News
Bait is a true original in both form and content
23rd Feb 2020
Shot with clockwork cameras on grainy 16mm stock, which Cornish film-maker Mark Jenkin hand-processed in his studio in Newlyn, Bait is a true original in both form and content. Clearly influenced by Nicolas Roeg, this… read more
Posted in Film
Dom Joly shares his holiday snaps with Diss
22nd Feb 2020
From the outset, Dom Joly made it clear there were to be no squirrel costumes or giant phones for the evening’s performance. What we got instead was a fascinating and insightful talk on some of… read more
Horrible Histories is a fun packed romp through Roman Britain
18th Feb 2020
The Horrible Histories book series has sold over 25 million copies, inspiring toys, magazines, and video games. In 2009, CBBC showcased a sketch show based on the franchise which continues to this day. Perhaps inevitably,… read more
Pain and Glory is a Stunning return to form for Pedro Almodóvar
14th Feb 2020
This is a stunning return to form for Pedro Almodóvar, consolidating the success of Julieta after the misfire of I’m so Excited. Just as his previous film revolved around a woman confronting the ghosts of… read more
Posted in Film
Judy is Zellweger’s chameleon like transformation makes this her movie from beginning to end
7th Feb 2020
Adapted by Tom Edge from Peter Quilter’s the stage play, this is a raw portrait of Judy Garland at the end of her career, and a showcase for Renée Zellweger’s uncanny ability to get under… read more
Downton Abbey film - a lavishly produced treat for the series many fans
3rd Feb 2020
Fans of Downton Abbey won’t be disappointed by this big screen opportunity to catch up with old friends. Gifted a bigger budget, Julian Fellowes’s drama about upstairs/downstairs has been turned from a show where thoughtful… read more
Boothby Graffoe headlines the strongest comedy line up for months
1st Feb 2020
It was a welcome return to form for the Corn Hall’s Comedy Club, with a varied lineup hosted by MC James Dowdeswell. Hugely personable, Dowdeswell had a pleasingly large crowd on side from the outset,… read more
Posted in Comedy
A Triumphant Return for Common Ground's Sherlock Holmes
5th Jan 2020
Common Ground returned to the Corn Hall with another of their post-Christmas shows. It's something that looks like becoming something of a traditional, with packed houses for both performances of their further adventures of Holmes… read more
The Blues Band are better than ever in concert & on their new album
25th Nov 2019
The Blues Band, and permutations of its constituent parts have come to Diss quite a few times but I don’t recall them ever playing quite so well. The reason may be The Rooster Crowed, their… read more
Present Laughter – Andrew Scott's brilliant performance in the National Theatre's Production makes Noel Coward's play sparkle
21st Nov 2019
Noel Coward’s furiously funny farce is given a new lease of life in this frenzied production at the Old Vic. Largely a vehicle for Andrew Scott’s brilliant incarnation of preening thesp Garry Essendine, the play… read more
A triumphant and life affirming return for Paul Sinha
18th Nov 2019
Paul Sinha made a real impact at the Corn Hall last year - he seemed to enjoy the evening as much as his audience did - so perhaps it’s no surprise that his return was… read more
Posted in Comedy
The Pantaloons Master one of Shakespeare's Greatest Tragedies
16th Nov 2019
The members of the Pantaloons Theatre Company pride themselves on accessible interpretations of classic theatre, from Homer to Shakespeare to Dickens, unlocking the playfulness and good humour from the most sober of texts. Othello must… read more
Posted in Theatre
Yesterday is a funny, feelgood film that will delight fans of Richard Curtis's very particular brand of film making
13th Nov 2019
When Richard Curtis and Danny Boyle teamed up it seemed such a provocative combination that it was hard to imagine what would emerge. The end result is a lot closer to Love Actually than Trainspotting,… read more
Hazel O’Connor held her audience spellbound
10th Nov 2019
Given the revival of interest in eighties music it’s no surprise that Hazel O’Connor played to a full house at the Corn Hall. But to attribute her success merely to nostalgia would be to greatly… read more
Start with Art! #NationalLottery25
28th Oct 2019
This image represents an special moment in a child’s life, shared with his grandparents, at our recent ‘Start with Art!’ event. Here at the Corn Hall in Diss the support from Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage… read more
The Dave Thomas Big Blues Band delivers a masterclass in classic Chicago blues
21st Oct 2019
If Dave Thomas ever took to running, I suspect he’d go for a marathon rather than a sprint. With a carefully curated set that lasted only a few minutes shy of three hours, Thomas took… read more
Gary Delaney brings down the house with his Gagsters Paradise show
21st Oct 2019
You have to wonder if Gary Delaney’s brain is wired up differently from everyone else’s. His prodigious gag writing ability is such that, even before settling down to the show, he has bombarded us with… read more
Rocketman - screening tomorrow - is bold, imaginative and original
8th Oct 2019
Considering that both David Furnish and Elton John were producers of this film, it’s a remarkably frank and unflinching examination of Reg Dwight’s rocky path to fame and its almost disastrous consequences. Even more remarkable… read more
Another chance to see Fleabag on the big screen - it's a terrifically entertaining showcase for Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s considerable talents
2nd Oct 2019
I wonder how many others were belatedly catching up with Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s extraordinary Edinburgh debut back in 2013, kicking themselves that, at the time, they went to see something else instead? Given the global success… read more
The Keeper - a watchable, engaging story of hope & humanity triumphing over bitter resentment
20th Sep 2019
Marcus H Rosenmüller’s robust, no nonsense account of Bert Trautmann’s improbable, but true, journey towards a role as Manchester City’s post war goalie is a loving tribute to reconciliation and forgiveness that is a paean… read more
Cast your prejudices aside, you’ll be cheering over this heart-warming tale with family, East Anglia & wrestling at its heart
12th Sep 2019
If you’re wondering whether a film about wrestling is for you, then wonder no more, and not just because it largely takes place in East Anglia. This heart-warming tale of a close knit, loving family… read more
Can You Ever Forgive Me? - you will, after seeing next week's hugely enjoyable film
29th Aug 2019
Continuing the current fashion for true tales that are stranger than fiction, Marielle Heller turns Lee Israel’s improbable career as a forger into a jolly, breathless romp that skips from scene to scene. Israel’s wobbly… read more
Green Book - in spite of its hard hitting subject matter - is an absolute delight from beginning to end
13th Aug 2019
Loosely based on Don Shirley’s tour of the Deep South of America, Peter Farrelly’s film - showing on Wednesday 21st August - is an absolute delight from beginning to end, notwithstanding its hard hitting subject… read more
A Splash of Colour with IMPS: Abstract Expressionism
8th Aug 2019
On Tuesday 6th August 75 children between 17 months and 11 years old, together with their parents, grandparents and carers, joined Rachel Baker from IMPS as she introduced them all to the works of world… read more
Follow the Lost Boys, Hoist the Jolly Roger and Look Out for Captain Hook.
8th Aug 2019
For three days last week 22 young performers immersed themselves in singing, dancing, drama and arts activities as they journeyed to Neverland. Late on the third day these… read more
Arts Award News
8th Aug 2019
So much hard work, so well rewarded! Congratulations to the 21 Arts Award students who gained their Bronze and Silver Awards (Silver award students pictured) on 16 July 2019. Their work included meeting local arts… read more
In Loyal Company - a masterpiece of war storytelling
7th Aug 2019
In Loyal Company - coming to the Corn Hall on Friday 13th September - is based on the incredible true story of Arthur Robinson’s experiences as a Prisoner of War during World War II. This… read more
Posted in Theatre
Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie give powerful performances as the rivals in next week's Wednesday film
1st Aug 2019
Mary Queen of Scots The rivalry between Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I has been repeatedly dramatized and documented, but most often from the perspective of the English monarch and the furore surrounding the… read more
Roughcast's rumbustious romp of A Midsummer Night's Dream features a scene-stealing, marvellously exuberant Bottom
26th Jul 2019
A Midsummer Night’s Dream RoughCast Theatre Company has never been afraid to take on challenging writing, tackling everything from Ibsen to Orton, and in their latest production they take on that most formidable of oxymorons,… read more
All is True - Branagh & Dench are magnificent in this film which seeks to explain the great mystery of why Shakespeare retired so suddenly
19th Jul 2019
All is True (12A) Kenneth Branagh’s career is so closely associated with Shakespeare, it was perhaps inevitable that he would one day play the man himself. To that extent this is very much Branagh’s film,… read more
Ruby Watkinson: Work Experience Review
16th Jul 2019
On the 8th July 2019, I began my weeks work experience at the Diss Corn Hall. After finding out that year 12 had to complete this compulsory week I set out to ensure that I… read more
Tom and Bunny Save The World – A review by Lissy Mapes Graham
16th Jul 2019
On Tuesday 8th May 2018 I went to The Corn Hall in Diss to see ‘Tom and Bunny Save The World’, a must see show from the Fat Rascal Theatre. To start off, the songs… read more
Ruby Whitehouse: My Work Experience at the Corn Hall 2019
12th Jul 2019
This July I have completed a week of work experience at the Corn Hall, an organisation I chose because of my interest in art and media. I was surprised by the variety of tasks… read more
Stan & Ollie - next Wednesday's film - is a warm, affectionate delight
21st Jun 2019
Stan & Ollie Jon S Baird’s gentle, unassuming biopic of the most famous double act the world has ever seen, is a warm, affectionate delight that touches on far broader issues than the pair’s final… read more
The Favourite - screening next Wednesday - is an eccentric, intriguing delight from beginning to end
14th Jun 2019
The Favourite (15) - a review Set in the court of Queen Anne, the last of the Stuart monarchs, Yorgos Lanthimos’s quirky, profane and shamelessly anachronistic period drama is an eccentric, intriguing delight from beginning… read more
Julius Caesar by Silas Tooth
13th Jun 2019
Julius Caesar Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar has been put together by the Bridge Theatre London which has only been with us since 2017. The performance was directed by Sir Nicholas Hyther who captured the greatness of… read more
Posted in Uncategorised
Old Herbaceous - a night at the theatre that was a delight from beginning to end
10th Jun 2019
Old Herbacious - Kick in the Head productions Alfred Shaughnessy’s sensitive adaption of Reginald Arkell’s novel is a delight from beginning to end, cleverly distilling not just the narrative, but also the spirit of Arkell’s… read more
Ryan Gosling is excellent as Neil Armstrong in next Wednesday's film, First Man
6th Jun 2019
First Man Adapted from James R Hansen’s book by Spotlight screenwriter, First Man is similar in tone to Philip Kaufman’s The Right Stuff. Sombre and respectful, this is a film that is immersed in its… read more
Spring Flowers and Little Dewdrops
11th May 2019
On Wednesday 8 May, we were lucky enough to have Tina Bone, a member of the Iceni Botanical Artist collective, to run an exclusive workshop focused on observing, drawing and painting wild spring flowers. Find… read more
Posted in Uncategorised
Thomas Paine play was sometimes melancholy, frequently moving, and ultimately life affirming.
10th May 2019
Thomas Paine’s To Begin the World Over Again Thomas Paine only worked in Diss for a year, but we still make a claim on him, so it was pleasing that the playwright and performer, Ian… read more
Wednesday 15 May - your chance to see one of the best films ever made
7th May 2019
Ingmar Bergman's dark masterpiece, The Seventh Seal reaches back to scripture to create a nightmarish, episodic journey for Max von Sydow’s world-weary crusader, questioning everything while the long shadow of death chases him all the… read more
Luke Wright’s Stand-Up Poetry - a night of great pleasure
4th May 2019
One of the great pleasures of Luke Wright’s stand-up poetry nights is hearing his new work in progress, and it was fascinating to hear his continued look inward. We heard about his mum, his dad,… read more
David Vass talks to Ian Ruskin about his play Thomas Paine's To Begin the World Over - performed at the Corn Hall on Thursday 9 May
29th Apr 2019
David Vass talks to Ian Ruskin about his play Thomas Paine's The Begin the World Over which will be performed at the Corn Hall on Thursday 9 May Ian Ruskin has acted all his life,… read more
Posted in Theatre
Next Wednesday: Bohemian Rhapsody - with a roster of superb concert recreations - is hugely enjoyable
18th Apr 2019
After the much-publicised troubles that have beset this movie, it comes as a pleasant surprise that Bohemian Rhapsody is such a fun ride, with a roster of superb concert recreations, including Life Aid – where… read more
Gillian Anderson and Lily James - superb in the National Theatre live screening of All About Eve
16th Apr 2019
This adaption of a 1950s movie films its actors while they perform live, projecting them onto a screen, while yet more the actors perform live on stage - all of which has then been filmed… read more
Mary Poppins flies into the Corn Hall this Wednesday
8th Apr 2019
Mary Poppins Returns Fans of the original Mary Poppins who approach this belated sequel with some trepidation need not worry. The film has been created with them in mind as much as a family audience… read more
The Pantaloons inventive reworking of The Odyssey is a triumph!
28th Mar 2019
The Pantaloons are no strangers to the inventive re-working of classic texts, but this must be their most ambitious attempt to date. Slimming down Homer’s epic Greek poem into two hours of knockabout fun is… read more
Lady Gaga CAN act - See her in 'A Star is Born'
21st Mar 2019
A Star is Born Bradley Cooper’s version of this much told story is more a reimagining than a remake, with his fading rock star crossing paths with Lady Gaga’s ascendance as an all singing, all… read more
Next Wednesday's film - a master class in screen acting that is as enjoyable as it is compelling
15th Mar 2019
When Joe Castleman wins the Nobel Prize for Literature his wife is delighted for him – who wouldn’t be – and yet there is something niggling away at her that isn’t fully explained by his… read more
Super Happy Story - genuinely good theatre with real emotional impact
15th Mar 2019
A Super Happy Story (about feeling super sad) A musical about depression and self-harm is not an easy sell. It takes imagination to write, empathy to perform, and courage to programme. Silent Uproar’s collaboration with… read more
'Tom and Bunny Save the World' Review by Roisin
12th Mar 2019
'Tom and Bunny Save the World' Review by Roisin On Tuesday 8th May, as part of my Silver Arts Award I saw 'Tom and Bunny Save the World' at Diss Corn Hall. It is a… read more
Posted in Arts Award, Theatre
'Tom and Bunny Save the World' Review - By Malachy
12th Mar 2019
'Tom and Bunny Save the World' Review By Malachy As part of my Silver Arts Award on 8th May 2018 I saw 'Tom and Bunny Save the World' at the Corn Hall in Diss. 'Tom… read more
Posted in Arts Award, Theatre
TOM and BUNNY SAVE the WORLD. A review by Elvis
12th Mar 2019
TOM and BUNNY SAVE the WORLD. A review by Elvis Fat Rascal Theatre have created two very successful shows, Beauty and the Beast, a musical parody, and BUZZ a new musical; but their work… read more
Posted in Arts Award, Theatre
TOM & BUNNY SAVE THE WORLD Review
12th Mar 2019
TOM & BUNNY SAVE THE WORLD Review by Isabella St.John-Clarke Recently I have seen a new musical: Tom and Bunny Save The World at the Corn Hall. It is a comedy; it is original with… read more
Posted in Arts Award, Theatre
TOM AND BUNNY SAVE THE WORLD THE MUSICAL…
12th Mar 2019
TOM AND BUNNY SAVE THE WORLD THE MUSICAL… by Bethany Ely On Tuesday 8th may I viewed the comedy performance of Tom and Bunny Save the World, the musical. Basically Tom and Bunny have to go… read more
Posted in Uncategorised
TOM AND BUNNY SAVE THE WORLD THE MUSICAL!
12th Mar 2019
TOM AND BUNNY SAVE THE WORLD THE MUSICAL! ***** (5 /5 stars!) by Naomi Ely On Tuesday 8th May I went to see the spectacular new musical, Tom and Bunny Save The World! From… read more
Posted in Arts Award, Theatre
Stranger than fiction, Wednesday's film BlacKkKlansman, is probably the best Spike Lee film in 20 years
9th Mar 2019
Probably the best Spike Lee film in 20 years, this stranger than fiction story of a black man infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan mixes absurd comedy with jaw-dropping racism to brilliant effect. Both a social… read more
Luke Wright's latest show – Poet Laureate - is unusually thoughtful and moving
4th Mar 2019
Following in the wake of his ambitious play/poems of recent years, Luke Wright’s latest show might at first appear a tad conventional, but there was a lot more going on here than just a collection… read more
Hotel Salvation - anyone who has spent time with an ageing parent will find much that is achingly resonant.
2nd Mar 2019
In this story of an ex-schoolteacher who decides to spend his final days in Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges, Shubhashish Bhutiani’s directorial debut presents a world that will be alien to European viewers,… read more
Posted in Film, Uncategorised
A Right Royal Draw-Along with Nick Sharratt, The Cat and The King, Timothy Pope and Tracy Beaker
1st Mar 2019
Yesterday I went to watch Nick Sharratt do an entertaining 'drawalong' show at the corn hall. It was an amazing show and I’m very glad I got the opportunity to watch it. He came out… read more
East Anglian film premiere brought to life George Butterworth - a man who might have become one of Britain’s foremost composers
28th Feb 2019
The Corn’s Hall’s presentation of Stewart Hajdukiewicz’s biography of composer George Butterworth may not have been quite the world premiere, but it was only the third public outing for the film, and was attended by… read more
Singer ,Georgia Mancio delighted Diss Jazz Club with her interpretation of songs by Tom Jobim
16th Feb 2019
Award-winning singer Georgia Mancio, brought to The Corn Hall a totally wonderful evenings music, fun and elegance. Presenting us with a beautiful musical array from the celebrated Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos 'Tom' Jobim, Georgia explained… read more
In an age of zero hour contracts and offshore sweatshops, Townsend productions provide a timely reminder of how effectively historical drama can resonate with the issues of today.
16th Feb 2019
Rouse Ye Women – Townsend Productions Thursday 14th February Townsend Productions have been edging ever closer to contemporary issues over the last few years, with their last show - an examination of the Grunwick strike… read more
Posted in Theatre
A stellar cast makes The King of Thieves by far the best and most poignant cinema version of the Hatton Garden heist
7th Feb 2019
The Hatton Garden heist in 2015 has already been repeatedly dramatized, but this is by far the best, and most poignant, with a stellar cast of British heavyweight actors who, much like the characters they… read more
Cold War - A sweeping, yet oddly intimate love story
29th Jan 2019
Winner of the Best Director award at last year’s Cannes Festival, Paweł Pawlikowski has created a sweeping, yet oddly intimate love story about two people brought together, and then torn apart, by circumstances way beyond… read more
Posted in Film
January Comedy Club had a packed house cheering with laughter
27th Jan 2019
John Mann got straight down to business as MC of the Corn Hall’s comedy club, largely dispensing with audience interaction if favour of a very silly series of one-liners that had the audience nicely warmed… read more
Posted in Comedy, live entertainment
NT's Antony & Cleopatra next Thursday is packed with enough intrigue to fill a mini-series
22nd Jan 2019
Simon Godwin’s production of Antony & Cleopatra for the National Theatre may be in modern dress, but it is otherwise a surprisingly mainstream and coherent retelling of Shakespeare’s complex, episodic tale of his other star-crossed… read more
We are Persimmon Community Champions!
19th Jan 2019
Persimmon Community Champions Award Being presented with the Persimmon Community Award for November 2018 will help the Corn Hall Arts and Heritage team to continue to run activities at low or no cost to our outreach groups including young children,… read more
Fire your imagination at ARCADIA!
15th Jan 2019
This arresting collage of archive footage is notionally a movie that explores our changing relationship with the land, and opens with scenes of a bucolic and idealised countryside that will have the viewer settling in… read more
'Royalty' at the Corn Hall in the shape of Paul Jones & Dave Kelly!
14th Jan 2019
British blues royalty paid a visit to the Corn Hall last weekend, with Paul Jones and Dave Kelly (describing themselves as 40% the Blues Band) performing an acoustic set of blues classics. The pair made… read more
Allelujah! - something to celebrate!
8th Jan 2019
The arrival of a new play by Alan Bennett is always something to celebrate, not least as they are increasingly rare. His latest, set in a rundown NHS hospital, is his first in six years,… read more
LECTURE ON WORLD WAR ONE ART WAS ENTERTAINING, EDUCATING, AND ENRICHING
1st Dec 2018
During the First World War the British government developed a variety of art schemes to bear witness to the conflict. Tania Harrington’s far reaching and ambitious talk on the subject examined how revolutionary changes in… read more
David Vass is swept away with the surprisingly moving new production of The King and I
27th Nov 2018
The King and I has long been the “problem” Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, and there is certainly a hint of condescension in a story about an English governess showing the King of Siam the error… read more
Enter the Dragon - weird and wonderful but David Vass wants more like this
19th Nov 2018
Enter the Dragons - review In what amounted to a significant gear change for the Corn Hall, Abigail Dooley and Emma Edwards presented a short, sharp shock of a show that was funny, provocative, and… read more
Luke Wright's Stand Up Poetry Club presented a compelling contrast of talent
19th Nov 2018
Promoted to the main auditorium, Luke Wright's Stand-Up Poetry Club swapped intimacy for elbow room in an evening dominated by the anger of men who can’t quite believe what is happening in the world. First… read more
Open Space's Browning Version - their finest ever
9th Nov 2018
The Browning Version Never shy of a challenge, Open Space Theatre Company’s latest production is a play generally regarded as Terence Rattigan’s finest. Judging by the opening night at Wingfield Barns, it may well also… read more
A riotous performance of Peter Pan is captured by a drawing soldier
9th Nov 2018
Last Saturday Peter Pan flew into the Corn Hall in search of his shadow and, along with the Darling family, took the Saturday Club on an amazing adventure to Neverland. There were so many pirates,… read more
Next Wednesday's film, The Happy Prince, has a message which is ultimately positive
8th Nov 2018
The Happy Prince Rupert Everett has written, directed and starred in this film, a project he has toiled for years to get off the ground, and his commitment and belief in the endeavour is evident… read more
Journey's End - the Wednesday film - is a quietly magnificent - and hugely respectful - testament to those we must not forget.
3rd Nov 2018
Journey’s End (12A) While watching Saul Dibb’s superb adaption of R C Sherriff's masterpiece, I found myself being continually astonished that the play on which it was based was written only 10 years after the… read more
Common Ground's, The Mariner demonstrates just how good a touring company can be
27th Oct 2018
The Mariner If there is one word to describe Common Ground’s latest production, it would be ambitious. Handsomely staged, this mix of song, music and theatre tackles both Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s life and his most… read more
4 star review of 'The Mariner' Common Ground's latest production - coming 26 Oct
16th Oct 2018
Samuel Taylor Coleridge is probably as much remembered by the general public today for his troubled life and opium addiction as for his verse and association with Wordsworth’s circle. Of his poetry, the most likely… read more
The Hilarious World of James Campbell… yes everyone thought it was really hilarious.
15th Oct 2018
A review by Sophie. Yesterday I went to watch the amazing kid’s comedian James Campbell, he was a joy to watch and extremely funny- all the children and most of the adults were crying with… read more
Posted in Uncategorised
ARTS AWARD STUDENTS AT THE CORN HALL VOLUNTEER WITH PETE'S FAMILY JAM AT OUR SATURDAY CLUB
26th Sep 2018
On Saturday 22nd September we volunteered at Pete's Family Jam. It was a fun, light hearted 'get away' for children aged 0 to 100! The show incorporated both children and adults with easy to use… read more
David Vass enjoys reliving the many hits of The Kinks
23rd Sep 2018
Resolutely not a tribute band, The Kast off Kinks are essentially the real thing without the Davies brothers, and have been performing their considerable back catalogue for well over 20 years. Obviously pleased to be… read more
Wednesday film - part comedy, part travelogue, part mystery, part romance - will delight fans of Downton Abbey
19th Sep 2018
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Wednesday 26 Sept, 10.30am & 7.30pm Part comedy, part travelogue, part mystery, part romance, Mike Newell’s adaptation of Annie Barrows’s post-war epistolary novel is a film… read more
The Corn Hall Presents Diss in WWI
19th Sep 2018
The Corn Hall presents Diss in WWI. Commemorating the centenary of the end of WWI in 2018 we are pleased to be able to bring to the Corn Hall a series of events and activities… read more
Lady Bird - next Wednesday's film - features superb performances
13th Sep 2018
Depending through which end of the telescope you view Lady Bird (nominated for three Academy Awards), teenager Christine McPherson is either a bright young thing struggling against the suffocation of suburbia, or a brattish malcontent,… read more
I, Tonya - An absorbing tale that is both tragic and hilarious
6th Sep 2018
While not exactly America’s answer to the tribulations of Eddie the Eagle (Tonya Harding was a world class athlete) this shaggy dog story is similarly fantastical and contradictory. Director Craig Gillespie busts the fourth wall… read more
Toyah - Up Close & Personal at the Corn Hall
2nd Sep 2018
Perhaps the first British singer to be known only by her first name, Toyah entertained the Corn Hall with a string of post punk hits from the early 80s, and while for those of us… read more
Next Wednesday's film - literate, profane and very clever.
31st Aug 2018
What do you do, screenwriter and director Martin McDonagh seems to be asking, when there is nothing to be done? When a mother’s grief, following her daughter’s murder, turns to impotent rage she hits out… read more
Next Wednesday’s film - The Shape of Water – is a modern fairy tale that is both startling and uplifting
29th Aug 2018
The cinema of Guillermo del Toro is notoriously dark and troubling and, although his latest film is notionally set in the US of the 1960s, it is a typically fantastical alternative version of those troubled… read more
Have you tried wolf tail soup? Our three little pigs thought it was delicious...!
28th Aug 2018
On Saturday 21st July I went to watch the fantastic, child friendly performance at the Corn Hall, Three Little Pigs Tails (Young Reviewer Sophie pictured with Garlic Theatre's Iklooshar Malara). I was extremely impressed… read more
Authentic and truthful, A Fantastic Woman holds a mirror up to society
16th Aug 2018
If there was any doubt where director Sebastián Lelio’s was going with the Oscar Award-winning A Fantastic Woman, there’s a big clue in the film’s ironic title. While some might find transgender Marina Vidal, played… read more
Christopher Plummer - a brilliant performance as cantankerous Getty in next Wednesday's film
9th Aug 2018
Although loosely based on John Pearson’s book, Painfully Rich: The Outrageous Fortune and Misfortunes of the Heirs of J Paul Getty, the antecedence of Ridley Scott’s film has been largely overshadowed by the reshooting of… read more
Bethany Crow's review of Life on the Deben
18th Jul 2018
During my time at the Diss Corn Hall work experience day I had the pleasure of helping steward the movie Life on the Deben and then watching this interesting documentary. Throughout the documentary you learn… read more
Rowan Whittington Reviews Life on the Deben
18th Jul 2018
I am Rowan Whittington, a student from Diss Sixth Form, taking part in the student Takeover Day at The Corn Hall. Whilst doing so, I watched the Wednesday morning showing of Life on the Deben.… read more
Elliot Grayston Work Experience At The Corn Hall
13th Jul 2018
Work Experience: I am a student from Diss Sixth Form, and because of changing A-levels we had to complete a week of work experience. I had the opportunity to complete my work experience at the… read more
Posted in Training
Joseph Grayston Has Enjoyable Time During Work Experience Week At The Corn Hall
13th Jul 2018
For one week starting on the 9th of July I completed work experience at Diss Corn Hall. The opportunity arose after a change in A-Levels meant that students of year 12 at Diss High had… read more
Posted in Training
Luke Wright & Mike Garry mesmerised at June Poetry Club
3rd Jul 2018
Another six months have rolled by since the last time we had a night of performance poetry at the Corn Hall, but it proved to be worth the wait, with a selection of new poems… read more
Gary Oldman’s Oscar winning performance invests the character of Churchill with doubt, humanity and righteous anger - Darkest Hour Preview
25th Jun 2018
Churchill has been so lionised in reason times, that it’s both a surprise and a shock to be reminded how tenuous his authority was at the outset of the Second World War, and how capricious… read more
This Wednesday's film - heart-warming and beautifully judged
17th Jun 2018
Breaking Away When movies seem split between brainless big budget blockbusters and narrow gauge art house fodder, it’s tempting to harken back to a golden age of intelligent, offbeat, cinema intended for a mainstream audience.… read more
In Between - David Vass previews this Wednesday's film
12th Jun 2018
The idea of a dope-smoking, leather-jacketed lawyer and an aspiring DJ, opening up their home to a strait-laced, studious, ultra-conservative Muslim sounds like the setup for a credulity stretching social drama, but in the hands… read more
Luke Wright’s Stand-Up Poetry Club
9th Jun 2018
Another six months have rolled by since the last time we had a night of performance poetry at the Corn Hall, but it proved to be worth the wait, with a selection of new poems… read more
Young Reviewer thinks Water Babies is fantastic
20th May 2018
"It was about a little boy who did work up a chimney, his boss forced him to do it. He jumped into the sea because his life was just work. But when he jumped into… read more
Wednesday's film is a gloriously cinematic rollercoaster ride
18th May 2018
Murder on the Orient Express Kenneth Branagh’s film adaptation of Agatha Christie’s 1934 novel is a big budget, gloriously cinematic, giddy rollercoaster ride of a movie. A nostalgic indulgence that is not just for a… read more
String Theatre's inventive mix of puppetry and magic lantern entranced audience
17th May 2018
String Theatre’s charming adaptation of Charles Kingsley’s novel is a delightfully whimsical version of what is frankly dubious source material, thankfully borrowing more Lionel Jeffries’s film than Kingsley’s sombre satire damning child labour. Using an… read more
Arts Award students make a 'spectacle' of themselves!
17th May 2018
Our Silver Arts Award students had a specs-tacular time exploring our last exhibition in the Upper Gallery. The exhibition of Dipple & Conway’s optical paraphernalia was a hit with adults and children alike who were… read more
Posted in Arts Award, Exhibitions
This Wednesday's film will keep you gripped until it's surprising conclusion
14th May 2018
Loveless Filmed in the perpetual gloom of a snowy Russian autumn, Andrey Zvyagintsev’s latest movie paints a sombre, melancholy picture of a self-centred and supremely unsympathetic couple in the midst of an acrimonious breakup, oblivious… read more
Community Choir continuing due to popular demand
10th May 2018
Our Singing for All - Community Choir has been so successful we're running it throughout the summer. Our relaxed and informal choir meets on Saturday mornings and everyone is welcome :) Experienced and friendly tutor… read more
Sour Puss - A magical performance according to our young reviewer
8th May 2018
Recently I went to watch the heart-warming children's play, Sourpuss here at the Corn Hall in Diss. The acting capabilities of puppeteer Joanna May were so impressive the puppet strings disappeared and the puppets came… read more
Posted in Family, Uncategorised
Get Out! - an intelligent thriller says reviewer David Vass
4th May 2018
It’s a truism that the characters in thrillers frequently act irrationally, leaving their frustrated audience mute with impotent rage. All we want them to do is get out, yet they rarely follow this advice. Jordan… read more
Eastern Angles latest play is powerful and moving
4th May 2018
Eastern Angles have something of a reputation for cannily focusing on regional topics which nonetheless touch on universal themes. In Nicola Werenowska’s Guesthouse, the company uses the device of a struggling B&B in Clacton to… read more
Oscar & BAFTA winning film is a beautifully photographed love letter to Northern Italy
27th Apr 2018
Call Me By Your Name Set during a hot and seemingly endless summer, this beautifully photographed film is a love letter to Northern Italy, telling the minutely observed story of Elio, a grumpy teenager played… read more
Review of Open Space production of Dancing at Lughnasa
25th Apr 2018
Brain Freil’s play Dancing at Lughnasa is an uncompromising examination of how poverty so often leads to the stagnation of already challenged lives. If that sounds like a grim way to spend a couple of… read more
This Wednesday - Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool is refreshing and authentic, says David Vass
22nd Apr 2018
Loosely based on Peter Turner's account of his love affair with faded movie star Gloria Grahame, Paul McGuigan’s unassuming film Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool recounts a quiet romance between a struggling young actor… read more
Julius Caesar from National Theatre a hit
14th Apr 2018
Shakespeare’s essay on political expediency and the fragility of power is notoriously difficult to stage effectively. With an early exit for its eponymous lead, and the closing scenes largely taken up by folk shouting and… read more
ARTS AWARD STUDENTS TAKE A STAND
31st Mar 2018
Tuesday 6th March saw our Arts Award students take a stand during the inspiring theatre performance of ‘We are the Lions, Mr Manager!’ at the Corn Hall. The students were treated to an exclusive workshop… read more
Paddington 2 wins over our reviewer, David Vass
30th Mar 2018
Freed from the exposition of the little bear’s arrival in London, the sequel to Paddington gets stuck straight into the action, with a meticulously constructed screenplay that is crammed full of huge laughs, but also… read more
Local children explore the world of Winnie the Witch at the Corn Hall
29th Mar 2018
Following on from the visit of the internationally acclaimed children’s illustrator Korky Paul to the Corn Hall to open his exhibition and lead a charmingly interactive ‘Read & Draw’ Saturday Club workshop, the Arts &… read more
RoughCast Theatre - a bold and comedic Measure for Measure
19th Mar 2018
Despite Shakespeare’s prodigious output, only a relatively small number of his plays are regularly performed, so Roughcast are to be commended for tackling one of his trickiest, problematic plays, and for making such good sense… read more
A preview of The Party, screening this Wednesday
18th Mar 2018
Sally Potter’s first film since 2012 voyeuristically takes a peek at a group of self-satisfied, champagne socialists, as they tear lumps out of each other in an increasingly farcical, middle-class nightmare of social niceties, acid… read more
This Wednesday's film - Goodbye Christopher Robin - previewed
12th Mar 2018
Anyone expecting a sugar-coated period drama needs to approach this film with caution. Director Simon Curtis has instead delivered something altogether more substantial and troubling. Based on local author, Ann Thwaite’s biography of A A… read more
Townsend Productions latest is another hit with our reviewer, David Vass
7th Mar 2018
We Are the Lions, Mr Manager! Townsend Productions’ latest play sees the further development of Neil Gore as a writer of increasing confidence and individuality. In this unapologetic polemic, we still got his signature mix… read more
Dan Cruickshank - from heartbreaking destruction of Palmyra to the delights of Diss
4th Mar 2018
Anyone coming to the Corn Hall expecting a dry, sober lecture on the history of world architecture through one hundred iconic buildings might have been a little taken aback by Dan Cruickshank’s exhilarating roller coaster… read more
David Vass reviews Corn Hall Comedy
24th Feb 2018
If riffing off an audience without the safety net of prepared material is a sign of a fine compère, then Andrew Ryan is the epitome of that rare and special talent. Twenty minutes into his… read more
Wednesday film preview - La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast)
9th Feb 2018
La Belle et la Bête was directed by Jean Cocteau, one of the most multi-talented artists of the 20th century. In addition to being a director, he was a poet, novelist, painter, playwright, set designer,… read more
Churchill - A preview of the Wednesday film
2nd Feb 2018
Winston Churchill, consumed with guilt over the tragedy of Gallipoli, remained opposed to the D-day Normandy invasion of 1944 up until the eve of the landing. Famously, it was judged the turning point of the… read more
A preview of Wednesday film - A Man Called Ove
29th Jan 2018
Hannes Holm’s adaptation of Fredrik Backman’s bestselling novel is that rarest of things, a film that improves on its source material. In place of Backman’s broad brush comedy, Holm presents an altogether more nuanced take… read more
My Cousin Rachel - a preview
21st Jan 2018
Screening this Wednesday 24th January, Corn Hall previewer David Vass praises this new adaptation of du Maurier's classic tale. There must be something about Daphne du Maurier’s lean prose that lends itself to film adaptation,… read more
Posted in Film
Dunkirk - A Preview
15th Jan 2018
The story of the Dunkirk evacuation, which saw a flotilla of small civilian vessels assist in the rescue of stranded troops from France in 1940, has been told many times before, but never with such… read more
The Sense of an Ending - A Preview
5th Jan 2018
Notionally based on Julian Barnes’s novel of the same name, Ritesh Batra has refashioned Barnes’s meta-story of intrigue and misdirection into a compact and arresting puzzle that progresses with a pleasingly oblique trajectory. In place… read more
Great Family Fun - Aladdin at the Corn Hall
22nd Dec 2017
As the first year of the newly refurbished Corn Hall draws to a close, it seems only fitting that the occasion be marked with resolutely old fashioned Pantomime. Handsomely staged and dressed, Aladdin brought songs,… read more
Audiences are loving Aladdin!
18th Dec 2017
Here are some facebook reviews 5* Just got home from Diss Panto...we had such a great time and we all vary in ages so it suited everyone. Full of laughter fun, singing, dancing..the lot!!! Lee Peck… read more
A woman of no importance review
13th Dec 2017
This was the first of several Oscar Wilde revivals by Clear Spring, a company dedicated to celebrating work written and performed under the proscenium arch, and therefore needs to be seen as an education as… read more
Mark Thomas: A Show That Gambles on the Future - a review
7th Dec 2017
With previous shows focusing on his opera loving Dad, his campaigning days, and those in a Wakefield shed, Mark Thomas has often trawled the past for comic material with an edge. On this occasion, however,… read more
Posted in Comedy
Suddenly Last Summer at Wingfield Barns - A Preview
14th Nov 2017
If allowed only one word to describe Open Space Theatre, then it would have to be ambitious. Not content to take on Tennessee Williams, a challenging and contrary playwright, the group have tackled one of… read more
Griff Rhys Jones - Where was I?
6th Nov 2017
Griff Rhys Jones was in a loquacious mood at the Corn Hall, rattling through all manner of amusing anecdotes, as he shared behind the scenes insights from his years of travelling. Jones has had an… read more
Team Viking review
3rd Nov 2017
After his triumphant appearance in Jonny Donahoe’s Every Brilliant thing last year, expectation for James Rowland's return to the Corn Hall was high. Fortunately, his debut solo show proved to be worth the wait, showcasing… read more
Michael Portillo at the Corn Hall
30th Oct 2017
The epitome of the consummate public speaker, Michael Portillo wandered on stage, with faux casualness, on the dot of his allotted time, and proceeded to regale a packed house with anecdotes from his time in… read more
The Old Curiosity Shop review
30th Oct 2017
The Old Curiosity Shop by Common Ground Theatre Company The source novel for this production is an uneven, overly sentimental work that betrays its episodic origins. If you want to have a go at Dickens,… read more
Lady Macbeth Review
19th Oct 2017
It is a hundred and fifty years since Russian author Nikolai Leskov published Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District in Dostoevsky’s Epoch magazine, and adaptations of the novella have since been many and varied, but… read more
Posted in Film
I am Not Your Negro (12) - A Preview
6th Oct 2017
Novelist and playwright James Baldwin is perhaps best known for his social essays on the deeply divided US society that surrounded him, not least his unfinished manuscript Remember This House, a personal memoir of Malcolm… read more
Finding Joy - A Review
29th Sep 2017
Finding Joy – Vamos Theatre at the Corn Hall The ancient Greeks knew a thing or two. Mask theatre, when done well, manages to tap into something deeply emotional, almost primal, in a way conventional… read more
Denial (12A) - A Preview
28th Sep 2017
Directed by Mick Jackson, UK/USA, 2016, 110 mins With Timothy Spall, Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson In an age of alternative facts and fake news, Mick Jackson’s reconstruction of David Irving’s libel claim against Deborah Lipstadt… read more
Posted in Film
Moonlight (15)- A Preview
21st Sep 2017
Inspired by playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney’s postgraduate theatre project “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue”, Barry Jenkins’s second film is a remarkably assured portrait of three key moments in a young man’s life. Laden with… read more
Their Finest (12A) - A Preview
15th Sep 2017
There was a time when fake news was known as propaganda, and a time before that when propaganda wasn’t a dirty word. Their Finest explores how the ignoble retreat from Dunkirk was recast as an… read more
Posted in Film
Work Experience at The Corn Hall
13th Sep 2017
Earlier this year, I did my work experience at the Corn Hall. During this experience, I took part in helping at the box office, shadowing the technical assistants for film projection, making posters for the… read more
Posted in Staff
The Viceroy's House (12A) - A Preview
7th Sep 2017
Lord Louis Mountbatten was the last Viceroy of India, tasked with dismantling the last vestiges of the Empire. Together with his wife, he would have made a fascinating subject for a film in his own… read more
Posted in Film
THE JUNGLE BOOK (PG) - A Preview
26th Aug 2017
Directed by Jon Favreau With Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley For many, the animated 1967 film is not only Disney’s finest film, but one of the greatest of all time. When news broke the… read more
BARRY LYNDON (PG) - A Preview
24th Aug 2017
Directed by Stanley Kubrick, UK/USA/Ireland, 1975, 184 mins With Ryan O'Neal, Marisa Berenson, Patrick Magee Stanley Kubrick’s back catalogue is so august, that it’s perhaps inevitable that Barry Lyndon is less well known than the… read more
Posted in Film
The Wandering Spectre - An Update
17th Aug 2017
Since the beginning of the year The Keeper’s Daughter and The Corn Hall have been collaborating on The Wind Back Time project - a community focussed project to explore the heritage of Diss. This has… read more
Posted in Theatre
THE SALESMAN (12) - A Preview
16th Aug 2017
Directed by Asghar Farhadi, Iran, 2016, 125 mins, subtitled With Taraneh Alidoosti, Shahab Hosseini, Babak Karimi Asghar Farhadi’s seventh feature is the fourth to star Taraneh Alidoosti, who plays a woman attacked in the bathroom… read more
Posted in Film
Arts Awards Students Near Completion
11th Aug 2017
Following on from the very successful Arts Award 'take over day' when the teenagers saw their planning, promoting and preparation come together at the Hen House music workshop and performance for young children and their… read more
Posted in Arts Award
Hidden Figures (PG) - A Preview
10th Aug 2017
Directed by Theodore Melfi, USA, 2016, 127 mins With Taraji P Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe & Kevin Costner There is something uniquely satisfying about a film that is both educational and entertaining, and while… read more
Posted in Film
Manchester By The Sea (15) - A Preview
3rd Aug 2017
Directed by Kenneth Lonergan, USA, 135 mins With Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler Writer/director Kenneth Lonergan’s earlier features offered little evidence that he was capable of producing work of genuine merit, but in Manchester… read more
Posted in Film
NOTES ON BLINDNESS (U) - A Preview
28th Jul 2017
Directed by Peter Middleton & James Spinney, UK, 2016, 90 mins With Dan Skinner, John Hull, Marilyn Hull When John Hill realised he was going blind, he started recording his thoughts and feelings on tape,… read more
Alice Lee Bird Colouring- In Days
21st Jul 2017
We are so excited to be hosting Alice's exhibition of bird prints until 31 August. The exquisite drawings are based on bird life on the Mere and those found in Skelton's poem and now you… read more
Posted in Uncategorised
Toni Erdman (15) - A Preview
21st Jul 2017
Directed by Maren Ade, Germany, 2016, 162 mins, subtitled in parts With Sandra Hüller, Peter Simonischek The prospect of watching a German comedy that runs for a little under three hours would give the most… read more
Posted in Film
ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (12A) - A PREVIEW
6th Jul 2017
National Theatre Live (encore) 13 July 7pm It’s over fifty years since Tom Stoppard’s debut play premiered at the Edinburgh fringe, and it’s fascinating to the re-examine what the precocious talent of a twenty something… read more
Posted in Screening
Dr Phil’s Health Revolution - A Review
3rd Jul 2017
Phil Hammond was quick to embrace the brilliance of universal healthcare, but also admit to its shortcomings, in his frank and candid talk on the NHS, how he came to work within it, and the… read more
T2 Trainspotting - A Preview
21st Jun 2017
When news broke that, after twenty years, Danny Boyle would be making a sequel to Trainspotting, the abiding feeling was more trepidation than anticipation, such is the regard for the original film. Much to everyone’s… read more
Posted in Film
Professor Robert Winston - A Review
16th Jun 2017
Robert Winston made no concessions to the faint hearted with his fascinating talk that explored the ethical considerations increasingly brought to bear on a medical profession now able to make quite extraordinary genetic modifications to… read more
Flying Scotsman (15) - A Preview
15th Jun 2017
Director: Douglas Mackinnon, UK, 2006, 96 mins Jonny Lee Miller, Laura Fraser, Brian Cox With Jonny Lee Miller returning to the formative role of Sick Boy in Trainspointing after twenty years, it’s worth remembering what… read more
Posted in Film
Under the Shadow (15) - A Preview
8th Jun 2017
Directed by Babak Anvari, Iran/Jordan/UK, 2016, 84 mins, subtitles With Narges Rashidi, Avin Manshadi, Bobi Naderi As an Iranian brought up in Britain, director Babak Anvari is well placed to explore the challenges of a… read more
Posted in Film
LA LA LAND (12A) - A PREVIEW
2nd Jun 2017
Every time a successful musical comes along - Mamma Mia, Les Miserables, Moulin Rouge - it is heralded as some sort of rebirth. Proving, yet again, that there is still life in this continually reinvented… read more
Posted in Film
Have a go at weaving memories over half term- Bring your own materials!
21st May 2017
Kim from the Saori Shed will be holding free drop in weaving workshops with a difference. She is encouraging you to bring in personal material to weave with, it could be fabric from an… read more
Diss Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers demonstrate and exhibit at the Corn Hall
20th May 2017
We are pleased to welcome the Diss Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers back to the Corn Hall in our new Upper Gallery to celebrate Diss' rich textile heritage. They will be exhibiting a wealth… read more
Posted in Uncategorised
The Corn Hall galleries relaunch with Past Present Future and Nicola Hockley
18th May 2017
The Corn Hall has relaunched its exhibitions programme in its 2 new galleries. The Main Galley downstairs holds an exhibition of plans and artefacts connected to the reinvention of the Corn Hall and asks visitors… read more
Posted in Art
Our Kind of Traitor (15) - A Preview
17th May 2017
The phenomenal success of the BBC’s super glamorous Night Manager signalled a distinct shift away from the dour John le Carré adaptations of the last century, something Our Kind Of Traitor is happy to capitalize on.… read more
Posted in Film
Families - stuck for something to do over Half Term? Come to the Corn Hall!
17th May 2017
Don't sit twiddling your thumbs over half term, come and visit us at the Corn Hall, we have loads of great, cheap events and activities for you! Alongside Diss Guild of Weavers and Spinners exhibition… read more
Posted in Uncategorised
A Review: Saturday Club - Nick Cope
16th May 2017
Last weekend I went to the Saturday club at the reopened Corn Hall, where I saw Nick Cope doing a performance for all the family! Nick sang a variety of songs that were all very… read more
A United Kingdom (12A) - A Preview
14th May 2017
Director: Amma Asante, UK, 2016, 111 mins David Oyelowo, Rosamund Pike, Jack Davenport Although the love affair between Seretse Khama and Ruth Williams is at the centre of Amma Asante’s film, it is selling it… read more
Posted in Film
A Review: Lady Maisery
14th May 2017
Billed as a welcome return of folk music to the Corn Hall, Lady Maisery offered up something altogether richer and more varied. Hannah James, Rowan Rheingans and Hazel Askew showcased their considerable music talents with… read more
A Review: Luke Wright – The Toll
13th May 2017
A week on from the reopening of the newly refurbished Corn Hall, performance poetry returned to Diss with Luke Wright’s solo show, combining accomplished wordplay and brilliant showmanship to hugely entertaining effect. The Bard of… read more
Posted in Word
A Street Cat Named Bob - A Preview
4th May 2017
Based on James Bowen's bestselling autobiographical book, A Street Cat Named Bob is a heart-warming, yet surprisingly unflinching, examination of homelessness and drug dependency. Bob, a ginger stray, comes into Bowen’s life, and in doing… read more
A Review: Burton by Gwynne Edwards
29th Apr 2017
Richard Burton was a fascinating, contrary man that defied the logic of a job for life down the pit to become an international superstar, only to have his private life then eclipse his acting achievements.… read more
Mermaid and Sea Monster craft workshop at DC3 this morning
20th Apr 2017
Thanks to everyone who made a scary or beautiful sea monster at our craft workshop this morning. We really enjoyed turning DC3 into an underwater wonderland with the help of a group of talented young… read more
Edna tells Grace her stories about Diss
19th Apr 2017
A great wealth of stories and memories of Diss, Norfolk and London were shared during our reminiscence session at De Lucy House. We watched John Betjeman's film Something About Diss shot in 1964 and looked at… read more
Posted in Uncategorised
ALLIED (15) - A Preview
18th Apr 2017
Wednesday 26 April, 8pm at Diss High School as part of Corn Hall on tour, book tickets here. Robert Zemeckis has made a specialism of exploiting film wizardry to startling effect, from the insertion of… read more
See How They Run - A Preview
18th Apr 2017
Open Space’s occasional foray into British farce continued with their opening night of Philip King’s famous wartime comedy. Written and set during World War II, it’s a fascinating insight into psyche of a nation laughing… read more
Julieta (15) - A Preview
6th Apr 2017
Director: Pedro Almodóvar. Starring: Emma Suárez, Adriana Ugarte, Daniel Grao 15 cert; 98 mins Although based on three Alice Munro short stories, Almodóvar’s latest movie seamlessly blends Munro’s discreet narratives into a textured and satisfying… read more
Posted in Film
SULLY: MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON (12A) - A PREVIEW
3rd Apr 2017
How do you make a film out of an event that took place within the space of two hundred and eight seconds, and ends in a way that everyone is already familiar with? Putting Tom… read more
Posted in Film
Welcome to our Arts and Heritage Outreach Officer
30th Mar 2017
We have been so busy with preparations for re-opening we haven't had time to introduce our newest staff member, Justine. Here she is to fill you in on what she has been doing.... In my… read more
Posted in Staff
Getting your Board on board!
24th Mar 2017
Being new to the Corn Hall Board of Trustees and also to involvement in the arts sector I was happy to take up the offer of a training day run by ‘house’ an organization aiming… read more
Job Opportunities with Fredricks at the Corn Hall
14th Mar 2017
As part of the major project to refurbish the Corn Hall arts and heritage centre in Diss, we are opening a new cafe in the venue in conjunction with Fredricks Fine Foods. The cafe will… read more
Posted in Fredricks Cafe, Jobs
FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM (12A) - A Preview
10th Mar 2017
15 March 7.30pm, Diss High School Directed by David Yates, UK/USA, 2016, 133 mins With Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Morton, Katherine Waterston Harry Potter’s world is so quintessentially British, that reimagining wizardry in a New York setting… read more
Creative Collaboration on Wind Back Time Project
9th Mar 2017
The Corn Hall, The Keeper's Daughter and Arts Award had a very productive creative skills sharing session on Tuesday. The Keeper's Daughter led their group through structured improvisation around the memories recorded for the Wind Back… read more
Bolognaise, beautiful buildings and brilliantly crafted children’s theatre
8th Mar 2017
Bolognaise, beautiful buildings and brilliantly crafted children’s theatre… What better way to spend three bright sunny days in Bologna? The sightseeing and the epicurean experiences were squeezed in the intervals between the productions on show… read more
I, Daniel Blake (15) - A Preview
2nd Mar 2017
I, DANIEL BLAKE (15) Directed by Ken Loach, UK, 2016, 100 mins With Dave Johns, Haley Squires, Sharon Percy After the whimsy of Angel’s Share and the sentimentality of Jimmy’s Hall there were whispers that… read more
Free Figure Drawing at Keeper's Daughter Rehearsal
27th Feb 2017
If you like drawing and want to draw the human figure please join us for the Moving Figure Drawing workshop. We will use a variety of techniques and work at different scales to draw actors as they rehearse ideas… read more
Corn Hall Comedy Club - A Review
26th Feb 2017
This was probably the very last outing for the Corn Hall Comedy night at the Rugby Club before it returns to its natural home – a varied and lively night that had MC Keiran Boyd… read more
The Girl with All the Gifts (15) - A Preview
23rd Feb 2017
The zombie movie has, over the last 30 years, moved from the scurrilous arena of the video nasty to (almost) mainstream entertainment, and for many the transition has neutered what was an impishly transgressive pleasure.… read more
Posted in Film
Our Technical Bronze Arts Award begins
21st Feb 2017
Our new recruits on the Technical Bronze Arts Award practice their sound and video recording skills by making a talking-head style interview with our Technical Manager Harry Moore. The Tech Pathway gives young people the… read more
Posted in Arts Award
The Queen of Katwe (PG) - A Preview
19th Feb 2017
Chess playing in an outlying township of Uganda seems an unlikely topic for a film, not least when it falls to Disney to make the movie, but director Mira Nair has adapted the true story… read more
Posted in Film
Dare Devil Rides to Jarama - A Review
10th Feb 2017
Thursday 9th February 2017 Townsend Productions Dare Devil Rides to Jarama Louise Townsend’s eponymous production company has a knack for examining events of huge historical significance through the prism of an individual’s experience, and their… read more
Posted in Theatre
Share your memories of Diss
6th Feb 2017
Would you like to share your stories about Diss in a friendly environment with like minded people? Or learn how to record memories and publish your photos of Diss onto the World Wide Web? Would… read more
Introducing The Keeper's Daughter
6th Feb 2017
Hello all, we’re The Keeper’s Daughter! This is our first ever post on the website though we’ve been the resident theatre company at The Corn Hall for five years. We’ve got a bit to fill you… read more
Posted in Arts Award, Theatre
Refurbishment Update by Lucy Kayne
3rd Feb 2017
Lucy has been busy snapping onsite again this week. Here's a quick update on how the Corn Hall is progressing! " ngg_triggers_display="never" order_by="sortorder" order_direction="ASC" returns="included" maximum_entity_count="500"] read more
Posted in Refurbishment
Bridget Jones’s Baby (15) - A Preview
2nd Feb 2017
It’s twelve years since Renée Zellweger first brought Helen Fielding’s newspaper column to life, and after the wobbly sequel a few years back, this third instalment represents a resounding return to form. The diarised format… read more
Posted in Film
Lucy Kayne documents the refurbishment
23rd Jan 2017
For just over a year I've been lucky enough to witness the evolution of the Corn Hall first hand.Every couple of weeks since the Corn Hall closed for its refurbishment, I've donned a hard… read more
Posted in Refurbishment
Wind Back Time Event
23rd Jan 2017
Thanks to everyone who visited our Wind Back Time Sign-Up Event on Tuesday. It was great to meet you all and great so many of you want to get involved. There is still time to join us… read more
Posted in Uncategorised
Kubo and the Two Strings (PG) - a preview
20th Jan 2017
Kubo and the Two Strings (PG) Industrial giant, Pixar and plucky Brits, Aardman have of late dominated the animation market, so it’s good to see Laika elbowing their way in between. They combine computer generation… read more
Posted in Film
The Corn Hall welcomes new Technical Manager
19th Jan 2017
We are very excited to welcome Harry Moore to the Corn Hall Team. Harry will be busy getting the Hall ready for the reopening ensuring that we have sound, light, music and action!! Here is… read more
Posted in Staff
Departure (15) - A Preview
13th Jan 2017
Writer/director Andrew Stegall’s debut feature is a brittle, delicate window into the stifling relationship between a mother and her son, pregnant with ennui and the unspoken sadness of unfulfilled dreams and broken promises. Many will… read more
Posted in Film
Wind Back Time - A Community Project
11th Jan 2017
We have an exciting new community project with The Keeper's Daughter which has received development funding from Arts Council East. The project aims to get people to share local memories which will provide inspiration for a… read more
Posted in Arts Award
Arts Awards Students and Big Draw 2016
8th Oct 2016
Arts Award students helped with the Big Draw 2016 which was organised and hosted by Designermakers21 on Saturday 8th October 2016. The event was attended by about 100 people and over £100 was raised for… read more
Posted in Arts Award, Uncategorised
Felix Tooth Exhibition
2nd Jun 2016
Felix Tooth, one of our Silver Arts Award members, has an exhibition at DesignerMakers 21 from Thursday 2 June - Saturday 25 June. Please come see and support his wonderful work. read more
Posted in Art, Arts Award
Luke Wright’s Stay-at-Home Dandy - a review
13th Jun 2015
The Corn Hall’s quarterly Stand Up Poetry Club has been a show case for a delightfully eclectic selection of poets over the last few years. It’s perhaps fitting that, for the final session before the… read more
Kast off Kinks - a review
17th May 2015
A curious hybrid of heritage and tribute acts has emerged over the last few years – bands made up of departed personnel from groups no longer with us. Bruce Foxton still plays music From the Jam,… read more
Posted in Music
A Strange Wild Song by Rhum and Clay - a review
24th Apr 2015
The Rhum and Clay Theatre Company use their considerable skills in physical theatre to tell the touching story of an American soldier, lost in a ruined French village, who befriends three children amongst the rubble.… read more
Posted in Theatre
Henning Wehn - Eins Zwei DIY - a review
18th Apr 2015
Henning Wehn has carved himself a curious niche - as an oxymoronic German comedian in a country that prides itself on the quality of its stand up. Nicely riffing off the absurdity of such a… read more
Posted in Comedy
Bleak House - The Pantaloons Theatre Company - a review
28th Feb 2015
Adaptation of beloved texts, particularly those from the sacred canon, can be a tricky business. Stray too far from the source material and the purists are offended. Adhere too closely and nothing but a dreary… read more
Posted in Theatre
Electric Swing Circus - a review
26th Feb 2015
It was standing room only at the Corn Hall for the Electric Swing Circus’s infectious fusion of swing, break beat and house. With occasional nods to reggae and dubstep, their unique sound had the crowd… read more
Posted in Music
The Will Pound Band - a review
7th Feb 2015
Considering he is one of the best harmonica players on the planet, Will Pound seems a remarkably self-effacing man. Content for the most part to let his harmonica do the talking, audience chat took second… read more
Posted in Music
Marcus Brigstocke: Je M'accuse - I Am Marcus - a review
24th Oct 2014
Marcus Brigstocke is a sneaky fellow. Instead of his signature splenetic diatribes, he teased his audience’s assumptions about the show they were getting, with the simple pleasures of daft voices and warm gel on the… read more
Posted in Comedy
Recent Articles
- Bait is a true original in both form and content
- Dom Joly shares his holiday snaps with Diss
- Horrible Histories is a fun packed romp through Roman Britain
- John Hegley certainly knows his potatoes
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- Judy is Zellweger’s chameleon like transformation makes this her movie from beginning to end
- Downton Abbey film – a lavishly produced treat for the series many fans
- Boothby Graffoe headlines the strongest comedy line up for months
- J D King’s Elvis – here soon!
- A Triumphant Return for Common Ground’s Sherlock Holmes
- The Blues Band are better than ever in concert & on their new album
- Present Laughter – Andrew Scott’s brilliant performance in the National Theatre’s Production makes Noel Coward’s play sparkle
- A triumphant and life affirming return for Paul Sinha
- The Pantaloons Master one of Shakespeare’s Greatest Tragedies
- Yesterday is a funny, feelgood film that will delight fans of Richard Curtis’s very particular brand of film making
- Hazel O’Connor held her audience spellbound
- Start with Art! #NationalLottery25
- The Dave Thomas Big Blues Band delivers a masterclass in classic Chicago blues
- Gary Delaney brings down the house with his Gagsters Paradise show
- Rocketman – screening tomorrow – is bold, imaginative and original
- Another chance to see Fleabag on the big screen – it’s a terrifically entertaining showcase for Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s considerable talents
- The Keeper – a watchable, engaging story of hope & humanity triumphing over bitter resentment
- Cast your prejudices aside, you’ll be cheering over this heart-warming tale with family, East Anglia & wrestling at its heart
- Can You Ever Forgive Me? – you will, after seeing next week’s hugely enjoyable film
- Green Book – in spite of its hard hitting subject matter – is an absolute delight from beginning to end
- A Splash of Colour with IMPS: Abstract Expressionism
- Follow the Lost Boys, Hoist the Jolly Roger and Look Out for Captain Hook.
- Arts Award News
- In Loyal Company – a masterpiece of war storytelling
- Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie give powerful performances as the rivals in next week’s Wednesday film
- Roughcast’s rumbustious romp of A Midsummer Night’s Dream features a scene-stealing, marvellously exuberant Bottom
- All is True – Branagh & Dench are magnificent in this film which seeks to explain the great mystery of why Shakespeare retired so suddenly
- Ruby Watkinson: Work Experience Review
- Tom and Bunny Save The World – A review by Lissy Mapes Graham
- Ruby Whitehouse: My Work Experience at the Corn Hall 2019
- Stan & Ollie – next Wednesday’s film – is a warm, affectionate delight
- The Favourite – screening next Wednesday – is an eccentric, intriguing delight from beginning to end
- Julius Caesar by Silas Tooth
- Old Herbaceous – a night at the theatre that was a delight from beginning to end
- Ryan Gosling is excellent as Neil Armstrong in next Wednesday’s film, First Man
- Spring Flowers and Little Dewdrops
- Thomas Paine play was sometimes melancholy, frequently moving, and ultimately life affirming.
- Wednesday 15 May – your chance to see one of the best films ever made
- Luke Wright’s Stand-Up Poetry – a night of great pleasure
- David Vass talks to Ian Ruskin about his play Thomas Paine’s To Begin the World Over – performed at the Corn Hall on Thursday 9 May
- Next Wednesday: Bohemian Rhapsody – with a roster of superb concert recreations – is hugely enjoyable
- Gillian Anderson and Lily James – superb in the National Theatre live screening of All About Eve
- Mary Poppins flies into the Corn Hall this Wednesday
- The Pantaloons inventive reworking of The Odyssey is a triumph!
- Lady Gaga CAN act – See her in ‘A Star is Born’
- Next Wednesday’s film – a master class in screen acting that is as enjoyable as it is compelling
- Super Happy Story – genuinely good theatre with real emotional impact
- ‘Tom and Bunny Save the World’ Review by Roisin
- ‘Tom and Bunny Save the World’ Review – By Malachy
- TOM and BUNNY SAVE the WORLD. A review by Elvis
- TOM & BUNNY SAVE THE WORLD Review
- TOM AND BUNNY SAVE THE WORLD THE MUSICAL…
- TOM AND BUNNY SAVE THE WORLD THE MUSICAL!
- Stranger than fiction, Wednesday’s film BlacKkKlansman, is probably the best Spike Lee film in 20 years
- Luke Wright’s latest show – Poet Laureate – is unusually thoughtful and moving
- Hotel Salvation – anyone who has spent time with an ageing parent will find much that is achingly resonant.
- A Right Royal Draw-Along with Nick Sharratt, The Cat and The King, Timothy Pope and Tracy Beaker
- East Anglian film premiere brought to life George Butterworth – a man who might have become one of Britain’s foremost composers
- Singer ,Georgia Mancio delighted Diss Jazz Club with her interpretation of songs by Tom Jobim
- In an age of zero hour contracts and offshore sweatshops, Townsend productions provide a timely reminder of how effectively historical drama can resonate with the issues of today.
- A stellar cast makes The King of Thieves by far the best and most poignant cinema version of the Hatton Garden heist
- Cold War – A sweeping, yet oddly intimate love story
- January Comedy Club had a packed house cheering with laughter
- NT’s Antony & Cleopatra next Thursday is packed with enough intrigue to fill a mini-series
- We are Persimmon Community Champions!
- Fire your imagination at ARCADIA!
- ‘Royalty’ at the Corn Hall in the shape of Paul Jones & Dave Kelly!
- Allelujah! – something to celebrate!
- LECTURE ON WORLD WAR ONE ART WAS ENTERTAINING, EDUCATING, AND ENRICHING
- David Vass is swept away with the surprisingly moving new production of The King and I
- Enter the Dragon – weird and wonderful but David Vass wants more like this
- Luke Wright’s Stand Up Poetry Club presented a compelling contrast of talent
- Open Space’s Browning Version – their finest ever
- A riotous performance of Peter Pan is captured by a drawing soldier
- Next Wednesday’s film, The Happy Prince, has a message which is ultimately positive
- Journey’s End – the Wednesday film – is a quietly magnificent – and hugely respectful – testament to those we must not forget.
- Common Ground’s, The Mariner demonstrates just how good a touring company can be
- 4 star review of ‘The Mariner’ Common Ground’s latest production – coming 26 Oct
- The Hilarious World of James Campbell… yes everyone thought it was really hilarious.
- ARTS AWARD STUDENTS AT THE CORN HALL VOLUNTEER WITH PETE’S FAMILY JAM AT OUR SATURDAY CLUB
- David Vass enjoys reliving the many hits of The Kinks
- Wednesday film – part comedy, part travelogue, part mystery, part romance – will delight fans of Downton Abbey
- The Corn Hall Presents Diss in WWI
- Lady Bird – next Wednesday’s film – features superb performances
- I, Tonya – An absorbing tale that is both tragic and hilarious
- Toyah – Up Close & Personal at the Corn Hall
- Next Wednesday’s film – literate, profane and very clever.
- Next Wednesday’s film – The Shape of Water – is a modern fairy tale that is both startling and uplifting
- Have you tried wolf tail soup? Our three little pigs thought it was delicious…!
- Authentic and truthful, A Fantastic Woman holds a mirror up to society
- Christopher Plummer – a brilliant performance as cantankerous Getty in next Wednesday’s film
- Bethany Crow’s review of Life on the Deben
- Rowan Whittington Reviews Life on the Deben
- Elliot Grayston Work Experience At The Corn Hall
- Joseph Grayston Has Enjoyable Time During Work Experience Week At The Corn Hall
- Luke Wright & Mike Garry mesmerised at June Poetry Club
- Gary Oldman’s Oscar winning performance invests the character of Churchill with doubt, humanity and righteous anger – Darkest Hour Preview
- This Wednesday’s film – heart-warming and beautifully judged
- In Between – David Vass previews this Wednesday’s film
- Luke Wright’s Stand-Up Poetry Club
- Young Reviewer thinks Water Babies is fantastic
- Wednesday’s film is a gloriously cinematic rollercoaster ride
- String Theatre’s inventive mix of puppetry and magic lantern entranced audience
- Arts Award students make a ‘spectacle’ of themselves!
- This Wednesday’s film will keep you gripped until it’s surprising conclusion
- Community Choir continuing due to popular demand
- Sour Puss – A magical performance according to our young reviewer
- Get Out! – an intelligent thriller says reviewer David Vass
- Eastern Angles latest play is powerful and moving
- Oscar & BAFTA winning film is a beautifully photographed love letter to Northern Italy
- Review of Open Space production of Dancing at Lughnasa
- This Wednesday – Film Stars Don’t Die In Liverpool is refreshing and authentic, says David Vass
- Julius Caesar from National Theatre a hit
- ARTS AWARD STUDENTS TAKE A STAND
- Paddington 2 wins over our reviewer, David Vass
- Local children explore the world of Winnie the Witch at the Corn Hall
- RoughCast Theatre – a bold and comedic Measure for Measure
- A preview of The Party, screening this Wednesday
- This Wednesday’s film – Goodbye Christopher Robin – previewed
- Townsend Productions latest is another hit with our reviewer, David Vass
- Dan Cruickshank – from heartbreaking destruction of Palmyra to the delights of Diss
- David Vass reviews Corn Hall Comedy
- Wednesday film preview – La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast)
- Churchill – A preview of the Wednesday film
- A preview of Wednesday film – A Man Called Ove
- My Cousin Rachel – a preview
- Dunkirk – A Preview
- Young Marx – A Preview
- The Sense of an Ending – A Preview
- Great Family Fun – Aladdin at the Corn Hall
- Audiences are loving Aladdin!
- A woman of no importance review
- Mark Thomas: A Show That Gambles on the Future – a review
- Baby Driver – A preview
- Suddenly Last Summer at Wingfield Barns – A Preview
- Griff Rhys Jones – Where was I?
- Team Viking review
- Michael Portillo at the Corn Hall
- The Old Curiosity Shop review
- Lady Macbeth Review
- I am Not Your Negro (12) – A Preview
- Finding Joy – A Review
- Denial (12A) – A Preview
- Moonlight (15)- A Preview
- Their Finest (12A) – A Preview
- Work Experience at The Corn Hall
- The Viceroy’s House (12A) – A Preview
- THE JUNGLE BOOK (PG) – A Preview
- BARRY LYNDON (PG) – A Preview
- The Wandering Spectre – An Update
- THE SALESMAN (12) – A Preview
- Arts Awards Students Near Completion
- Hidden Figures (PG) – A Preview
- Manchester By The Sea (15) – A Preview
- NOTES ON BLINDNESS (U) – A Preview
- Alice Lee Bird Colouring- In Days
- Toni Erdman (15) – A Preview
- ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (12A) – A PREVIEW
- Dr Phil’s Health Revolution – A Review
- T2 Trainspotting – A Preview
- Professor Robert Winston – A Review
- Flying Scotsman (15) – A Preview
- Under the Shadow (15) – A Preview
- LA LA LAND (12A) – A PREVIEW
- Have a go at weaving memories over half term- Bring your own materials!
- Diss Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers demonstrate and exhibit at the Corn Hall
- The Corn Hall galleries relaunch with Past Present Future and Nicola Hockley
- Our Kind of Traitor (15) – A Preview
- Families – stuck for something to do over Half Term? Come to the Corn Hall!
- A Review: Saturday Club – Nick Cope
- A United Kingdom (12A) – A Preview
- A Review: Lady Maisery
- A Review: Luke Wright – The Toll
- A Street Cat Named Bob – A Preview
- A Review: Burton by Gwynne Edwards
- Mermaid and Sea Monster craft workshop at DC3 this morning
- Edna tells Grace her stories about Diss
- ALLIED (15) – A Preview
- See How They Run – A Preview
- Julieta (15) – A Preview
- SULLY: MIRACLE ON THE HUDSON (12A) – A PREVIEW
- Welcome to our Arts and Heritage Outreach Officer
- Getting your Board on board!
- Job Opportunities with Fredricks at the Corn Hall
- FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM (12A) – A Preview
- Creative Collaboration on Wind Back Time Project
- Bolognaise, beautiful buildings and brilliantly crafted children’s theatre
- I, Daniel Blake (15) – A Preview
- Free Figure Drawing at Keeper’s Daughter Rehearsal
- Corn Hall Comedy Club – A Review
- The Girl with All the Gifts (15) – A Preview
- Our Technical Bronze Arts Award begins
- The Queen of Katwe (PG) – A Preview
- Dare Devil Rides to Jarama – A Review
- Share your memories of Diss
- Introducing The Keeper’s Daughter
- Refurbishment Update by Lucy Kayne
- Bridget Jones’s Baby (15) – A Preview
- Lucy Kayne documents the refurbishment
- Wind Back Time Event
- Kubo and the Two Strings (PG) – a preview
- The Corn Hall welcomes new Technical Manager
- Departure (15) – A Preview
- Wind Back Time – A Community Project
- Arts Awards Students and Big Draw 2016
- Felix Tooth Exhibition
- Luke Wright’s Stay-at-Home Dandy – a review
- Kast off Kinks – a review
- A Strange Wild Song by Rhum and Clay – a review
- Henning Wehn – Eins Zwei DIY – a review
- Bleak House – The Pantaloons Theatre Company – a review
- Electric Swing Circus – a review
- The Will Pound Band – a review
- Marcus Brigstocke: Je M’accuse – I Am Marcus – a review
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