Isle of Ely Arts Festival enters its second week with performances, poetry, music and art…all on your doorstep

The Festival enters its second week with an abundance of arts and culture on offer locally.

Catch The Festival Players in ‘Groping for Words’ by Sue Townsend at two village venues this week. First performed in 1983 when Margaret Thatcher was in power, the problems of adult literacy the play explores are still here a generation later. The story is simple, both funny and sad and sometimes both at the same time.

Enjoy this excellent production from a talented cast of four on Friday 21st June at Little Downham Village Hall, and on Saturday 22nd June at the Arkenstall Centre in Haddenham. Both performances start at 7.30pm, tickets cost just £7 and are available on the door or via door or via www.wegottickets.com/artsfestivalplayers 

Exhibitions at The Babylon Gallery ‘John Piper Selling Exhibition’ and Haddenham Arts Centre ‘Summer Landscapes and Inspirations’ continue this week. Whilst you’re down at Haddenham enjoy a drink in their cafe and a stroll around their delightful sculpture garden. FREE entry to both venues.

Music, prose and poetry feature strongly this week as Folk Musicians meets Latin America with some of the finest local musicians as they kick off Haddenham Thursdays on 20th June. Jeremy Harmer, Steve Bingham and performers from across the region perform bring Fire and Ice to the Centre on the 27th. Check out the website www.haddenhamgallery.co.uk for details. 

Beth Hartley brings her own blend of ‘High Street Poetry’ to Caffè Nero in Ely on Wednesday 26th June. Entry is free, with donations to partner projects in Nicaragua. Open mic slots by advance booking. Details at Eventbrite – search ‘High Street Poetry’.

Tickets for future events include Eboracum Baroque who present ‘A Grand Tour of Europe’ at St Mary’s Church Ely on the 27th, with a programme from across Europe with music by Bach, Vivaldi and Handel (Tickets: www.eboracumbaroque.co.uk.)

Booking is recommended for a picnic concert from Sing! Choirs in the Bishop’s Garden and ‘A Night at the Movies’ concert presented by the Festival Orchestra & Community Choir at Ely Cathedral. For full details of what’s coming up pick up a brochure locally or download one online from www.isleofelyartsfestival.org.uk

Images: High Street Poetry, John Piper and the Festival Players in rehearsal.

Press release from Babylon ARTS