Canterbury Festival returns this month
A seriously bumper line-up across all genres of the arts
Slightly Fat Features
Canterbury Festival returns to light up the city as the autumn evenings draw in. Presenting local favourites, fresh faces and some truly unique experiences, this year’s line-up promises thrills, spills and eclectic chills.
This year’s bumper programme celebrates arts and culture in the city, presenting live music, performance, comedy, cabaret, talks, science, family events and much more. Whether you love a comedy club, a choral concert or a clay-making extravaganza, you’ll find an unforgettable event to share with friends and family.
Following last year’s three-day sold-out event, Luxmuralis will return with a thrilling opening to this year’s Canterbury Festival – Renaissance (26th-30th Sept).
Luxmuralis returns to Canterbury Cathedral
The festival flag will fly in venues and community hubs across the city, including Canterbury Cathedral, The Great Hall, Westgate Hall and The Malthouse Theatre.
This year’s opening concert welcomes one of the UK’s greatest choirs, Tallis Scholars, who celebrate their 50th birthday. Meanwhile, music legend Ruby Turner and her band hit the stage at The Great Hall with an unbeatable night of soul, gospel and R&B.
Following her 2020 Beethoven marathon, pianist Joanna MacGregor makes a triumphant return, performing a specially curated Schubert series. UK legend Gabrielle performs an intimate concert packed full of hits as part of her 30 Years of Dreaming tour.
The Frisian Symphonic Wind Orchestra celebrate the joy of making-music across borders with a night of English, Dutch and Frisian works; Armonico Consort presents Scarlatti’s rarely performed masterpieces; and Canterbury Choral Society close the cathedral series with Haydn’s The Creation.
Gabrielle
Across the festival, other highlights include pianist Lucy Parham with Elégie – Rachmaninoff, narrated by celebrated actor Alex Jennings; legendary Scottish trailblazers Peatbog Faeries; folk troubadour Seth Lakeman; Ivo Neame’s 12-piece jazz supergroup Dodeka; Canterbury heroes Gentlemen of Few; high-energy classical comedy group Graffiti Classics and much more.
This year’s Festival Opening Party - which raises funds for the festival’s year-round work and partner charity Catching Lives - will feature cabaret Queen Abi Collins, KD Jazz and Dance Orchestra, magician Josh King and more.
Dutch quintet Släpstick delivers an extravaganza of physical comedy and music with Schërzo. Rob Broderick aka Abandoman brings his “relentlessly hilarious” (The Times) show Discography to town, presenting an improvised musical comedy experience that will blow your socks off.
If that wasn’t enough, there’s more comedy with stand-up legend Rich Hall, Hal Cruttenden, Britain’s favourite French deadpan comedian Marcel Lucont, variety troupe Slightly Fat Features, an unmissable Comedy Club, A Marvellous Evening of Magic and the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre’s Eurovision Sock Contest.
This year’s series of talks welcomes the UK’s foremost female travel writer Sara Wheeler, geopolitics expert Tim Marshall on the exploration and exploitation of space, Oliver Soden on the life of ‘The Master’ - Noël Coward, Royal Shakespeare Company director Gregory Doran, historian Michael Wood on the Dark Ages and William Sieghart on the positive power of poetry.
Marcel Lucont - Les Enfants Terribles, image by-Jason-Read
The science programme begins with the Kent College Lecture, presenting Simon Watt with Cracking the Code – the Genetics of Super Heroes. In the following weeks, speakers include Helen Czerski with Blue Machine, Sir David Haslam on a lifetime as a doctor, patient and healthcare leader; Dr Kathryn Harkup answering all your Bond villain questions; Louise Gray delving into ethical food decisions; and the team behind The Blean Bison Project revealing how these amazing animals can act as ecosystem engineers.
October half-term gets under way with a week of shows to keep all the family entertained. Don’t miss a puppet-filled extravaganza - The Sea Show. Variety legend John Hicks presents the fast-paced fable of Jon and Frank the Dog - Kickmouse Mysterium. Comedy Club 4 Kids bring the laughs with three of the stand-up circuit’s best. One-man ringmaster Matt Bernard wows with Instant Circus – Just Add Kids. Rounding things off is Marcel Lucont with Les Enfants Terribles – A Gameshow for Awful Children, guaranteed to be a hit with ages 6+.
Don’t miss the Beautiful Noise Community Music Celebration with local musicians, community groups and choirs performing across the city centre. The Upstart Comedy Workshop and Show is a great opportunity for budding comedians to learn from a trio of professionals and perform live to a festival audience.
This year marks Canterbury Christ Church University’s 13th year as Partner and Principal Sponsor of Canterbury Festival. This partnership has enabled a close-knit bond that celebrates, showcases and champions arts and culture in the city, working closely with different departments to engage staff and students directly in festival events – on stage, behind the scenes and online. This year students and faculty members present a series of free lunchtime concerts, performances and events that demonstrate the wealth and breadth of the university’s talent and knowledge.
Saturday 26th September – Saturday 4th November 2023
Captain Pemburthy - The Sea Show
