Join the Read-Through by booking a ticket here!  We* are putting on an exciting theatrical production ABOUT Southend pier and ON Southend pier - for schools and for the public - from 19th - 23rd of September, but before we do that, we need your help!   Our acts span the pier's long and fascinating […]

Book a free ticket here! Myths of Essex  Essex boys, witchcraft, forgotten histories and a home like no other...  An evening at Chalkwell Hall with four brilliant writers, artists and activists, each with a unique knowledge of Essex and the stories it holds.   Join our guests as we delve into the myths, legends and […]

Book to attend the launch here! The first novel from Essex writer and author Rose Cleary, published by Weatherglass Books. An opportunity to hear from Rose and purchase your own copy on the night. “a fierce, disturbing and funny debut novel about desire, art and what we’ll risk to change ourselves”   About Rose Cleary […]

As part of this year's Leigh Art Trail, we commissioned local writers group Estuary Writers to take over the waiting room on Platform One at Leigh-on-Sea train station.   Estuary Writers were given the brief 'The Waiting Room' in April 2023, with a 100-word limit and open genre. They visited the site together to find […]

Come and create with us! Professional street artist Karl Sims will give you a taster of working with the medium of spray can art. In Chalkwell Park, next to Metal’s Chalkwell Hall you will be able to explore new techniques on large-scale canvases. This workshop is free and there is no need to book, just […]

Thursday 20 July 7pm - 10pm £20 + booking fee BOOK HERE! Scared of Shakespeare? Hated it at school? Or perhaps you like Shakespeare but want to learn to love it? Good news! Coming to Metal on Thursday 20 July is a one off, 3 hour Shakespearean workshop with Southend based, professional actor and playwright, Anne […]

Come along to one of our artist advice and support sessions.    The sessions:    We are offering free 1:1 sessions for artists who live and/or work within our local areas. They will be led by you and what you would like to discuss.     Sessions may include:   - Discussing your creative practice  - Talking […]

Introducing our first food residency! Mother and daughter duo, MumTas, will be in residence with us, cooking across the weekends of August in our pop-up café space in Southend. Takeaway only (there are benches throughout the park). Get ready to have your taste buds tickled and your belly filled with delight! These homemade Indian snacks […]

We are excited to be a host of the Black British Book Festival UK Book Tour this summer! As a part of Black British Book Festival author Jacqui Rose is hosting a workshop at Metal, taking you on a gripping journey into the dark and dangerous world of her latest crime novel, “The Women". Behind […]

Come and learn a Shakespeare play in a day with Platform Theatre Arts, hosted at Chalkwell Hall! On Tuesday 15 August, get to know Shakespeare's Macbeth in these creative, fun and exciting drama workshops hosted by local youth theatre, Platform Theatre Arts (for 11 - 19 year olds). Each workshop will explore the story, characters […]

Bristol based artist Tom Marshman is gathering communities to explore the impact of Section 28 legislation introduced by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government. Tom will host a series of tea parties with Gloucestershire Heritage Hub, Strike a Light, Voices Gloucester, Trinity, Bricks and Metal Peterborough, to discuss the impact of Section 28 on the LGBTQIA+ community. […]

Come and learn a Shakespeare play in a day with Platform Theatre Arts, hosted at Chalkwell Hall! On Thursday 17 August, get to know Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream in these creative, fun and exciting drama workshops hosted by local youth theatre, Platform Theatre Arts (for 11 - 19 year olds). Each workshop will explore […]

We’re excited to be hosting our next reading group as part of the Growing Together in Peterborough: Exploring and Celebrating Food Systems programme. Over the past year, Metal has been hosting a series of reading groups. These provide a space to connect, discuss and explore the themes of a book published by The Left Book […]

Magical Living with John Tarrow, creator of Talliston House and Gardens  Thurs 7 Sept 6.30pm - 9.30pm Metal Southend (Chalkwell Hall, SS0 8NB) Book your ticket here, directly through the Talliston website! A talk and workshop with award-winning author and creative director John Tarrow, the man behind the twenty-five year transformation that turned the UK’s […]

Polyvinyl Craftsmen present an evening of alternative music, live and on record at Chalkwell Hall. The Routes are a surf garage band from Japan and The Silk Cuts are an indie pop band from Devon. PVC DJs will also be playing live on the night. Book tickets here.

Lucky Dip is back at Chalkwell Hall to spice up your creative calendar! This quarterly event is a chance for local artists and creatives to connect and celebrate the joy in art. Book free tickets here. Lucky Dip is formatted as an evening of two halves: First up, a surprise creative session led by our […]

We’re excited to welcome artist Martha Cattell to host an Alternative Process Photography workshop as part of our Future Network programme. During the workshop we will think about how you can have a more sustainable art practice with a focus on alternative process photography and testing out multiple ways of making camera-less photography. We will […]

In 1974, the contraceptive pill was made available to single women on the NHS for the first time. What has changed since then? What if child-free/childless women were at the centre of that narrative? The Baby Question is a theatrical film exploring the narratives of women who are child-free by choice or circumstance, set in […]

Africa Oyé and Metal present a workshop and performance with griot and world-class Kora player, Diabel Cissokho.