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Welcome Weekend

SATURDAY 9 MAY, 12NOON-5PM & SUNDAY 10 MAY, 11AM-4PM

Norwich City Centre

FREE

All these wonderful shows pop up over the city throughout our magical opening weekend. Take your pick from theatre, dance, pole acrobatics, trapeze, and more! And best of all, it’s free.

Important information

GERALDINE PILGRIM COMPANY – CHAIR!
Set in a dreamlike world, CHAIR! imagines how we can once again have public spaces that care.
St Andrew’s Hall, The Garth
Sat: 1pm, 2.30pm & 4pm (30 mins)

 

DAUGHTERS OF THE WIRE – ELEVATEHER
Revealing female struggles and strengths played out between three multi-height tightwire rigs.
Chapelfield Gardens
Sat: 12.45pm & 3pm (40 mins)
Sun: 12:45pm & 3.15pm (40 mins)
Audio Description available on the second show each day

 

RADICAL RITUAL – TENDER EXCHANGE
A living folk artwork inviting heartfelt sharing, deep listening, trust, and connection.
St Andrew’s Hall Plain
Sat: 11am-1pm & 3-5pm (drop-in)

 

TALAWA THEATRE COMPANY – FRAGMENTS OF US
An evocative outdoor performance exploring Black male identity, resilience, and vulnerability.
The Forum, Millenium Plain
Sat: 12noon & 3pm (40 mins)
Sun: 11:45am-2.15pm (40 mins)

 

THIRUNARAYAN PRODUCTIONS – HOLY DIRT
A vibrant, funny, and beautiful mini-epic that brings buffooning to Indian street theatre.
Motorbike Park
Sat: 1.30pm & 4.15pm (45 mins)

 

SHYAM DATTANI & MIRA SALAT – GARBH
An innovative outdoor dance work that reimagines ancient Gujarati folk dance.
Chapelfield Gardens
Sat: 12noon & 3.45pm (35 mins)
Audio Description available
Touch Tour Sat 3.20pm

 

NIGEL ‘KOBBY’ TAYLOR – THE TORCH
A high-energy gig-theatre experience. Afrobeat, hip-hop, rap and storytelling collide – powered by live DJ decks and shimmering synths to provide a beat-driven narrative about not fitting in and the moment you finally discover your own light.
The Forum, Millennium Plain
Sun: 11am & 1.30pm (40 mins)

FERDINANDO + BERNSTEIN – STICK AND STONE
Communicating through physical comedy and visual imagery, Ferdinando + Bernstein face the climate breakdown with the joy of idiocy and play.
The Forum, Theatre Plain
Sat: 1.30pm & 4.15pm (45 mins)
Sun: 12.45pm & 3.15pm (45 mins)

 

FROZEN LIGHT THEATRE – MUSEUM OF SPIRALS
A new one-to-one experience for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities. Booking required.
Norwich Guildhall
Sat: Every 30 mins, 12noon-4.30pm (20 mins)
Sun: Every 30 mins, 11am-3.30pm (20 mins)

 

DIZZY O’DARE – THE GIANT BALLOON SHOW
Feverous balloon sculptures, high energy clowning and, of course, the all important giant balloon!
The Forum, Millenium Plain
Sat: 12.45pm, 2.15pm & 3.45pm (30 mins)
Hay Hill
Sun: 12.30pm & 2.30pm (30 mins)

 

CAT & MOUSE THEATRE – STAND & DELIVER
The year is 1725. A roving court, led by the notorious ‘Hanging Judge’ Jeffries, arrives to dispense swift justice. But is this trial about guilt and innocence, or the divide between the wealthy and the poor? A family-friendly theatre show that encourages you to join the court proceedings.
St Andrew’s Hall Plain
Sat: 1.45pm (30 mins)
Hay Hill
Sat: 4.15pm (30 mins)
Sun: 11.30am & 1.30pm (30 mins)
Touch Tour Sat 3.50pm

 

NORWICH PUPPET THEATRE – WORKSHOP
Bring your favourite jungle creatures to life. From cheeky monkeys to colourful parrots, mix, atch, cut and stick to your heart’s content and take home a puppet you made yourself! £7.50 per puppet.
The Forum, Millenium Plain
Sat: 12noon-4pm
Sun: 12noon-4pm

Tickets: This is a non-ticketed event

FREE

Norfolk & Norwich Festival is a partner in Without Walls, a consortium of festivals and arts organisations bringing fantastic outdoor arts to people in towns and cities across England. Find out more on www.withoutwalls.com. Shows at the Welcome Weekend are co-commissioned by Norfolk & Norwich Festival and a number of partners.

Supported by the Paul Bassham Charitable Trust

Sponsored by

Masthead credit: Luke Witcomb

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

Amount to Donate £ 0
£