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GET TO KNOW | Queer Birders Norfolk

Read | Queer Birders spent two inspiring weekends with Thick & Tight performers Dan Hay-GordonEl Perry and dancer Annie Edwards exploring birds through movement and choreography, to inform the show, Natural Behaviour…

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GET TO KNOW | Thinker in Residence

Read | This year’s Thinker in Residence, Karina Aveyard considers how culture can better connect with communities across the region – culminating with a special event at Norwich Castle in May

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#2 | go gently into the garden of [im]possible dreams

Read | Introducing…go gently into the garden of [im]possible dreams and the *conditions apply collective

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ARTIST IN RESIDENCE | Maya Youssef

Watch | Ahead of Festival 2026, Artist in Residence Maya Youssef talks us through her practice and her instrument, the qanun

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ON THE RECORD | Sam Braysher

Listen | Ahead of his Spiegeltent set in May, local boy and jazz supremo Sam Braysher talks us through some of the music which has shaped him

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WRITING FROM THE EAST

Read | A quartet of new theatre pieces, written and produced in the East, form part of this year’s programme. Steve Waters, playwright and Professor of Scriptwriting at the UEA, examines the ways a local nature reserve, and place more broadly, inspires his work.

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BECOMING ANIMAL

Read | Our programme this year features a number of works that embody being animal. Daniel Hay-Gordon, Co-Director of dance theatre company Thick & Tight, explores how we think of the world beyond a human-centric view

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ON THE RECORD | Alice Boyd

Listen | As she prepares to join Stornoway this May, Alice Boyd reflects on a selection of tracks that have shaped her, sharing the stories and significance behind them

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CREATIVE PLACES | Victoria Melody

Read | We’re thrilled to announce that artist, performer, and anthropologist Victoria Melody has been chosen as artist in residence for Your Town, My Town, Our Town in Swaffham. Alongside other exciting festival projects in Swaffham, Victoria will be working with the community up to the culmination of the programme in March 2027.

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#1 | go gently into the garden of [im]possible dreams

Read | Introducing…go gently into the garden of [im]possible dreams and the *conditions apply collective

See More about #1 | go gently into the garden of [im]possible dreams

Arts make life better

Norfolk & Norwich Festival brings tens of thousands of people together in celebration – it has been doing this for over 250 years. Through our May Festival and our year-round arts education work, focusing on children and young people, we lead and support celebration, creativity and curiosity in communities across Norfolk and the region.

This year we begin an exciting new initiative, Festival Connect & Create that will bring creative opportunities to those schools and communities with least provision. Creativity transforms people’s lives. It builds cohesive communities, develops vital skills and supports health and wellbeing. We want more people to have access to creative opportunities.

Please consider donating to support and develop this work. With your help we can increase access to the life changing power of the arts.

Registered Charity No. 116442

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