So This Is Christmas

“Don’t you worry. I’ll always love you. Love doesn’t run out. It’s not like the gas meter. I’ll find extra love.” Brighton, 2008: Damian Barr celebrates getting a deal to write a memoir about his chaotic childhood in 1980s Lanarkshire. But as soon as he opens the door to his troubled past, everybody comes rushing through, including his younger self and the woman who forever changes his family, community and country: Maggie Thatcher. Soon, revisiting his past turns into reliving it – the fear and the joy. From the furnaces of the Ravenscraig Steelworks to the sanctuary of Carfin Grotto, there’s trauma and triumph, coming of age and coming out. Can Damian survive his past again, find his voice and finally tell his story? Past and present collide, endangering the future, in the world premiere stage adaptation of modern Scottish classic Maggie & Me (Sunday Times Memoir of the Year). Damian Barr, James Ley and director Suba Das team up for this bold new production, with an incredible ensemble cast led by Gary Lamont (Boiling Point, Outlander). Join us on an explosive quest that tells the story of a particular place and time through Damian’s childhood. Before you can move forwards, you have to go back… Written by Damian...

Coming soon, an exhibition in The Temporary Exhibition Gallery at Northampton Museums and Art Gallery Northampton Museum and Art Gallery Saturday 16 March - Sunday 9 June 2024 Vivienne Westwood was seen as the Grand Dame of fashion design for over 50 years. Her work with partner Malcolm McLaren defined the look of punk in the 1970s and subsequent fashion collections shaped the fashion world of the late twentieth century. This exhibition showcases a small part of an extensive personal collection that features her iconic shoes and outfits from her career defining collections such as Seditionairies, favoured by the Sex Pistols and Pirate. The Vivienne Westwood brand was not involved in the curation or organisation of this exhibition.