ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT
THE 2016 CANTERBURY FESTIVAL
Canterbury Festival has announced this year’ s super sized line-up, with events spanning three weeks. Each festival day provides a smorgasbord of entertainment.
Roald Dahl ' s Marvellous Med
Gilbert O Sullivan Oz Clarke © Simon Buck
Canterbury Festival Parade
Discover the city from the ground up with one of the festival walks varying from literary and archaeological, to tours of the city’ s inns, taverns and blitzed bits. Stop off for lunch at one of the Big Eat Out restaurants, where tantalising meal deals are on offer. Next it’ s time to drop into one of the many exhibitions taking place across the city before heading to the Cathedral Lodge for a fascinating talk. Don’ t worry, there’ s still plenty of time to head out for the evening’ s music and theatre offering. This really is a cultural pick-andmix, but what to choose?
Global superstar Gilbert O’ Sullivan returns to stage, giving his fans a chance to hear some of his number one hits. Firm Classic FM favourite, guitarist Milos with the English Chamber Orchestra Ensemble, en route to the Royal Albert Hall, perform a programme of music spanning the centuries from Bach to Beatles. Olivier awardwinning Showstoppers will entertain you with their incredible performance in which the audience title suggestions are used to create a unique allsinging, all-dancing production.
The ABode Hotel will host The Wedding Reception, an opportunity to become a guest at one of the most hilarious social events of the year. Over at the Spiegeltent, Australian circus troop Circa will take over for three nights with their beautifully crafted physical feats of daring. If you prefer cabaret, fear not, Mistress of Ceremonies Lili la Scala will be in residence along with some of her most beloved cabaret reprobates for two nights.
Whether you are a wine lover, a keen gardener, a historian or even a closet punk, there are plenty of talks that you will find fascinating. Oz Clake will bring his wine wisdom to the table; the‘ Gandalf of Gardening’ Monty Don is coming to help us bloom; historians David Starkey, Tracy Borman and Kate Williams will span history from the Magna Carta through to the roaring 20s; and the incredible Wilko Johnson will look back at his life, and is guaranteed to rock your world.
Family activities this October half-term will keep the children very busy. With subjects including Marvellous Medicine, Little Monsters and Magic’ s Collision with Science, there is plenty to spark the imagination. But it’ s not just about the children; this year the festival is delighted to have a family-friendly cabaret show, Variety Soup. Stuffed with wondrous antics and lots of laughs, it is suitable for anyone from 7-107.
This year the festival will be ofering children the chance to gain an Arts Award Discover Certificate for free! The Discover Hub will be running alongside the family-friendly shows and will give children the chance to meet the performers, get creative, share their experience, and receive a fabulous Arts Award Discover certificate.
The festival aims to fill every available space with entertainment, even the magnificent Cathedral becomes a canvas for concerts and exhibitions. Look up high in the guard chamber of the Westgate Tower, or down the medieval alleyways and you will find a show or exhibition, not forgetting a visit to the Spiegeltent( a roaming 1920’ s dance hall), which is returning to the city, oozing glamour and vintage charm.
These highlights are just the tip of the iceberg. With over 200 events taking place during the festival, make sure you take a good look through the festival programme and get scheduling!
For further details visit www. canterburyfestival. co. uk or call the festival office on 01227 452 853.
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