A Brief History of Christmas spans several centuries which takes the audience on a whistle-stop tour of the origins of the festive celebrations. Beginning in the Middle Ages and ending in the 20th Century, GreenMatthews will perform long forgotten songs and tales as well as some well-loved
carols. This show is sure to warm the cockles of even the most Scrooge-like heart.

GreenMatthews are known for their mix of musical styles and eclectic instruments, A Brief History of Christmas will be no exception as they play archaic instruments such as the cittern, shawm and rauschpfeife. Audiences should also expect more familiar instruments such as guitar, flute, oboe
and accordion and of course GreenMatthews trademark wit and humour.

Largely self-taught, Chris Green has experience in a variety of musical genres including folk, theatre and early music. He is a regular musician at Shakespeare’s Globe and was also one of the musicians on BBC’s Poldark, appearing in series 1 and 2. Sophie Matthews began playing flute at the age of ten but is now more well-known for her prowess on the English border bagpipes and has become one of the foremost players of the instrument in the UK. She’s also one of a handful of British players of the baroque musette, an 18th century French bagpipe like the Northumbrian small pipes.

A Brief History of Christmas will be in The Courtyard’s Studio
Theatre on Friday 1 December at 7.45pm. To book tickets, or for more information contact the Box Office on 01432 340555 or visit www.courtyard.org.uk.