From music to theatre, cabaret to comedy to talk, the Holt Festival begins this weekend with another diverse programme of events. There is still time to grab tickets for some highlights.
Top names from the many different worlds of entertainment will gather in north Norfolk this weekend for the start of the annual Holt Festival.
Now in its ninth year, the week-long annual festival attracts thousands of people to its diverse programme of cultural events starts on Sunday.
Now in its ninth year, the festival brings theatre, music, comedy, literature, children's and visual art events and exhibitions to the picturesque Georgian town for eight days, from July 22 to 30. This year's festival is the final year of Charles Pugh's tenure as artistic director. He said: 'I'm so proud of this programme. I think, perhaps the most diverse we've yet delivered.'
In its near decade the festival has won a loyal following and is reflected in how quickly tickets for some events have been snapped up. A number of this year events have already sold-out, including a gig by Suzi Quatro, an evening of stand-up comedy talent, performances by top Cuban dance band Cuban Combination and jazz by the Ronnie Scott's All Stars, and the latest show from Cirque du Cabaret.
As well as the main festival there is also a Children's Festival. Youngsters will get the chance to enjoy storytelling events with Amy Finegan and Paul Jackson, performances of The Tinderbox (July 25) and Rhubarb Theatre's Granny's Game (July 28) as well as circus workshops and joining in an all-singing, all-dancing musical being staged in a day.
• For full listings and booking details call 01603 598699 or visit www.holtfestival.orgThe Gin Chronicles
Auden Theatre, Holt, July 23, 8.15pm, £20, £5 cons
The Misfits of London bring the first adventure in their five-star reviewed comedy series 'The Gin Chronicles' as 1940s amateur detectives John Jobling and Doris Golightly are called to investigate the threat of a London gin shortage. Vintage comedy with a dash of The Goons and a complimentary Gin & Tonic with each adult ticket!
Robert McCrum
Auden Theatre, Holt, July 24, 2pm, £15, £5 cons
Radio 4 regular and distinguished veteran of the British book world Robert McCrum talks about his spell after becoming seriously unwell with a stroke, a life-changing experience he describes in the his latest book My Year Off.
Tim Marshall
Holt Community Centre, July 24, 4pm, £12, £5 cons
Journalist, author and broadcaster with more than 25-years of reporting global politics gives what promises to be a fascinating talk using 10 maps to show the ways in which geographical factors – mountains, rivers, seas and concrete – can illuminate world events and explorea the role flags have played in driving global conflict.
Mariano Mangas
St Andrew's Church, Holt, July 24, 6pm, £20, £5 cons
Acclaimed Flamenco guitarist, who made his UK debut with a sold-out concert at Holt Festival in 2015, returns to St Andrew's Church. Mariano began his guitar studies when he was just eight with the famous guitar master Richoly in Almería and there is no finer exponent of classical Spanish guitar.
Tanya Holt
Auden Theatre, Holt, July 24, 8.15pm, £20, £5 cons
Composer and performer Tanya Holt takes the audience on a foray through comedy, song and animation about the challenges, travails and triumphs of parenthood with her show Cautionary Tales for Daughters, which was hugely acclaimed on its premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015. Musical tales of the hapless, feckless and foolish based on real-life stories submitted by the public.
Luke Wright: The Toll
Auden Theatre, Holt, July 26, 2pm, £15, £5 cons
After the success of his previous full-length show What I Learned From Johnny Bevan, the Norfolk poet, writer and spoken word performer returns with his latest The Toll, dealing in doubt, duty, and a hundred lonely evenings spent shouting at Question Time. Tour of Brexit Britain with a raconteur at the top of his game.
Jalousie
St Andrew's Church, Holt, July 26, 6pm, £20, £5 cons
Tenor Javier Agulló and soprano Amparo Navarro, recently sang with Placido Domingo at The Grand Florida Opera, with pianist Mark Jones, present a feast of opera arias and duets from Monteverdi and Mozart to Verdi and Puccini on the favourite operatic theme of jealousy.
The Suzie Heath Trio
Holt Community Centre, July 27, 6pm, £12, £5 cons
Suzie, with her drummer Jack Robertson and bassist Martin Bardsley, are joined by local harmony group, The Samphires, for this concert performing the beautiful songs of Cole Porter and his contemporaries as a celbertaion of 1930s music.
Humphrey Berney and Guests
Auden Theatre, Holt, July 27, 8.15pm, £20, £5 cons
Humphrey Berney, one third of the Brit Award-winning group Blake, with whom he has sold over a million albums, returns to Holt Festival with fellow award winning performers mezzo soprano Charlotte Tetley, who herself gave a sell-out Holt performance in 2015, and pianist James Sherlock. An evening of songs, duets, virtuosic piano and conversation featuring music from the great shows, films and song-writers.
Roots in the Wood
Theatre in the Woods, Holt, July 28, 8pm, £15, £5 cons
The Vagaband, one of Norfolk's finest 'roots' music bands, join forces with The Wangford Bass Combo, featuring pedal steel and down-to-earthy dobro of the guru of slide guitars BJ Cole, for this evening of country and roots, folk and rock music in the suitably rootsy surroundings of the Theatre in the Woods. They will be supported by The Gentlemen.
Pop-up Opera
Auden Theatre, Holt, July 29, 6pm, £18, £5 cons
Pop-up Opera bring their original take on Emmanuel Chabrier's rarely-performed and zany Une Éducation Manquée, a deliciously madcap and witty 50-minute French operetta. Set in the time of Louis XVI, it is the tale of two very young aristocrats who have just been married but are totally innocent of the facts of life. The cast includes sopranos Susanna Fairbairn and Christine Buras as the young lovers, and baritone Oskar McCarthy as Pausanias.
Rubber Ring
Auden Theatre, Holt, July 30, 6pm, £15, £5 cons
Written and performed by James McDermott, this laugh-out-loud show is a coming of age comedy about a Norfolk boy's struggle with sexual and regional identity. Jimmy is 16, sexually confused but when pop his hero Morrissey comes to London, he flees to the city to find himself. It comes to Holt after playing to rave reviews.
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