Poetry, music, drama, art, storytelling, history, dance and local knowledge: all feature in this year’s Warminster Festival, which kicks off on Saturday with a street fair in the Market Place, opening a fortnight of events covering the entire arts genre.
When festival organisers were trying to find a title for this year’s event they hit upon Wonders of Warminster, in tribute to the variety of talents in the town which will be on display.
Homegrown talent kicks off the music at St George’s Church on Boreham Road, on Saturday night, with young harpist Cecilia de Maria, who grew up just down the road from the church, playing a selection of her favourite works for harp at 7.30pm.
On Sunday night Bulgarian pianist Plamen Tsvetanov gives a recital including Beethoven and Bach at The Athenaeum , while Salisbury Cathedral’s director of music David Halls will make the magnificent organ at the Minster Church resound with sound on Monday night.
If you like singing, come and join The Athenauem Singers when they sing Songs from the Shows on Tuesday at Christ Church, on Weymouth Street, while on Friday local actress and director Adela Forestier-Walker and a group of friends share a selection of their favourite poetry and readings in an afternoon session at Warminster library.
At the centre of the Festival is the town’s carnival parade on Saturday, October 25, followed by another week of events which includes a jazz bistro, a First World War themed dance at the civic centre, talks on the role of women in the First World War and rural life around the town, rounding off with gala concerts at The Athenaeum.
In the second week writers and artists will be taking to the streets to draw inspiration from Warminster, with their works going on display.
Many of the festival events are free to attend, with retiring collection.
Tickets for all others are available in advance from the Festival box office at the Civic Centre off Sambourne Road.
Full details of all events are available through programmes around the town or online at www.warminster festival.co.uk
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