Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
…And the shows will go on
t’s impossible to imagine the prospect of a Canterbury autumn without the Festival. These times are far from normal but from the beginning of lockdown there has always been a strong desire to hold as many events as possible while keeping everyone safe. Nobody wanted to let the Festival’s audiences and supporters down.
There will, of course, be fewer events, a different range of venues, including online performances, and careful social distancing. You may find yourself in a relatively small audience in a large venue; the wearing of masks will be important. Your safety will always come first but be sure to expect the same fabulous national and international standard of performance that’s always been there. With highlights from worldclass musicians such as an opening Cathedral concert by award-winning choir Tenebrae and recitals by pianist Joanna Mcgregor, the comedy of Hal Cruttenden and talks by high-profile speakers, Canterbury Festival is proud to be part of the city’s recovery from Covid-19, not one of its casualties. What better way to mark Beethoven’s 250th birthday than in the company of world-class pianist Joanna Mcgregor?
In a series of concerts over three days (sponsored by Hearbase) Joanna will play all 32 of the composer’s piano sonatas. An acclaimed conductor and composer as well as a festival director and academic, Joanna has performed in more than 70 countries and with some of the world’s greatest orchestras.
The recitals will take place in the Shirley Hall, King’s School, between Friday and Sunday, October 23-25, with an introductory talk on Thursday, October 22.
The opportunity to hear some of Beethoven’s most celebrated works played by a virtuoso musician is not to be missed. Early booking is advised. The new Malthouse Theatre at King’s School is the venue for Bromance.
This new kind of physical performance (sponsored by the Festival’s headline sponsor Paul Roberts) mixes theatre with show-stopping acrobatics in a performance which celebrates camaraderie and affection.
The performers, the award-winning Barely Methodical Troupe, form ‘one of the most dynamic circus ensembles in the UK’ (The Stage). There are two evening performances on Thursday, October 22, and Friday, October 23. The Festival’s reputation for top-class comedy could not be in better hands this year than those of Hal Cruttenden. Hal will bring much-needed laughs, his razor-sharp wit and hilarious observations to brighten a Canterbury autumn evening.
This is the chance to enjoy one of the top stand-up comedians working in the UK today with a performance back-catalogue ranging from Have I Got News For You? to Celebrity Mastermind.
Catch Hal (sponsored by Tarvos Wealth) in the Westgate Hall on the evening of Thursday, October 29.
Half- term? Halloween? Expect a show to make brave children shiver, shake, shudder and scream! Squashbox Theatre presents Shivers and Shadows. Recommended for ages six-plus, with accompanying adults, follow the journey of Craig as he explores the old mansion he has inherited.
Expect comedy, slapstick, puppetry, stories, loud noises and live music. Prepare for the spookiest of afternoons. Join the fun in the Westgate Hall on Tuesday, October 27.
Kadie Kanneh-mason, in conversation with Dr David Lamper, executive head of Kent College, which also sponsors the event, tells the story of her incredibly talented musical family.
Starting from a Nottingham state comprehensive, these seven siblings include a Young Musician of the Year and an artist who has released an album showcasing the works of Clara Schumann. Kadie will explain what it takes to raise such a musical family in a Britain divided by class and race.
The talk will take place in Kent College’s Great Hall on the evening of Monday, October 25.
The award-winning author and broadcaster Bettany Hughes makes a welcome return to Canterbury to show how the appeal of immortal goddess Venus continues to endure into the 21st century. Her talk, Venus and Aphrodite (sponsored by the Canterbury Auction Gallery), reveals how this mythological figure is so much more than nudity, romance and sex. Decoding Venus’ relationship to the Greek goddess Aphrodite, the story of one of antiquity’s most powerful forces is revealed.
Bettany Hughes’ television programmes have been seen by more than 250 million people worldwide and has been named as one of BBC’S 100 Global Women and long-drawn attention to women’s position in society.
The talk takes place in the Shirley Hall, Kings School, on Wednesday, October 28.