It's the most thoughtful time of the year
Plymouth’s Real Ideas serves up an extensive programme including Tim Peake, Christmas crafting and local business-focussed festive markets for one and all
The festive season is in full swing and across both of their beautiful Plymouth venues, the city’s Real Ideas team has been working hard to create a programme of festive events and experiences that will enchant, inspire, educate and charm adults and children of all ages.
Last year, Real Ideas launched their ‘Think Big Shop Small’ campaign highlighting local businesses needing support following the impacts of COVID-19 and shared ideas on how to support small businesses without spending any money.
For Christmas, Twixmas and into the New Year 2021-22, the team has dedicated themselves to focussing on making memories and spending time with loved ones, in inspiringly different ways - all things that everyone unfortunately missed out on last year.
They’re therefore delivering Real Ideas for a thoughtful Christmas, a carefully curated programme of events and experiences, designed to be shared and enjoyed by all the family. The Thoughtful Christmas options will be running from now until January 2nd, taking place at Devonport’s Market Hall, with its impressive immersive dome, Ocean Studios in the Royal William Yard, and The Guildhall, also in Devonport.
At Market Hall, old and young alike can cuddle up on a beanbag for a spellbinding journey through the winter’s evening sky with the Alien Who Stole Christmas, enjoy an evening under the Northern Lights, take a trip to the stars with astronaut Tim Peake or engage in a selection of storytelling events with The Story Republic in the immersive dome.
Real Ideas will also be bringing back their interactive dome experiences following their success at Illuminate Light Festival 2021. People can create and design their very own snowflake and watch it flurry around you inside the dome at the Snow Globe Experience or create a beautifully unique bauble and hang it on the Real Ideas virtual Christmas Tree!
Alongside these immersive experiences, the Real Ideas team will also be bringing Market Hall back to its roots. The former fruit and vegetable market will be transformed this festive season to welcome a whole host of local traders and small businesses for a selection of Festive Markets happening each Sunday in December during the lead up to Christmas.
Visitors can get Christmas all wrapped up and browse a selection of thoughtful gifts by local makers, enjoy festive food and drink as well as experiencing spectacular choir performances on the iconic Market Hall staircase.
And in the Royal William Yard, the ever-popular Native Makers will return on Saturday 11th December alongside a set of Christmas Introduction to Fused Glass workshops where participants will be guided by professional glass maker, Annette Daly, learning how to create their own beautiful and unique Christmas decorations. In the evening, from 7pm – 11pm Gigsaw, a new music night, connecting the Plymouth music scene, piece by piece will fill Ocean Studios with some of the freshest sounds and artists from across the city.
On 22nd December, in the Mayor’s Parlour of the Devonport Guildhall, up and coming promoters A Press of Suspects will presents an evening of new material from regulars from the South West comedy circuit. Hosted by the anarchic and chaotic Owl obsessive Willtordian Ballorian Edwardian, the comedy night is set to inspire a barrel of laughs.
Real Ideas CEO Lindsey Hall says, “We’ve just come off the back of a highly-successful Illuminate and it’s very clear that people are keen to get out of their homes and to do special, memorable things together as friends or families after last year’s ‘quiet’ Christmases. We wanted to be able to support that so have programmed a whole range of differently festively-infused experiences, screenings and shopping opportunities. Everyone from Tim Peake, to Santa Claus and from talented Plymouth artists, singers, makers and shapers are all getting involved in different ways and we can’t wait to see everyone joining us for what we have christened ‘the most thoughtful time of the year.’”
For more information visit https://realideas.org
