Line-up announced for Salisbury’s Arts Festival

The Salisbury International Arts Festival has announced its full line-up for this year’s event, celebrating 50 years since its inception. The two-week festival will run from Sunday 26th May to Sunday 9th June, featuring a diverse range of performances and activities.

City Encounters will kick off the festivities, bringing performers and street theatre to Salisbury city centre. The day will also feature Patch’s Parade, a community-led event with large puppets parading through the city.

Artistic Director of Wiltshire Creative Gareth Machin expressed excitement for this year’s festival, highlighting the variety of programming that includes spoken word, music, circus, and dance events. City Encounters, a popular community event, will return to showcase local talent and bring the community together.

The festival will also feature notable names from the worlds of comedy, music, literature, and theatre. Guests can look forward to ‘in conversation’ events with Anthony Horowitz, Justin Webb, Alan Johnson, and Juliet Stevenson. Entertainment will include performances by The Best of Gilbert and Sullivan, the Clare Teal Seven, Barbara Dickson, and comedy acts like David Baddiel, Punt and Dennis, Ruby Wax, and Sophie Duker.

A special concert, ‘With The Rolling Stones,’ will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the band’s performances at Salisbury City Hall. Theatre enthusiasts can enjoy Ockham’s Razor’s rendition of Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the D’Urbevilles and The Lord Chamberlain’s Men’s all-male production of Hamlet in the Cathedral Close.

For more information on the festival program and ticket details, visit the Wiltshire Creative website. Don’t miss out on this exciting cultural event in Salisbury!