BEN Crick and Skipton Building Society Camerata are joined by the talented voices of The Clothworkers Consort of Leeds for a performance of Handel’s Messiah at Skipton Town Hall on Friday, December 17.

Originally an Easter offering, Handel’s 1741 oratorio for singers, choir and orchestra has become a regular fixture in the lead up to Christmas.

Following an enforced break last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Messiah returns this weekend in the renovated splendour of the town hall.

As popular now as it was more than 250 years ago, Messiah represents the best of Handel’s choral music ranging from the heartfelt simplicity of ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth’ to the grandeur of the famous ‘Hallelujah’ chorus.

Ben Crick, conductor, and Skipton Camerata are joined again for this performance by the talented voices of The Clothworkers Consort of Leeds.

Soprano, Jane Burnell; Amy Payne, mezzo soprano; Joseph Doody, tenor, and Thomas Hopkinson, bass. Bryan White is chorus master for the The Clothworkers Consort of Leeds.

On Saturday afternoon, Quantum Theatre will bring festive favourite, Dickens’ A Christmas Carol to the town hall.

It’s a cold, bleak, biting Christmas Eve and old miser Scrooge is not full of the Christmas spirit. In fact he hates Christmas! But on returning home he suddenly finds himself visited by four ghostly apparitions come to teach him a lesson; his old partner Jacob Marley and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet To Come.

Each ghost in turn shows him scenes of his life as it was and could be but as Christmas day dawns are these apparitions and their dire warnings enough to make Scrooge see the error of his ways?

Join Old Scrooge on his journey of enlightenment in Quantum Theatre’s delightful and heart-warming new production of the Dickens Christmas classic.

On Monday, December 20, there will be free ‘make and take’ craft sessions for children. There is morning and afternoon sessions - but numbers are limited, so booking is essential.

On Tuesday, December 21 ,there will be a chance to learn how to design and produce your own Christmas wrapping paper. People will be taken step by step through the equipment, print process, and repeat pattern options before moving on to design and produce your own printing plate, with the opportunity to practice and perfect your technique before producing your finished work.

For tickets and details of all events, visit:skiptontownhall.co.uk