AS Otley Courthouse prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary on May 4th, the community is invited to a weekend of festivities.
From the opening of the doors in May 2004, the Courthouse has welcomed everyone to its wide ranging programme of events and activities. To celebrate this and in collaboration with the ADHD Foundation (the UK’s leading neurodiversity charity offering a strength-based, lifespan service for the 1 in 5 individuals who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, DCD, Dyscalculia, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome, and more) the Courthouse will host a colourful display of umbrellas over the courtyard entrance, aiming to raise awareness for neurodiversity.
Along with the vibrant umbrella display there will be a whole host of events. There will be a lunchtime recital on Thursday, May 2 from The Chamäleon Flute Ensemble, led by Laura Barker-Bey, one of the Courthouse’s Centre Directors. Founded in 2015 in Leeds, they boast a diverse membership comprising music graduates, amateurs, and professionals united by their passion for flute and music. The ensemble showcases a rich repertoire spanning classical, jazz, world, and pop genres, performed not only on concert flutes but also piccolos, alto, and bass flutes. This will be followed by a showing of the unique, short film about the first 20 years of Courthouse activities, entirely filmed and produced by Courthouse volunteers.
On the evening of Friday, May 3 there will be a Courthouse Birthday Quiz, with questions on all things Courthouse and a wide variety of topics. The evening of Saturday, May 4 the Courthouse welcomes BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, with a remarkable act of imaginative songwriting and musicianship. It has been five years since the last offering from the popular husband and wife duo and their latest album proves a ‘tour de force’ of musical and lyrical surprises. ‘Almost A Sunset‘, their seventh album, has been described by Folk Radio UK as ‘not so much a sunset as the dawn of a glorious new chapter in their increasingly illustrious career’, so it is not a show to miss in the intimate Courtroom setting.
Courthouse volunteers will have their own event on Sunday afternoon May 5, showcasing their talents and celebrating the magnificent volunteer contribution over the 20 years – without volunteers the Courthouse would not exist, as they contribute to all aspects of the life of this unique community arts centre.
Keep an eye out for an upcoming crowdfunding campaign from the Courthouse, dedicated to securing new chairs for the courtroom to make things a bit comfier for everyone. Additionally, the umbrella display will be up over the courtyard throughout the summer.
To book tickets visit www.otleycourthouse.org.uk, call the box office on 01943 467466 or pop into the Courthouse on Courthouse Street, Otley, LS21 3AN.
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