The 2009 Canterbury Festival programme is now being put in place - and full details of the Festival will be available here in July.
Expect the usual combination of famous faces, world-class international performers, community and family events - and much much more! To be the first to hear about Canterbury Festival events as soon as they are released please join our mailing list. To receive exclusive priority booking on all Festival events, why not become Festival Friend - and help support its work and ensure its future too.
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with Rosie Turner, Festival Director
To see the full programme of the 2008 Festival, you can download a PDF here
The 2008 Canterbury Festival contained a wider selection of arts events than ever before and attracted audiences from throughout Kent and the South East, and visitors from across the UK and Europe. New Festival-run schemes like the Big Eat Out and the Big Sleepover brought people into local restaurants and hotels in Canterbury – providing even more ways for people to get involved in the Festival and creating a vibrant atmosphere in the city!
'Literally thousands of people enjoyed the Festival last year. Our profile is steadily rising and we hope the quality is too. I was particularly pleased to host A Midsummer Night’s Dream in that charming meadow, kindly lent by Kingsmead Primary School, the perfect setting for a this magical event. Staging this ambitious project was an exciting new departure for the Festival which summed up many of our aims: to create something new and exciting for the city, to bring international artists and work to the area, and to provide events which are good quality and above all great fun.'
'Footsbarn’s production was one of the many highlights of last year’s Festival, and other international acts which gave exceptional performances included the UK Premiere performance by the Albanian Symphony Orchestra of Radio Television, Senegalese band Orchestra Baobab, pianist Artur Pizarro, club band Terrafolk and the Fine Arts Quartet.'
'From closer to home the Festival Carnival Parade provided a wonderful opening to the Festival, featuring hundreds of local school children and community groups - to see photos from the Parade click here. Plus there were appearances from UK stars Michael McIntyre, Sandi Toksvig, David Starkey, theatre from 1927 and a riotous show for children Potted Potter – alongside the many walks, exhibitions and umbrella events which take place each year.'
'The Festival team would like to thank all those who have been part of the 2008 Festival and made it a success – whether as artists, performers, volunteers, supporters, sponsors or audience members – and looks forward to another enjoyable and successful Festival in 2009.
I hope to see you there!'
Footsbarn Theatre Company
Alda Dizdari and The Symphony Orchestra of Albanian Radio Television
Potted Potter
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The Sunley Foundation / Mr and Mrs James Bird / Richard Sturt / Dr Mark Rake and Mrs Jill Jordan / Canterbury Festival Foundation (Friends)
