Guide Festival of Chichester moves online for 2020

Festival

A busy online programme will put the 2020 Festival of Chichester back on the summer calendar.

The festival will not be happening for real; but a significant proportion of the festival fun is now set to go ahead virtually.

The Festival of Chichester has been an increasingly popular month-long Junejuly fixture in and around the city since its debut in 2013, every year attracting thousands of people to more than 200 events right across the arts and community spectrum.

But, on a sad day in

March, amid the worsening coronavirus pandemic, the festival’s organising committee concluded they had no choice but to cancel this summer’s festival – for the sake of the safety of performers and audiences alike.

Since then, however, pressure has grown for the elements of the festival to switch online instead – and the festival committee is now thrilled to confirm Chichester need no longer go without.

Festival co-ordinator

Barry Smith explains: “The idea came about through some regular performers contacting us to enquire about the possibility of going online and offering their support. The festival committee was keen to plug the gap in Chichester’s cultural life created by the cancellation of the festival and so many other special occasions which are normally part of the rich variety of entertainment that the city has to offer.

“And so the virtual festival was born – to replace what would have been the eighth festival. Many of the performers scheduled to take part had pre-existing videos they could offer while others have created specials just for us.

“One performer, Dawn Gracie, who has been with us since the beginning, is presenting two live streamed cabaret events. Others are coming to us from Chichester Cathedral, from our twin city, Chartres, from Kings Place in London and elsewhere.

“A number of the star performers due to be in the festival have also chipped in. We’re delighted to have magnificent piano pieces from Russian maestro

Victor Ryabchikov and

Reiko Fujisawa, while Ensemble Reza is presenting a wonderful performance of the Brahms Sextet.

“The contributions come from across the genres we usually present – blues, jazz and folk music, classical concerts, poetry readings, sculpture, art views and even a field recording of wildlife.

“We hope you enjoy these performances and will be clicking on our website every day to see what is new, as well as looking back over events already available online.

“And we plan to be back next year with an outstanding festival to mark the return of live performance to the city.”

The Virtual Festival of Chichester will launch on June 13 as Chichester celebrates music, literature, talks, art, theatre and more.

Highlights include celebrated pianists Reiko Fujisawa and Victor Ryabchikov, the Cathedral Choristers, Ensemble Reza, the Chichester Singers, cellist Emily Burridge, Duende Flamenco, sculptor Vincent Gray, Ben Rogerson and the Minerva Ensemble, folk/ indie singer Tobiah, Pavlos Carvalho, Greek band Plastikes Karekles, Dawn Gracie, guitarists Geoff Robb, Linda Kelsall-barnett and

Rob Johnstone, Costa Poetry Prize winner John Haynes and classical cabaret stars All That Malarkey.