Chaucer was a fan, David Copperfield loved its beautiful ‘hot light’ and Virginia Woolf believed there to be ‘no lovelier place.’ The country’s most eminent Archbishop lives here and the Romans resided here long before them. There’s an avant garde jazz style named after the city, and Christopher Marlowe drew huge inspiration from his birth place. Throw in a vibrant student population, inspiring Kent countryside and a vigour to make things happen, and it’s no wonder that Canterbury has become one of the brightest places in the south east for quality, innovative and inspiring art and culture.
This year’s Canterbury Festival is evidence of that. The multi arts festival takes place every year, and every year becomes bigger and bolder in its diversity and calibre. Kicking off on Saturday 17th October with street performances, the programme includes creative writing and literary debates with Save As Writers, humour and laughs with Andy Hamilton and Austentatious, a hilarious improvised comedy inspired by Jane Austen, and the controversial sounding Opera Naked. A fascinating programme of talks includes Julie Summers exploring Women on the Home Front and Anthony Stattin looking at the early life of T.E. Lawrence. A number of walks will introduce visitors to the city and residents to its hidden secrets, whilst the beautiful Cathedral plays host to the Canterbury Cathedral Choir and London Choral Society to perform Bach’s Mass in B Minor.
With over 200 events taking place, there’s a lot to choose from, and the varied and brilliant fortnight of arts will see over 60,000 people visiting the city. Tickets are available here.
1 Comment