Norfolk and Norwich Festival – Cultivated

Ella Frears

James Goffin — Thu, 22 May 2025 21:30:55 +0000

I have a new poetry crush, and her name is Ella Frears.

Alex McAleer: Mind Reader

James Goffin — Wed, 21 May 2025 23:04:22 +0000

Pity poor audience member Kai: he tried his best to outfox Alex McAleer, but he never stood a chance.

Songs of the Bulbul

James Goffin — Wed, 21 May 2025 22:35:43 +0000

This new dance work offers a mesmerising combination of movement and myth, inspired by the ancient Sufi story of a nightingale held in captivity.

Rachel Long

James Goffin — Tue, 20 May 2025 23:57:05 +0000

There was a moment before Rachel Long’s penultimate poem that she took a beat, and you could almost hear the calculation being made: should I do this one?

Rock Charmer and Night Flyer

James Goffin — Sun, 18 May 2025 20:44:46 +0000

Two mysterious and surreal stories are captivatingly told in this double-header performance by The Paper Cinema at Norwich Puppet Theatre.

Nabihah Iqbal

James Goffin — Fri, 16 May 2025 22:47:24 +0000

As part of her between songs chat Nabihah Iqbal mentioned how impressed she was that Norwich has (or had) 52 churches – so hopefully she’ll appreciate this description of her gig being something of a curate’s egg.

Show Pony

James Goffin — Fri, 16 May 2025 19:58:03 +0000

If there was ever any doubt rules were made to be broken, Show Pony proves the point.

Sarah Jane Morris

James Goffin — Thu, 15 May 2025 23:13:18 +0000

It’s one thing to have heroes – it’s quite another to write an album of songs celebrating them.

Upswing: Showdown

James Goffin — Thu, 15 May 2025 19:56:26 +0000

This year’s Norfolk and Norwich Festival circus centerpiece takes a different tack, with a mock reality show to find the “face of circus”.

Gandini Juggling: Heka

James Goffin — Wed, 14 May 2025 20:48:49 +0000

Sean Gandini owes me an ice cream: his company’s show Heka is so captivating my lemon sorbet melted before I could take my eyes off the stage to eat it.

The Norwich Nine

James Goffin — Sun, 11 May 2025 17:59:48 +0000

From the mouths of babes is a well-worn phrase – but what about nine-year-olds? This collaborative show featuring nine Norwich “half-adults” tests the proposition.

An Evening With Gilles Peterson

James Goffin — Sat, 10 May 2025 23:04:33 +0000

At first glance Norwich Cathedral might seem an odd choice of venue for an evening with a man renowned as a club DJ, as well as a broadcaster, producer, and promoter.

Our picks of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival

James Goffin — Mon, 05 May 2025 14:03:11 +0000

One of the UK’s oldest festivals kicks off its 2025 edition this week, with dozens of events around Norwich and venues across Norfolk. We’ve picked out a few festival highlights.

Full city festival programme unveiled

Cultivated — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 00:01:00 +0000

Norwich’s 2025 art festival will kick off with a parade of 150 local people playing electric guitars backed by a deconstructed marching band, followed by two weeks of music, theatre, performance, and visual arts.

First festival highlights revealed

Cultivated — Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:10:22 +0000

Two resident artists, a new circus show, and a literary lecture are among the early highlights for the 2025 Norfolk and Norwich Festival.

MOSH

James Goffin — Sun, 26 May 2024 10:33:47 +0000

Exhilarating on the inside, incomprehensible on the outside, the mosh pit is one of the phenomena at gigs that splits opinion.

Laura Misch

James Goffin — Fri, 24 May 2024 22:56:00 +0000

The Norfolk and Norwich Festival Spiegeltent often throws up surprises: tonight was the first time I’ve seen a crowd sit on the floor for a song.

an Accident / a Life

James Goffin — Fri, 24 May 2024 21:49:00 +0000

In some respects Marc Brew’s story of a car accident and its aftermath is simply told.

Nubiyan Twist

James Goffin — Wed, 22 May 2024 23:43:33 +0000

Jazz-fusion band Nubiyan Twist got the Spiegeltent shaking with their smorgasbord of hip-hop, afrobeat, dancehall, soul, reggae and dance.

Luke Kennard

James Goffin — Wed, 22 May 2024 23:17:48 +0000

Poetry can challenge, reinterpret, and entertain, and Luke Kennard’s does all three.