GENFest 2024

GENFest is a free festival curated by and for 13-25 year olds, celebrating young people’s creativity and giving a platform to young creative voices in Kent. The programme showcases up-and-coming local creatives and will feature a mix of live theatre, dance, music and stand-up comedy, plus short film screenings and an art exhibition.

There will also be a whole host of free artist-led workshops as well as networking sessions where young creatives and professionals can connect.

Keep your eyes peeled for our call out for creative acts and ideas in late 2023.

When: Sat 29 Jun

Venue: Gulbenkian Arts Centre

Tickets: Free

Follow @art31kent on Twitter and Instagram for updates.

ART31 is a vision created with, by, and for young people aged 13-25 in Kent.

We believe that amazing arts and culture is a human right and want to make sure every young person gets the chance to get involved. ART31 empowers young people to achieve their creative potential and makes young people equal partners in any decision making that affects them.

Gulbenkian Arts Centre is home to ART31, where we run various youth projects. We also work closely with partners who deliver activity across Kent.

ART31 is funded by Arts Council England and Kent County Council.

To get involved:

Follow @ART31KENT on Instagram and Twitter

With ART31 young people aged 13-25 across Kent can….

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Take Part

“Youth theatre created a space where I felt I could be myself more than any other environment in my life during the time I was there. It remains one of the more important things that have happened to me so far.”

Take The Lead

“There is so much trust put into us. We’ve been given some freedom and it’s resulted in... just the best experience.”

Take On The World

“ART31 has very much opened my eyes to being able to enjoy and work in the creative industries, and definitely made me more confident in myself and my ideas.”

Join the ART31 mailing list via Gulbenkian’s website

Email creativeengagement@kent.ac.uk

Some of the free ART31 activity that takes place at Gulbenkian Arts Centre:

Youth Theatre – for ages 13-15 and 16-18, Wednesday evenings

Gulbenkian Young Company – an auditioned company aged 13-19 creating their own production for the National Theatre Connections Festival

Gulbenkian Performance Company – a theatre-making ensemble for ages 18-25, Monday evenings

Square Pegs Arts – weekly drama club for people aged 16-25 who have a learning disability, autism or who struggle to fit in with mainstream activities, monthly singing for all abilities, aged 14+ & a monthly Relaxed Film Screening.

ART31 Generate – is made up of young people from across Kent aged 13-25. They steer ART31's governance, influence arts policy and practice and plan and programme events including the annual ART31 Youth Takeover Festival, GENFest.

All activity is free to access, thanks to ART31 funders Arts Council England and Kent County Council.

Email creativeengagement@kent.ac.uk to find out more or register interest in any of these groups.

Bridget Christie: Who Am I?

Bridget Christie is hot, but not in a good way. The 51 year old critically-acclaimed stand-up cannot ride the motorbike she bought to combat her mid-life crisis because of early osteoarthritis in her hips and RSI in her wrist; and wonders why there are so many films, made by men, about young women discovering their sexuality, but none about middle-aged women forgetting theirs.

When: Wed 11 Oct, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £20

Age: 14+

Ivo Graham: Organised Fun

After dismantling a barge, doxxing himself in the Doubletree, and blanking on the 1992 Ipswich Town crest (Taskmaster, Off Menu, University Challenge), Ivo ropes his audience into more chaos against the clock.

“Humiliation’s your thing, right?” his brother asked him at Christmas, with the full existential ramifications of that still being processed.

When: Tue 24 Oct, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian

Theatre

Tickets: £16

Age: 14+

John

Robins: Howl

Edinburgh Comedy Award winning comedian and ARIA award-winning broadcaster John Robins embarks on his first stand-up tour since 2019.

If you’ve seen him before you know what to expect; rage, anxiety and a lot of laughs.

If you haven’t seen him before, strap the f**k in.

Jordan Gray: Is it a Bird?

Fresh off a sold out run at the Edinburgh Fringe...…a historic performance at The London Palladium, a game-changing set on Channel 4’s Friday Night Live, and a triumphant season at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, Jordan returns to the UK to take on babies, boobies, bigots and Batman in this blistering music and comedy show.

When: Sun 15 Oct, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £21.50

Age: 16+

Alfie Brown: Red Flags Galore!

In his new show, award winning comedian Alfie Brown is showing signs that he probably can't have a healthy relationship and proceeding down the road with him would be emotionally dangerous.

But what are these signs? Alfie Brown is the most hated man in an internet forum that he is not even the main subject of.

When: Sun 22 Oct, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian

Theatre

Tickets: £25

Age: 16+

Linda Smith LectureJan Ravens

We’re delighted that Jan Ravens has agreed to give the 2023 Linda Smith Lecture.

After decades at the forefront of British comedy, both on screen and on radio, Jan Ravens is uniquely qualified to talk about every aspect of making people laugh, from satire to stand up, and most famously, impressions.

When: Tue 7 Nov, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Cafe

Tickets: £14

Age: 16+

When: Wed 8 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian

Theatre

Tickets: £6

Age: 14+

Seann Walsh: Back from the Bed

Hello, Seann here. Sticking with ‘Same Again?’ felt a bit triggering after the year we’ve had. So the tour is now called Back from the Bed. Some of the material will be the same as I had always planned and some of it will be new because it will be difficult to avoid mentioning the last year in which millions of decent people tragically lost their lives to TikTok.

Ed Byrne: Tragedy Plus Time

Attributed to Mark Twain, humour is defined as Tragedy Plus Time.

Come and join Ed as he tests that formula by mining the most tragic event in his life for laughs.

Babatunde Aleshe: Babahood

Babatunde is one of the fastest rising stars in British Comedy. A powerhouse performer, his stand up presents a hilariously fresh perspective, oozing charisma whilst showcasing impeccable stagecraft and comic timing.

When: Thu 9 Nov, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £15

Age: 14+

Reginald D Hunter: The Man Who Could See Through Shit

In these supercharged socio-political times the challenge is more and more becoming separating what's true and what's real. Lucille Hunter proudly proclaimed: 'It's easy to see through shit, the hard part is acting like you ain't'.

When: Wed 29 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £27.50

Age: 14+

Iain Stirling: Relevant

The BAFTA-winning comedian, ‘national sensation’ (Evening Standard) and ‘extremely funny’ (Daily Telegraph) Iain Stirling, is bringing his intuitive razor-sharp humour back on tour with a brand new stand-up show for 2024.

When: Sun 21 Jan, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian

Theatre

Tickets: £13.50

Age: 16+

When: Wed 28 Feb, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £24

Age: 18+

When: Fri 12 Apr, 8pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £22.50

Age: 14+

Funny Rabbit: Funmbi

Omotayo & Ben Van Der Velde

When: Fri 27 Oct

Gulbenkian’s monthly comedy club –radical and exciting, but also warm and snuggly as a bunny rabbit

Funny Rabbit: Howard Head & Pauline Eyre

When: Fri 29 Sept

All events £7-£5

Tickets:

Venue: Café

Time: 8pm

Age: 16+

Venue: Café

Funny Rabbit: Peter Brush & Kate Martin

When: Fri 24 Nov

Venue: Café

Funny Rabbit: Scott Bennett & Joe Wells

When: Fri 15 Dec

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Student Productions

Through our season we are always delighted to host student productions by groups, including T24 and MTS.

Keep your eyes posted on our website for details.

Canterbury Orchestra: A Musical Farewell

After 17 years, Andrew Lowen, Musical Director of the Canterbury Orchestra is retiring. Here, he conducts his final concert, the first half comprising three musical works on the theme of ‘bidding farewell’ whilst the second half is dedicated to Brahms’ epic First Symphony.

When: Sat 26 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Jukebox 1264

Fleetwood Mac: Tango in the Night

Few bands have played such an epic role in uniting audiences across generations like Fleetwood Mac! In this showcase, expect to hear their 1987 album Tango in the Night played in full as well as even more hits from Fleetwood Mac such as Go Your Own Way, Dreams, Rhiannon and The Chain.

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne

BIKES AND BANTER are proud to present a very special evening with SIX TIME British Superbike Champion Shane ’Shakey’ Byrne.

Join the most successful domestic British motorcycle racer of all-time and our special guest interviewer Matt Roberts as they discuss the highs and lows of his incredible career, the crash that has threatened to end it and his plans for the future.

When: Sat 21 Oct, 8pm

Tickets: £20

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Gryphon

Impossible to pigeonhole, the legendary Gryphon enjoyed success throughout the 1970s, touring extensively in the States and Europe with Yes, Steeleye Span and Mahavishnu Orchestra.

When: Sat 25 Nov, 7.30pm

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: £25

Soul Wonderland

Join our East Kent Soul Choirs for a night of festive inspired soul and pop classics! Take your seat and let their 100 plus member strong choirs lead you into a wonderland of soaring, toe tapping and uplifting music!

Tickets: £15 (£8 Student)

When: 30 Nov, 7.30pm Tickets: £20

When: Fri 1 Dec, 7.30pm Tickets: £18 (£15 Concession)

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Langton Music Primary Schools Christmas Festival

Opening Night: Mon 11 Dec

Join Blean, Canterbury Primary, Pilgrims Way, St Johns, St Peters, Aylesham, St Thomas & Beech Grove for a night of magical Christmas music.

Closing Night - Tue 12 Dec

Join Adisham, Barham, Bridge, Chislet, Hoath, Littlebourne, Petham & Wickhambreaux for a night of magical Christmas music

When: Mon 11 & Tue 12 Dec

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Canterbury Music Club

Tickets: £7

The Gulbenkian Arts Centre are delighted to welcome Canterbury Music Club back for their 82nd Season of chamber music concerts featuring the best of young as well as established performers.

Should you be unable to attend these concerts in person, CMC offer the chance to enjoy the performances online, as a live stream and/or as a recording after the event. Please see the Gulbenkian website for details.

CMC Tickets for Under 26s are available FREE with support of the CAVATINA Chamber Music Trust “Free Ticket Scheme”.

Jukebox

1264Canterbury Operatic Society

Tapestry: An evening in Laurel Canyon

This event sends us back to California in the ‘60s and ‘70s when hippies took over the Sunset Strip. Expect to hear Laurel Canyon classics by the likes of Neil Young, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and The Doors as well as Carole King’s masterpiece Tapestry performed in its entirety!

9 to 5 The Musical

Canterbury Operatic Society bring this uplifting and funny musical to the Gulbenkian, with it’s jubilant score and relatable story, we find three unlikely friends taking control of their office, finding there is nothing they can’t do, even in a typically man’s world.

When: Fri 16 Feb, 8pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £20

London Bridge Piano Trio

Ben Hancox, violin and Cara Berridge, cello of the acclaimed Sacconi Quartet join international soloist Daniel Tong, piano as the London Bridge Trio to perform an exquisite set of piano trios by composers old and new.

When: Wed 24 to Sat 27 Apr, 7.30pm (plus Sa 2.30pm)

Venue: Gulbenkian Theatre

Tickets: From £17

When: 24 Sep, 3pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Kosmos redefines the relationship between classical and world music, performed with “telepathic rapport, dazzling virtuosity, serious scholarship, intellectual curiosity and impeccable musicianship” Richard Morrison, chief music critic, The Times. Harriet MacKenzie, violin, Meg Hamilton, viola, Milos Milivojevic, accordion.

When: 22 Oct, 3pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Ensemble Renard, Wind Quintet

Ensemble Renard carefully curate compelling and contrasting programmes and aim to include repertoire rarely given the light of day. From Gershwin to Knussen, each piece they play demonstrates their kaleidoscopic versatility, while their concert will feature works especially written or arranged for the ensemble.

BONE-AFIDE Trombone Quartet, Countess of Munster Artists

“An ensemble… with a collective sound that shimmers and playing that quite simply makes you feel good” - Robin Sheffield, Royal Philharmonic Society.

BONE-AFIDE showcase the versatility of the Trombone as they present a Christmas themed programme laced with classical repertoire, much arranged by members.

Clare Hammond, piano

Acclaimed as a “pianist of extraordinary gifts” (Gramophone) and “immense power” (The Times), Clare Hammond is recognised for the virtuosity and authority of her performances –and is welcomed back to Canterbury for another exhilarating recital.

When: 19 Nov, 3pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Matthew Rose, bass singer and Anna Tilbrook, piano

“this deep-toned, lyric bass sings with such nobility and beauty that he is surely a world-class Wagnerian in the making” – The Financial Times; while “Anna Tilbrook is an outstanding accompanist: discreet … but able to make the simplest phrase … tell”. BBC Music Magazine.

When: 18 Feb, 3pm Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

When: 17 Dec, 3pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Ryan Corbett, accordion (Tillett Trust Artist)

Ryan Corbett is a classical accordionist who has been described as “one of Scotland’s most exciting young musicians” (The Scotsman). His repertoire ranges from Baroque keyboard works to original contemporary compositions for accordion. Ryan plays a Bayan Spectrum classical piano accordion made in Italy.

When: 17 Mar, 3pm Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

When: 21 Jan, 3pm

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall

Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Kent and Medway Young Musicians Trust Concert

The concert will provide a great performance opportunity for Young Musicians and raise significant funds to support more youngsters. “The talent that has been shown by our young performers … was just incredible…” Lady Colgrain, Patron and Lord Lieutenant of Kent (Inaugural concert, March 2023).

When: 21 Apr, 3pm Tickets: £20 (Under 26s FREE)

Venue: Colyer-Fergusson Hall