From a giant puppet parade to poetry, the full line-up has been announced for the Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2024.
Expect a mix of local, national and international acts at the event, which runs from May 10 to 26.
The 2024 programme features several ‘stories’, providing guided routes through the festival and bringing together shows that share common themes.
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Daniel Brine, festival director, said: “We are excited by the depth, democracy and diversity of this year’s programme.
"There is an exciting blend of international acts, including premieres and new commissions.
"With our new community collaborations, we are also bringing to the fore the voices of many local people.”
Whisper and Shout focuses on how artists communicate - from small, intimate moments of contemplation to bold, in-your-face brashness.
Our East Voices shares the work of some exciting artists from the east of England, while A Greener World tackles concerns for the natural world.
A giant puppet will parade through the streets of Norwich as French company L’Homme Debout brings the playful and poetic story of Mo and The Red Ribbon as part of the opening Welcome Weekend.
Columbian circus troupe Circolombia presents the world premiere of Corazón as the centrepiece in the Adnams Spiegeltent.
One of two resident artists at this year’s festival, harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani performs a trio of shows, including an all-Bach programme with the Britten Sinfonia.
Chamber Choir Ireland will perform a concert featuring the best contemporary choral music.
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This year also sees Norfolk & Norwich Festival and Norwich Theatre collaborating on an international celebration of dance and physical theatre.
It features Tess by circus company Ockham’s Razor - a new adaptation of the Thomas Hardy classic, a short film by Dan Canham - Fenland Elegy, the UK premiere of Rachel Ní Bhraonáin’s high-octane dance theatre MOSH, Xenia Aidonopoulou’s playful children’s dance show Skydiver and a collaboration between Marc Brew and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui - an Accident / a Life.
The ’stories’ woven through this year’s programme will see Our East Voices bring together a diverse and impressive collection of local artists.
Laura Cannell will perform her album Antiphony of The Trees live in Norwich Cathedral and she also shares music and conversation in Dark Tales from The Guildhall.
Master of music at Norwich Cathedral, Ashley Grote, will perform Olivier Messiaen on the newly refurbished cathedral organ and Molly Naylor presents Make Me – a work in progress, devised with local young people.
Local poetry collective Toast will curate this year’s Speak Easy – a performance poetry tent in Festival Gardens.
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Spill Festival director Robin Deacon performs Through The Round Window and poet Luke Wright celebrates his 25th anniversary as a performer.
A Greener World features the world premiere of Steve Waters’ three short plays entitled Phoenix Dodo Butterfly.
On Our Doorsteps is an installation exploring the relationship between urban communities and green spaces.
Art for the Environment, at GroundWork gallery in King’s Lynn, showcases some of the most exciting artists from the University of the Arts London.
Lucy McCormick’s Lucy and Friends is an anarchic cry for help, which subverts the normal dynamic between audience and performer.
It sits in the Whisper and Shout section of the programme, which examines the many different ways artists speak to an audience.
In contrast, Memory of Birds by Lebanese artist Tania El Khoury is a lulling contemplation about political violence.
Presented in partnership with the National Centre for Writing, the City of Literature Weekend features the likes of Carys Davies, Jon McGregor, Val McDermid and Marchelle Farrell.
Other festival highlights include the world premiere of the eight-hour organ composition 268 Years of Reverb, composed by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, and at Houghton Hall, Antony Gormley’s spectacular large-scale installation Time Horizon and a series of sculptures by Magdalene Odundo.
The launch of The Book of Thetford, created by 8-11-year-olds from Thetford schools, showcases one of several community projects run by the festival.
Tickets are on sale now to those with priority booking access and they go on general sale on March 1 at nnfestival.org.uk
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