On Sunday 5 October, SHAKE Festival will be bringing a new stage production of Akenfield to the Food Museum

The newly completed play has been adapted from Ronald Blythe’s iconic Akenfield; Portrait of an English Village. The new play has been written by Glenn Wilhide, who lives in Suffolk full time and is best known for producing the first series of The Royle Family with Caroline Aherne, among other TV and film credits.

Taking its lead from the 1975 film which was performed by non-professional local people, and echoing the book itself with its 49 testimonies by local people, the stage play of Akenfield is being cast authentically from within the Suffolk community.

Suffolk-based sculptor Laurence Edwards has  oined the creative team for this stage production and traditional and original music for the production is being composed by the young local Folk musician Finn Collinson, who will be playing live on stage with other musicians during performances.

Produced by Jenny Hall and Liz Cook via the Benhall-based theatre company SHAKE Festival, and directed by Jenny Hall, the new play will initially be performed as 9 previews in Framlingham, Halesworth, Ipswich, Saxmundham and here at the Food Museum, Stowmarket.

Food Museum, Sunday 5 October, 2025 7.30pm – 10.00pm 

This October half-term, join us for a week of apple-themed fun for the whole family!

Enjoy juice-making, baking workshops, and tastings of local apples and juices. All week, take part in apple pressing in
the Farm Barn, sample apple treats in the William Bone Building, and try a special apple menu at our cafe, Feast.

Don’t miss extra activities throughout the week, plus a special Apple Identification Day with the Suffolk Traditional Orchards Group on Saturday 25, bring your mystery apples to be identified by the experts.

Apple Pressing Sessions

Daily, 10.30 & 13.30

Booking essential

Twice a day in the farm barn, roll up your sleeves and help chop, mash and press locally-grown apples. Learn about the different varieties of apples and take home a bottle of fresh, tasty juice!

During this fun, interactive workshop suitable for ages 5+, you’ll be guided through the process of cleaning, crushing, pressing, bottling, pasteurising and labelling.

Prices (including museum admission)

Two-hour sessions include a bottle of juice to take home and day admission to museum:

Workshops include admission and workshop fee together

·         £21.50 adult (£6.50 members), £19.50 concession (£6.50 members), £16.50 child (£6.50 members)

·         £64.50 for a family ticket of 2 adults and up to three children (£19.50 members)

·         £43 for a family ticket of 1 adult and up to three children (£13 members)

·         Ages 5+. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Oaty Apple Crumbles

Tuesday to Friday

Booking essential

Get stuck in at the Bread Oven and whip up classic school dinners style oaty apple crumbles in this fun, family-friendly workshop – the perfect addition to your Autumn visit to the museum!

Prices (including museum admission)

Adult – £21.50, includes museum entry (Member £6.50)

Child – £16.50, includes museum entry (Member £6.50)

Additional child(ren) – £5 (Member £1.50)

Ages 5+. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult

Tuesday to Friday

Booking essential

Get stuck in at the Bread Oven and whip up classic school dinners style oaty apple crumbles in this fun, family-friendly workshop – the perfect addition to your Autumn visit to the museum!

Prices (including museum admission)

Adult – £21.50, includes museum entry (Member £6.50)

Child – £16.50, includes museum entry (Member £6.50)

Additional child(ren) – £5 (Member £1.50)

Ages 5+. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Saturday 13 December and Sunday 7 and 21 December

Recieve your exclusive invitation to meet the j0lly man in red at our enchanting fishing lodge, beautifully transformed with Victorian-era charm!

Enjoy a personalised 15-minute session brimming with festive surprises, including a special gift chosen just for your little one.

£35 including a personalised invitation and gift. Booking essential – please ensure to answer questions when booking to ensure we can personalise the experience.

A Christmas Carol at the Food Museum

CB Jackson brings Dickens’ extraordinary story to life before your eyes. In a remarkable performance, the whole cast is played by one-man. In a faithful recreation of the story the characters interact and scenes twist and turn, Marley’s Ghost, Bob Cratchit, Belle and of course Scrooge himself are there with you.

The tale opens with Scrooge’s Counting House and builds the atmosphere for the dramatic arrival of Marley’s Ghost at Scrooges’ apartment. Before we know it, the Ghost of Christmas Past is upon us and we fly through time to Scrooge’s lonely childhood and the tale unfolds.

CB Jackson has toured this remarkable One-Man show through East Anglia, appearing before audiences in person and on BBC Radio. No other story so perfectly captures our Christmas traditions; no other character tells it like Ebenezer Scrooge; and no other venue is as perfect as the Food Museum for telling it.

Make your Christmas the best Christmas. If the turkey isn’t perfect and shopping for presents is hard work, at least you’ll have seen A Christmas Carol like you’ve never seen it before!

Saturday and Saturday 13 and 14 December and Saturday and Sunday 20 and 21 December.

Four shows each day 75 minutes apart