Rye Arts Festival offers around 50 fantastic events in the last two weeks of September, with categories comprising classical music, books and talks, film, drama, walks and tours and traditional and contemporary music. But such is the rich diversity of artistic talent some events don’t really fit into a single category as these arbitrary barriers break down – something the French would call “hors categorie” or “beyond categorisation”!
Take the show called ‘I’m No Good at Love’, on Saturday evening September 30 with an additional matinee on Sunday, October 1 added to close this year’s festival. Starring Rye’s finest resident thespian, Martin Wimbush and the golden voice of fellow citizen Sally Bayly as well as Malcom Newton on keys and violinist Nuri Koseoglu, this a show inspired by a Noel Coward poem. Is it drama, as it features Martin performing excerpts from Private Lives and Terence Rattigan’s The Browning Version? Or is it a concert as the other three perform songs by the likes of Burt Bacharach, Stephen Sondheim and Van Morrison (with Martin giving his bongos an occasional slap)? Or a poetry soiree as WB Yeats, Shakespeare and Manley Hopkins are recited by Martin? Or a comedy evening as the witty words of Dorothy Parker are aired? Or is it a case of to hell with this attempted to categorise? Simply, an evening and afternoon of blissful and old-fashioned entertainment?
And what about Duncan Minshull on Wednesday, September 27, with his event called ‘Where My Feet Fall’? Join him on a walk to Camber Castle, when he will will read passages from his latest book. But, the audience becomes part of the show as Duncan will ask you to explain to your fellow strollers why you go walking and what you get from it. This mixed walk and talk is also an immersive experience for all involved.
On Friday, September 29 the Brewery Yard Club will host a show called Imaginary Landscapes. This will create “an exquisite fusion of worlds and music”. Anne Denholm, who is joint principal harpist of the BBC Concert Orchestra, will play semi-improvised music while poet, author and raconteur Chris Tutton will deliver the words to create a ‘magical and mesmerising’ afternoon.
For more information and to book tickets for these and the other events go to www.ryeartsfestival.org.uk.
Image Credits: Rye Arts Festival .
Thanks for the nice write up Andy. I hope we live up to the expectation – whatever kind of show it is – it’s gonna be fun!