The Autumn Festival of Norfolk, previously known as The Hostry Festival, has announced a jam-packed 2023 programme.
The event runs from September 17 to November 25 and includes a new weekend of dance, a sensory arts festival, multi-cultural events, gastronomic experiences, high-profile guest speakers, drama, music and visual art at venues across the county.
The Autumn Festival of Norfolk, in partnership with UEA, includes locations ranging from its traditional home in Norwich Cathedral’s Hostry to other arts venues across the city and county.
Guest appearances by best-selling authors will come from festival patron and Radio Four ‘In Our Time’ broadcaster Melvyn Bragg (October 29); founder member of the Comedy Store and former ‘Young One’ Nigel Planer (October 28); broadcaster, columnist and campaigner for prison reform Jonathan Aitken (October 28); and Canadian historian and Reith Lecturer Margaret MacMillan (October 29). READ MORE: Finalists for the Norfolk Arts Awards 2023 revealed
They are joined on the programme by writers Paul Jackson, creator of the fantasy world Elsewhere (October 1); Rebecca Stott, author of In the Days of Rain (October 27); theatre critic and Guardian writer Michael Billington (October 27); and Norfolk playwright and poet James McDermott (September 30).
Actors Lucy Fleming (Love Sarah, Survivors) and her husband Simon Williams (Justin in The Archers, EastEnders, Upstairs Downstairs) will be reading Posting Letters to the Moon (October 20).
Violinist Braimah Kanneh-Mason will be joined by other members of his musical family in a classical concert and talk (November 4); while soprano Lisa Cassidy joins with pianist Jennifer Walsh for a candlelit concert (October 14).
The African Choir of Norfolk will be entertaining with a special gala evening concert, which includes a three-course African-inspired meal and dancing, at Caistor Hall (September 23).
The choir will make a second appearance at Way of Sankofa (November 25) - a multicultural mini-festival.
Uplifting music also comes from Bo Nanafana’s return with Ocean’s 11 as they transform Gorleston’s Ocean Room into a night of Vegas mayhem (November 3) when the Norfolk Arts Awards will also take place; while Hotstove3 will also entertain at Gorleston’s Margo’s Lounge (November 17).
The 2023 Central Production, produced by The Norfolk Actors Company, is Lady Windermere’s Fan (October 23-28).
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Barrington Farm at Walcott will play host to a Harvest Festival sensory arts event (September 29 to 30).
Renowned artist Michael Smith will be exhibiting a selection of his work during the festival.
There will be a new weekend of live dance events and workshops (October 7-8) presented by Total Ensemble with Dance into the Fall.
The Norfolk premiere of ‘Is There Anybody Out There?’, a personal documentary following Ella Glendining’s search to track down other people with the same rare disability as her, is on September 17.
A screening of The Islands, telling of a journey through Guadeloupe, Cuba and Jamaica spanning 600 years of dance, is on October 8.
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Stash Kirkbride, artistic director and co-founder of the festival, said: "As we enter our 12th year, we are turning over a new leaf and relaunching as the Autumn Festival of Norfolk.
"With our outreach programme now engaging with even more people, our new title helps to illustrate further our ethos of celebrating creativity, inclusion and year-round community."
Peter Barrow, co-founder and executive producer, added that the festival would "remain fully independent and not-for-profit, continuing to support our four Festival Signature Projects: The Norfolk Arts Awards, Total Ensemble: Arts Initiative, The African Choir of Norfolk and The Norfolk Actors Company."
Buy tickets at autumnfestivalofnorfolk.org, call 01603 598676, or buy in person at Norwich Theatre Royal
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