Literature and arts festivals
From Daphne Du Maurier to children's literature to modern art. Below are some events that will provoke your thought as well as provide you with a great day out.
Daphne Du Maurier Festival
Fowey, Cornwall, 7-16 May
Taking place in Fowey, Cornwall this year’s du Maurier Festival programme is as eclectic and intriguing as ever. Evening shows in the Festival Marquee include Nick Lowe, Gilbert O’Sullivan, Show of Hands, Jo Brand and Jan Ravens, while the daytime programme in this venue includes Tony Benn, Dick Strawbridge, Paddy Ashdown, Adam Hart-Davis, Sir Roy Strong and Arabella Weir. The festival has a strong community element to its content, with many events organised by local individuals and organisations.
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Bath Literature Festival
Bath, February-March (catch it next year)
The Bath Literature Festival programmes over 100 different literary events from debates and lectures to readers' groups, workshops and films in venues throughout the city. In addition there are a number of events for children and young people.
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The Bath Festival of Children’s Literature
Bath, 18-27 September
The Bath Festival of Children’s Literature is a 10-day celebration of children’s books and reading, and will feature some of the biggest and most creative names from the world of children’s publishing. In previous years writers have included Jaqueline Wilson, Eion Colfer, Anthony Horowitz, Lauren Child, Tony Ross and many more.
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Padstow Arts Festival
Padstow, Cornwall, 2-4 October
Taking place in early October, Friday the 2nd to Sunday the 4th, this event will be a celebration for two eminent former residents, Sir Malcolm Arnold, composer and Sir John Betjeman, poet and man of letters. Participants include Cornwall-born Benjaman Luxon, retired opera star, who will recite Sir John’s works, John McCabe, the prestigious British composer, who performs a piano recital and gives a lecture recital of memories and offers a tribute to Sir Malcolm, the Salieri String Quartet playing Sir Malcolm’s Second Quartet and to open the Festival the Truro Cathedral Choir with an evening of choral classics including Psalm 150 by Sir Malcolm.
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Brighton Festival
Brighton, East Sussex, 2-24 May
Brighton Festival is a contemporary celebration of British and international performing arts, bringing and commissioning events to and for Brighton, many that cannot be seen elsewhere in the UK and reflecting the thriving creativity of its own artistic community.
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The Spark - Children's Arts Festival
Leicestershire, 25 May-7 June
The 2009 festival runs from 25th May-7th June, presenting a broad mix of theatre, dance, storytelling, puppetry, music and visual arts events from national and international artists and companies. The programme is created for children aged 0-13 and is presented in theatres, schools, libraries, village halls and parks all over Leicester and Leicestershire.
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Other festivals in England
