Tickets for selected events at the 2022 Rye Arts Festival have been released and are on sale now at www.ryeartsfestival.org.uk
Further tickets will be released over the next few weeks and the full programme will go on sale from July 25. This year’s Festival, which runs from September 9-25, promises to be our biggest and best ever, with a packed fortnight of music, ranging from classical to folk; bestselling authors talking about their books; fantastic drama and films; walks and much, much more.
We are delighted to welcome back Patrick Gale, one of Britain’s favourite and most loved novelists who will talk about his much-praised latest book Mother’s Boy.
And we welcome Rev Richard Coles, who has now retired from the church and turned to crime! Richard’s Murder Before Evensong, shot to the top of the Bestseller charts when it was published two weeks ago.
We are delighted to be working in partnership this year with the City Music Foundation, a London based organisation that supports and mentors exceptionally talented young musicians in the early stages of their professional careers. This is your chance to see the stars of tomorrow in Rye in September!
One early bird ticket that is sure to sell fast is the Opera Gala on September 24 with brilliant young professional singers performing a range of popular arias in St Mary’s Church in Rye (all classical concerts have returned to the church this year). At the same time there is a concert by the fabulous Senegalese kora player Kadialy Kouyate and his band, which will provide a hot night in Rye Community Centre.
The Victoria Consort returns to the Rye Arts Festival with chamber organ and Theorbo to perform these lost works that have recently been transcribed from the royal manuscripts. Full of delicious harmonies that signify the arrival of the baroque style, this music should sound terrific in the majestic surroundings of Rye and Winchelsea’s medieval churches.
Also back by popular demand, after four years, is Kate Garner, with her band, who will provide an evening of good-time, toe-tapping tunes from the 1920s in Rye Community Centre. Last time she came, dozens of the audience got to their feet to Charleston the night away! Professional dance teachers will give instructions during the interval.
One event that is likely to sell quickly is Inside the Archers on Friday September 9. Jeremy Howe, the editor of the BBC Radio 4’s long-standing drama about country folk and Felicity Finch (who plays Ruth Archer) will be in conversation about what makes the world’s longest running radio soap so enduring!
The Festival has always been committed to diversity and on Friday September 23 we have an afternoon celebration of hidden queer histories with a panel of speakers including award-winning poets, writers and publishers. And in the evening there is a fabulous Queer Poetry Soiree. Both events are at a new venue – The Brewery Yard.
We are also releasing tickets for selected events that have a local connection – with the centenary of the publication of Miss Mapp this year, we are celebrating all things EF Benson! We have two sessions of Storytimes for Adults at Lamb House on September 14 featuring readings from Benson’s varied output. The morning session will have actor Richard Crowest reading some of Fred’s work, and the lunchtime session will see Richard joined by iconic actress Rosalyn Landor. Take your pick or book both sessions, but hurry as the venue has very limited capacity.
And on September 17 we have a whole EF Benson Morning, in conjunction with the EF Benson Society.
Our area of Sussex and Kent has a long and rich literary history and Dr Pat Argar will be talking about writers in Romney Marsh in two separate talks including great novelists who have lived in the area including Henry James, Joseph Conrad and Edith Nesbit. Pat will talk about their lives, works and their love for our small but beautiful corner of the country.
Elaine Luke will be talking about Malcolm Saville, the much-loved children’s writer who set a number of his Lone Pine Adventures in and around Rye. Elaine will explore his work and the local landscape as we rediscover an author who was, in his day, almost as popular as his contemporary, Enid Blyton.
Tickets for these events are available online only at www.ryeartsfestival.org.
Keep an eye out for further announcements and make a note that the full programme of events will be launched on July 25. We are really looking forward to seeing you in September at East Sussex’s biggest and best multi-arts Festival.
John Case and Andy Stuart, Rye Arts Festival
Image Credits: J Cumpsty , Rye Arts Festival .