Head for Hitchin – A Town with a village feel.....

…from the Hitchin Initiative

Hitchin nestles at the foothills of The Chilterns, in rural North Hertfordshire and set in glorious countryside. The town is also easy to reach being well positioned,  just 35 miles from London and within 10 minutes of both the M1 and A1(M). Hitchin is a lively, bustling Market Town with a great sense of history but with a forward-looking commitment to remaining the pre-eminent town in the District. Hitchin’s award-winning Market is open now 4 days each week with general stalls on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday enhanced by bric-a-brac and collectables on Friday and compulsive car-booters on Sunday! On the last Saturday of each month there is also an attractive riverside Local Produce & Crafts Market and more recently, a Street Food Fest on the first Saturday. Plenty to keep bargain hunters happy.

The Hitchin British Schools Museum is unique in that it is the only surviving example in the world of an original ‘monitorial schoolroom’ where children from poor backgrounds were able to get a basic education. The schoolroom dates from 1837 and later additions include the Gallery Classroom from 1853 and the Edwardian classrooms from 1905. Guides are available or you are welcome to explore at your leisure. www.britishschoolsmuseum.co.uk St Mary’s is the largest parish church in the county after St Albans and is mentioned as a Minster in the Domesday Book. Founded around 792AD, it has been much changed over the centuries but the main body of the church dates from the 1300s and 1400s when it was funded by wealth from the wool trade. Take time to visit this beautiful building which is right at the heart of the town.

Whether you are a foodie or a fashionista or simply looking for that original gift, the independent shops of Hitchin will not disappoint. The range of clothing shops get together and run two great fashion shows on the Market Place each year – one to highlight Spring/Summer collections in May and then in October to profile what’s on offer for Autumn/Winter; from latest trends to vintage, sportswear to bridal outfits. There are great food shops in Hitchin – independent butcher Allinghams with locally reared meat and a wide selection of tasty sausages that are made on the premises; Quotidian bakery at the end of Sun Street where the early morning aroma of freshly baked bread and pastries tempts many on their way to work to stop off for coffee and croissant; Halseys Deli and Tearooms near St Marys with the best cheese counter around and lots of independent cafes with a menu of refreshments from tea and cake to a glass of wine and a three course meal. And with our many and varied restaurants, it has been said that you can eat your way around the world in Hitchin!

Hitchin is a great town for music and the arts. There are two theatres – The Queen Mother Theatre www.qmt.org.uk and the Market Theatre in Sun Street www.markettheatre.co.uk both of which present Christmas productions as well as a great variety of productions throughout the year. Music plays a big part in the life of the town whether jazz at one of the pubs, Hitchin Folk Club at The Sun Hotel, a classical concert in St Mary’s or in the wonderful Morrison Hall at Benslow Music Trust www.benslowmusic.org  Hitchin Festival takes place in July each year when over 100 productions are staged across a range of cultural activities – programmes are out at the end of May and on the website www.hitchin-festival.co.uk  December is a busy month as well with concerts, pantomimes and outdoor events; Christmas Tree Lights Switch-On on Friday 22^nd November with stalls and entertainment, food and gluhwein from 2pm to 8pm; Markets Gala Day on Sunday 8^th December from 10am until 5pm with street stalls,a stage for music and lots of roaming street entertainers; Father Christmas arrival on Sunday 15^th December from around 11am until 3pm and then our open-air carol concert at 8pm on Wednesday 18^th December.

These are just a few reasons why Hitchin should be a stop off point on any tour or a day trip destination. We can help with any enquiry – coach parking, meet & greet, guided tours, catering etc. We can also supply Brief Guides to Historic Hitchin for an independent tour, a Blue Plaque guide leaflet, maps, information on the wider area and during the summer we can signpost tours to Hitchin Lavender Farm and some of the delightful villages that make up Hitchin’s rural area. Hotel rooms are available at The Sun Hotel, Hitchin Priory, The Lord Lister Hotel, The Firs Hotel and Bella Vita.There is a town website at www.hitchin.co.uk and we can be contacted at: info@htci.org.uk or tel: 01462 453335. There is also now an iphone app – see hitchin.co.uk/app 

A New Season at Theatre By The Lake…….

The Theatre by the Lake has now opened public booking for the Summer Season and Christmas 2013, as well as all visiting events from May 2013 to January 2014.The theatre’s Summer Season, where a company of 14 actors perform six plays in repertory from May to November, returns once again with another eclectic selection to intrigue audiences.

With romance, heartbreak, and laughs, the season ranges from a bright, family-friendly farce in the Main House to an intimate tragedy in the Studio. The season begins in the Main House with See How They Run by Philip King. In wartime 1944, ex-actress Penelope struggles when her handsome former co-star, an escaped German POW, a bishop and several vicars descend on her house in one night of complete chaos. This is followed by J.B. Priestley’s classic thriller An Inspector Calls. A lavish dinner party at the Birling home is interrupted by the arrival of an inspector investigating the death of a young girl. The family gradually unearth the terrible secrets surrounding the mystery, but it’s only after the inspector leaves that they uncover the final twist in the tale. The show is directed by Mary Papadima, whose version of A Doll’s House was a hot ticket in the Studio last year. The final Main House production is Oliver Goldsmith’s classic eighteenth century comedy She Stoops to Conquer. Young Charles Marlow loves the company of barmaids, but becomes nervous and tongue-tied when faced with ladies of education. A visit to the woman his father hopes he will marry results in a spiralling confusion of misunderstandings, mischief and mayhem. There are three equally diverse plays in the Studio. Vincent in Brixton by Nicholas Wright explores the hidden history of Vincent van Gogh’s early years in London, spent lodging in the house of Ursula Loyer and her daughter Eugenie. See ‘Vincent’ before he became the artist ‘van Gogh’, whilst he struggles with love, depression, politics and art. Jacobean tragedy comes to Theatre by the Lake for the first time with ’Tis Pity She’s a Whore, John Ford’s tale of Giovanni and Annabella – siblings who defy the church and society as they pursue their forbidden passion. Their web of lies, deception and revenge culminates in inevitable violence and bloodshed.

To complete the Summer Season, Jez Pike directs The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute. Adam is shy and unassuming, but when he drifts into a relationship with the beautiful Evelyn the shape of his life starts to change for good. But Evelyn has an agenda of her own that will deceive and shock everyone. This year, audiences can see all six Summer Season shows for only £64. Special offers with great savings are also available for people wanting to see four, three or two shows. Terms and conditions apply – ask Box Office for details. The theatre continues to encourage young people to come along and experience the Summer Season. Under 26s can book for any of the six shows on Friday nights and pay just £5 for their ticket (subject to availability).
To round off the year, Theatre by the Lake continues its tradition of Christmas shows for all the family with Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons, based on the classic children’s book set on Coniston Water. Audiences are invited to come aboard The Swallow to do battle with the savage Amazons and even solve a real-life crime. This new adaptation by Helen Edmundson includes original songs by Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy.

For the first time this Christmas the theatre is also offering a show in the Studio aimed at children under five and their families. Luna is bored up in the sky by herself, so when she spots a boy hiding from scary shadows on his bedroom wall she decides to make friends with him. Created by Theatre Hullabaloo and Welsh company Theatr Iolo, Luna features songs, music and a pinch of festive magic. As well as Theatre by the Lake’s own shows, May 2013 to January 2014 promises a huge range of drama, music, comedy and dance from visiting companies and artists. Favourites such as the Lake District Summer Music Festival and Keswick Music Society events return, joined by others ranging from comedian Jenny Eclair to a musical tribute to Julie Andrews, Julie Madly Deeply, and folk artists such as Karine Polwart to a version of Tom Thumb performed entirely on a kitchen table.
The Summer Season runs from Sat 25 May – Sat 9 November 2013. Swallows and Amazons runs from Sat 30 November 2013 – Sat 11 January 2014. Public booking opens for all events from May 2013 to January 2014 on Tue 2 April. Tickets can be booked online at www.theatrebythelake.com or by calling the Box Office on 01768 774411