arts: Chicago The Musical Teen Edition | Thursday 6 – Saturday 8 February
Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of night club singer Velma Kelly and Roxie Hart, a housewife who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer, Billy Flynn, to transform her deed into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids…
Fluff | Wednesday 12 February, 7.45pm
It’s time for Fluff to do the ultimate puzzle… her life. But Fluff hates puzzles; especially word searches. She can never find the words and doesn’t understand why there’s a half eaten birthday cake and a woman who keeps visiting her room.
Dial M For Mayhem | Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 March
Middle Ground Theatre Company Ltd is delighted to present Dial M For Mayhem, a brand new charming comedy drama from the author and director of the hugely successful courtroom phenomenon The Verdict.
Junior Youth Theatre: The Jungle Book | Wednesday 23 – Saturday 26 April
Join Mowgli, Baloo, Bagheera, and all your favourite characters from the beloved classic tale The Jungle Book in this delightful production by The Courtyard’s Junior Youth Theatre.
Laura Gale Drama: Hairspray | Wednesday 4 – Saturday 7 June
You can’t stop the beat in this big and bold musical about one girl’s inspiring dream to dance. The 1950s are out, and change is in the air! Hairspray, winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is a family-friendly musical with laughter, romance and deliriously tuneful songs.
For the funny ones…
Maisie Adam | Wednesday 5 March, 8pm
Fresh from Live At The Apollo, A League Of Their Own and Have I Got News For You, Maisie Adam is heading back out on tour with her show Appraisal. She’s five years into her job as a comedian now, so she’s due an appraisal. Join her for the ultimate performance review, where you’ll either see just why she was awarded Best New Act and nominated Best Newcomer…or, you’ll see someone who’s ready for “organisational restructure”.
Su Pollard | Saturday 15 March, 7.30pm
Oh eck! It’s been 50 years…Meet Su and her accompanist live on stage to celebrate her 50 years in show business with a night of hilarious laughter, fabulous songs and wonderful stories!
Mark Steel: The Leopard in My House | Saturday 12 April, 8pm
Join multi award-winning, BAFTA-nominated writer and comedian Mark Steel for his new tour “A Leopard in My House”. The topic? His battle with throat cancer. A battle he is winning (thankfully) and which only his rapier wit could fashion a comedy tour show out of. Cancer has done nothing to dull Mark’s acute political observations or quash his “frankly bonkers” energy: you will laugh, you will cry, but you’ll laugh again, and again, and again.
Joel Dommett: Happy Idiot | Saturday 3 May, 8pm
Joel returns to his stand-up roots with a brand-new show. With glamorous tales from behind the camera and less glamorous anecdotes of first-time fatherhood, Joel remains a charming, exhausted, happy idiot.
Suzi Ruffell: The Juggle | Friday 19 September, 7.30pm
It’s hard to be good all the time. A good mother, a good daughter, a good partner, a good friend, a good person. To be ambitious but not ruthless; a success but not a sell-out. A gentle parent but not a pushover. To be smashing life and make it look easy. The juggle. Suzi is exhausted and she hasn’t even started. This is a stand-up show and a support group!
For the ones that like something a little bit different…
The Dazzling Diamonds | Saturday 18 January, 7.30pm
The Dazzling Diamonds make a triumphant return with a brand-new comedy variety drag show. From jaw-dropping dance numbers to hilarious lip-sync performances and not forgetting the sensational live vocals, the cast are pulling out all the stops to make this show as unforgettable as the last!
Louis Rudd MBE – Courtyard & HVSC Fundraiser | Thursday 23 January, 7.30pm
Louis Rudd MBE is a record-breaking polar adventurer, expedition leader, former Royal Marine Commando and SAS soldier, with 34 years’ service. He was the first – and only – person to have traversed Antarctica twice using human power alone, has reached the South Pole four times from different coastal start points and summited Antarctica’s highest mountain.
Liverpool Legends | Thursday 10 April, 7.30pm
Relive the highs and lows of the team that dominated the 80s – starring European Cup lifting captain Phil Thompson AND colourful goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar as they talk about that famous Liverpool side as they took them to a legendary European Cup final (many times), league and League Cup treble among five title‐winning seasons.
For the foodies…
Supper Serenades | Tuesday 21 January, 6.30pm
Dine out with a difference at Supper Serenades on The Courtyard Lounge. Join us for an intimate evening with delicious dining, accompanied by exquisite chamber music from two members of our resident orchestra, Orchestra of the Swan.
Afternoon Tea Receptions | Saturday 8 February & Saturday 19 April (Easter themed), 12pm
Savour a selection of sandwiches, delicious cakes and freshly baked scones, all served with a variety of teas and freshly brewed coffee in a relaxed, contemporary setting.
Saturday Brunch | Saturday 15 March, 10am & Saturday 26 April (Jungle Book themed), 11.30am
Kick off your weekend in style with our vibrant Saturday Brunch! To start, enjoy a bottomless continental buffet, with tea and coffee, on arrival. This will then be followed by your choice of main course: from fluffy pancakes to perfectly poached eggs, we will be serving an array of brunch classics.
For the ones with kids…
2Faced Dance: Fishboy | Thursday 16 January, 4.30pm
Charming and inventive with plenty of interaction, an enormous beanstalk, bags of gold and a smelly old giant, Jack and the Beans Talk is a cautionary tale about what might happen if you throw things out of the window!
Jack and the Beans Talk | Saturday 25 January, 11am
Charming and inventive with plenty of interaction, an enormous beanstalk, bags of gold and a smelly old giant, Jack and the Beans Talk is a cautionary tale about what might happen if you throw things out of the window!
The Goose & Mrs Frost | Saturday 22 February, 11am
Mrs Frost lives with her goose keeping an eye on the world. She bakes and the sun shines, she hangs up her washing and it rains. And when she shakes out her quilt soft snowflakes cover the earth in a blanket of snow.
The Gruffalo | Tuesday 4 & Wednesday 5 March
Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler – celebrating 25 years in 2024! Searching for hazelnuts, Mouse meets the cunning Fox, the eccentric old Owl and the high-spirited Snake. Will the story of the terrifying Gruffalo save Mouse from ending up as dinner for these hungry woodland creatures? After all, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo – is there?
The Ultimate Bubbles Show | Saturday 29 March, 11am, 1pm & 3pm
Join Ray, International Bubbleologist and Guinness World Record Holder, and help him in his quest to complete the bubble game and make the ultimate bubble.
The Courtyard Cinema screens hundreds of films every year from action thrillers to period romances and laugh-out-loud comedy to sombre art house films. Don’t forget, Borderlines Film Festival returns in March, bringing the best cinema has to offer, right here at The Courtyard!
Check out the vouchers information below to gift the big screen experience this Christmas.
For the ones that you don’t know what to get…
The Courtyard Gift Vouchers are the perfect present for all the theatre-goers in your life.
E-Vouchers can be purchased in any amount and redeemed in person at Box Office, over the phone or online as payment towards tickets to Shows, Films, Live Screenings or Memberships. (They cannot be used to purchase food or drink at the Café Bar, items from The Courtyard Shop or parking).
Alternative physical Gift Vouchers, that are also valid in our Café Bar and Shop, are available to purchase in person at our Box Office. Please note these cannot be used online.
You probably have seen the TV adverts to adopt a wild animal, but did you know you can adopt a seat at The Courtyard? Subject to availability, you can choose a seat in our Main House or Studio to gift someone this Christmas or in memoriam for someone special who loved the arts. You can create your own dedication for the plaque which makes it even more special.
The Courtyard shop shines the spotlight on locally made, sustainable products, putting them at the heart of our shopping community. We stock a variety of unique gifts, handmade crafts, and artisan creations. There is something for everybody including a host of locally made children’s gifts, candles, ceramics, textiles and jewellery.
If none of these quite work for your loved ones, take a look at our What’s On as there is lots coming up!