Events at Dorchester Abbey
For generations people have brought their gifts and skills to enhance the life of Dorchester Abbey and this tradition continues as a huge variety of groups and organisations hire and use the Abbey each year as the venue for a wide and vibrant programme of concerts, theatre, visual arts and other events.
If you would like to hire the Abbey for your event then take a look at our information for hirers.
An immersive tribute to Hans Zimmer and cinema’s most iconic music with a live chamber orchestra illuminated by light!
Two Performances – See event website for full details https://illuminatedorchestra.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/IlluminatedOrchestra
Cinema’s most iconic music performed by the Illuminated Orchestra, enhanced by a stunning light show!
Programme: 1 hour jam-packed with cinema’s most iconic music, beautifully performed by a live chamber orchestra, including: • Avatar • Dune • E.T • Gladiator • Harry Potter • Inception • Indiana Jones • Interstellar • James Bond • Jaws • Jurassic Park • Lion King • Lord of the Rings • Man of Steel • Matrix • Pirates of the Caribbean • Schindlers list • Star Wars • Titanic
Musicians of Abingdon School will perform a concert commemorating those lost in conflict.
Performance of the Fauré Requiem by the Chapel Choir will be the central item in the programme but the concert will also include further choral items alongside reflective chamber music.
All Welcome.
Ravel Mother Goose Suite
Ravel Piano concerto in G
Stravinsky Pulcinella complete
Jeneba Kanneh-Mason piano
Suzzie Vango soprano
Dominic Bevan tenor
Alex Jones bass
Orchestra of St John’s
Free tickets available for NHS workers and for the disabled. Please email admin@osj.org.uk.
When you purchase tickets, we politely ask that you consider adding a voluntary donation to support our work in the community and with children in Special Educational Needs schools.
PLEASE PARK RESPONSIBLY IN DORCHESTER VILLAGE. DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAY ACCESS NEAR TO THE ABBEY. Parking areas for events are signposted: either the Recreation Ground at the Oxford end, or in the field over the bridge.
£30, £25, £15
Join the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment for an evening of festive music in the magnificent setting of Dorchester Abbey, in support of the RAF Benevolent Fund.
The RAF ‘Ben Fund’ supports serving air force personnel, veterans and their families through deployments, bereavements and ongoing support to those injured or disabled.
The Band will play by permission of the Royal Air Force Board of the Defence Council.
| This is a charity concert, tickets are free to book. |
Pre- Registration is required for free tickets – and collections of donations will be taken on the night by cash or card payment.
Moving Music presents a seasonal concert (choice of morning or afternoon times) with Christopher Redgate (oboe & piano), Celia Redgate (violin & flute) & Hannah Davey (vocals)
All are welcome, particularly people living with Dementia with their family, friends and carers.
Refreshments will be served for 30 minutes before each concert begins (Refreshments at 11am & 1:30pm)
Please email movingmusicconcerts@gmail.com to reserve a place for your preferred concert time, and pay/ donate on the door.
What better way to start the Christmas season than with Benson Choral Society’s performance of J S Bach’s Christmas Oratorio at 7.30pm on Saturday 6 December in Dorchester Abbey? Bach made this compilation from the series of 6 cantatas written in Leipzig for the Christmas feast-days in 1734/5. It’s a powerful account of the Christmas story, and promises to be special in a number of ways: it’s the first concert with our new Musical Director, Tom Neal, who has a strong affinity with this work: then to bring out its baroque authenticity we have the renowned period orchestra, Instruments of Time and Truth: and a quartet of sparkling soloists: Julie Cooper- Soprano, Jacob Werrin – Countertenor, Toby Ward – Tenor and Daniel Tate – Bass. Don’t miss this opportunity! Get tickets now for £20 reserved, or £17 unreserved, online at www.bensonchoralsociety.org.uk
Experience the enchanting voice of The Voice
Finalist Nadia Eide at Dorchester Abbey in
Winter Light – a magical concert filled with
festive music.
Winter Light at Dorchester Abbey
Nadia catapulted to fame when she appeared on
ITV as the only classical singer on The Voice UK
2021. Her four- and-a-half octave range blew the
coaches away securing her spot as a finalist of
Team will.i.am.Critically acclaimed on stage as
an opera and musical theatre star, she is now
breaking the mould of the classical crossover
genre, receiving standing ovations for her
concert shows.
This November and December
she is touring her hugely successful Christmas
concert tour Winter Light, which is taking place
in beautiful churches and cathedrals around the
UK this Christmas. Chart topping soprano and
star of The Voice UK, Nadia Eide, presents a
spectacular Christmas concert for all ages.
Singing festive favourites and classic songs, this
show is sure to bring the Christmas joy!
Features a special guest choir. All ages
welcome.
A Night of Carols with the OSJ Voices
Malcolm Pearce organ
John Lubbock conductor
Free tickets available for NHS workers and for the disabled. Please email admin@osj.org.uk.
When you purchase tickets, we politely ask that you consider adding a voluntary donation to support our work in the community and with children in Special Educational Needs schools.
PLEASE PARK RESPONSIBLY IN DORCHESTER VILLAGE. DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAY ACCESS NEAR TO THE ABBEY. Parking areas for events are signposted: either the Recreation Ground at the Oxford end, or in the field over the bridge.
£25, £20, £15, £5
Lit up by a thousand candles, this is a truly magical event at Dorchester Abbey.
This year, as we dedicate the evening in memory of our founder, Dame Stephanie Shirley, Juliet Stevenson and Dominic West will read from Dame Stephanie’s books and provide festive readings, accompanied by the beautiful voices of the Magdalen College Choir, conducted by Mark Williams.
After the hour-long concert, guests are invited to a glass of mulled wine (or a non-alcoholic alternative) and a mince pie slice.
Please note:
• Doors will open at 18:00
• Tickets are not numbered
• Premium ticket holders are allocated pews in the front third of the nave
Signed copies of Dame Stephanie’s autobiography ‘Let IT Go’ will be available to purchase.
We are grateful for the support of the White Hart Hotel, Dorchester-On-Thames. To book a discounted stay at the hotel – Bed and breakfast at £95 per room or Dinner, Bed & Breakfast event rate of £140 per double room please call the hotel on 01865 340074 option 1 to reserve your reservation.
Please direct all ticket enquiries directly to the Organiser – Autism at Kingwood:
www.kingwood.org.uk/contact-us/
www.facebook.com/kingwood.org
** PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT IS NOW SOLD OUT *** YOU CAN JOIN A WAITING LIST VIA THE TICKET LINK *
DOORS OPEN 6:30pm / Performance Begins 7:30pm
Back in 2020 when actor/musicians Fra Fee and Declan Bennett moved out of London and found themselves in the sleepy little market town of Watlington, they soon integrated themselves into the creative heart of its community and as the first festive season that we could all attend without restrictions approached, in 2021 the boys put on a Christmas Concert – Christmas Round Ours. They invited their nearest and dearest West End friends and musicians and in the gorgeous setting of their local church, St Leonards, they shared a stunning event of world class talent performed with an unparalleled intimate beauty that has become an annual local sell out success. Last year they had to put on 3 shows to meet demand and it sold out in 3 minutes, their concert now being called a festive Glastonbury! And it’s back and bigger than before. To celebrate the 5th year of Christmas Round Ours the boys are putting on an extra special night of their sell out smash concert here at Dorchester Abbey. “Christmas Round Ours has become a Watlington staple and we look forward to it every year. It started as such a simple desire to bring our super talented friends round to ours to share a gorgeous festive evening of music and storytelling. It’s so exciting that we’re bringing it to Dorchester Abbey to celebrate its 5th year.” The annual sell out Christmas concert has become a huge hit, with even local celebs Jeremy Irons and Sinead Cusack participating in the first year of what has now grown into an event that attracts people far and wide simply through word of mouth. “We asked the Watlington Community Choir to perform with us the first year and they have fast become such an amazing addition to the evenings beauty and the entire concert. And obviously they will be with us at Dorchester Abbey as well as a gang of our talented friends to celebrate the 2025 festive season.” Christmas Round Ours 2025 will take place at Dorchester Abbey on Thursday December 18th and at St Leonards in Watlington on Saturday December 20th Dorchester Abbey