CHRIS ADDISON’S INCOMPLETE GUIDE TO CHAMBER MUSIC

Chris Addison & Ensemble 360

Cast, Doncaster
Wednesday 22 April 2026, 7.30pm

Tickets:
£7.50 to £22.50

Book Tickets
Home› What's on› CHRIS ADDISON’S INCOMPLETE GUIDE TO CHAMBER MUSIC

“It’ll be a really fun show with some of the most insanely talented musicians playing some of the best music ever written… All you have to know is – do you like a good tune? Because we’re going to be playing a ton of those.” Chris Addison

Chris Addison (The Thick of It, Mock the Week) joins Ensemble 360 to bring his infectious enthusiasm for classical music to Doncaster.

Telling the story of Europe from the courts of 17th century Italy, through the political and social revolutions of 18th and 19th century Europe, to the weird and wonderful sounds conjured by today’s contemporary composers, Chris takes us on a journey through the rich, vibrant – and sometimes bizarre – history of classical chamber music.  

Discover how a bassoonist beat up Bach, Mozart’s passion for the newly-invented clarinet (and for crude poetry), Beethoven’s embattled relationship with his failing hearing and the Emperor of France, and how Schoenberg tore up the musical rule book in a continent ravaged by war. Featuring live performances from some of the UK’s finest musicians and the inimitable curiosity and wit of Chris Addison’s storytelling, this will be an evening of insight, laughter and spine-tingling music. 

Programme includes excerpts from:
CORELLI Trio Sonata da Camera Op.2 No.1 in D
STROZZI (arr. Birchall) Che si può fare Op.8
JS BACH Prelude from Cello Suite No.1 in G
CPE BACH Flute concerto in D minor
HAYDN String Quartet Op.76 No. 3 ‘Emperor’
MOZART Trio for Piano, Clarinet and Viola K.498 ‘Kegelstatt’
BEETHOVEN Serenade for flute, violin and viola Op.25
CHOPIN Nocturne No.20 in C sharp minor
DEBUSSY Syrinx
S. COLERIDGE-TAYLOR Clarinet Quintet
SMYTH Piano Trio in D minor
SHOSTAKOVICH String Quartet No.8 in C minor Op.110
SCHOENBERG Suite for Piano Op.25
REICH New York Counterpoint
MEREDITH Tuggemo

 

“Perfect for someone like me who knows next to zero about classical music but [Chris] put people at ease, made us laugh and I loved the interaction with the musicians too who were bloody awesome!”

Audience comment

“I absolutely loved Chris Addison’s enthusiasm and knowledge. A history and music class rolled into one with beautiful performances from all the musicians… I left feeling elated and could have listened for hours!”

Audience comment

About the Artists

Chris Addison

Chris Addison is a British comedian, writer, actor, and director. He is known for his role as Ollie Reeder in the BBC Two political satire series The Thick of It (2005–2012) and Toby Wright in its spin-off film In the Loop (2009). He was a panellist on several editions of TV comedy panel show Mock the Week. He is known for lecture-style stand-up comedy shows, two of which he later adapted for BBC Radio 4.

Addison starred in the Sky Living comedy-drama Trying Again (2014) and appeared in three episodes of series 8 of Doctor Who. He co-created and starred in the BBC Two sitcom Lab Rats (2008). On radio, he hosted the weekly comedy news satire show 7 Day Sunday on BBC Radio 5 Live from 2009 to 2010. In 2020 he co-created the FX parental-comedy series Breeders, starring Martin Freeman.

Ensemble 360 musicians

Ensemble 360

Ensemble 360 has gained an enviable reputation across the UK for the quality and integrity of their performances. Formed in 2005, eleven musicians of international standing came together to take up residency in South Yorkshire with Music in the Round, establishing a versatile group comprising five string players, five wind players and a pianist.  Get a glimpse of them in performance here.

The Ensemble 360 musicians share a passion for the music which radiates through each performance. Their enthusiasm, drive and musicality captivate audiences both through the quality of their playing and their engaging spoken introductions. Due to the flexible nature of the group’s line-up the repertoire possibilities are enormous; anything from baroque duos, through classical quartets to new commissions for all eleven players.