ArtsEast August - September 2019

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ARTSeast Aug-Sept 2019

Roll up for the Out There Festival Sainsbury Centre celebrates Magdalene Odundo

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Aug-Sept 2019

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The Visual Arts Guide 2019

Featuring artists, art galleries and workshops across Norfolk & Suffolk Published by ARTSeast Magazine DBH 21, Diss Business Park, Hopper Way, Diss, IP22 4GT

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ARTSeast

Editor’s Welcome

Competition Winner from the previous issue: Tickets to the Shakespeare Festival at Norwich Cathedral - Jo Mortimer of Skeyton

ARTSeast Magazine DBH 21, Diss Business Park, Hopper Way, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4GT www.artseast.co.uk www.falconpublications.co.uk follow us @artseastmag

Publishers Gary Enderby & Sarah Veness Editorial Sarah Veness sarah@artseast.co.uk 01379 773348 07803 328258 Advertising Gary Enderby gary@artseast.co.uk 01379 773347 07722 163703 Social Media Manager Sam Enderby Accounts Julia Aitken accounts@artseast.co.uk 01379 773349 Design Copy Concept ian@copy-concept.co.uk 01379 608358 Distribution Melvyn Veness Andrea Snowden Published by Falcon Publications

Welcome to the August / September

personal stories brought to life just as

issue of ARTSeast Magazine.

beautifully as the characters in his many

The weather is (mostly) perfect for exploring

popular novels.

the amazing exhibitions, concerts, festivals and

We also focus on the beautiful portraits by

other cultural events happening this summer

artist Terence McKenna, delve into the new

in both Norfolk, Suffolk and slightly further

exhibitions at The Sainsbury Centre for Visual

afield.

Arts in Norwich and Gainsborough’s House in

In this issue we take a look at some of the

Sudbury, preview the Norwich Print Fair and

region’s upcoming festivals including the Out

take a look at the Art Eat Festival taking place

There International Festival of Circus & Street

on The Waterfront in Ipswich.

We have a pair of tickets to see Britten Sinfonia at Norwich Theatre Royal to give away to one lucky reader in this issue. We’d like to say a big thank you for all your feedback on the new size of ARTSeast. It’s great to hear such positive comments.

Arts in Great Yarmouth, HighTide Festival in Aldeburgh and the Noirwich Crime Writing Festival organised by the National Centre for Writing and the UEA in Norwich.

For our coffee and a chat feature, we caught up with Michael Morpurgo ahead of his appearance at The Apex, Bury St Edmunds. It promises to be a fantastic night with his

In the meantime, we hope you find something to love in this issue and that you have the chance to enjoy some of the amazing events we have written about.

Sarah Veness Editor

Ritual doll, Late 19th/early 20th Century, Asante. UEA 631. Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia.

Photographer: James Austin Cover image: Magdalene Odundo Exhibition (see p13)

Aug-Sept 2019

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Visual Arts News

24 Theatre & Film News

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Artist Profile: Terence McKenna

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Out There Festival

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Music News

13 Sainsbury Centre:

Magdalene Odundo

17 Gainsborough’s House: Masters of the Golden Age

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33 Britten Sinfonia Competition 35

What’s On News

19 Norwich Print Fair

37 HighTide Festival

20 Arts Council: The Next 10 years

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22 Coffee & a Chat:

42 Art Eat Festival

Michael Morpurgo

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Noirwich Crime Writing Festival

Subscribe to ARTSeast We can deliver ARTSeast direct to your door with a year’s subscription of six issues at just £15. All subscribers receive a £15 voucher to spend at Photo Elite in Diss which can be redeemed online at photoelitediss Just order your subscription online and pay by PayPal at info@artseast.co.uk or by online bank payment to Falcon Publications account no: 45594171 sort code 52-30-31 stating your name as reference. Please also remember to email your full name and address to info@artseast.co.uk

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Visual Arts News A Feast for the Arts Art on the Prom returns to Felixstowe on September 1st.

Banksy gets his hook into Ely Cathedral

The free art festival, in

An extraordinary art work by the renowned street artist,

its 16th year, will

Banksy, will be on temporary display in Ely Cathedral this

stretch along the

summer. The Grappling Hook (2017) is an original piece

Felixstowe seafront

signed by the artist, and is presented in the form of a large

from the pier to the Spa Gardens, showcasing over 100 artists to

crucifix with 3 steel grapples and over 4 metre length of

over 20,000 visitors during one of the biggest outdoor art

knotted rope. It is widely acknowledged as one of the most

festivals in Suffolk. A wide variety of art will be on show,

iconic pieces to emerge from Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel in

displaying work produced by local, professional and amateur

Bethlehem and was created as a powerful statement

artists, featuring glass, ceramics, metalwork, willow work,

highlighting the struggles surrounding the West Bank and

painting and much more. Visitors can purchase pieces of art to

the division of the two most holy cities in Christianity. As well

take home and treasure or take part in have-a-go activities on

as the Grappling Hook, the specially created hand sprayed box

offer for all age groups, creating a piece of art to take away. A

will also be on display. It has been described as arresting,

travelling exhibition, Food Wars: The Battle on the Home Front,

moving and polemic and ranks alongside the artist’s most

will also be on display at the event, exploring the relationship

significant works. The Grappling Hook has been kindly loaned

between conflict and food, with original documents and archive

to the Cathedral by an anonymous specialist collector and will

footage of East Anglia from the Imperial War Museum.

be in situ until the end of September.

www.artontheprom.uk

www.elycathedral.org

Pack your Trunk and head to Ipswich Until September, a herd of individually designed and beautifully created sculptures are coming to the streets, parks and open spaces of Ipswich, as part of a massparticipation art event based on the much loved children’s character, Elmer the patchwork elephant. Around fifty designs were selected from more than two hundred submissions, featuring artists from right across the UK, as well as representing the wealth of local talent that Suffolk has to offer. Each of these individual designs is a unique piece of art, which will go to auction on October 3rd 2019 to raise valuable funds for St Elizabeth Hospice. Trail visitors and prospective buyers will have a chance to see all the sculptures for one final time at the farewell event - Elmer Packs His Trunk - which will be held in the Grand Hall of Ipswich Corn Exchange over the weekend of September 28th-29th. www.elmersbigparadesuffolk.co.uk

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‘86ft’ High Summer Exhibition Running until September 1st, the Summer Exhibition at Naze Tower is always a celebration of creativity. This year is no exception with over twenty artists from the region showing inspiring work in a diverse range of mediums from ceramics and glass to hand made prints and painting. Enjoy the art over six floors as you climb this historic navigation tower and be rewarded when you get to the top with

Fragile Nature - from control to freedom This exhibition, running until September 15th, celebrates the third anniversary of GroundWork Gallery in King’s Lynn and gives us some hope for renewal of nature.The message from all four female artists is that out of destruction comes new life and renewal. French artist Paca Sanchez manipulates nature itself, making direct use of plants to create poetic new order. This is

spectacular 360 degree panoramic coastal views. There is also a museum and tea rooms on the way up too.

Artists include the ever-popular Samuel Thomas whose instantly recognisable work is inspired by pop art and art deco, plus work by Alice White which explores the richness of marine life.

Paca’s first exhibition in the UK. Elspeth Owen is a radical, entirely original, ceramic artist, working from her Granchester studio. Lotte Scott engages in risky experimentation with free forms from unpredictable watery suspensions of peat, and sculpture from burnt basketry. For the youngest of the four, Emma Howell, new life from destruction has become quite literally an essential element of her work, in her recovery from

www.nazetower.co.uk

grief following her father’s sudden death. She dedicates her art to her father, and her bright, life-affirming images, full of

Black Girl

symbolism, have made her something of a social media star. www.groundworkgallery.com

Essex A new exhibition at Firstsite in Colchester poses questions about black identity in Essex, asking in particular how African Caribbean cultures can be upheld. Black Girl Essex, running until September 22nd, will include three film works—Forgotten Black Essex, 150 Lies Myths and Truths and Goat Curry and Rap—by British African-Caribbean artist, producer and activist Elsa James. Based in Southend-on-Sea, Elsa’s work focuses on opinions held towards people of African Caribbean heritage and the stereotyping of Essex women. Black Girl Essex will be the first presentation in a reconceived space at Firstsite called The Living Room, which for the next 3 years will also be a working studio—a site not only for the presentation of art and exhibitions, but also their making. Elsa will be ‘in residence’ at Firstsite, developing new artwork through a programme of open discussions with local black communities.They will be shown at Firstsite in October 2019. www.firstsite.uk

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Aug-Sept 2019

Artist ProďŹ le: Terence McKenna Norfolk artist Terence McKenna captures the essence of his subject, bringing them to life on canvas Roger Lloyd Pack

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Cesc Gelabert

Ray Winstone

If a picture could speak a thousand words, then Terence Mckenna’s stunning oil portraits would tell a tale of intimacy and real connection with the subject.

Each one is crafted over many days and hours with Terence working hard to capture the essence and character of his subject.

‘I spend several hours with each person, getting to know them on a personal level,’ says Terence. ‘It’s incredibly important that I gain a strong impression of their character and personality. During our chat I take hundreds of photos to help with this.’

It is not just their external appearance that Terence is aiming to capture, but their internal emotions too.

‘The most important thing for me is to capture the sense of a person to such an extent that they recognise their inner thoughts and feelings,’ says Terence. ‘People can get quite emotional when they see their portrait. I get a real kick when a subject thinks I’ve captured something of themself. I once painted a famous Spanish dancer called Cesc Gelabert. He is a very sensitive and thoughtful man and I

Aug-Sept 2019

Willow Major

Jack Rayner

worked hard to convey the sense of what was going on in his mind. When he saw his portrait, I was thrilled when he told me that he could tell exactly what he was thinking about at that moment.’

Terence originally trained at The Central School of Speech and Drama where he met his partner theatre practitioner Miranda Jaquarello.

These theatrical connections have led Terence to paint many famous subjects including Zoë Wanamaker, Ray Winstone and Roger Lloyd-Pack.

‘To me it doesn’t matter who the person is - they could be a duke or someone who lives up the road,’ says Terence. ‘I paint people from all walks of life and find each subject to be a unique, fascinating individual.’

Although his studio is set in 15 acres of beautiful woodland in Norfolk,Terence travels widely for his work.

Last year he had a prestigious exhibition at The Royal Opera Arcade Gallery in London and he will be exhibiting in 2020 at Norwich Theatre Royal from September 24th-November 23rd.

To find out more about his work or to discuss a commission go to www.terencemckennaportraits.com

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Make sure you are in the 2020 Visual Arts Guide Telephone 01379 773347 Or email gary@artseast.co.uk

Sunday 1st September 2019 10:30am and 4:30pm on Felixstowe Prom from the pier to the Spa theatre.

Artist stalls, art activity tents, entertainment, refreshments; no admission price.

The event is wheelchair accessible.

For further information on Felixstowe’s enticing exhibition visit Art on the Prom’s website: www.artontheprom.uk

Aug-Sept 2019

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Magdalene Odundo

The Sainsbury Centre welcomes one of the world’s most esteemed ceramic artists….

Magdalene Odundo, untitled, 1986 © Magdalene Odundo

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Female figure with folded arms, Early Cycladic II (2700-2400 BC). UEA 342.

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia. Photographer: Pete Huggins

Magdalene Odundo, Transition II, National Glass Centre. Photo by Gilmar Ribeiro

Magdalene Odundo, Untitled, 1989 © Magdalene Odundo. Courtesy the artist and Anthony Slayter-Ralph.

Photographer: Bill Dewey

Magdalene Odundo, Twins, 2013 © Magdalene Odundo

Aug-Sept 2019

Magdalene Odundo OBE is one of the world’s most

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vernacular crafts has brought her across the globe: to

esteemed artists working in the field of ceramics. This major

Europe, Africa, Asia and Central America. This journeying has

exhibition will bring together more than 50 of Odundo’s

led to her exploration of her own diasporic identity and the

works. They will be shown alongside a large selection of

charged role that objects have played, and continue to play,

objects chosen by Odundo from across the globe and

in intercultural relationships today.

spanning over 3,000 years, to reveal the rich and diverse range of objects and making traditions that have informed the development of her own work.

The exhibition is designed by Adjaye Associates. British architect, Sir David Adjaye OBE is a leading architect of his generation. He has created important buildings such as the

The exhibition will situate Odundo’s work at the heart of a

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History

constellation of objects that she has drawn inspiration from:

and Culture; the Idea Stores, London; and the Moscow

British studio pottery by Hans Coper and Lucy Rie; ancient

School of Management SKOLKOVO. He is also known for

vessels from Greece and Egypt; historic ceramics from Africa,

collaborations with contemporary artists on exhibitions and

Asia and Central America; figurative sculpture and objects

installations. Artists he has collaborated with include Olafur

from across the African continent; Elizabethan costume and

Eliasson, Julie Mehretu, Chris Ofili and James Turrell. The

textiles; as well as contemporary works including Yinka

exhibition comes to the Sainsbury Centre from The

Shonibare and El Anatsui. There will also be sculptures by

Hepworth Wakefield where it was designed by Farshid

modern artists including Auguste Rodin, Barbara Hepworth,

Moussavi OBE. The collaboration between architect, artist

Henry Moore and Edgar Degas whose approaches to

and architecture adds another crucial dimension to the

depicting forms have long been an inspiration for Odundo

interdisciplinary exhibition.

and highlight the primary importance of the human body as a reference within her work. Over 30 of these objects are from the Sainsbury Centre collection.

The Sainsbury Centre will also showcase Transition II, Odundo’s largest work, made up of 1,001 individual suspended glass pieces. Presented in the context of

The exhibition is organised in partnership with The Hepworth Wakefield. Exhibition Curator: Andrew Bonacina, Chief Curator at The Hepworth Wakefield. Project Curator: Tania Moore, Curator at the Sainsbury Centre Supported by the Henry Moore Foundation.

Odundo’s ceramic practice, and redesigned site-specifically

The exhibition is accompanied by a publication produced by

each time it is shown, Transition II will be presented in a

The Hepworth Wakefield with support from the Paul Mellon

sweeping crescendo, suggesting flowing water or a

Centre. It includes an interview between Magdalene

murmuration of starlings. Odundo made this work during a

Odundo and poet and novelist Ben Okri; an introductory

residency at the National Glass Centre in 2014 in

essay by Andrew Bonacina; and essays by John Mack,

collaboration with glassblower James Maskrey.

Professor of World Art Studies at the University of East

Born in Kenya in 1950, Odundo moved to the UK in 1971 to attend art school. After choosing ceramics as a preferred medium, Odundo travelled to Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria to study their ceramic traditions. Her desire to learn about

Anglia and Tania Moore, Curator at the Sainsbury Centre Magdalene Odundo: The Journey of Things runs from

August 3rd – December 15th

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THE Gallery

art

Earsham Hall

Open daily Monday-Sunday

To advertise in ARTSeast call Gary on 01379 773347 or email gary@artseast.co.uk

Land & Sea

Selling Mid century & Contemporary Art of East Anglia 6 July – 2 September 2019

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Boat on Pink, 1963 Josselin Bodley.

Open 10.30 – 5.30 Thursday – Monday

High Street, Yoxford, Suffolk IP17 3EP T:(01728)668027 roweandwilliams@gmail.com www.roweandwilliams.com

Masters of the Golden Age

Aug-Sept 2019

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A significant private collection, containing words by Gainsborough, Constable, Turner and Lawrence is on show to the public for the first time this summer

Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) Wooded landscape with figures, cottage and a pool.

Sir Thomas Laurence (1769-1830) Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.

John Constable (1776-1837) Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows

Gainsborough's House in Sudbury is delighted to announce an exhibition of a private collection that will be shown in public for the first time. With significant works from the golden age of British painting, it shares with a new audience pieces by Gainsborough, Constable, Turner and Lawrence.

Thomas Gainsborough, an artist who was significant in building the British school of painting is featured at his very best in paint and pencil, and it is particularly relevant that the exhibition is to be held at Gainsborough’s House. It is also significant that the collection is being lent by one of Gainsborough’s House’s significant benefactors to the project to make the House a National Centre for Thomas Gainsborough.

Mark Bills Director of Gainsborough’s House said: 'We are enormously grateful to the generosity of these very public spirited collectors of British art. Through their loans and their gifts, they are making one of the most important periods of British art open to so many more people. The exhibition is a rare opportunity for visitors to see a very special collection reflecting a grande passion for painting and displaying one of the great moments in the history of art.’

Highlights include Thomas Gainsborough’s Wooded Landscape with Figures, Cottage and a Pool, Constable’s Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows, Bolton Abbey by J M W Turner and Sir Thomas Lawrence’s Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire.

The collection is on display at Gainsborough’s House until October 27th. www.gainsborough.org

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Aug-Sept 2019

The Norwich Print Fair

Pebbles by Liz Taunt

Now celebrating its 24th year, the Norwich Print Fair once again brings together some of Norfolk and Suffolk’s finest printmakers, displaying a wide variety of contemporary, hand made print techniques.

Running from September 9th-21st, the Print Fair champions traditional methods such as mezzotint, etching, linocut and wood engraving whilst also embracing practices such as screen printing, gocco, monoprinting and collagraph, all within the unique historic setting of St Margaret’s Church Gallery in St Benedict’s Street, Norwich.

Golden Syrup by Vicki Johnson

From its inception, the Norwich Print Fair has sought to inform and inspire audiences showing the processes behind the creation of original prints.

This year the ever-popular ‘Printmakers in Action Day’ is on Sunday September 15th. Visitors are invited to observe the artists demonstrating their various techniques from 11am–4pm. This is a rare chance to witness new prints emerging from presses and screens and to see how it is done - and is not to be missed!

Saturday 14th and Saturday 21st September are ‘Open Portfolio Days’. All the exhibiting artists will be present displaying extra, unframed work, sketchbooks and printing plates to illustrate their various techniques. The atmosphere is informal and friendly and everyone is happy to answer questions.

The Norwich Print Fair remains the largest independent selling show of its kind in East Anglia and was the winner of the 2015 Norfolk Arts Award - the Hy Kurzner ‘Arts Entrepreneur’s award. www.norwichprintfair.co.uk

Following the Ferry by Chrissy Norman

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The Arts Council: The next ten years for arts, culture and creativity

For the last 18 months,

We’ve heard from artists, staff in museums, libraries and

we’ve been developing

arts organisations, as well as our own staff, the public,

our organisational

children and young people and stakeholders from across

strategy for the next

the creative industries, education, local government and

ten years. It will guide

beyond. So far, we have listened to over 5,000 people’s

our entire approach to

views and that number will only get bigger with our

funding and

summer consultation now open.

development from 2020 through to 2030 and beyond. It is a huge undertaking, but one that we have embraced with an open mind and a firm determination to put collaboration at its heart.

It has been an incredible journey for us so far and one that we’re pleased to have made accessible to so many people. After gathering a huge range of evidence last year, we established a set of issues currently faced by the

Our work, and the work that we fund, impacts on a huge

cultural sector in this country and proposed seven

range of people and so, it has been vitally important for

outcomes that looked to address those issues. In autumn

us to listen to a broad range of stakeholders as we

2018, we gave everyone the opportunity to share their

develop the strategy.

views on these outcomes – both in person and online.

Aug-Sept 2019

We asked people whether these outcomes were the right

But for us, it’s not just what we achieve, it is also about

challenges to focus on over the next decade. We heard a

how we do it. To this end, we have also established three

wide range of responses, which we considered as we

principles for our investment:

refined and developed a draft strategy.

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Ambition and quality

•.

Inclusively and relevance

creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to

•

Dynamism and environmental sustainability

flourish, and where every one of us has access to a rich and

Now it’s over to you. Our summer consultation is open and

In July 2019, we published a draft strategy, which sets out our vision for England to become a country where the

remarkable range of high-quality cultural experiences.

The strategy also outlines three core outcomes we would like to achieve to realise the overarching vision. These are: •

Creative people

•.

Creative communities

•.

A creative & cultural country

we want to hear what you think. This second and final consultation on the draft strategy asks you to respond to our proposed vision, three outcomes and related priorities, and three investment principles, as well as ideas for how we should deliver the new strategy.

If you’d like to contribute, please visit: https://nexttenyears.artscouncil.org.uk

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To celebrate his 75th birthday, renowned author Michael Morpurgo takes to the stage in an interview with awardwinning actor and comedian Katy Brand.

Coffee & a Chat Photo: Manuel Harlan

Aug-Sept 2019

With over 130 books under his belt, former Children’s

look a child in the eye whilst I’m writing and tell the story out

Laureate Michael Morpurgo has had his works adapted for

loud, down on to the page. I think I do this because the first

stage and screen. His novel War Horse was exceptionally

stories I ever told were oral to my class of year sixes at the

popular on stage in a production by the National Theatre and

primary school where I taught, and I practiced my craft by

on the big screen as a film directed by Steven Spielberg. But

telling stories orally because I found I engaged deeply with

for now he is here to talk about his life and how it has

my audience doing this. I still do. I rather deliberately try not

motivated some of his greatest works.

to think of myself as a writer but as a teller of tales; the sound

I’m very comfortable talking about my own life,’ says Michael.

of the words being hugely important.’

‘I’ve used my own life hugely in my stories and find that you

War Horse is one of Michael’s most-loved works. Adapted for

can tell the truth about your own life better that way than by

stage in 2007 and screen in 2011, it has gained worldwide

simple memory alone because memory can deceive as much

success. When approached to adapt War Horse for the stage

as fiction can.’

25 years after it was published, Michael was sceptical at first.

But which elements of his own life has Michael spun into his books?

‘I wondered how a convincing drama of the First World War

‘It would be hard to think of a book in which my own life is not used somewhere,’ he says. ‘At the beginning of the Butterfly Lion, the boy runs away from school because he is unhappy. I did that. And I was picked up by a nice old lady who looked after me and I’ve never forgotten that. My father is a Polar Bear is the story of the father that I had, but never had, in the sense that he left the house when I was one and half, so I never knew him. But I discovered him later on on the television because he turned out to have been an actor. I first saw him playing Magwitch in Great Expectations one Christmas on the television.’

Michael has often described books as a form of magic.

‘It’s story that is magic rather than the writing,’ he explains. ‘I hope that I make magic when I’m writing because I make myself and others believe in a story which may be part reality and partly magic. A good magician can convince the audience that what is happening is real. The way I do it is to believe it myself as I’m telling it, writing it.’

With a background in teaching, Michael first started telling stories orally to his class. He often refers to himself as a storyteller rather than a writer.

‘I suppose I always think of the best writing as great literature - Dickens, Shakespeare, Pullman, Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney. They are amongst the great writers who write

could be made using life-size puppets of horses. But this was the National Theatre after all..’ he says. ‘For a year or more the directors Tom Morris and Marianne Elliot work-shopped the story with Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler from Handspring and the rest of the brilliant team – designers, musicians, writers. They came to Devon to see the landscape of the story and watch working horses; they spent time with the Royal Horse Artillery in London and learnt about cavalry horses and soldiers working with horses. There were some tense moments during the previews when it was obvious that the play was too long, even clumsy in places, but in the end it all came together. Press night was a triumph with five star reviews almost across the board. It has been running for 10 years now and is touring again now in New Zealand and will be going to Paris later in the year. I have seen the play countless times and it always amazes me what the National Theatre have created from my book first published years ago both a piece of ground-breaking theatre and a wonderful anthem for peace.’

Michael shows no sign of slowing down with a new book out this Autumn.

‘I’ve got a new novel out in the Autumn from Harper Collins called Boy Giant, he says. ‘It’s a retelling of Gulliver’s Travels

by Jonathan Swift but with a modern spin. You’ll have to wait till early October to read it but I loved writing it.’

literature with a capital ‘L’ and some of them are also

Michael Morpurgo is at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds

wonderful storytellers,’ he says. ‘My art and craft is to tell

on September 26th. For tickets go to

stories much more directly than great writers usually do. I

www.theapex.co.uk

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Theatre & Film News

20 years of Forest Theatre magic in Suffolk!

Kinky Boots!

Red Rose Chain

Inspired by the true story of a shoe factory, Kinky Boots, the winner of every major Best Musical award,

This summer celebrates 20 years of its open-air spectacular –

is set to wow audiences in

Theatre in the

Norwich, a city that was

Forest with their fresh take on Romeo & Juliet. Starting out in

once the centre of a large

1999 as a one-night event held in the depths of Rendlesham

shoe manufacturing industry. Kinky Boots, at Norwich

forest, Theatre in the Forest has exploded into the region’s

Theatre Royal from September 17th-28th, takes audiences

largest outdoor theatre event, beloved by tens of thousands

from a gentlemen’s shoe factory in Northampton to the

of audience members and regarded by The Stage as

glamorous catwalks of Milan. Factory owner Charlie Price is

‘Regents Park for the East’. Every summer, families, fans and

struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue

first-timers all venture together into the event’s woodland

the family footwear business of Price & Son. With the factory’s future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola, a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos. The book for the show was created by four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (La Cage aux Folles), while the music and lyrics were written by

home at Jimmy’s Farm to experience Shakespeare as they’ve never seen it before. This summer Romeo & Juliet runs until August 25th, with a big birthday bash before the show on the 24th which is free to ticket holders. The party includes birthday cake and lemonade for everybody, plus all the

American singer/songwriter and actress Cyndi Lauper whose

musical hits of the 1960s and the chance to come dressed

1980 albums included hugely successful hits such as Girls

up as a Mighty Mod (from House Montague) or a Raucous

Just Want to Have Fun, Time After Time and True Colours.

Rocker (from House Capulet).

www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

www.redrosechain.com

A Thrilling Time at Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds is delighted to welcome The Classic Thriller Theatre Company back to the stage with their new touring stage adaptation of The Lady Vanishes, a quick-witted, devilishly fun filled thriller based on the Alfred Hitchcock classic, ranked one of the best British films of all time (Sep 16th-21st).

When socialite Iris’ travelling companion disappears, she’s bewildered to find fellow passengers deny ever having seen her. But with the help of musician Max, she turns detective, and together they resolve to solve this perplexing mystery. The cast is led by BAFTA-nominated actress Gwen Taylor, who for decades was one of Britain’s most celebrated TV stars, including her role as Anne Foster in Coronation Street. Joining her is her Coronation Street son and ‘Villain of the Year Award’ winner Andrew Lancel, whose theatrical credits include Twelve Angry Men, The Small Hand and Cilla the Musical. www.theatreroyal.org

Aug-Sept 2019

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My Kind of Michael in Norwich Following his international hit Bubble Schmeisis (“generous and poignant” ★★★★ The Stage), Nick Cassenbaum is back on tour. This time Nick brings us My Kind of Michael, a heartfelt, passionate and playful tribute to his childhood hero, Michael Barrymore. As part of an extensive UK tour the show comes to Norwich Arts Centre on September 18th.

Nick has loved Barrymore ever since his Nanna Sylvie bought him ‘Barrymore’s Best Bites’ on VHS when he was seven. Now Nick invites you to share his love, to examine the turbulent relationship between showman and spectator.

Moving between narrative and a Barrymore style game show, Nick and the audience play TV favourites like ‘Strike It Lucky’ and take part in ‘This is Your Life’.

www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

Posh comes to Cambridge Fantastic play Posh comes to Cambridge Arts Theatre from September 17th-21st. The Riot Club are back in business.

This time on one condition, they must behave. Keep it out of the Daily Mail, preserve the reputation of the club. After previous mishaps, this exclusive Oxford group’s President has promised its ex-members the club won’t be brought back into public disrepute. As the booze flows and the mood turns sour, will the brotherhood prevail or will the lawyers of those with the deepest pockets preserve these bright young men’s futures? Tyger Drew-Honey (Outnumbered, Cuckoo) stars in this provocative dark comedy, making his stage debut as Alistair Ryle, the toff with a chip on his shoulder. Awardwinning writer Laura Wade is the author of The Watsons and Home, I’m Darling, winner of the 2019 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy.

www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Sisterhood - the Healing Tour of East Anglia In the 16th Century the infamous self-proclaimed Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins waged a personal vendetta against women in East Anglia. Seeing Witchcraft everywhere he was determined to use whatever means necessary to convict and execute any woman he suspected. In Sisterhood, the new multimedia play by Jolie Booth, three women, aged 20, 40 and 60 (without a virgin, mother or hag in sight) are in a church cell, on the night before their trial for Witchcraft. Sisterhood is split between two timelines, taking in the history of the infamous 16th century witch trials alongside modern-day concerns as women face a world in political and environmental upheaval. In our region Sisterhood comes to the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich (Sep 27th), Museum of East Anglia Rural Life, Stowmarket (Oct 12th), Lowestoft’s Seagull Theatre (Oct 17th), Moyse’s Hall Museum, Bury St Edmunds (Oct 18th & 19th) and the Maids Head Hotel, Norwich (Oct 22nd) It is also showing in Manningtree, Chelmsford, Colchester and Ely. www.kriyaarts.co.uk/#/sisterhood

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info@kingslocombe.com

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Roll Up, Roll Up! The Out There Festival of Circus & Street Arts returns to the streets of Great Yarmouth

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The Out There International Festival of Circus & Street Arts is

the planet and the climate/pollution crisis. There will also be

returning to the streets of Great Yarmouth for the 12th year on

shows co-produced by Seachange Arts created at the Drill

September 14th-15th. Known to be weird, wonderful,

House.

outrageous and outstanding, the Out There Festival will bring the people of Norfolk some of the world’s finest circus and street art performers.

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‘Almost half of this year’s programme has been co-produced

by SeaChange Arts,’ says Joe Mackintosh. ‘Out There is unique in the UK and we guarantee you will see things here that you

Themes for this year’s festival include cultural democracy,

won’t anywhere else in the country. This year’s big show is of

borders, environmental health and activism.

huge significance and it’s an absolute humdinger. ‘Thank you

‘Out There is now the biggest free festival in the region and pretty much the biggest programme of circus in the UK regularly attracting more than 50,000 people,’ says Joe Mackintosh, Chief Executive for SeaChange Arts and Artistic Director of the Out There International Festival of Circus & Street Arts. ‘It is a truly intercontinental festival featuring a host of international and UK acts, many of which are UK and world premieres,

for having us’ is a massive outdoor mobile spectacular specially produced by the festival with the legendary French rock and roll street arts anarchists Generik Vapeur and the brilliant young Gorilla Circus company. Both are companies we have worked with a lot but this is the first time they have made something together, in fact it is the first major large scale outdoor show made by a UK and French company for about 25 years! It features high energy political street theatre about man’s energy with nature, plastic in the oceans and our

Look out for the ‘Liberty Zone,’ an unpredictable mix of

future in the planet with absolutely stunning circus and flying

serious and hilarious work by multiple circus companies

trapeze - it encapsulates everything the festival is about. It’s

exploring threads of democracy, oppression and revolution

unmissable!’

situated in the Market Place.

Budding designers are also wanted to design the 2019

The Saturday Night Spectacular aims to delight and educate

festival t-shirt. Entrants need to email their designs to

on cultural democracy and climate breakdown through large

marketing@seachangearts.org.uk by August 27th by 5pm to

scale street animations with world famous French street

be in with a chance of winning the £200 cash prize. Details

performers, Générik Vapeur. They are performing their brand-

here: https://seachangearts.org.uk/out-there-festival-

new show, ‘Thanks For Having Us,’ which will take the form of a large street procession exploring man’s relationship with

2019/great-t-shirt-competition-2019/

For a full list of the events visit: www.outtherefestival.com

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Music News Fisher Theatre - The Church Fitters The Church Fitters present their uplifting and entertaining show at The Fisher Theatre on September 12th, describing their music as “Folk Unlimited”.

A motorcycle petrol tank, a musical saw and a Mercedes Benzouki made from hubcaps,

Bury’s first Blues, Rhythm & Rock Festival

glass harp, Bing-Bong

The Apex is home to Bury’s first blues, rhythm & rock festival

machine and magic

on September 1st, brought to you by Solid Entertainments.

boots all join more

The line-up includes, among others, the amazing Nine Below

conventional

Zero who have just enjoyed a 30-date UK tour and hugely

instruments to back Rosie Short’s sublime voice. Why

successful set at Glastonbury, the fantastic Stevie Nimmo trio,

“Churchfitters”? Nobody knows! They’re not fitters and have

musical powerhouse Lee Ainley’s Blues Storm, upcoming

absolutely nothing to do with churches. The name’s origin is

blues-rock band Southbound and progressive blues by the

lost in the mists of time but there is one aspect that suits them

talented Mojo Preachers. The festival kicks off at 2pm and

perfectly - its quirkiness.

promises to be a fantastic day for all music lovers.

www.fishertheatre.org

www.theapex.co.uk

Classical Superstars in one-off Norfolk concert Internationally-acclaimed duo The Ayoub Sisters will perform a unique crossover concert in the heart of Norfolk at All Saints Church, Swanton Morley on October 5th. The concert is to support and raise funds for the repair and ongoing maintenance of the church. Since making their Royal Albert Hall debut in 2016, Scottish – Egyptian sisters Sarah and Laura Ayoub have had a meteoric start to their career. Discovered by Mark Ronson and now signed to Decca Records in partnership with Classic FM; the multi-instrumentalist sisters recorded their debut album with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the worldrenowned Abbey Road Studios. Their album debuted at No.1 in the Official Classical Artist Albums Chart. The duo have performed across the UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia with highlights including appearances at the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, London Palladium. Snap up your chance to see these amazing performers here in Norfolk.

www.theayoubsisters.co.uk

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New Singers Wanted!

A Norfolk Choir is recruiting choir members for their next sitespecific concert. Procession of Souls #1 is a meditation on time; a procession of lives from birth, through life and into afterlife one hand holding the past, the other, the future. This will be the first episode of a series of connected performances by The Voice Project Choir taking place over the next two years. This piece will be performed at The Shoe Factory, St Mary’s Works in the heart of old industrial Norwich on November 30th. 2019.

The Voice Project welcomes anyone over 16 with a desire to sing. There are on auditions. There is a no-obligation taster session for anyone who thinks they may be interested in joining the choir at the Friends Meeting House, Upper Goat Lane, Norwich NR2 1EW on Tuesday September 10th with rehearsals taking place on subsequent Tuesdays.

www.voiceproject.co.uk

The Glory of Motown Now in its 18th successive year, The Greatest Hits of Motown is a stunning 100% live show combining first class music with the slickest choreography and an amazing band, to deliver a truly outstanding performance for the best Motown experience you will ever have! This show will have you Dancing On The Ceiling, with songs from legendary artistes such as Lionel Richie, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson Five, The Isley Brothers, Edwin Starr and many, many more.

www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk

Seasons of India Be transported to India and experience its six seasons through the mesmerising music of Baluji Shrivastav OBE, celebrated blind Indian sitarist and composer, accompanied by tabla. Baluji Shrivastav OBE is one of the greatest instrumentalists India has produced excelling in sitar, surbahar, dilruba, pakhavaj and tabla. The outstanding characteristic of Baluji’s musical career is his versatility. His ability to concentrate on sound as his primary mode of interaction with the world has enriched his musicality and his courageous attitude to life is reflected in his approach to music. Firmly established in the Hindustani classical tradition he delights in exploring music in all its forms and composes for film, dance, theatre and original works for Western orchestra and Indian ensembles. Baluji’s performance will be a wonderful opportunity to hear classical Indian music at its best, with a selection of pieces from his upcoming album. www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

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Publishing is our business

Falcon Publications DBH 21, Diss Business Park, Hopper Way, Diss IP22 4GT Tel: 01379 773347/773348/773349 info@falconpublications.co.uk www.falconpublications.co.uk

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Eight Seasons of Perfection Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons must surely be one of the most recognisable suites of classical works around the world. The four baroque concerti, written in the 1720s for the violin, have been used in everything from The Simpsons to movies such as Disney’s Fantasia and The Secret Life of Pets, not to mention being a big favourite with the advertising industry to sell everything from cars and computers to perfume.

Britten Sinfonia’s next date at Norwich Theatre Royal on October 25th, which features director and violinist Thomas Gould, is called The Eight Seasons and will contrast Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with Argentinian Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.

Imitating the real sounds of the seasons, Vivaldi’s pieces include musical expressions evoking singing birds, a shepherd and his barking dog, buzzing flies, storms, drunken dancers, hunting parties, frozen landscapes and warm winter fires.

Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires will bring the fire of Latin passion to Britten Sinfonia’s concert. The only child of Italian immigrants, the bandoneonist and composer was born in Argentina in 1921 (he died 1992) and it was the music of the immigrant slums that shaped his career. He is considered to be the greatest master of the Competition modern tango with his work transcending the genre of tango, referencing classical music, jazz and rock, and entering the worlds of opera, literature and film. He wrote his Four Seasons of Buenos Aires between 1969 and 1970.

WIN TICKETS

There will be a pre-performance talk to discuss the contrasting works at the theatre at 6.30pm (FREE tickets available from the Box Office), before curtain up at 7.30pm.

Tickets for the concert cost £10-£36 from the box office on 01603 630000 or online at www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk Discounts are available for Friends.

ARTSeast has teamed up with the Theatre Royal, Norwich to offer one lucky reader the chance to win two tickets to see Britten Sinfonia: The Eight Seasons, on Friday, October 25th at 7.30pm.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply email your name, telephone number and address to info@artseast.co.uk.

Closing date: September 20th, usual terms and conditions apply.

Tickets cannot be exchanged for another show or a cash alternative.

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Promote your music event in the Oct/Nov edition of ARTSeast Magazine Telephone 01379 773347 or email to gary@artseast.co.uk www.artseast.co.uk follow us @artseastmag

ARTSeast

Dedicated to the arts in the Eastern Region

Film: Toy Story 4 – Friday 9 and Saturday 10 August

Film: Can You Ever Forgive Me? Presented by Screen-Next-TheSea – Monday 12 August

Film: The Lego Movie 2 – Friday 16 August

Film: The Hummingbird Project – Friday 30 August

Further information, times and prices:

www.wellsmaltings.org.uk Box office 01328 710885

Season sponsored by Norfolk Cottages

Wells Maltings, Staithe Street, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1AN

Family: Morgan and West: Time Travelling Magicians – Saturday 31 August

Look out for our new Autumn

season of events, on sale 15 August.

Aug-Sept 2019

What’s On News

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Head to The Red House this summer

Storytelling comes to Aldeburgh Museum this August To celebrate the end of carnival week, Aldeburgh Museum is hosting three afternoons of storytelling for children of all ages During the summer holidays, there is so much to do and

on August 21st-23rd. The Yarnsmith of Norwich will entertain

enjoy at The Red House in Aldeburgh. The site is open

and enthrall his young audience with tales of lazy long-limbed

Tuesday to Sunday from 1-5pm (last admission 4pm) and is

lads and poor penniless pedlars, all set under a colourful,

the perfect place to enjoy some peace, tranquillity and some

medieval style tent on the Moot Green. Booking is essential

wonderful events. Highlights include the Royal College of

and tickets for a 30 minute session (£3 per child including one

Music Museum visiting August 16th-18th for a takeover with

free entry to the museum) will be available online from

events and exhibitions; summer recital with baritone Julien

ticketsource.co.uk/aldeburgh-museum or in person at the

Van Mellaerts and pianist Lucy Colquhoun on Friday August

museum desk in the Moot Hall. All children will need to be

16th and a series of ‘Red House Tours’ and Art Talks in August

accompanied by an adult. For all enquiries please contact:

and September. brittenpears.org

learningofficer@aldeburghmuseum.co.uk or 01728 454666.

Celebrate Norfolk’s Heritage Heritage Open Days offer ten unmissable days of free tours, talks, walks, open days, exhibitions, performances and shows planned across Norfolk. HODs is England’s largest festival of history and culture and this year marks the 25th anniversary, with a special ‘People Power’ theme being celebrated across many events.

The theme demonstrates the influence groups and individuals have had over history to bring about positive change in their communities – and in Norfolk events include a new Kett’s Rebellion Tour, a display on the Burston School Strike and a guided story of Edith Cavell. This year’s festival takes place from September 13th-22nd with more than 350 events lined-up in Norwich and across Norfolk.The festival brochure is available to pick up now from The Forum in Norwich as well as Tourist Information Centres, libraries and venues across the county and electronically at https://www.theforumnorwich.co.uk/hods. www.heritageopendays.org.uk

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THE MILL INN

Karen, Steve and the team welcome you to The Mill Inn, Aldeburgh. A traditional seafront pub with log fires serving ADNAMS finest ales and wines…great homecooked comfort food, families and dogs very welcome! We offer exclusive use hire and buffet style lunches for walking groups. our amazing hickory smoked ribs cooked in our own American smoking oven!

fabulous rib of beef Sunday roasts succulent 8oz angus steak burgers

…..seasonal fish dishes and much more!!!

Bookings advisable...email or phone 01728 452563 millinnaldeburgh@gmail.com

Aug-Sept 2019

The Tide is High in Aldeburgh

This year’s HighTide festival promises a wealth of talent as they celebrate and champion new writing.

Collapsible by Margaret Perry

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Rust by Kenny E m

son

LIT by Sophie Ellerby

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The Queer House - SinceUBeenGone by Terry Lamb

HighTide returns to Aldeburgh for their 13th festival with a world premiere and new work from homegrown talent.

This fantastic programme will be Steven Atkinson’s final Festival as Artistic Director; it illustrates HighTide’s commitment to championing new writing as the space for political, contemporary and provocative work, created by new and diverse artists.

Supporting exciting theatre makers and providing them with the very best platform on which to be heard, HighTide is renowned for the discovery of new playwrights, including Ella Hickson, Nick Payne and Vinay Patel. From HighTide’s home, East Anglian writer Kenny Emson’s Rust, about two people who never expected to fall in love again, is the centrepiece of the 2019 programme alongside the world premiere of LIT by Sophie Ellerby which follows Bex, a teenage girl looking for love in all the wrong places.

Running in conjunction with the theatre programme, leading artistic figures such as Andrew Davies, Kate Mosse, Catherine Johnson and Deborah Warner will discuss their crafts and the hilarious Simon Evans and the popular showman Joe Stilgoe will also be on hand. For the first time, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Arts will come to the Festival to record live performances of new HighTide radio plays by alumni Tallulah Brown and Vinay Patel for broadcast later this year.

Steven Atkinson, Artistic Director of HighTide says; ‘HighTide Festival 2019 exemplifies what the Festival is internationally renowned for: premiering top quality new writing by talents such as Sophie Ellerby, Yolanda Mercy and Margaret Perry, while also working with household creative names such as BBC Radio 3 and the Bush Theatre.

HighTide Festival is a unique melting pot of the brightest new talents and the greats of today's creative industries, in the intimate and beautiful setting of coastal Aldeburgh.’

For the full programme go to www.hightide.org.uk

The Queer House - Pink Lemonade by Mia Johnson

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Prepare to be Thrilled This September, the Noirwich Crime Writing Festival returns to the city for a sixth year.

Organised by the National Centre for Writing and the University of East Anglia, Noirwich is one of the fastest growing book festivals in the East of England.

stunning images reflecting the noir in Norwich.

Peggy Hughes, Festival Co-Director and Programme Director at the National Centre for Writing, said:

Headliners this year include BBC reporter George Alagiah, Yrsa Sigurrðardottir - ‘Iceland’s crime queen’,

‘Crime fiction is phenomenally popular and Noirwich is

James Runcie, creator of the much-loved Grantchester

a wonderful celebration that brings people from far and

Mysteries, Louise Doughty, author of the smash-hit

wide to our UNESCO City of Literature for a four-day

Apple Tree Yard, and many more across 20 events and

spectacular of the most exciting and diverse crime

four city venues.

writing that the world has to offer.’

Kicking off on September 12th, Noirwich promises four

Festival events take place at Dragon Hall, Norwich home

days of the very best in the nation’s favourite literary

to the National Centre for Writing, the Jarrold

genre. The festival attracts visitors from all over the

Department Store, the Enterprise Centre at the

country for its mix of writing workshops, exhibitions

University of East Anglia and at The Birdcage.

and innovative programming. The popular Bloody

Cafes and bars across Norwich will join in the

Brunch is back with sponsors Big Tom tomato juice and Bloody Mary. And a first for the festival is a look at how climate-change is inspiring a new generation of crime writers. There will also be a photography exhibition at

The Birdcage in Norwich featuring the work of American

t

artist David Drake, who has produced a series of

d e l l

celebrations with food and drink specials - with a crime

i r h

Norwich-based Ghost Vodka mixing up the perfect

twist. There will be writing workshops where you can try your hand at writing the next bestselling thriller.

The festival funs from September 12th-15th.

www.noirwich.co.uk

Aug-Sept 2019

George Alagiah ©Jeff Overs

d

James Runcie ©Kate Mount

Louise Doughty ©Nathalie Weatherald

Yrsa Sigurdardottir ©Lilja Birgisdőttir

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Art Eat: Celebrating Creativity in Ipswich

Angel Bronze - John O’Conn or

Arts La’Olam

h Sefi Kanute

Creative Cake

Ideas

Art Eat is a two-day free visual art and street food festival

promoters 5011, Arts La'Olam and Claudia Ortiz; A.N.G, Get

celebrating all things creative and delicious with taste, sight

on the Soapbox, Slow King, Darien Prophecy, Anna Mudeka,

and sound sensations all along the elegant Ipswich

Ragged String Band, Piers the Poet, Nqobile Khoza and

Waterfront. This large festival with art, food and community

uplifting DJ sessions from Susanita (IO Radio), Tallulah

at heart will be a vibrant, colourful, tasty, fun-packed and

Goodtimes, Skippa J (Missile Sound), Bopper Ranking

feel-good weekend taking place on September 21st- 22nd.

(Freedom Sounds), and Daniel Lee Harvey, among many

It encompasses a spectacular music line-up, a major exhibition at Dance East, a big Art Fair full of creative talent, a Cake Art Competition, 16 free art workshops and all of this on top of delicious street food, craft markets and four major urban art projects for Ipswich Town.

‘We are incredibly proud to be bringing so much high calibre art into Ipswich town, working with some incredible British artists such as EVEWRIGHT (London), John O’Connor (Suffolk), Artful Skecha (Essex), Zoe Power (Bristol) & Cydney Barrows (Essex),’ says Festival Co-Director Iona Hodgson.

‘We have also been working hard for the past two years to harness as much brilliant local creative talent as possible to be involved in the festival from art fair participants through to the music and performance programmes.’

Highlights of the festival's music programme include locally based international artists gracing the stage at Global Village provided by Ipswich Community Media and BBC Radio Suffolk as well as live sets from local up and coming music-makers and wordsmiths supported by

others. Community music and workshops will be provided by the incredible array of groups in our area; Chinese drums from ACCE, Wooden Roots African drums, Big Sing, Suffolk Soul Singers, Ipswich Reggae Choir, Suffolk Samba Band, Samboomba and Group A from Snape Maltings.

At least three vibrant community murals will be appearing around the Waterfront in advance of the festival. The festival also hosts a two day Art, Print & Craft Fair in the expansive ground floor foyer of the University of Suffolk. This will be a spectacular display of artist and crafters with 50 selected artists from Norwich, Chelmsford and London as well as local areas. There is also a major exhibition at the Jerwood Dance House by the celebrated local contemporary figurative sculptor John O’Connor.

There will be over 20 free participatory art and music workshops while other attractions include a fun fair, outdoor bars, 35 delicious street-food traders and a cake art competition. www.arteatfestival.com

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