Norfolk & Norwich Festival has just announced it’s first six highlights for 2014 with tickets. The Festival is renowned for bringing art from around the world to Norfolk and artists from four continents are represented in these first six highlights to delight audiences and attract visitors for its stunning events including the UK premiere of the new show from Australian new circus pioneers Circa and visits from international jazz superstars Hugh Masekela and Madeline Peyroux, dance iconoclasts Michael Clark Company and Breakin’ Convention, the international festival of hip hop dance theatre. 

‘The 2014 Festival is already lining up to be one of our strongest and most varied’ said Norfolk & Norwich Festival Artistic Director William Galinsky. ‘Our special relationship with Circa continues with the UK premier of their new show ‘S’. Michael Clark Company are the innovative, adventurous and genre pushing dance company of the day, Madeleine Peyroux is a singer songwriter of the highest quality who we have enticed to Norwich for the very first time. Hugh Masekela is not only one of the greatest jazz musicians of his generation but was also a committed opponent of Apartheid whose defiant political voice helped to oust the regime. It’s an honour to host him here in his 75th birthday year.’ 

The 2014 Norfolk & Norwich Festival runs from 9 – 24 May at various locations around Norwich, Norfolk. The full line up will be announced in early March.  

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Akin to theatre fit for the gods

Circa have thrilled audiences all over the world with their bold new vision of contemporary circus. Their special relationship with Norfolk & Norwich Festival saw them perform total sell out shows in 2013 with both How Like An Angel and the world premiere of Beyond. As Festival productions How Like An Angel also toured England and Beyond enjoyed a three week run in London.

The new show ‘S’ is a full-throttle ride to the limits of the human body that will fill a specially designed floating white diamond stage with a stunningly beautiful mélange of bodies. On its Australian debut The Australian Stage described ‘S’ as ‘Akin to theatre fit for the gods’. (Norwich Theatre Royal, Sunday 18 & Monday 19 May) 

By turns ravishing, outrageous, borderline certifiable, and sometimes all three at once

Hailed as 'British dance's true iconoclast' Michael Clark continues to create work that combines his classical integrity with a more complex, contemporary sensibility, embracing virtue and vice, abandon and control, grace and embarrassment. Clark’s choreography has lost none of its iconoclasm but such is its impact that it threatens to take contemporary dance to the edge of the mainstream.  For this new show eight dancers perform his exhilarating movement set to music by Pulp, The Sex Pistols, Relaxed Muscle and Scritti Politti. The Daily Telegraph described the company as ‘by turns ravishing, outrageous, borderline certifiable, and sometimes all three at once’. (Norwich Theatre Royal Saturday 24 May 7.30pm)

Jaw-dropping performances from around the world and around the corner

Breakin’ Convention the international festival of hip hop dance theatre, comes to Kings Lynn Corn Exchange with a line-up of jaw-dropping performances by both international and local companies. Expect exhilarating break dance from West Norfolk crews alongside uplifting performances from Olivier Award-nominated ILL-Abilities, an international b-boy company challenging misconceptions about people with disabilities. There’s also Ukweli Roach’s ensemble performance looking at temptation and vice and Wanted Posse expression of the roots of their personal revolutions. (Kings Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday 13 May) 

A true living legend

Trumpet and flugelhorn master, singer, composer and bandleader Hugh Masekela has enjoyed a truly unique career that continues into his 75th year. He first picked up a horn in 1954 and in the years since has played music that acknowledges no barriers encompassing jazz, funk and hip hop with a generous chunk of the urban township jive of his birthplace. An engaging and warm live performer his exuberant sounds frequently implore the audience onto their feet. He has been a vocal supporter of South Africa’s struggle for equal rights and was proud to perform at the inauguration of Nelson Mandela. They are proud to welcome this true living legend to Norwich for the first time. (Norwich Theatre Royal, Wednesday 21 May) 

An unforgettable programme pondering the legacy of war

As the nation remembers the profound events of 1914, Elgar’s glorious Enigma Variations (including the serene NImrod), Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (originally written for a pianist who lost his right arm in WW1) and Vaughan Williams’ cantata Dona nobis pacem (‘Grant us peace’) provide an unforgettable programme pondering the legacy of war. The Festival Chorus are joined by one of the UK’s most renowned ensembles The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Canadian pianist Louis Lortie and fast rising soprano star Susanna Hurrell. The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra have performed in New York, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Vienna and their CD with Nicola Benedetti spent several weeks at the top of the classical CD chart and became the best-selling classical album of 2012. (Sunday 18 May, St Andrews Hall)

The only thing that matters is the song

‘The only thing that matters is the song’ says Madeleine Peyroux. That conviction, along with her absolutely one-of-a-kind voice, has taken her from busking on the streets of Paris all the way to international mainstream recognition, sold out signs outside concert halls all over the globe and five star reviews. Through her intensely distinctive renditions of old classics and modern tunes, Peyroux has proved to be an uncannily insightful interpreter with her consistently impeccable choice of material. She will be featuring songs from her new album The Blue Room that includes reworkings of landmark musical gems including songs by Leonard Cohen, Warren Zevon and Randy Newman. (Norwich Theatre Royal Tuesday 20 May) 

Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2014 will run from 9 – 24 May at various locatiobs around Norwich, Norfolk. More information and ticket links to the shows here. The full programme for Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2014 will be unveiled in late February.  

Tuesday 13 May6pm foyer activities, 7.30pm show £18 - £10

BREAKIN’ CONVENTION (International/UK/France)

International festival of hip hop dance theatre from around the world.

Norfolk & Norwich Festival at Kings Lynn Corn Exchange, Tuesday Market Pl Kings Lynn PE30 1JW 

Sunday 18 May 7.30pm £35 - £7

BOURNEMOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, FESTIVAL CHORUS (UK/Canada)

David Parry conductor, Louis Lortie piano, Richard Burkhard baritone Susanna Hurrell soprano

Elgar Enigma Variations, Ravel Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, Vaughan Williams Dona nobis pacem

One of the UK’s most renowned orchestras joins forces with the Festival Chorus to perform an unforgettable programme pondering the legacy of war.

Norfolk & Norwich Festival at St Andrews Hall, Saint Andrews Street NR3 1AU 

Sunday 18 & Monday 19 May 8pm £ 26.50 - £6.50

CIRCA: S (Australia)

UK premiere for stunning new show from acclaimed Australian new circus company

Norfolk & Norwich Festival at Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre St NR2 1RL 

Tuesday 20 May 8pm £25 - £6.50

MADELEINE PEYROUX (USA)

Genre blending jazz singer with renditions of old classics and more contemporary songs from her new album.

Norfolk & Norwich Festival at Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre St NR2 1RL 

Wednesday 21 May 8pm £26.50 - £6.50

HUGH MASEKELA (South Africa)

World renowned South African jazz giant celebrates his 75th birthday year with an evening of jazz, funk and urban township jive

Norfolk & Norwich Festival 2014 newsat Norwich Theatre Royal, Theatre St NR2 1RL 

Saturday 24 May 7.30pm £23 - £5.50

MICHAEL CLARK COMPANY (UK)

British dance's true iconoclast returns with work set to a soundtrack of Pulp, The Sex Pistols, Relaxed Muscle and Scritti Politti