In a fabulous historic setting with a fresh new bill and new stage the 53rd Ludlow Arts Festival has gathered Britain’s finest, most life-affirming arts and music together for the 2013 festival. Taking place between Friday 21st to Sunday 30th June 2013 organisers have arranged a line-up mixing amazing pop and comedy in amongst the serious stuff, which will appeal to all ages.
The 2013 Ludlow Arts Festival will feature the usual spectacular outdoor concerts in the outer bailey of the castle, along with a range of events in an all-new Big Top theatre.
Musical acts set to lay siege to the castle include celebrated showmen 10CC, bebop superstar JOOLS HOLLAND joined by his blues orchestra, two of Britain’s most loved and most enduring pop groups THE HOLLIES and THE SEARCHERS and a spectacular recreation of THE LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS presented by the very classical GYLES BRANDRETH, featuring THE ENGLISH NATIONAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA and, more importantly, enough fireworks to win the Wars of the Roses twice over!
Meanwhile a smorgasbord of theatrical and spoken word performances in the Big Top Theatre will include hilarious sets from comedy giants including REGINALD D HUNTER, PAUL MERTON’S IMPRO CHUMS, from London’s West End THE REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY in their wildly popular THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) and The Circus of Horrors, the show that rocked Britain’s Got Talent, with dare devil & bizarre circus acts from all four corners of the world.
Celebrating 30 years of award-winning cabaret comedy FASCINATING AIDA take to the stage and there’s a lunchtime recital from the world-renowned pianist YOUNG-CHOON PARK. For younger audiences, and four performances only THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD will be heading to Ludlow straight from a hugely successful run in the West End, and 75 years after the most famous jazz concert of all time, PETE LONG’S ALL STAR GOODMEN ORCHESTRA recreate Benny Goodman’s 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert in true style.
As well as culture Ludlow is justly known and proud of its local food and drink fayre. The Ludlow Arts Festival will do no disservice to this proud tradition: visitors will be able to bring their own picnics, order super hampers from the LUDLOW FOOD CENTRE in advance or enjoy great local foods from the wide selection of food & drink stalls including HOBSONS REAL ALE, Shropshire’s sustainable brewer and creator of award- winning beers.
Festival Directors Chris Davis and Chris Moreno said “We’re so happy to be bringing the Festival back to Ludlow, and hopefully bigger and better than ever before, with a more diverse bill and many exciting and unmissable acts. This is a bold new chapter in the story of the Ludlow Arts Festival.”
Tickets for all events are NOW ON SALE via Ticketmaster. See all four outdoor concerts for £100 Groups Buy 10 tickets get one free Senior Citizens £3 off Children £5 off
Performances
Sat 22 June 7.30pm doors open at 5.30pm 10cc Tickets £28
Sun 23 June 7.30pm doors open at 5.30pm Last Night of the Proms plus fireworks! with the English National Philharmonic Orchestra, presented by Gyles Brandreth
Conductor Ben Crick, Soprano Claire Ormshaw, Tenor Lee Bradley Tickets £28
Sat 29 June 7.30pm doors open at 5.30pm Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra Tickets £35
Sun 30 June 7.30pm doors open at 5.30pm The Hollies & The Searchers, plus fireworks display! Tickets £28
Bring a picnic and enjoy before the show begins. Please note that seating is not provided for the ‘Open Air’ concerts so do bring outdoor chairs, rugs & a picnic table. We sadly cannot guarantee the English weather so be sure to bring a warm jumper and an umbrella if in doubt. There will be a large BBQ with our own chef for your use. Please feel free to bring your own meats and ask the chef to cook for you. In the interest of safety personal BBQs are forbidden.
Treat yourself to your own private box for the night for our outdoor concerts! Open on one side and situated along the Castle Wall, your 3m x3m ‘box’ includes a trestle table and six chairs for only £100 for the night. Early booking is advised.
BIG TOP THEATRE
Fri 21 June 2pm; Sat 22 June 11am & 2pm, Sun 23 June at 11am doors open 1 hour prior to performance The Gruffalo’s Child Tickets £12 (SCHOOLS £8.50 plus buy 10 tickets get one free. Teachers go free) Senior Citizens £3 off Sat & Sun
Fri 21 June 7.45pm doors open at 6.30pm Opening Night Gala Show! Benny Goodman’s 1938 Carnegie Hall Concert Tickets £24
Sun 23 & 30 June 12noon to 3pm Jazz Brunch Tickets £7
Mon 24 June 7.45pm doors open 6.30pm Reduced Shakespeare Company in The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) Tickets £18
Tue 25 June 7.45pm doors open at 6.30pm Paul Merton’s Impro Chums Tickets £24
Wed 26 June 7.45pm The Circus of Horrors doors open at 6.30pm Tickets £20
Thurs 27 June 7.45pm doors open at 6.30pm Reginald D Hunter Tickets £24
Fri 28 June 2.00pm doors open at 1pm Young-Choon Park Piano Recital Tickets £15
Fri 28 June 7.45pm doors open at 6.30pm Fascinating Aida Tickets £24
See all of the Festival shows, including one performance of The Gruffalo, for £250 per person
See all of the Big Top Theatre performances, including one performance of The Gruffalo, for £150 per person
Groups Buy 10 tickets get one free Senior Citizens £3 off
Our Big Top Theatre has a spacious bar and refreshment foyer for pre-show and interval drinks. Tickets
