Norfolk & Norwich Festival returns from the 8-24 May with 17 days of music, circus, literature, visual arts and performance across Norwich and around Norfolk.
One of the country’s oldest, Norfolk & Norwich Festival began in 1772. It evolved into one of Europe’s premier classical music festivals before becoming the multi-arts celebration it is today.
The Festival begins with ‘The Welcome Weekend’ – two days of free outdoor shows for all the family spilling out across the streets of Norwich.
Taking over the city centre park, Chapelfield Gardens - cheekily renamed ‘Festival Gardens’ for two weeks - the Festival offers alfresco bar and food and pitches a beautiful Art Nouveau Spiegeltent, made of wood, glass and mirrors. The Spiegeltent plays host to a programme of music, cabaret and circus including this year’s headline show, Wolf from Australian circus giants, Circa.
Classical music highlights include pianists Pavel Kolsenikov and Samson Tsoy at the city’s newly refurbished Halls; the innovative Scottish Ensemble, with a programme of Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich at Norwich Theatre Royal; and resident artist, James McVinnie’s grand Bach organ recital – Clavier-Übung III at the church of St Peter Mancroft.
Elsewhere you’ll be able to find new work from Syrian virtuoso qanun player, Maya Youssef; dance cabaret from the acclaimed Thick & Tight; novelist Ali Smith discussing her new book, Glyph; and traditional Irish folk musician, Danny O’Mahony.
Norfolk & Norwich Festival runs from Friday 8 – Sunday 24 May. Visit the Festival’s website to see the full programme.
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