World premieres, a major new art installation and large-scale free outdoor events have all been confirmed for the 2018 Norfolk & Norwich Festival.
Running from 11th to 27th May, the festival opens for public bookings tomorrow (8th March) . For many of the performances, a free ticket is available when GTOs book nine full price tickets.
The many events, entertainment offerings, performances and parades will take place at venues across the country of Norfolk, from Houghton Hall and Norwich Playhouse to Wells Beach and Norwich Cathedral.
From theatre to circus
The festival programme, which spans performance, theatre, music, visual arts, literature, circus, outdoor and family events, includes world and UK premieres.
The event will showcase international artists from across the globe, alongside UK talent presented across the county of Norfolk, from Norwich city centre and Great Yarmouth to Wells-next-the-Sea.
World premieres include the Norwich, Ely and Peterborough Cathedral Choirs combining for a concert; a durational choral piece from The Voice Project; Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening bringing the oldest Northumbrian folk songs to life; and the circus company, Barely Methodical Troupe headlining the Adnams Spiegeltent.
Further festival highlights will include: an opening parade of carnival drummers; London Philharmonic Orchestra in a programme of Mahler and Rachmaninov with pianist Arseny Tarasevich-Nikolaev; and banner-making workshops to mark 100 years of votes for women.
Norwich was England’s first UNESCO City of Literature in 2012, and to continue celebrating this achievement, the Writers’ Centre Norwich will present a literature programme throughout the festival, including the City of Literature Weekend, taking place over three full days (25th to 27th May).
The 2018 literature line-up will see writers such as Sarah Perry and special guests marking an important year for women in writing – 80 years of Rebecca, the 100th birthday of Muriel Spark and the 200th anniversary of Frankenstein.
For further information and to make group bookings for any of the programme features, visit www.nnfestival.org.uk.
(Photo credit: Chris Nash 2017).
