Valley Arts Presents
Finders Keepers
A Chew Valley Community Production
Saturday 18 July 2026 – 2pm & 7pm
Sunday 19 July 2026 – 1.30pm & 6pm
Yeo Valley Organic Garden, Blagdon
There’s nothing like an unsolved mystery to get under your skin. Who buried 2,584 silver coins in a Somerset field during the Norman Conquest, and why did they never come back?
Nobody knows, but this summer, five local writers, two professional playwrights, and over forty residents of the Chew Valley have decided to find out, and the show they’ve made together is funny, surprising, and completely unmissable!
THE SHOW
Six suspects. Five are telling the truth. One is lying. And it’s up to you to decide which of them is the treasure traitor!
Inspired by the real story of the Chew Valley Hoard, one of the most extraordinary archaeological discoveries in British history, five local writers working with two professional playwrights have imagined six possible suspects for the theft and burial of 2,584 silver coins, and put them all on trial in front of the glamorous TV presenter Clawdia Twinkleclaw.
Expect deception, double-crossing, dodgy French accents, and an audience vote that could go any way!
This is community theatre at its most ambitious, most joyful, and most gloriously daft. Don’t miss out.
THE CAST
Finders Keepers began with an open call to the Chew Valley community, and the response was extraordinary!
Since then a cast of local people ranging in age from 8 to 80 have been rehearsing across the valley for months, bringing the story to life in ways only this community could.
The script has been developed by five local writers, Sam Auden, Rich Nicholas, Martin Richards, Rachel Sunley and Claire Traub, working alongside Playwright Kesty Morrison and dramaturg Toby Hulse.
The play brings together a diverse, intergenerational community cast supported by Somerset professionals from the creative sector. Co-directed by East Harptree resident Emma Earle and Nick-Cohen-White, with production design by Blagdon resident Zoe Squire to name just a few of the hearts and minds coming together to deliver this ambitious production by and for our community.
THE SETTING
Yeo Valley Organic Garden is one of the most stunning outdoor venues in the South West. Bring a chair, soak up the summer evening, and settle in for an afternoon you won’t forget!
Sat, 18 July 2026 – 14.00 & 19:00
Sun, 19 July 2026 – 13.30 & 18:00
Yeo Valley Organic Garden
Holt Farm
Blagdon,
North Somerset
BS40 7SQ
Notes on Performance
- Doors open an hour before the start time of the show (please do NOT arrived before this time), Yeo Valley have kindly offered for ticket holders to wander around the fabulous organic garden before the show.
- Chairs, picnics, blankets and any other low level accessories are welcome. No seating will be provided.
- Valley Arts will be putting on a bar for the evening, so please don’t bring your own drinks. We would really appreciate you buying your drinks from us, the proceeds from the bar go towards the cost of the evening, allowing us to continue offering great events like this in the future.
- In case of rain, please don’t bring umbrellas as they block sight-lines for other audience members. Ponchos and raincoats are just as fetching, so please wear these instead.
- NO DOGS allowed, this is a working farm
- This is an outdoors performance, surfaces may be uneven. There is a flagstone pathway to the grass performance area, which is all on one level.
- If you have any access related questions ahead of the performance please get in touch!
- Tickets are non refundable and the Production will take place in all weathers, it will only be cancelled in extreme weather conditions.