I couldn’t have got more lucky with the weather for my last trip to this years Norfolk and Norwich Festival. Glorious sunshine turning into a stunning sunset totally enhanced this innovative outdoor performance.
IOU have designed a vehicle and created a show called Rear View– who’s world premiere took place here at the NNF. I was lucky enough to attend the first day of the production although with the fluidity of the piece you’d never know.
Last night I went on my first trip of the week to The Norfolk and Norwich Festival. This time I was walking up to The Spiegeltent in Chapelfield Gardens. It was another beautiful day so once I collected my ticket it was all about a pint of cider.
I was at the Adnams Spiegeltent to see Casus Circus‘ production Driftwood.
Casus are an Australian ensemble from Brisbane who are recognised as leaders in contemporary circus on the international stage. They have performed all over the world and have become so in demand that there are now two sets of performers on tour. Right now one team is in Norwich and the other is at The Udderbelly Festival on the Southbank in London. So if any of my London friends are reading this I highly recommend this show. I am sure each individual performer brings their own special skills to each show but the heart and soul of the piece will remain.
At the Spiegeltent it was unallocated seating, but due to it’s unique design there was not a bad seat in the house. It’s such a small intimate space I did start to wonder how they would use the space, but I needn’t have worried, the show fit perfectly.
Race Horse Company are an all male Finnish Contemporary Circus Troupe created in 2008 with an aim “to take over the world” and after what I saw last night I think they actually can!
Race Horse Company turned the Theatre Royal stage into an abandoned fairground and proceeded to run riot on the equipment that was left there. Combined with the music they used, it gave the air of some guys coming back from a rave and happening upon this equipment. For me this added to the nervousness of the performance – I am aware that they are highly trained very skilled professionals, but their characteristics when interacting with each other sometimes suggested otherwise.
My first trip to this years Norfolk and Norwich Festival was to see Summer. Autumn. Winter. Spring. A seven hour production about life, death and the passing of time.
As you can see I wasn’t going to ease myself into the festival slowly- I was going in headfirst with no idea what I was about to see. It’s so rare for me to go and see a production where I know nothing about what is going to happen, and that is what made me so excited for the day.
Summer. Autumn. Winter. Spring. was created by Quarantine, who formed in 1998. They devise original theatre, performance and public events with and about the people in it. An incarnation of this show has been performed before, but as they use people from the local area and the stories they bring- no show is ever the same.
Summer. Autumn. Winter. Spring. consisted of three live performances and one film. And that is all I knew going in.
I just realised that I have been back in North Norfolk now for 9 months! I can’t believe how much time has flown by.
I am really enjoying being back. Work is brilliant, and I have more time to try and organise and sort my life out… which after 7 years in London, seriously needs to happen.
This post is just a round up of some of the photography that has happened whilst I have been back. Norfolk truly is beautiful and I carry my camera around with me all the time now.
Expect a lot more on this blog over the coming months as adventures are a foot and I have a few past trips to write about too! I will also be nosing around the Norfolk and Norwich Festival in the next couple of weeks so keep an eye out for some blog posts about that!
But now- to the sea!
I can’t believe it’s been a year since that last launch of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. I am even more excited about this years festival as now I live back in Norfolk I can attend SO many more of the events than I did last year.
This years launch was held at The Shoe Factory Social Club in Norwich. The Artistic Director William Galinsky was there to tell us all about the exciting programme that is kicking off in May. What with the current political state of the world there was lots of talk of inclusion within the arts and I think this years programme really reflects the NNF’s passion in bringing everyone together from all around the world to celebrate the arts.
You can read the full programme HERE, but below are some of the highlights that I will be definitely checking out!
