Devizes Arts Festival 1st - 18th June 2017
Chair's Message
Devizes Arts Festival 2017: that was the year that was...
Well, the festival is over for this year. If you've missed out on our wonderful 2017 events, why not prepare for 2018 by joininng as a Friend now? For just £15 per person per year, you get discounted tickets and the chance to buy in advance to secure the best seats for next year. Friends also enjoy a party, with entertainment, drinks and food – it's a great evening, and a chance to meet other 'friends' amd our volunteers who work so hard to put the Festival on each year. Become a Friend today.
To bring a varied, high quality and entertaining mix of performers to our town every year is a notable achievement, but we couldn’t do it alone. Sponsors, advertisers, loyal audiences and Friends all contribute to the Festival’s continuing success and, on behalf of the committee, I would like to thank all of you for your ongoing and invaluable support. We look forward very much to seeing you next year to celebrate the arts in Devizes.
Tribute to Leslie Taylor
Sadly this year’s Festival took place without its longest standing committee member Leslie Taylor who died in February. He made an immeasurable contribution to establishing and ensuring that the Festival maintained its reputation for high quality, professional performance across the arts. He will be especially missed for his in-depth knowledge of classical music and his untiring efforts during the run of every Festival for over thirty years, from putting up banners to hosting visiting artists.
Our successful Festival was a fitting tribute to his memory.
Margaret Bryant
Chair, Devizes Arts Festival
Plundered! : Really Big Pants Theatre Company
Saturday 17th June
Wharf Theatre 2:00pm | Adult £10 Child £7 Family (2 adults 2 children) £28 R
A show for primary-aged children by Joe Bromley and Willow Nash.
Can YOU defeat the dastardly litterbug pirate...? Come dressed as a member of his crew if you like!
Helen Lederer : Losing It - In Debt, Divorced & Desperate
Saturday 17th June
Town Hall 2:00pm | £10 R
One of Britain’s best-loved comediennes, Helen Lederer is probably best known as AbFab's dippy Catriona. A writer and performer with an extensive portfolio, Helen contributes regular columns to Woman & Home and the Independent, and is frequently to be heard on BBC Radio’s Just A Minute and Woman’s Hour. Helen will be introduced by BBC Radio London star, Jo Good, who will then lead a Q and A from the audience.
Danny & the Champions of the World
Saturday 17th June
Corn Exchange 8:00pm | £16
Danny and the Champions of the World hail from London, but the music is pure, corn-fed Americana. If you love American soul, roots, and folk music this band will be right up your alley.
Supporting will be the exciting and orginal folk duo Moss Clarkson.
Film Festival
Sunday 18th June
FREE FRINGE EVENT Corn Exchange Merchants Suite 6:00pm
Celebrating local film-making talent, and now in its fourth year the Devizes Film Festival presents the best of this year's entries.
See www.devizesfilmfestival.co.uk for all the details.
Keith Donnelly
Sunday 18th June
FREE FRINGE EVENT The Southgate 1:00pm and Cellar Bar 5:00pm
Stand-up comic, surreal snigger-songwriter, guitar-hero, performance-artist, story-teller, philosopher, scriptwriter, compere, man-of-mystery, actor, stuntman, metaphysical-poet, human ping-pong ball, world-class athlete, leading socialite, raconteur, business tycoon, author, secret[sh!]-agent, shamen, geordie, snake-charmer, unexpected clairvoyant, dream-weaver, daydream believer, psycho-linguist, shark-wrangler, smile sculptor, Great-British eccentric, [alleged] international-jewel-thief, erstwhile slice of bacon, all-round good egg and compulsive liar. Also a musician.
Adam Norsworthy
Sunday 18th June
FREE FRINGE EVENT Bell by the Green 3:00pm
A long standing, much loved and incredibly hard working member of the UK blues circuit, Adam has been performing, touring, recording and releasing with his band, The Mustangs for more than a decade. This will be a special stripped back show, showcasing Adam's wide repertoire, spanning his many years and releases.
Villiers Quartet
Tuesday 6th June
Town Hall 8:00pm | £15 R
In their second year of the Radcliffe Chamber Music Residency at the University of Oxford, the Villiers are one of the most charismatic and adventurous quartets of the British chamber music scene.
Sebastian Faulks
Friday 2nd June
Corn Exchange 8:00pm | £16 R
Sebastian Faulks is one of Britain’s foremost novelists, broadcasters and all round literary superstars, possibly as well known these days for his James Bond novel, Devil May Care, as for his "French" trilogy that includes the best-sellers, Birdsong and Charlotte Gray. With his trademark combination of the literary and popular, Sebastian will be discussing love, life, and the singular ideas that drive his novels.
Jo Caulfield : The Customer is Always Wrong
Thursday 15th June
Town Hall 8:00pm | £15 R
Have you ever noticed that even when you’re right, you’re wrong? From the potential minefields of dating, relationships and divorce, to the simple things, like booking a holiday, or joining a pub-quiz team – nothing is ever as straightforward as it should be. Jo Caulfield is determined to get things back on track...
Jay Rayner : The Ten (Food) Commandments
Wednesday 14th June
Town Hall 8:00pm | £16 R
The Ten (Food) Commandments is an audio-visual romp that attempts to lead us to the edible Promised Land, from award-winning writer, broadcaster, Observer restaurant critic and Masterchef judge, Jay Rayner.
Dan Cruickshank : A History of Architecture
Wednesday 7th June
Corn Exchange 7:30pm | £16 R
A History of Architecture in 100 Buildings
Journeying through time and place, from the ancient Egyptian pyramids to the soaring skyscrapers of Manhattan, renowned architectural historian Dan Cruickshank takes us on a history of architecture in 100 buildings.
Austentatious : An Improvised Novel
Thursday 8th June
Corn Exchange 7:30pm | £15 R
Undoubtedly one of the most talked-about shows on the UK comedy scene, Austentatious: An Improvised Novel is a comedy play spun in the inimitable style of Jane Austen – and based entirely on audience suggestions.
