Unmeasured Chamber Concerts 2026
A monthly chamber series of internationally acclaimed musicians, curated by period-instrument specialists Matthew Wadsworth (lute) and Kate Bennett Wadsworth (cello/viol). Concerts are an hour long and take place in the beautiful acoustics of the Octagon Chapel, designed in 1753 by Thomas Ivory, on the first Friday of the month.
Leipzig to Hamburg 1735: a musical friendship
Friday 14 August 2026 at 7pm
Continuo and obligato sonatas for baroque flute and harpsichord
Anne Heemskerk, flute
David Wright, harpsichord
J S Bach Trio sonata in G, BWV 1027/1039
J S Bach Trio sonata in B minor, BWV 1030
Telemann Concerto in D for flute and harpsichord, TWV42:D6
Telemann Trio Sonata in B minor, TWV42:H4
Tickets:
General admission £20.00 (+ £1.68 booking fee) Your ticket includes a glass of wine.
Under 18s FREE (Your ticket includes a glass of apple juice).
Come With Us £80.00 (+ £6.72 booking fee) Admits 5. Come in a group of 5 and pay for only 4 tickets (you still get the free drink)
Buy tickets in advance here: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/unmeasured
Sing the chapels with Brendan Taaffe & John Harrison
Saturday 15 August 10am – 5pm (Sunday event at Walpole Old Chapel, Suffolk)
Brendan & John will be teaching their own compositions and arrangements in a variety of styles inspired by the ‘American Vernacular’ (gospel, bluegrass, Appalachian and shape note songs) and beyond, in glorious 3- and 4-part harmony. The songs will be accessible even to inexperienced singers, and everything will be taught by ear. Click ‘WATCH VIDEO’ to see Brendan & John singing one of Brendan’s compositions with the Bright Wings chorus. See Brendan’s and John’s YouTube channels for many more examples of their songs and arrangements.
Tickets: £45 for the day workshop available here: https://snappytickets.co.uk/event/sing-the-chapels-with-brendan-and-john/
The Book Hive presents: Norman Lamb – Be More Human
Thursday 27 August at 7pm – 8.30pm
The ex-MP and tireless campaigner discusses how the UK can and must improve its mental health provision
We’re thrilled to welcome Sir Norman Lamb – hugely popular ex Lib Dem MP for north Norfolk and ongoing champion of the marginalised and underrepresented. His new book Be More Human: Why Mental Health Care is Broken – and What We Can Do to Fix It reflects an issue that has long been close to his heart and about which he has done important and effective work.
Why do people with mental health conditions die 15-20 years earlier than people without? Why is £100 million spent every year placing patients far from their homes? How did the question ‘What matters to you?’ transform mental health care in Norway?
We live in a country in which community is fading, inequality is growing, and discrimination is still far too common. At the same time, services dedicated to our wellbeing and mental health can feel less than human – ignoring or even adding to this growing crisis.
Lamb, who’s a former Health Minister, NHS trust chair, and dedicated mental health campaigner, has seen the cracks in the system up close. In his book, he sets out to uncover the real reasons why our mental health services are failing. He recalls eye-opening stories from patients who have been let down, but also inspiring tales from trailblazers who are shaking things up with creative, community-first solutions.Sir Norman is clear – we need a mental health revolution – but what can we do to create mental health care which is more human?
Norman will be in conversation with writer and journalist Patrick Barkham.
Any profits from this event will be donated to Mind.
Tickets: £5.00 Available online here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/norman-lamb-be-more-human-tickets-1992140281208
Clare Summerskill presents:
Why God Created Lesbians
Saturday 10 October at 7.30pm
In her brand-new one-woman show, Clare Summerskill attempts to explain the point of the perplexing sexual minority to which she belongs, asking why lesbians exist? Is it to ease the pressure on cat rescue centres? Is it to ensure that Shibden Hall remains a viable tourist attraction? Or is it to write one-woman comedy shows featuring songs, standup and storytelling? After decades of field research, she thinks she has the answer.
Expect silliness, satire and self-deprecation from crowd-pleaser Clare Summerskill as she hits the road with her funniest show yet. Clare will share the previously unheard story of the lesbian squirrel on the Ark, forced to take up a complaint about compulsory heterosexuality with Noah himself; and she will finally uncover the Almighty’s real opinion about women-loving-women.
Tickets: £15 available here : https://www.outsavvy.com/event/38106/clare-summerskill-presents-why-god-created-lesbians
Octagon Unitarian Chapel 