After a few years of various COVID influenced interruptions Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People was back to normal (or at least what substitutes for normal at Nine Lessons) in 2023, and it was our biggest run of shows in years! We held four shows in London and two in Manchester to close out the year featuring just under 100 different performers and speakers. Over 2000 people came through the doors this year at Kings Place and Contact and it was a delight to have you all there. We hope you had as much fun as we did!
All profits from this year’s run of shows went towards our chosen charities Two Wheels for Life, BookTrust and Young Lives Vs Cancer as well as, when in the theatre, collecting a bunch of essential items for both the Euston Foodbank in London and the Ardwick and Longsight Foodbank in Manchester. THANK YOU ALL!
What happened this year?
As ever the lineup was eclectic and diverse full of incredible science, hilarious comedy, beautiful poetry and fantastic music. There were tributes to Hubble from Chris Lintott and salt from Chris Jackson, social commentary from a dolphin that looked a lot like Joanna Neary, microscopy demonstrations from Sarah Haigh, lessons on correct custard pie throwing techniques from Harry Hill, a murderous Christmas ghost story from Kiell Smith-Bynoe, mathematical clementine peeling from Katie Steckles, crab facts from Miranda Lowe, an art lecture from David McAlmont, a live cross to Helen Czerski in the middle of the Labrador Sea up near the Arctic and a whole lot more!
This year members of the Shambles crew were working even harder than normal behind the scenes as we’re also producing a documentary on the history of the show, and all its offshoots, since Robin created this madness almost two decades ago! So look out for that early next year.
We will be back in 2024, so keep an eye on the site for ticket announcements.
Putting on these shows takes a lot of time and effort from the whole Shambles team and they only continue to be possible, especially for charity, thanks to the support we receive on Patreon throughout the year. So if you’re not already a brilliant subscriber, please consider signing up today. There’s all sorts of exclusive benefits beyond a warm, fuzzy feeling too.
And now please enjoy the gallery below of just some of the fun.
GALLERY
December 1st
Contact Theatre, Manchester
All photos by Robin Clewley
Robin Ince
Josie Long
Prof Chris Lintott
Dr Yolanda Ohene
Dr Sammie Buzzard
Charlotte Carpenter
Andy White
Dr Jamie Gallagher
Prof Nav Kapur
Soundbox Ensemble
Prof Sheena Cruickshank
Jonny Without the Baptists
Prof Sarah Haigh
Dr Sarah Crowther
Kyla Brox & Danny Blomeley
Hannah Platt
Valeria Kurbatova
Robin Ince
December 2nd
Contact Theatre, Manchester
All photos by Robin Clewley
Robin Ince
Prof Chris Jackson
Kiri Pritchard-McLean
Prof Suzie Imber
Josie Long
Foxdog Studios
Dr Helen Czerski
Kiesha Thompson
Dr Suzi Gage
Dr Katie Steckles
Kwame Asante
Sofia Aziz
Jim Moray
Dr Laura Wolz
Soundbox Ensemble
Dr Brenna Hassett
Dr Claire Raisin
Karen Lloyd
Jonny without the Baptists
Prof Chris Jackson
December 15th
Kings Place, London
All photos by Natalie Shaw
Robin Ince
Natalie Haynes
Kiell Smith-Bynoe
Soft Lad
Steve Mould
Bec Hill
Dr Jen Gupta
Prof Turi King
The Shambles Trio
Rob Auton
Theresa Lola
Prof Yang-Hui He
Georgia Shackleton & Aaren Bennett
Dr Hannah Wakeford
Prof Chris Stringer
Dr James Grimes
Robin Ince with Soundbox Ensemble
Cerys Bradley
Dr Sheila Kanani
Peter Buckley Hill
Kiell Smith-Bynoe and the Shambles Trio
Ben Handysides
December 16th (Matinee)
Kings Place, Manchester
All photos by Natalie Shaw
Robin Ince
Harry Hill
Bobby Seagull
Dr Mya-Rose Craig
Alom Shaha
Dr Suze Kundu
Fran Scott
Ginny Smith
Joanna Neary
Kyle Evans
Jonny Berliner
Harry Hill
December 16th
Kings Place, London
All photos by Natalie Shaw
Robin Ince
Prof Marcus Du Sautoy
Mark Watson
Athena Kugblenu
John Hegley
Pooja Swali
Dr Clara Barker
Prof Tom Shakespeare
Dr Erica McAllister
Dr Linda Cremonesi
Dr Mya-Rose Craig
Charlotte Carpenter
Dr Alexandra Olaya-Castro
Dr Heloise Stevance
Prof Saiful Islam
Dr Anjana Khatwa
Joanna Neary
Jonny Berliner & Fran Scott
John Hegley and the Shambles Trio
Robin Ince
December 17th
Kings Place, London
All photos by Dave Hughes
Robin Ince
Isy Suttie
David McAlmont
Dr Helen Czerski
Grace Petrie
Dr Clara Nellist
Team Shambles
Dogviolet
Marcel Lucont
Miranda Lowe
Prof Marcus Du Sautoy
Prof Chris Lintott
Dr Michael Brooks
Pippa Evans
Joy Ellis
Dr Kathryn Harkup
Aarathi Prasad
Prof Dan Davis
Mitch Benn
Zoe Griffiths
Grace Petrie and Friends
Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People was created by ROBIN INCE.
Directed by TRENT BURTON | Produced by TRENT BURTON and ROBIN INCE | Associate Producer MELINDA BURTON | Merchandise Officer JO GOSTLING | Production & Camera Assistant ALICE DEGRASSI | Runner LUISA GOMES | Publicity PAUL SULLIVAN PR | Publicity Photos NATALIE SHAW MONIKA S. JAKUBOWSKA ROBIN CLEWLEY DAVE HUGHES | Graphics and Editing TRENT BURTON | Manchester House Band STEVE PRETTY (MD) VALERIA KURBATOVA | London House Band BEN HANDYSIDES (MD) JOY ELLIS JON COX For Contact Theatre KEISHA THOMPSON LIZZIE TAIT DAVID COVERDALE GEORGIE EDWARDS JONATHON HAMER For Kings Place ZOE JEYES SALLY POCHCIOL BECCA MILLICAN FRAZER McLEAN