Kettering Arts Centre is Proud to Present…

🎶 KETTFEST – Kettering’s FREE arts, culture & music community festival. Kettfest is back to entertain you in Kettering town centre on Saturday 13 June 2026, with some exciting new plans and opportunities to showcase and celebrate local talent and support businesses. This one-day, music, arts and culture festival will feature local musicians, dance groups, poets, theatre groups, schools and artists. Kettering Cultural Consortium (KCC) members collaborate to host this event, with thanks to funds provided by Kettering Town Council and our main stage sponsors, Tresham College, Hanwood Park and Costa.

🎶 Kettering Arts Centre will host a showcase of AMAZING local bands LIVE on the Main Stage at Kettering Market Place throughout the day with a Bill Burton disco finale! 🎸 HEADLINE ACT: The Fevers

🎸 SUPPORT ACTS: Joanna, The Atomics, Troubadour, Orange Clocks, Pure Genius, The Charmless, The Pit Monkeys & The Smarties

MC: Chuck the Poet // DJ: Local LEGEND Bill Burton // Extra Performers: Tresham College Performing Arts // Technical Support: MJN Entertainments

🕢 Music from 12noon until 10pm // 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All ages welcome

Pulling out all the stops this year, at the other end of town, is The Clock Tower stage managed by ISM Music Academy, which will be reaching new levels with an elevated stage brimming with talent.

New for 2026, is the Acoustic Stage at The Yards, for a relaxing retro vibe and providing another stage to meet the demand for live music. The Art Space also relocates here with creative activities from Kettering Street Artists and Irregular Art Hub, and, alongside the wonderful shops, food and drink vendors, this makes it a family-friendly destination.

On the move this year, to a bigger site and proper dance floor, is The Community Stage, hosted by Beccy Hurrell of BHVA and Northants 1 Radio. This space will be perfect for schools and dance groups to showcase their talent and maybe provide some fun dance workshops too!

Kettering Library, along with talented poet, Kezzabelle, will again host the Spoken Word Stage at The Manor House Gardens giving a platform for storytelling, poetry, comedy, and, this year, we are encouraging drama groups to get on stage too! The Art Gallery, in preparation for their official opening in autumn next year, will join us by literally bringing a painting to life with interactive art, drama and dress-up fun.

Most exciting news is our announcement that Kettering Town Football Club (KTFC) have become an official Kettfest Event Partner for 2026. They will be located by Meadow Road with stalls, give-aways, football skills and some special guests!

Kettering’s own music producer talent, Roddy Beatz and Young Chencs, will be on hand all afternoon at Kettfest to provide have-a-go music production workshops and industry advice in a special pop-up venue. While down the way, wheels will be spinning with Illicit Skate School offering beginner and intermediate skate ramps and Brightwayz promoting sustainable travel advice, giveaways and a chance to get on an e-bike or scooter.

The town will be buzzing as usual with amazing food and drink vendors, craft stalls, face-painters, stilt-walkers, Pets at Kettfest portraits, mascots, bubbles and balloons and a trail of talented Kettering and District Artists painting and drawing the day. And, if you forget to sign up for a stage, you can always pop along to Street Karaoke and share your talent with passers-by!

Want to party for longer? You can finish the night at The Old Market Inn general manager, Becky Donlevy, hosting the official Kettfest DJ After Party – a perfect venue for DJs and a great way to celebrate their first anniversary under the pub’s new ownership, who first opened their doors at Kettfest earlier this year.

Kettering Arts Centre Presents…

BELCANTO & MASQUERADE: A CHORAL CELEBRATION!

BELCANTO is a female voice choir formed in 2008 with just 12 members, growing to a 36–strong choir today. Belcanto has established itself at the forefront of international choirs, winning at Llangollen International Eisteddfod, North Wales Choral Festival and runner-up at the Manchester Amateur Choral Competition.

Based in Kettering, the group raises much needed funds for local charities and churches. In addition, Belcanto has travelled all over the UK and also the US during their short history.

The choir sings a wide range of music covering all styles and periods, including classical and contemporary works, gospel and musicals in addition to a Capella, conducted by Barry Clark & accompanied by pianist Edward Pick.

The members love singing and aim to bring joy to all those who attend their concerts, striving to uphold the tradition of Bel Canto (Italian for ‘beautiful singing’).

MASQUERADE is a youth choir in Kettering with members aged 6-18 years.

Estimated running time: 2 hours
All ages welcome
Licensed bar // Disability access // Unreserved seating

FREE ENTRY Under 16s

Kettering Arts Centre at St Andrew’s Church & Behold! Productions presents…

Stefan Smart has swapped the classroom for the curtain call, performing I AM MARK all over the UK, from churches to prisons.

Stefan Smart, a retired English and Drama teacher from Southampton, has swapped secondary school for the stage as he continues his UK tour – and upcoming feature film – with I AM MARK; a daring new stage production performing the Gospel of Mark word-for-word.

“Years ago I had a big dream, a dream which is actually coming true…I imagined taking one of the greatest stories ever told, the Gospel of Mark, and performing it as it was originally intended – live and in one sitting. I AM MARK is the resulting solo performance. I’ve already had the privilege to take it to Speakers’ Corners all over the UK, to a whole range of churches, cathedrals, conferences and schools here and abroad, as well as into prisons. I AM MARK has sold out to venues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and is even available on global TV station CMAX.”

“All this seems rather surreal given that it’s just me performing with one chair as a prop. But, hugely positive reviews from all kinds of audiences bring home to me the hunger for this unique performance, which started as just a dream.”

“It’s been amazing to talk to people who have seen I AM MARK. In these challenging times, it’s wonderful to be able to share timeless good news in a fresh new format. Indoors, outdoors, or on film, I AM MARK is a story for these times that can be performed anywhere.”

In addition to touring throughout the UK, in churches, schools and prisons, Stefan Smart will betravelling to Israel in the summer of 2026 to film I AM MARK on location. Directed by Zachary Kincaid (Redhill Town Films) and produced by Marc Whitmore, this will be a high-quality cinematic retelling of Mark’s Gospel – faithful, powerful, and prayerfully open to the movement of God’s Spirit.

In a world filled with fear, division, and injustice. Mark’s story offers a different vision: the Kingdom of God breaking in, where hope, reconciliation, and healing are possible.

“A mighty performance: perfect Fringe-fare.”
The Tablet, review by Patrick Hudson (Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2023)

“Go! You don’t have to be religious to appreciate this.”
Specialist Nurse

http://www.iam-mark.com

Age Guidance: 8+ Years
Running time: 2 x 45 mins plus interval & 20 min Q&A
Licensed bar // Disability access // Unreserved seating

Northants Board Game Convention returns for 2026!

The 2026 convention will take place over two days – Friday 31st July and Saturday 1st August at Kettering Arts Centre.

There will be two 5-hour sessions each day for only £7 per person per session.

Don’t worry, if you book both sessions for one day, you don’t need to leave between the sessions!

We are bringing together board gamers from across the county in this fun social gaming experience.

There will be hundreds of games to play on the day from the Boards of Kettering CIC board game library, attendees can bring their own to play too. There will be demonstrations of games to learn how to play, vendors selling board game-related wares, a Bring and Buy section for pre-used games, and competitions, tournaments and raffle.

We are inviting budding game creators who want to play test their game designs.

For those with sensory differences, there will also be quiet and less crowded rooms for those who need a peaceful place to play.

Kettering Arts Centre has its own licensed bar and there will be delicious food vendors too.

The event is organised by Boards of Kettering CIC, a not for profit company run by Dez Dell, Polly Shackleton, Doug Mayer and Gary Keller who are all avid fans of board games. They host a monthly board games café night in Kettering and retail board games in Kettering and Northampton

For more information please see our website at https://boardsofkettering.com/norbcon

Northants Board Game Convention takes place on Friday 31st July and Saturday 1st August from 10am-3pm and 3:30pm-8:30pm at Kettering Arts Centre, Lindsey St, Kettering, NN16 8RG.

Tickets ON SALE NOW £7 (carers and under 5’s free)
There are a limited number of EARLY BIRD tickets available for each session for £6..

Family friendly // Licensed bar with refreshments on sale // Disability access

Northants Board Game Convention returns for 2026!

The 2026 convention will take place over two days – Friday 31st July and Saturday 1st August at Kettering Arts Centre.

There will be two 5-hour sessions each day for only £7 per person per session.

Don’t worry, if you book both sessions for one day, you don’t need to leave between the sessions!

We are bringing together board gamers from across the county in this fun social gaming experience.

There will be hundreds of games to play on the day from the Boards of Kettering CIC board game library, attendees can bring their own to play too. There will be demonstrations of games to learn how to play, vendors selling board game-related wares, a Bring and Buy section for pre-used games, and competitions, tournaments and raffle.

We are inviting budding game creators who want to play test their game designs.

For those with sensory differences, there will also be quiet and less crowded rooms for those who need a peaceful place to play.

Kettering Arts Centre has its own licensed bar and there will be delicious food vendors too.

The event is organised by Boards of Kettering CIC, a not for profit company run by Dez Dell, Polly Shackleton, Doug Mayer and Gary Keller who are all avid fans of board games. They host a monthly board games café night in Kettering and retail board games in Kettering and Northampton

For more information please see our website at https://boardsofkettering.com/norbcon

Northants Board Game Convention takes place on Friday 31st July and Saturday 1st August from 10am-3pm and 3:30pm-8:30pm at Kettering Arts Centre, Lindsey St, Kettering, NN16 8RG.

Tickets ON SALE NOW £7 (carers and under 5’s free)
There are a limited number of EARLY BIRD tickets available for each session for £6..

Family friendly // Licensed bar with refreshments on sale // Disability access

“Laugh-out-loud funny… endless verve and utterly infectious joy.”

Mud, blood and stiff upper-lips!

Join the critically-acclaimed Pantaloons Theatre Company on a breathless race through the centuries in this delightfully inventive show that tells the entire story of Britain in under 2 hours.

Have you ever wanted to see the life of Henry VIII told as a romantic comedy or the tale of the Spanish Armada reimagined as a light operetta? Probably not. But that won’t stop The Pantaloons retelling great moments from the country’s past in a variety of surprising genres!

Featuring live music, audience interaction and wild historical inaccuracy.

“Laugh-out-loud funny… endless verve and utterly infectious joy.” Northwich Guardian

thepantaloons.co.uk
Facebook @ThePantaloonsUK
Instagram @the_pantaloons

Suitable for all ages
Running time 2 hours (including interval)
Licensed bar // Unreserved seating // Disability access

Home

Concession tickets are available for children, students, pensioners, unemployed patrons, and people with long-term disabilities

Kettering Arts Centre Presents…

GIMME! GIMME! GIMME! Kettering Arts Centre presents a night to remember!

Get ready for a sensational MAMMA MIA themed party night packed with ABBA anthems, disco vibes, and dancefloor classics all night long!

Featuring local legend DJ Bill Burton spinning the ultimate feel-good soundtrack!

Expect singalongs, glitter, dancing queens, and all your favourite party hits! Fancy dress encouraged — sequins, flares & platform boots welcome!

Tickets selling fast — don’t miss your chance to say “Thank You For The Music” in style!

Age 14+
Estimated finish time 11pm
Licensed bar // Disability access // Unreserved seating

Kettering Arts Centre & Blue Book Artist Management Presents.

One family, one condition, one hell of a hairy baby…

Scott Bennett from Live at the Apollo, The Royal Variety Performance and The News Quiz tells the amazing true story of how his daughter fell ill with a rare genetic condition, congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI). Never heard of it? Neither had Scott and Jemma.​
​
‘What’s so rare and satisfying is how all the jokes go hand in hand with the seriousness of the situation. It’s a wonderfully hopeful, often hilarious show from a properly funny man’
The Times ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Fabulous turn of phrase, superb character creations‘
Chortle ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
​
Yes, it’s a story about an ill baby, but it’s a very funny one with a happy ending, as new parents Scott and Jemma fight to get the right diagnosis for their daughter and are plunged into months of bewildering treatment, sleepless nights, celebrity encounters and bizarre side effects.

14+ guidance – Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult
As heard on the Parenting Hell podcast – book your tickets now!
http://www.bluebookam.com

Estimated running time: 115 minutes
Licensed bar // Unreserved seating // Disability access

“Beautifully written and funny in all the right places. Brilliant” Jim Hansen

“A real rollercoaster of emotions, but absolutely brilliant” Jennifer Brady

“One of the best shows we’ve ever seen, an amazing show, laughter and tears, it was just brilliant” Lee Gray

“Genuinely hilarious and heart-warming, reminding us of the power of being able to make light of bad situations” George Couch

“So relatable and emotional for us as fellow blood sugar parents, for anyone who hasn’t seen it, I 100% recommend it!” The CHI Charity

“An amazing mix of comedy and Drama” Daniel Smith

“An engaging, heartfelt and emotional journey, turned into a comedy masterclass” Mike Pierrepoint

“What an amazing story and unique way of telling it, belly laughs and a tear at the end” Phil Phillips

Kettering Arts Centre Presents…

“This is a true story – at least as best as I can remember it…
My name is Rob Halligan. I’m a singer songwriter, an itinerant, a minstrel, a troubadour – and a mess. But somehow, I’m still here. I started out with a dream and as I got older that dream became a plan and as those plans were scuppered again and again, I went back to dreaming and hoping because hope, I’ve been told, doesn’t disappoint us.”

Everyone has a story to tell and every one of those stories has a headline but it’s often only the sensational headlines that catch our attention. Look past the headlines – we all carry a story, and in those stories lie the familiar echo of our shared human journey – the moments of joy, the sting of loss, the screams of doubt, and the tender ache of longing.

This is a story that smashes a hole through the headlines and shows that in each of us there pulses the same vulnerable, resilient heart, striving to make sense of this intricate world.

In 2001, Rob Halligan lost his father in the 9/11 terror attacks. A week later he found himself in New York City on the start of a journey, trying to make sense of what he’d seen. From a dysfunctional childhood and life on the streets, to being an ambassador for vulnerable children and an acclaimed songwriter, Rob’s journey whistles hope into a hopeless world and invites us to do the same.

Through songs and stories, “How Did We Get Here” takes us down a road underpinned by a simple faith and the belief that love is bigger.

“Halligan continues to demonstrate that he really is one of Britain’s most talented yet underrated songsmiths”… CrossRhythms

“His deftly picked acoustic guitar is the perfect accompaniment to the lyrics which resonate with truth.”… Premier Magazine

“Halligan has created a breath-taking collection of songs”… Wildey’s World Reviews

“This is song writing craftsmanship at its best”…R2R Magazine

“Song-writing gold”… Maverick Magazine

“His voice is layered with pain, practice, grace and love, and is that of a storyteller and connector, someone who makes pathways with others and stands in those in between places with them”… Baptists Together

http://www.robhalligan.co.uk/

Running time: 2 x 50 minutes plus 20 minute interval

Licensed bar // Disability access // Unreserved seating

Phil McIntyre Live Ltd by arrangement with Tin Cat Entertainment proudly presents…

What?! Mark Thomas has been ‘standing up’ for 40 years? Impossible!! But how old does that make you…? Alas it is true; one of our oldest surviving alternative comics celebrates 40 years at the mic.

So, here’s what he has done so far in numbers; performed comedy for 40 years, won 8 awards for performing, 4 for human rights work and 1 he invented for himself, made 6 series of the Mark Thomas Comedy Product (Channel 4), written 6 books and 5 play scripts, made 5 series of the Manifesto for Radio 4, made 3 Dispatches for Channel 4, sued the police (and won) 3 times, curated and authored 2 art exhibitions with artist Tracey Moberly and had 1 Guinness World Record for holding 20 protests in 24 hours.

If that’s not enough, he’s also walked 724km around the length of the Israel Wall in the West Bank, been credited with changing the law on tax avoidance, started a comedy club in Palestine with Dr Sam Beale and campaigned successfully for things like trade union recognition for cinema workers and getting multinationals to change their practices. You’re right, there’s more, but your attention is running out and we’re running out of space. So let’s just say he’s generally mucked about trying to have fun and upset the right people…which he is really, really good at.

So basically expect a taster menu of government and personal mayhem, jokes, rants and a personal state of the nation broadcast as he tries to turn ‘what the f*ck is going on’ into a cogent hour of stand-up.

★★★★★ “Once again shooting laughter-laden political bullets from the lip” THE RECS

★★★★★ “Mark Thomas is a firebrand of a clown. The energy he brings to the room is infectious…very, very funny” CLOWNSTER

★★★★ “The strong ratio of hard-hitting matter to gag-rich mirth is a feat that makes other stand-up look idling and irrelevant” THE TELEGRAPH

Age 16+
Estimated running time/interval: TBC

Licensed bar // Disability access // Unreserved seating

Get ready for a night of razor-sharp stand-up, quick-fire crowd interaction and laugh-out-loud storytelling with award-winning comedian TONY VINO!

Touring the comedy circuit since 2005, Tony has built a reputation as one of the UK’s most naturally engaging live performers. Blending observational comedy with effortless improvisation, no two shows are ever the same. Warm, witty and brilliantly unpredictable, Tony’s friendly style has entertained audiences everywhere from comedy clubs and theatres to festivals, cruise ships and international resorts.

A seasoned host and headline act, Tony has supported comedy favourites including Tim Vine, Daliso Chaponda and Jimmy Cricket, while also appearing on TV and radio — including a memorable stint warming up audiences for Songs of Praise.

Expect hilarious observations, spontaneous audience banter and an evening packed with big laughs from a comedian at the very top of his game.

“Tony Vino makes me laugh on and off stage. He’s always funny and has some of the same letters as my name.” TIM VINE

Estimated running time/interval: 1 hour 45 mins (including interval)
Licensed bar // Disability access // Unreserved seating
Age 12+ recommended

After OUTSTANDING events in recent years, ‘HAVE A GO’ Arts Festival RETURNS to Kettering Arts Centre in 2027 to offer the public workshops and mini-masterclasses to produce art in many forms.

Kettering Arts Centre will once again showcase local groups to share their passion for their art form with others – it will be a ‘have a go’ day.

Different groups will be housed in the main church. Musicians, artists, dancers, actors, comedians, writers, painters and poets can get involved and promote their talents. GET IN TOUCH IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED in 2027! Email: office@ketteringartscentre.com. MANY ARTISTS HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP!!!

This is a family friendly feel good festival that will champion local talent and encourage the community to try something new.

AMAZING FREE activities on offer at our HAVE A GO Arts Day Saturday 6th March 2027!

Licensed bar // Family Friendly // Disability Access

Kettering Arts Centre is proud to present…

The Sounds of Simon is a tribute to the wonderful music of Simon and Garfunkel.

http://www.soundsofsimon.co.uk

Licensed bar // Unreserved seating // Disability access