The full programme for Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2020 has been announced, and with tickets now on sale, we can’t wait until 8 May when the city comes to life with arts and culture. With a jam-packed lineup and some big additions, we’re highlighting 10 things we’re excited about #NNF20 bringing to our brilliant city. Bring on May!
Photo: Speigeltent, N&N Festival
For the first time, the 500-seater Adnams Main Stage will be landing in the Festival’s Chapelfield home. Sitting alongside the much-loved Adnams Spiegeltent, the Adnams Main Stage doubles the Festival’s offering of wild cabaret, mind-boggling circus, cutting-edge performance and late-night music. Combined with food stalls, bars and atmospheric hangout areas, Festival Gardens (as it’ll be renamed for two fantastic Festival weeks) makes for an oasis of entertainment, slap-bang in the centre of the city.
The Festival kick-starts with a Welcome Weekend feast of free street art throughout Norwich’s city centre. Across Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 May, Hunt & Darton’s Radio Local will be beaming live from Hay Hill, in a 24-hour broadcast marathon featuring people on the street and communities in Diss, King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth. Benjamin Vandewalle’s Studio Cite and La Fabrique Royale’s Zero Degre top off an interactive weekend that promises to entertain, challenge and delight!
Photo: Upswing – Catch Me
This year the Festival is taking strides towards addressing our climate crisis. From 2020, Festival vendors will no longer be selling plastic bottles, meat or fish, and free water stations in Festival Gardens ensure a more eco-friendly experience.
While the Festival may be greener than ever, things have taken a turn for the orange. From a new-look brochure to a new volunteer outfit, expect to see the town painted tangerine, as the Festival proves that orange really is the new black.
Photo: Apocalyptic Circus
After their smash-hit run of A Simple Space, Australian contemporary circus troupe Gravity & Other Myths are returning with their latest show, Out of Chaos. With a 4-night run opening the brand new Adnams Main Stage, expect the boldest, most ambitious stunts from the company pushing their performers, and our expectations, right to the edge.
A programme of free, community-oriented events and activities, ‘Meet Me At The Festival’ is always a high point of May. Including Bounce N Rhyme events, yoga, art and craft making, singing sessions and a lot more, check out the extended programme on the Festival website!
Photo: Gob Squad – Super Night Shot
15 years ago, British-German performance collective Gob Squad performed their show Super Night Shot at Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2005. This year they return to the city, once again taking to the streets to perform their electric, improvised show with Norwich-ites at its heart.
Norfolk & Norwich Festival have teamed up with Alumno Group to offer £7.50 tickets to anyone aged 18-25 to most Festival shows. Combined with a load of multi-buy offers, as well as concessions for those aged over-60, students and jobseekers, some of the best seats are now available at the lowest prices.
Photo: Garden Party – Motionhouse -by ©JMA Photography
The middle weekend Garden Party transforms Chapelfield Gardens into a free hub of world-class performance, hands-on activities and family fun. This year expect plenty of alfresco fun, with 6 world premiere shows, pop-up stalls from local organisations and food trucks rolling up to offer some of the best food in the county.
Programmed by the National Centre for Writing, the City of Literature weekend closes the Festival with over 30 literary events, both in Festival Gardens and at the historic Dragon Hall. With talks from Ali Smith, A.C. Grayling, Olivia Laing, Preti Taneja, Patrick Barhkam, Sayaka Murata and more, book lovers have a whole lot to look forward to this Festival.
