Events
Throughout the year the Friends hold events for members that explore the subjects of heritage and culture, especially for this area. Events are also held to fundraise, to support the Museums.
Thus we have attended local fetes (including the Kent Show), held music concerts (indeed, an annual Christmas Carol concert is firmly on our annual calendar), visited historic venues, and held talks – for example.
There is an annual reception at the Museum for all Friends, often linked to a preview of a special exhibition.
We also hold special receptions, where our aim is to continue to raise our profile and seek further support – with Corporates, Young People, Borough Councillors, etc. As a result of Covid 19 MMF was not able to participate in any of these in 2020, but we were pleased to start an events programme in September 2021.
The FULL programme of events for 2025 is available below.
CALENDAR GIRLS:
ENJOY THIS ENTERTAINING AND MOVING PLAY WHILE SUPPORTING THE MUSEUM’S IMPORTANT ACCESS PROJECT
HAZLITT THEATRE, MAIDSTONE:
Tuesday April 29 – Saturday May 3, 2025 (7.3Opm April 29 - May 2, 3pm May 3)
MMF has once again been chosen by the highly regarded Willington Players to benefit from every ticket sold by the charity for their next production Calendar Girls.
This heartwarming and hilarious play is based on a true story and the hit 2003 film. When Annie’s husband dies of leukaemia, she and her best friend Chris decide to raise funds for the local hospital. They create a calendar featuring friends from the Women’s Institute…in tastefully nude poses. These Calendar Girls begin to turn heads and capture hearts around the world in a glorious celebration of friendship, community, and the power of ordinary people to make a difference.
For every ticket you buy for £17, MMF receives £7.36. This will go towards a flexible Museum step system now installed but still needing funds.
The last play you generously supported Flare Path raised £500 for this vital project, an essential improvement to the Lives in our Landscape gallery, opened last summer by actor Hugh Dennis. Well worth a visit!
MMF Trustees invite you, your family, friends, and guests to enjoy another entertaining night at the theatre while supporting our museum. You can choose any performance to suit you.
MMF WILL ONLY BENEFIT IF YOU BUY THROUGH MMF – NOT THE THEATRE!
Dining note: By special arrangement with the Willington Players, Frederics Bistro, an MMF corporate supporter, offers a 2-course pre-theatre dinner for £15. This offer is only available by booking direct with the restaurant (01622 297414).
PLEASE ORDER EARLY AS TICKETS ARE LIKELY TO SELL FAST. FINAL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MMF NO LATER THAN FRIDAY APRIL 25, 2025.
EASY WAYS TO BOOK
You can order tickets, with cash or cheque, at the Friends’ Shop in Fremlin Walk (open every Friday and Saturday 10am – 3pm)
You can email your order to MMF Secretary Trevor Sturgess at trevorsturgess@virginmedia.com, stating how many tickets you would like for which performance, giving your name, address and telephone number.
Payment by bank transfer to THE MAIDSTONE MUSEUMS FOUNDATION, 82-61-26, 30117961, using the reference “Your initial + surname + THEATRE”. When the money has been transferred and he has the tickets, they will be posted to you. Or they can be held for collection from the Friends’ shop (opening times above)
Download the form below and send with your cheque, payable to:
Maidstone Museums’ Foundation, to Trevor Sturgess at 51 Pennine Way, Downswood, Maidstone, ME15 8UF (telephone: 07793 047863).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Ticket orders after Friday March 21 should be sent to Ivan White, 21 Flaxman Drive, Maidstone, ME16 0RU. ivanwhite@gmail.com 01622 763304
ENJOY A NIGHT AT THE THEATRE – AND HELP MMF SUPPORT A VITAL MUSEUM ACCESS PROJECT
HAZLITT THEATRE, MAIDSTONE
Tuesday November 5 – Saturday November 9, 2024. (7.3Opm November 5 – 8 or 3pm November 9)
MMF is one of the charities kindly chosen again by the long-established and highly regarded Willington Players to benefit from every ticket sold by the charity for their next production, Terence Rattigan’s acclaimed Second World War drama Flare Path. This story of love, loyalty and desire is set against the backdrop of an RAF Bomber Command night mission.
For every ticket you buy for £17, MMF receives £7.36. This will go towards a flexible Museum step system now installed but still needing funds.
The last play you generously supported Witness for the Prosecution raised more than £800 for this vital project, an essential improvement ahead of the opening last June of the impressive Lives in our Landscape gallery.
MMF Trustees warmly invite you, your family, friends, and guests to enjoy another entertaining night at the theatre while at the same time supporting our wonderful museum. You can choose any performance to suit you.
MMF WILL ONLY BENEFIT IF YOU BUY THROUGH MMF – NOT THE THEATRE!
Dining note: By special arrangement with the Willington Players, Frederics Bistro, an MMF corporate supporter, offers a 2-course pre-theatre dinner for £15. This offer is only available by booking direct with the restaurant (01622 297414).
PLEASE ORDER EARLY AS TICKETS ARE LIKELY TO SELL FAST. FINAL ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MMF NO LATER THAN FRIDAY NOVEMBER 1ST.
EASY WAYS TO BOOK
1. You can order tickets, with cash or cheque, at the Friends’ Shop in Fremlin Walk (open every Friday and Saturday 10am – 3pm)
2. You can email your order to MMF Secretary Trevor Sturgess at trevorsturgess@virginmedia.com, stating how many tickets you would like for which performance and giving your name and address.
Payment please by bank transfer to THE MAIDSTONE MUSEUMS FOUNDATION, 82-61-26, 30117961, using the reference “Your initial + surname + THEATRE”. When the money has been transferred and he has the tickets, they will be posted to you. Or they can be held for you to collect from the Friends’ shop (opening times above)
3. Download the form below and send with your cheque, payable to Maidstone Museums’ Foundation, to Trevor Sturgess at 51 Pennine Way, Downswood, Maidstone, ME15 8UF (telephone: 07793 047863).
MMF Events 2025
The full programme of talks, singing and visits are presented here.
ALL START AT 6.30pm AT THE POP-UP SHOP IN FREMLIN WALK (unless advised below).
(doors open at 6pm)
ENJOY A NIGHT AT THE THEATRE
SUPPORT MAIDSTONE MUSEUMS’ FOUNDATION AND MUSEUM DISABILITY ACCESS
HAZLITT THEATRE, MAIDSTONE – TUESDAY APRIL 23 – SATURDAY APRIL 27, 2024. (7.3Opm APRIL 23 – 26 or 3pm APRIL 27)
MMF is one of the charities chosen again by the long-established and highly regarded Willington Players to benefit from every ticket sold by the charity for their next production, a classic Agatha Christie whodunnit Witness for the Prosecution.
Every ticket sold by MAIDSTONE MUSEUMS’ FOUNDATION (MMF) for £17 will raise £7.36 for a flexible step system in the Museum that has been installed but still needs funds. MMF members, family, friends, and guests can help this special cause and enjoy a night at the theatre. You can choose any performance.
PLEASE DON’T BUY DIRECT FROM THE THEATRE, ONLY FROM MMF.
EVERY PERFORMANCE EXCEPT SATURDAY STARTS AT 7.30PM, WITH A MATINEE AT 3PM ON SATURDAY.
EASY WAYS TO BOOK
In person: You can order tickets, with cash or cheque, at the Friends’ Shop in Fremlin Walk (open every Friday and Saturday 10am – 3pm)
Email: Send your order to MMF Secretary Trevor Sturgess at trevorsturgess@virginmedia.com, stating how many tickets you would like for which performance and giving your name and address. Payment by bank transfer to THE MAIDSTONE MUSEUMS FOUNDATION, 82-61-26, 30117961, using the reference “Your initial + surname + THEATRE”.
Telephone: leave a message with your name and telephone number on 01622 862695
PLAYS LIFT CURTAIN ON VALUED SUPPORT FOR MMF AND MUSEUM
Thanks to support from Friends and guests, tickets sold for the production of “Don’t Dress for Dinner” in November raised nearly £500.
Sixty-five tickets were sold, with MMF receiving £7.36 for each. This gave a wonderful total of £478.40. With £20 of donations in lieu of tickets, the total benefit was £496.40. This sum will help the Museum install a flexible step system to vastly improve disability access to the exciting new gallery due to open in May..
MMF is grateful to the Willington Players for making MMF one of their nominated charities. The long-established drama group were so pleased with our ticket sales that they are supporting us again with their next production. It will be Agatha Christie’s classic whodunnit “Witness for the Prosecution” being staged at the Hazlitt Theatre from Tuesday April 23 – Saturday April 27.
Tickets will be available for any performance and once again, MMF will receive £7.36 for every full-price ticket sold through MMF. We do hope you will feel able to support MMF as well as enjoying an entertaining time at the theatre. More details to follow in due course – but please make a note in your diary.
ENJOY A NIGHT AT THE THEATRE
ENJOY A NIGHT AT THE THEATRE – AND SUPPORT MAIDSTONE MUSEUMS’ FOUNDATION (MMF) WITH EVERY TICKET YOU BUY
HAZLITT THEATRE, MAIDSTONE – TUESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2023 – 7.3OPM
MMF is one of the charities kindly chosen by the long-established and highly regarded Willington Players to benefit from every ticket sold by the charity for their next production, an entertaining farce Don’t Dress for Dinner.
For every ticket you buy for £17, MMF will receive £7.36. All monies MMF receive goes to Museum projects.
MMF Trustees warmly invite you, your family, friends, and guests to enjoy an entertaining night at the theatre while at the same time supporting our wonderful Museum.
The more tickets you buy, the more you will help MMF fund better support for Maidstone Museum. THANK YOU
PLEASE ORDER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS TICKETS ARE EXPECTED TO SELL FAST. ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MMF BY OCTOBER 31st.
EASY WAYS TO BOOK
1. You can order tickets, with cash or cheque, at the Friends’ Shop in Fremlin Walk (open every Friday and Saturday 10am – 3pm
2. You can email your order to MMF Secretary Trevor Sturgess at trevorsturgess@virginmedia.com, stating how many tickets you would like and giving your name and address.
Please arrange a bank transfer for the full amount to THE MAIDSTONE MUSEUMS FOUNDATION, 82-61-26, 30117961, using the reference “Your initial + surname + THEATRE”. Once the money has been transferred, he will post the tickets. Or tickets can be held for you to collect from the Friends’ shop (opening times above).
3. Complete the form attached here (.docx file) and send with your cheque, payable to Maidstone Museums’ Foundation, to Trevor Sturgess at 51 Pennine Way, Downswood, Maidstone, ME15 8UF (telephone: 07793 047863)
Download the PDF flyer for this events here or double click the adjacent image of the poster.
Events at the Museum
Also there are special exhibition events in the Museums. MMF Friends can secure 25% discount on the entry price for these events.
The link below will take you to the Museums’ website where each exhibition is listed and you can apply to attend. You will need your MMF Friend number to obtain the discount (on your Friends’ membership card).
