Shows and performances at the Rushmoor Heritage Festival

Austen's Women: Lady Susan

Saturday 7 September

Austen’s Women are back - in a brand-new solo comedy show! Devil-may-care Lady Susan, the coquettish black widow, hunting down not one, but two, fortunes; oppressed, rebellious daughter Frederica; long-suffering sister-in-law Catherine; family matriarch Mrs De Courcy; and insouciant best friend, Alicia.

Return to the Regency (or rather, Georgian) in this darkly comic tale of society and the women trapped within it; their struggles, their desires, their temptations and manipulations - and at the vanguard, Lady Susan: charming, scheming, witty, and powerful; taking on society and making it her own. But has she met her match?

Based on Jane Austen’s first full-length work from 1794, the piece is performed by Rebecca Vaughan and directed by Andrew Margerison. This is Austen as you’ve never seen her before.

Location: West End Centre, Aldershot
Further information: For times, costs, tickets and more information, visit the West End Centre website.
Organiser: Keith Bean

Aldershot and all about it - a walk in the park with Marianne Young

Sunday 15 September

Dearest Gentle Reader...

"A great truth, and one that it would be well to remember by all who tread the byways of life, with all its bustle of drums, bands, and red-coats, a day in the camp at Aldershot, would not be found far more tiresome.".

In 1857 Marianne Young wrote about her experiences in Aldershot Camp as it developed into a new town. With cutting insights and gossip about the state of society, she could be considered the "Lady Whistledown" of her age.

Join her as she takes a stroll through Municipal Gardens, and hear her thoughts about the characters she met in the town.

This new performance is written by Sammy Stacey and Carolyn Drever. The original 'Aldershot and All About it' play has been adapted and will be performed by Torchlight Heritage.

Samantha Jayne Hunt Stacey is a writer with a special interest in memoir and local history. She was born and grew up in Aldershot and apart from her time at university she has spent most of her life here. She is currently writing a book about finding the birth family of her Aldershot-born mum, Ann Hunt, which led to the discovery of a long lost twin and to a Guinness World Record. You can read her thoughts on the Samanthajhstacey blog.

Carolyn Drever is a writer and a teacher with a special interest in English and Outdoor Learning. She began teaching creative writing 30 years ago, has taught in universities and schools, and worked on projects with the Field Studies Council, the Wildlife Trusts and EU Erasmus+. You can read her Little Bird Said blog for more information.

Cost: Free
Times: 1.15pm
Location: Municipal Gardens, Aldershot
Tickets: Visit the Torchlight Heritage website to book your free place

Aldershot: Murders, Monuments and Myths

Wednesday 16 October, Aldershot

Historic Aldershot Military Town presents Facebook group founder Keith Bean with Glenn Christodoulou for a revealing look at this historic town. Keith and Glenn return for a second fascinating evening of Aldershot History, after a sold out show in 2023!

Enjoy photographs and stories of Aldershot and its rise from a barren, desolate heathland. Hear and see how the Army and civilians lived in Aldershot over 100 years ago, the murder at the Wellington statue, the sensational Drummer boy murder, plus life inside the original 1870's Glass House, Hospital history, Aldershot and Rommel's demise and much more.

Location: Princes Hall, Aldershot
Further information: For times, costs, tickets and more information, visit the Princes Hall website
Organiser: Keith Bean

About these events

Many activities are free and some require advance booking. The programme of activities will grow over the next few weeks. Please check back here regularly for more events.

Many of these events are not organised by ourselves, so please check each individual organiser's website for more information.

To see the full list of events, please visit our main Rushmoor Heritage Festival page.