What’s On at The Sherborne

The Sherborne’s calendar brings together art, food, conversation, and community. You might arrive to find an exhibition opening, a tasting supper, or musicians playing in the gardens. Every visit offers something new to discover.

Our What’s On listings are updated regularly, featuring exhibitions, talks, performances, and workshops. Many events are free or ticketed at accessible prices — part of our commitment to making culture open to all. If you’re able, please consider making a donation to support our work; your voluntary contribution, however big or small, helps keep our doors open and our programmes running.

Upcoming events.

Turing Before Bletchley
Oct
10
to 3 Jan

Turing Before Bletchley

Drawing upon school photographs, reports, correspondence and rarely seen manuscripts, Turing Before Bletchley explores Turing’s formative years in Sherborne and the experiences and relationships that helped shape one of the most influential minds of the twentieth century.

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ART BUFFET: Crack the Code
Oct
26
to 30 Oct

ART BUFFET: Crack the Code

This October half term, our Art Buffet takes inspiration from Alan Turing.

Drop in, pick a challenge and explore codes, patterns, puzzles and creative problem-solving through drawing, making and play. There’s no single right answer, just plenty of room for curious minds and unexpected ideas.

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Christmas Lights at The Sherborne
Nov
13

Christmas Lights at The Sherborne

Celebrate the start of the festive season at The Sherborne with our Christmas lights switch-on at 6pm, festive food from the terrace hatch and an evening of beautiful live cello music from Emily Burridge in the Restaurant. Join us from 5pm for a little Christmas magic. Free entry, with restaurant reservations recommended.

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Illyria presents, The Pirates of Penzance
Aug
28

Illyria presents, The Pirates of Penzance

Performed by a six-strong cast of actor-singers with fully orchestrated accompaniment, The Pirates of Penzance is packed with some of the most beloved songs in comic opera, including I Am a Pirate King. Full of satire, silliness and melodic brilliance, it remains every bit as buoyant, sharp and entertaining today.

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Illyria presents, The Pirates of Penzance
Aug
27

Illyria presents, The Pirates of Penzance

Performed by a six-strong cast of actor-singers with fully orchestrated accompaniment, The Pirates of Penzance is packed with some of the most beloved songs in comic opera, including I Am a Pirate King. Full of satire, silliness and melodic brilliance, it remains every bit as buoyant, sharp and entertaining today.

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The Art Buffet: Drop In & Create
Aug
10
to 21 Aug

The Art Buffet: Drop In & Create

Pull up a chair at The Sherborne’s Art Buffet this summer. Drop into the Pavilion anytime between 10am and 3pm to create with a colourful selection of reclaimed and everyday materials, inspired by the art, stories and imagination found throughout the House.

Free, family-friendly and suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

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The Mecca of the Seascapist
Jul
3

The Mecca of the Seascapist

Long before St Ives became synonymous with British modernism, it was already a place of artistic pilgrimage. Join art historian David Tovey for a richly illustrated talk exploring the original St Ives School: the remarkable colony of painters drawn to Cornwall’s extraordinary coastal light, working harbour and dramatic seascapes.

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Last Meal on Death Row - Mat Collishaw
Jun
3
to 27 Sept

Last Meal on Death Row - Mat Collishaw

As part of Of Myths and Murals, Last Meal on Death Row by Mat Collishaw brings a quieter, more unsettling register to the programme. Known for works that pair seductive beauty with darker moral and psychological questions, Collishaw turns here to the final meals requested by condemned prisoners in the United States.

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The Sound of the Baroque Returns to The Sherborne
Jun
3
to 8 Jun

The Sound of the Baroque Returns to The Sherborne

For one week only, composer and pianist Richard Thomas Jones brings the sound of a period-correct harpsichord back to The Sherborne. Performed intermittently during gallery opening hours from 3–8 June, this fleeting musical moment is part of our cultural programme’s commitment to delight, surprise and champion thought leadership through art, history and imagination.

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Lucy Lethbridge: Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain
May
16

Lucy Lethbridge: Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain

Join acclaimed author Lucy Lethbridge for an illuminating talk on Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain, a vivid account of the lives, labour and hierarchies behind Britain’s great households. Set within the historic rooms of The Sherborne, this conversation will explore the often-invisible world of domestic service: the kitchens, corridors, back stairs and daily routines that sustained life “upstairs”.

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Shirley: Visions of Reality (2013)
May
11

Shirley: Visions of Reality (2013)

Striking, unusual and visually spellbinding, Shirley: Visions of Reality is part film, part artwork, and part meditation on solitude, performance and the American century. A compelling screening for lovers of art on screen, thoughtful cinema, and films that reward close attention.

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VE Day at The Sherborne with Ann Knobbs
May
8

VE Day at The Sherborne with Ann Knobbs

Join us for a joyful VE Day gathering in The Pavilion with Sherborne’s own Ann Knobbs. Ann will return to the piano for a lunchtime programme of much-loved wartime favourites, including We’ll Meet Again, Underneath the Lamplight, and Wish Me Luck as You Wave Me Goodbye. Guests are very welcome to sing along, or simply sit back and enjoy the music.

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