Audiences enjoyed a wonderful mix of all things cultural at the 2016 Norfolk and Norwich Festival. EMMA KNIGHTS looks back at some highlights.
From circus spectacle to theatrical delights to music galore, the Norfolk and Norwich Festival brought a colourful kaleidoscope of acts to our city and county this year.
The eclectic mix of all things cultural entertained thousands of festival goers before the 17-day arts extravaganza took its final bow for another year on Sunday.
Among the theatrical highlights was a flooded production of The Tempest at Great Yarmouth Hippodrome, the epic historical spectacle The James Plays at Norwich Theatre Royal, and young singer songwriters taking to the Norwich Playhouse stage for Wild Life. The Adnams Spiegeltent presented circus show White Nights along with a mix of late-night gigs. Meanwhile music filled many other venues, ranging from Norwich Philharmonic Society's Mahler Symphony of a Thousand concert at the Norfolk Showground to Tindersticks playing Open to The Voice Project's pop up performance along the River Wensum.
The traditional Garden Party, the highlight of the festival's free outdoor programme, attracted large crowds who were delighted with the eclectic mix of quirky acts in Chapelfield Gardens, meanwhile a highlight of the City of Literature programme led by Writers' Centre Norwich was the First World War anniversary commission Fierce Light. Norwich Arts Centre also presented cutting edge acts in its [Live] Art Club which also included the quirky Egg Festival Cafe where you could be entertained while tucking into your breakfast.
William Galinsky, the festival's artistic director, said: 'The 2016 festival has been a remarkable success with record numbers for the Garden Party weekend and a free outdoor programme that has reached communities across the city.'
He added: 'Highlights have been the number of people from all over Norfolk, and particularly Great Yarmouth, who have come to see our production of The Tempest, working with brilliant visiting companies like CAMPO on Wild Life and with homegrown talent like curious directive.
'Plans are already in place to build on the success of this year's festival in 2017 but for now I'd like to thank the artists, our supporters and fantastic audience members who've made this year such a success.
'And don't forget that one of our headline commissions, Walk With Me, continues at Felbrigg Hall until October.'
For more about the festival, visit www.nnfestival.org.uk
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