Gemma Khawaja | 13th February 2027
The Gathering Ground, Hillsborough Park, Sheffield S6 4HD
7.30-11.00pm
Gemma Khawaja is a singer, musician and theatre maker with work deeply rooted in the traditional songs, stories and folklore of Britain. She is known for her powerful, expressive singing and thoughtful interpretations of traditional song, alongside original material inspired by mythology, rural life and local history. For half of the evening, Gemma will share a selection of traditional songs, accompanied by guitar, dulcimer, tenor guitar or singing unaccompanied. The second half features acclaimed Crooked Timber Theatre production, Up Jumped The Crab: A Story of Cromer Now and Then. Wordless, magical and full of character, this enchanting miniature puppet production combines recordings of traditional East Anglian folk music with handcrafted puppetry, visual storytelling and gentle humour to celebrate the lives of crab fishermen of North Norfolk and the heritage and folklore of the coast. Gemma offers a unique and captivating evening where traditional music and storytelling meet.
When you arrive there will be a tunes session happening that you are welcome to join in with. They might strike up again in the interval too. See the House Tunes link below if you want to learn any of the tunes in advance...
There will be two 40 minute sets from a guest act like a usual concert, but it will be quite an intimate atmosphere and there will be no PA. Before and after each set from the guest act there will be a House Song. Everyone is welcome to sing along and words will be available - no pressure though, if you don't want to sing.
For the last hour or so of the night (after the guest act) there will be a singing session. You are welcome to bring a song to sing either solo or with friends, join in with other singer's choruses, or pick a song for everyone to sing from the House Songs book. You can just sit and listen too.
People will just jump in with a song rather than going 'round the room' so it won't be noticeable if you don't lead a song, and no one will pressure you to do so. If you want to sing but need a bit more support to jump in, let the MC, or people on the door, know and they'll subtly help find a space for you to start one.
There will be a bar selling alcoholic and soft drinks.
How to find us and access:
The Pavilion is part of Gathering Ground at Hillsborough Park, Sheffield S6 4HD - it's next to the Bowling Green.
Leppings Lane is the nearest tram stop. Middlewood Road/Dixon Road is the nearest bus stop.
There are two car parks - Hawksley Avenue is 24 hours, Hillsborough Park closes at 9:30pm so be careful! There are disabled parking bays in Hawksley Avenue car park and step free access through the park to the Pavilion. The route is around 0.3 miles.
The Pavilion has step free access and an accessible toilet. Please contact us in advance if space for a wheelchair is needed or for any other access information or requests.