Salisbury International Arts Festival programme announced
SHAKESPEARE’S Hamlet, children’s magic shows, and outdoor dances and theatre are among the highlights of this summer’s Salisbury International Arts Festival.
The annual arts festival, founded in 1974, returns in May and June with a variety of performances and events for the local community, including a celebration of the 60th anniversary of The Rolling Stones’ performance at Salisbury City Hall in 1964.
Artistic director of Wiltshire Creative, Gareth Machin, said: “The Salisbury International Arts Festival lies at the epicentre of our programming, and we’re proud to bring a wealth of talent to the region with a diversity of programming for all.”
The festival will begin with the return of City Encounters, the free community-led event brought to the streets of Salisbury which kicks off with Patch’s Parade on Sunday 26th May.
Festival favourites The Lord Chamberlain’s Men will also return in their outdoor, all-male production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet at Rack Close on 7th and 8th June.
Other highlights include spoken word from Anthony Horowitz, David Baddiel and Juliet Stevenson; a performance of the ground-breaking circus adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s classic novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles called TESS on 5th June; and the Best of Gilbert and Sullivan from the principal singers of the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company on 30th May.
Mr Machin added: “We’re bringing back the popular City Encounters, an event which not only brings the community together but showcases the wonderful talent we have in the town. It’s set to be a summer to remember!”
Musical events are also in the spotlight, including With The Rolling Stones, which celebrate the 60th anniversary of The Rolling Stones’ performance at Salisbury City Hall in 1964; BBC Radio 2 and Jazz FM broadcast favourites The Clare Teal Seven; as well as Red Sky at Sunrise and English folk, hip-hop and indie by Tiny Violins.
The festival season will feature a host of laugh-out-loud shows, including Punt and Dennis on 1st June and Ruby Wax: I’m Not As Well As I Thought I Was on 6th June.
LîlaDance will grace the Salisbury Arts Centre with Fault Lines, the stunning dance which integrates immersive digital imagery, evocative writing and cinematic music on 29th May.
The festival offers a range of family-friendly events including Long Nose Puppets’ production of Out Of The Hat! magic show; and children can get involved in the live, interactive show Claytime where they get to mould the story.
For full details of the of the festival programme, visit wiltshirecreative.co.uk
