All the fun of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival is set to begin next week with a jam-packed programme full of circus, performance, music, literature and more.
As the final countdown begins to this year's arts extravaganza which starts on May 12, artistic director William Galinsky shares his top 10 events not to miss with arts correspondent Emma Knights.
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• VR Playground
May 12 to 27, various locations around Norwich
'Professor Brendan Walker is the world's only thrill engineer...He'll be bringing a brand new experience to the streets of Norwich with VR Playground, which will see swings at points across the city, which transport their riders on various weird and wonderful trips. Using VR technology, the swings will simulate different experiences, including riding on the back of a giant jellyfish, or a lumbering giant – all depending on how fast or slow you swing!'
• Museum of the Moon
May 12 to 21, The Forum, Norwich
'Luke Jerram's work was last in Norwich in 2014 when a version of his giant waterslide ran through the city – which should give people a feel for the size and scope of his next project here, a giant moon which measures seven metres in diameter and will hang outside The Forum during festival weekends. The moon features 120 dpi detailed NASA imagery and each centimetre represents 5km of the moon's surface. Lit up for the city to see, it will look really spectacular. There will also be a line-up of free lunar-inspired events under the moon – from dance to theatre and a performance from Norwich Cathedral Choir. During the week audiences can still see the moon – it will be inside The Forum.'
• Driftwood
May 17 to 27, Adnams Spiegeltent, Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich.
'Every year our headline show in the Adnams Spiegeltent proves one of the most popular picks of the festival, and this year's circus act should prove no different. Casus Circus are one of the leaders in contemporary circus...and Driftwood will be explosive to watch, the unique shapes that they can make will have you on the edge of your seat. The Guardian described their previous show as 'a show in which every second counts' but there will be a few laughs too!'
• Summer. Autumn. Winter. Spring.
May 13 and 14, The Space, Norwich
'Theatre company Quarantine brings three live performances and a film, looking at moments in the human life span. Summer sees people responding to the current day. Autumn is a two-hour interval in history. Winter addresses death, while Spring meets pregnant women as they begin to imagine lives as yet unlived. This show is absolutely epic in scale and ambition, and must not be missed.'
• Dee Dee Bridgewater
May 20, Norwich Theatre Royal
'With a career spanning over four decades, Dee Dee Bridgewater is one of today's most prominent female jazz vocalists. As a Tony Award and three-time Grammy Award winner known for re-envisioning jazz classics, she is an incredibly exciting addition to this year's festival. Performing songs from her new album Memphis, she will be reimagining American blues and R&B classics, as well as returning to her jazz routes.'
• The Garden Party
May 20 and 21, Chapelfield Gardens and outside The Forum, Norwich
'Always a fantastic part of our free programme of events, The Garden Party is perfect for big kids and small adults alike. Taking over Chapelfield Gardens for the whole weekend, expect the likes of dance, circus, giant origami, roaming cottages and real-life arcade games. With delicious food and drink too, I think it's the perfect family day out.'
• Frankie Vah
May 26 and 27, Norwich Playhouse
'This year sees festival regular Luke Wright bring a world premiere of his second verse play, Frankie Vah. Following the multi award-winning and critically acclaimed What I Learned from Johnny Bevan, described by The Guardian as a 'pulsating piece of poetic storytelling,' I am hugely excited to see what Luke delivers next.'
• BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists
May 12, 19 and 20, Norwich Playhouse
'One of the new partnerships this year that I'm excited about sees the festival and BBC Radio 3's New Generation Artists scheme join forces to offer audiences the chance to discover the newest rising stars in classical music from across the globe. The programme includes mezzo soprano Kathryn Rudge, named as a 'rising star of classical music' joined by pianist James Baillieu, the critically acclaimed Annelien Van Wauwe and Amatis Trio and the Calidore Quartet, winners of the 2016 M-Prize International Chamber Music Competition.'
• City of Literature Weekend
May 26 to 28, Adnams Spiegeltent and the Literature Tent, in Chapelfield Gardens, Norwich
'Our UNESCO City of Literature programme takes an in-depth look at the idea of the revolutions, including in art, identity, sexuality and technology. This year, for the first time, the City of Literature Weekend will be three whole days – the longest yet. I'm particularly looking forward to CN Lester talking at Trans Like Me about the transgender debate, and Speaking Truth to Power, an insight into the Mexican government from some of Mexico's top journalists.'
• The Arms of Sleep
May 22 to 26, Assembly House, Norwich
'In the beautiful setting of the Assembly House, in Norwich, this year audiences can spend the night accompanied by 10 hours of new choral work in bed! Forty audience members will each be given their own bed in which to experience the brand new piece created by artists such as Helen Chadwick, Orlando Gough, Jonathan Baker and Jon Hopkins. The Voice Project always deliver amazing work at the festival and this is set to be the local company's biggest endeavour yet.'
The festival runs from May 12 to 28.
Visit www.nnfestival.org.uk or call the box office on 01603 766400.
For more Norfolk and Norwich Festival stories click here
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