The Festival is coming!
During the 5 days leading up to the festival a series of foot-stomping, lunch-stopping street bands will bring an eclectic range of music to Norwich city centre, starting from City Hall at 12.30pm. Why not learn to tango with free lessons every evening on those same 5 days to help you make the most of the fantastic tango night, Buenos Aires Sunset held on Friday 2nd May at St Andrews Hall (tickets £15). Email
iwanttodance@nnfestival.org.uk for more details.
Finally, don't miss the results of the Creative Partnerships work with Norwich and Great Yarmouth schools as they present "Black Shuck - a Songscape", the story of the famour ghost dog of eastern England at the Great Yarmouth Hippodrome on Thursday 1st May at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are £3 (adults), £2 (kids).
Classical Music
This year’s festival opens with one of the great pieces of choral repertoire, Handel’s Zadok the Priest, performed at Norwich Cathedral by the world renowned
choir of King’s College, Cambridge. This is followed by
three great symphony orchestras,
two world-class string quartets, a
ground-breaking opera company, accordion and guitar virtuosos, one of the world’s
greatest vocal chamber groups, an “early music superstar” and the rising international stars of the
Royal Academy of Music.
Contemporary Music
Maceo Parker and Dennis Rollins team up to flood the Theatre Royal with rhythm. The legendary
Stan Tracey brings his thrilling jazz-piano skills to the Norwich Playhouse.
Willard White’s magnificent voice is joined by
Neal Thornton, the
Guy Barker Band and the
Pavão String Quartet.
Gilard Atzmon plays a unique personal tribute to Charlie Parker.
Roberto Fonseca melds Cuban style with sheer jazz-funk energy.
The Ku-Da-Mix Orchestra, joined by Zoe Raham, creates a world-music phenomenon and American trumpeter, composer and innovator
Jon Hassell joins Norwich’s own
The Voice Project choir in the world premiere of In Tsegihih, commissioned by the Norfolk and Norwich Festival.
Contemporary Performance
In Earlham Park, see
NoFit State Circus push the boundaries of modern circus in its giant silver spaceship tent. At the Theatre Royal, bathe in
Laurie Anderson’s sensuous electronic soundscapes and see breath-taking dance in
Michael Clark Company’s celebrated Stravinsky Project. Head to the Norwich Playhouse for
Barcelona Sunset – a high energy night of Spanish dance, film, VJs and DJs – and the twisted, exuberant drama of Hoipolloi. Visit Chapelfield Plain to become the principal character in “
Thy Kingdom Comes”, Dris Verhoeven’s experimental world. And at Indulge, join
Teatro de los Sentidos for an exploration of the sensory, sensual and imaginative dimensions of food and drink.
Children’s Events
Did somebody save “
Baby Rave”? Yes, they did! It’s a real rave for under 4s at St Andrew’s Hall, complete with a DJ, lights, projections, sensory flooring and parachutes. Wonderful for the youngsters and great fun for the young-at-heart!
For older children there’s just about everything they could wish for.
Circo de la Sombra delivers a huge helping of hilarious, acrobatic circus. The story of “The Elves and the Shoemaker” is told through magical puppetry by the
Theatre of Widdershins.
Tall Stories theatre company tells and sings of the fantastic, spectacular tale of “Monster Hits”. The world famous
Endellion String Quartet takes us on a magical journey through “The Secret World of Strings”, and on Saturday 10th May the
City of Secrets will be alive with free festival performances, indoors and out – all you have to do is find them!
Festival Finale
Taking place on Saturday 17th May at Earlam Park at 10.15pm, this year's free festival finale will be the biggest, loudest and most breath-taking ever!
Xarxa (say "sharsha) Theatre, Spanish masters of fire, explode into the festival with a huge and spectacular pyrotechnic show where fire turns into water! Veles e Vents (Sails and Winds) was originally conceived for the opening of the channel tunnel and was inspired by the beauty and force of the sea, and by the work of Valencian poet Ausiàs March.
For full details of all the shows go to
www.nnfestival.org.uk or call the
ticket hotline on 01603 766400.