The great joy of Norfolk & Norwich Festival, is that there is something in it for everyone. As a multi artform Festival, it brings the best from all genres of performance and art; you could easily get your full annual culture fix by immersing yourself in its 17 day programme. It encourages audiences to try something new, and is a great way to step outside your comfort zone.
But in case your time is short, you aren’t lucky enough to live on the Festival’s doorstep, or you just want some help navigating the programme, we have pulled out some genre-based highlights.
MUSIC
The music programme starts strong this year, with Grammy award-winner Arooj Aftab – described as ‘the coolest rock star in the world right now’ by UNCUT magazine – playing one of only two UK dates on the opening night. Then on the first Saturday, legendary DJ Gilles Peterson brings a bespoke evening, playing some of his best-loved records and talking about his passion for music. Later in the Festival, highlights include a new band night hosted by BBC Introducing and a gig from Mercury Prize nominee and current hot ticket corto.alto.
Arooj Aftab performs at Norwich Cathedral on Friday 9 May. Photo Shreya Dev Dube.
Norfolk & Norwich Festival was established over 250 years ago, as a classical music fundraiser for Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, and the classical repertoire remains key to the programme. You’ll find large-scale concerts at each of Norwich’s two Cathedrals – from the BBC Singers and Britten Sinfonia, as well as a more intimate series of performances from BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists, who are at the very beginning of illustrious careers.
Lotte Betts-Dean and Dimitris Soukaras will perform at Dragon Hall, Norwich.
The Festival also has two resident artists performing bespoke concerts through the 17 days; guitarist Sean Shibe’s three concerts include a programme of forgotten works for strings and a special collaboration with GBSR Duo and 12 Ensemble. Fellow resident, Australian mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean, also making three appearances, performs Messiaen’s Harawi, explores her lifelong fascination with electronic music, and is accompanied by a guitar in a rich programme covering work from Debussy and Britten to Burt Bacharach and Sinead O’Connor.
PERFORMANCE
Audiences in Norwich wait all year for the Adnams Spiegeltent to arrive in Chapelfield Gardens. For 2025, this charming and magical venue hosts headline circus show Showdown – that pits the skilled artists against each other in a performance framed around a talent show format. Fans of circus will also not want to miss Show Pony – created with leading performance artist Bryony Kimmings – that explores what circus performers do when their bodies can no longer be pushed to the limits.
Show Pony will be at Norwich Playhouse. Photo Andy Phillipson
If you a theatre fan, then look to The Norwich Nine – an intergenerational collaboration between Bootworks Theatre Co. and a local group of nine-year-old children. They were born the year that the UK voted to leave Europe and are exactly half way to being adults; they spent their formative years in lockdown and have already experienced one Trump presidency – but what do they really think about the future, the climate crisis and, importantly, Minecraft.
House of Pepper
Back at the Spiegeltent, are nights of pure entertainment. Marvel at the mind-reading powers of Alex McAleer, and be uplifted by a show that is hilarious, camp and heartfelt from London cabaret sensation Andrew Pepper.
LITERATURE
Norwich is the City of Stories, and a UNESCO City of Literature. Festival partners the National Centre for Writing curate an annual celebration of the city’s literary chops with a packed weekend of author talks and book events. This year’s programme includes crime writing legend Val McDermid, Sarah Moss on her latest novel and authors Danielle Giles & Noreen Masud discussing their books that use evocative flatlands as a backdrop.
At the National Centre for Writing, there are a host of creative workshops taking place. Get some inspiration for writing, learn how to meaningfully translate stories into podcasts or explore how to use graphic novels for activism. And if really, you just want to sit and peacefully read, grab a book and take part in Page Against the Machine – a global reading event taking place simultaneously in UNESCO Cities of Literature across the world.
The City of Literature Pubilshing Fair at The National Centre for Writing. Photo Luke Witcomb.
FESTIVAL FOR FREE
Probably everyone’s favourite type of event! You will find lots to see for free at the Festival, who have a handy filter button for free events on their website. On the opening night March Static herald the opening of the Festival with a reimagining of a marching band, and High Voltage brings together guitarists from across the city to rock out. Then all day on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May is the Welcome Weekend – two days of free performances across Norwich city centre featuring dance shows, singing, acrobatics and much more.
Welcome Weekend 2024. Photo Luke Witcomb.
On the middle and last weekend of the Festival, the Chapelfield Gardens bandstand will host local established and emerging musicians, and at the National Centre for Writing’s home in Dragon Hall, the City of Literature Publishing Fair allows you to meet and buy direct from East Anglia’s leading writers, publishers and zine makers.
