Beethoven, half-term hi-jinks and some spooky goings-on

With just days to go until Canterbury Festival begins, time to buy tickets for this year’s annual arts celebration is slipping away.

With a spectacular series of live music events, half-term family fun and the final of this year’s Young Musician’s Bursary Competition – there is lots to see and do at this year’s Festival…

The opportunity to hear some of Beethoven’s most celebrated works,performed by a virtuoso here in Canterbury is not to be missed. What better way to mark the composer’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 Beethoven’s piano sonatas.

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. Don’t forget to head to the Cathedral for an evening of some of the Middle Ages’ funkiest tunes! Early music group Joglaresa will lead you through a vibrant and energetic evening of medieval

‘hits’ with more than a slight 1970s influence. Modern minstrels, villainous knights, seductive dancers, all combine to prove it wasn’t all plainchant back then (sponsored by abode) – Wednesday, October 28, 7.30pm, Canterbury Cathedral. Kent-born jazz pianist Ivo Neame has led ensembles that have performed all over Europe.

Producing a varied mix of musical styles ranging from serene to intense high-octane grooves, the Ivo Neame Quartet places improvisation at the heart of each performance. Tuesday, October 27, 7.30pm, Shirley Hall, King’s School. The Festival brings the fun back into half-term with Shakespeare, spooky puppets, slimy sea-creatures and magic. This year’s family programme is generously sponsored by Canterbury Bid.

Join biologist Simon Watt for a fun, fact-filled tour of the tremendous and wonderfully weird range of wildlife in our seas. Expect to encounter some of the strangest animals in the world and find out what you can do to help protect them. Ugly Animals:weird Life Under Water, Sunday, October 18, 3pm, Great Hall, Kent College, ages 6+. Half-term? Halloween? This is a show to make brave children shiver, shake, shudder and scream! Squashbox Theatre presents Shivers and Shadows. Recommended for ages 6+, with accompanying adults, follow the journey of Craig as he explores the old mansion he has inherited.

You’ll find comedy, slapstick, puppetry, stories, loud noises and live music. This will be the spookiest of afternoons. Join the fun. Shivers and Shadows Tuesday, October 27, 2pm, Westgate Hall. Take your seat with Shakespeare’s players for a whirlwind hour of mischievous storytelling as they fly through Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night. There’ll be lots of audience interaction and much mayhem. It’s the perfect half-term treat for all the family and a great introduction to the world of Shakespeare Shakespearience,wednesday, October 28, 2pm, Westgate Hall, ages 5+. Professor Palmermoff’s magic will dazzle and delight with stunning tricks and awesome illusions to astound all the family.

The Professor (aka Simon Palmer) has performed his show more than 1,000 times and brings some half-term magic to the Westgate Hall this October. Find out what makes his comic style and masterful magic so popular – and maybe try to work out how he does it. The Professor Palmermoff Magic Show, Thursday, October 29, 2pm, Westgate Hall. This year Canterbury Festival marks 10 years of the Young Musicians’ Bursary Competition, an initiative supported by the Canterbury Festival Foundation that enables brilliant young musicians to pursue and develop their talent. This year’s final – showcasing five outstanding young musicians – will take place online and will be streamed over five consecutive nights via the festival’s website.

Each film will be streamed daily between October 19 -23 at 6.30pm.

Music from the Middle Ages with Joglaresa

Simon Watts’ fun-filled Ugly Animals: Weird Life Under Water

World-class pianist Joanna Macgregor is to play all 32 of Beethoven’s piano sonatas