Drop in at the Japanese Room from 2-2.30pm on Monday 7 June and at 11-11.30am on Sunday 13 June for an introduction to Japanese art, culture, and the eccentric collections of Denys Eyre Bower in the Castle’s Japanese Room.

Naomi Collick, our Curator will be running short drop-in tours of the Japanese Room for visitors (included in Castle visit ticket). (approx. 20 – 30 mins). 

Experience Japanese traditional music with two performances at the Victorian Orangery. Along with flutes and clarinet, the performances will include the instruments shakuhachi and shinobue. They are types of flute made from bamboo which have played an important part in Japanese history and culture. The performers will be wearing Japanese kimono. Donations to the Castle welcome. Performance times: 1.30pm to 2pm, 3.30pm to 4pm

No tickets required

Gypsy jazz, swing and blues comes to The Orangery with Mike Piggott and his Hot Club Trio featuring Mike on violin, Nils Solberg on guitar and Jerome Davies on double bass. Together they bring their own entertaining combination inspired by the Hot Club de France. Bring a picnic. Paul Malsom, guitar, will play an opening set. In association with the Listening Room Music Agency.

Set sail for Treasure Island with open air theatre at The Orangery from This is My Theatre company. A swashbuckling tale is lifted from the pages of Robert Louis Stevenson’s much-loved novel and brought to life with sea shanties and sword fights galore! Bring a picnic.

Tickets available direct from This is My Theatre Box Office

Shakespeare at The Orangery - The Tempest.  Sure to delight audiences of all ages, William Shakespeare’s classical language combines with live music and choral sea shanties to bring what is thought to be the bard’s final play to life. This tale of revenge, love and forgiveness is brought to you by This Is My Theatre and adapted for the stage by Sarah Slator with music by Simon Stallard.

Tickets available direct from This is My Theatre Box Office.

Kentish Opera presents the favourites at 2pm and 6pm on the glorious lawns.
- The Toreador’s Song (Bizet – Carmen) - Va, pensiero, Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves (Verdi – Nabucco) –   - The Pearl Fishers Duet (Bizet - Pearl Fishers) - One Fine Day (Puccini - Madame Butterfly)
- The Easter Hymn (Mascagni - Cavalleria Rusticana)
No formal seating arrangement but ample space is provided so bring your own chairs and blankets and choose your space on the lawns for a firstcome, first served basis.

On 19th June 1953, Ethel Rosenberg became the first woman in the US to be executed for a
crime other than murder. In an illustrated talk, Anne Sebba lays bare the catastrophic failure
of humanity and justice which resulted in the ‘trial of the century’.

Hugo Vickers’ new book Malice in Wonderland reveals how he entered society photographer Cecil Beaton’s world of royalty, aristocrats and film stars, whilst Simon Heffer exposes a host of society icons under the gaze of Henry ‘Chips’ Channon in the 1920s and 30s. Each provides a vivid insiders’ view of the hidden world of these society legends, with revelations galore.

The Small Island Trio is an exciting group fronted by the multi-talented singer, Shireen Francis who fuses jazz seamlessly with Caribbean musical forms like Reggae & Calypso music. Joining with Shireen’s vocals are guitarist Dominic Grant and steel pan player Mark Cherrie.

There will be an opening set from Shane Hill showcasing his album ‘Great Toubadours’, including favourite songs made famous by James Taylor, Joni Mitchel, Carol King, Bread, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen and many more.

A Thousand Cranes theatre company presents ‘Milkyway’

Three family-friendly performances of traditional kamishibai storytelling performed by Harua Kuroda and directed by Vicky Ireland. The story is based on the Tanabata Festival of Stars, which takes place in Japan every year on the 7th of July. This beautiful tale of friendship set amongst the stars is retold using traditional Japanese paper theatre. A unique theatrical experience designed for children of 3+ and their families.

Performance times 11.30, 1.30pm, 3pm

Amanda Owen rose to fame in Channel 5’s Our Yorkshire Farm, but her roots were in urban
Huddersfield. Discover what lured her into living the country life in Swaledale, and hear how
she combines life on the farm with raising nine children, filming and writing. Fidelity Weston is Chair of the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association and farms at Underriver near Sevenoaks.

Hear bestselling author Ben MacIntyre on the remarkable true story of WW2’s most
extraordinary spy; how Ursula Kuczynski Burton combined rural motherhood with being a
spymaster, saboteur, bomb-maker and secret agent.

All things vintage in the grounds - homewares, furnishings, fashion, jewellery and gardenalia. Refreshments available. Stay all day. Get 10% discount on tickets online here or buy on the day (subject to capacity).

Celebrating the life-time genius of Stevie Wonder, the mesmeric vocalist, Noel McCalla, and award-winning saxophonist, Derek Nash, with a band on top of musicians, play a wide-ranging catalogue of Stevie Wonder’s classic hits. From Signed, Sealed, Delivered through to hits from albums Innervisions, Songs in the Key of Life and Hotter than July.

A brilliant classicist as well as a stand-up comedian, Natalie Haynes takes the women of
Greek myths - who are sidelined, vilified, misunderstood or ignored - and puts them centre
stage, in a witty and entertaining talk.

Art critic Martin Gayford presents an illustrated talk based on Hockney’s latest paintings
(currently exhibiting at the Royal Academy) and a wealth of new conversations and
correspondence with Hockney, his long-time friend and collaborator.

 How mad are the Mad Hatter and the Hare? Is the Dormouse crackers? What does the Dodo do? Where is the White Rabbit going? Ideally suited to aged 4 and above group (though adults have fallen under its spell, despite their best efforts to look grownup!).  Audiences are introduced to (or re-acquainted with) many of the extraordinary characters that our eponymous heroine encounters during her wanderings in Wonderland.

A wonderful comedy written and performed by Mark Carey. It’s “Dad’s Army meets The Vicar of Dibley!”                                   George Crocker is keen to liven up his dull life so he decides to join the village Drama Club hoping to play the panto dame. What happens next turns his world upside down and instead he finds himself taking on the role of Henry 5th!

A celebration of Japanese culture and the fascinating art collection at Chiddingstone Castle. The day will be packed with activities, demonstrations, and performances including traditional music, dance, martial arts, calligraphy, stalls, talks, and displays. A great day out for all the family and a chance to experience Japanese arts and traditions. Refreshments available. The festival opens at 11am and closes at 5pm.  All day tickets: Adults £10. Child £5.

 Sebastian Faulks joins us on the very day his new novel is published. Sweeping across Europe as it recovers from one war and hides its face from the next, Snow Country is a landmark novel of exquisite yearnings, dreams of youth and the sanctity of hope. Cathy Rentzenbrink is a much loved interviewer at Chiddingstone and the author of Dear Reader. Her first novel Everyone is Still Alive is published in July.

Bestselling author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Deborah Moggach unveils her new,
beautifully observed, darkly funny, tender and surprising novel. The Black Dress is about life
changes and the unexpected twists and pleasures of being alone. Rowan Pelling is a Daily Telegraph columnist and editor of Perspective Magazine.