From two days of street parties and opera for babies to world premiers of contemporary music, the full Norfolk and Norwich Festival programme was launched today.
Patrons, sponsors and many other involved in the festival gathered at the EPIC gallery on Magdalen Street in Norwich where 16 days of international theatre, circus, dance, music and visual arts from across the globe was unveiled.
The festival's artistic director William Galinsky said that not only were there more free events, there were also more UK and world premiers than ever before.
He said: 'Festivals can turn the world upside down and the Norfolk and Norwich Festival 2011 is a sixteen day adventure which will see our city and region transformed by great artists and world-class events with the power to move, delight, enrich and amaze.'
The festival launches on May 6 when 200 saxophonists from across Norfolk- from professionals to amateurs and young and old - will perform on Millennium Plain at a free event.
The finale has been written and directed by Nigel Jamieson, who created the Sydney Olympics opening ceremony.
It is the world premiere of a video visual and aerial performance, called Wired Aerial As the World Tipped, which is a story of ecological crisis.
• Booking for the festival opens tomorrow. You can book in person at the Norwich Theatre Royal box office, by phone on 01603 766400 or online at www.nnfestival.org.uk/nnf11
• See tomorrow's EDP for the full story
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