After a series of tremendously successful shows at the end of May, the popular annual open-air summer Festival, which takes place in the picturesque grounds of Hever Castle, returns from 13th July to 26th August.
This season, the Festival’s thirty-fifth year, is a summer celebration of all things British. All the performances and events can be enjoyed in conjunction with a quintessentially British afternoon tea or a picnic on the lawn overlooking the Castle and its stunning gardens. Taking in a Festival performance is the jewel in the crown of a day out exploring Hever Castle and grounds.
This year’s Festival programme of events includes vintage vocal trio The Bailey Dolls singing classics from the 1930s and 40s, including those made famous by Vera Lynn, Glenn Miller and the Andrews Sisters. Audiences are invited to dig out their vintage clothes and join them in a nostalgic celebration of the era.
The diverse programme also includes Opera Anywhere who perform two classic Gilbert and Sullivan comic operas; The Mikado and Patience, Kent comedian Mark Steel who will showcase his topical and incisive brand of humour and Ronnie Scott’s All Stars will celebrate some of the all-time jazz greats with a sophisticated evening of music and song.
Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance is just one of the patriotic favourites performed by The Brandenburg Sinfonia in the Last Night of the Hever Proms. This year the audience is also invited to form a fun Flash mob choir to sing The Humming Chorus from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. Anyone interested in helping to raise the roof – and you don’t need to able to read music to participate – should email the Brandenburg Sinfonia’s Artistic Director Bob Porter on bob@brandenburg.org.uk.
In a new addition to the programme; ‘An Audience With’, the Festival welcomes renowned historian David Starkey, who has had a long association with Hever Castle. His talk Henry VIII: The First Brexiteer complements the Tudor exhibition he has guest curated which opens in the newly restored Long Gallery in the Castle in early autumn.
For drama fans there is a musical adventure based on HG Wells’ classic novel The Time Machine (pictured), Bromley Little Theatre return to the festival with George Bernard Shaw’s famous tale of Eliza Doolittle’s transformation from flower girl to society lady; Pygmalion, and Patrick Barlow’s Olivier Award-winning comedy adaptation of Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps sees five fearless actors playing 150 roles.
As part of the musical entertainment offering, there is a tribute to Britain’s very own global superstar George Michael. Fastlove is packed with all the chart-topping anthems from the Wham days through the 90s and onward. An array of other tribute acts include The Magic of Motown, The New Jersey Beat – The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Arrival – The Hits of ABBA and Beyond The Barricade a concert of the greatest songs from Broadway and West End musicals performed by past principals.
Family entertainment on offer this year includes Immersion Theatre presenting their musical production of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan and multi award-winning musical comedian Jay Foreman performs his selection of charmingly sick songs, stories and poems in his Disgusting Songs for Revolting Children.
For opera fans, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Rossini’s The Barber of Seville will be performed by Britain’s leading touring outdoor opera company Opera Brava in their 30th Anniversary year.
A collection of films starring Nicole Kidman makes up the Cinema Under The Stars season including Baz Luhrmann’s sumptuous Moulin Rouge and Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut.
This year, the Festival Theatre welcomes a new Director, Ailsa Molyneux. Ailsa, born and bred in Kent, comes to Hever with over twenty years’ experience of programming and management in the arts. She said of her appointment: “It’s a real thrill to be part of this very special summer Festival and bring such a fantastic variety of world-class performances. We’re delighted to welcome back some old favourites as well as introduce some new and exciting events to our audiences. There will undoubtedly be something for all tastes.”
The Festival Theatre is an open-air venue set in the grounds of Hever Castle in Edenbridge, Kent. The stage is fully covered and the seating tiered with the majority of seats also under cover. Gates for evening performances open at 6.30pm, performances start at 8pm. Gates for matinee performances open at 1.45pm, performances start at 2.30pm, exit by 6pm.
Tickets are bookable, and full details can be found, online at www.heverfestival.co.uk or the Box Office is open for telephone bookings Monday-Friday from 9.30am-5pm on 01732 866114.