World Class Music and Comedy in the Sussex DownsTicket sales for this year’s Petworth Festival
(12th- 29th July) have started really strongly with some performances already sold out. This summer for over a fortnight, the well-established cultural extravaganza boasts an incredible line up of artists and the best talent to appear outside London. The diversity of the programme – featuring world-class classical musicians including Roderick Williams and Iain Burnside, Natalie Clein and Cédric Tiberghien, comedic national treasures such as Angus Deayton’s Radio Active, Hal Cruttenden and the inimitable Rainer Hersch Orkestra, a pop up exhibition from local schools supported by West Sussex Young Arts and outdoor family theatre in Bignor Park– makes it an event for everyone with tickets starting at just £6 for adults and a limited amount of FREE tickets for 18s and under at some events.Talking about this year’s festival, Artistic Director Stewart Collins commented: “I love seeing the sold out sign going up against festival events and they’ve already started appearing. We’ve even had to add an extra show in one case ‘by popular demand’, so everything is going in the right way. All I would say is don’t leave it too late. With top quality performers in our intimate venues Petworth Festival events are always high octane and we absolutely hate turning people away!”Other highlights include:
- BBC Radio 4 Comedy hit Radio Active featuring Angus Deayton, plus the magical Card Ninja
- A brand new adaptation of Orpheus Caledonius, one of the most important traditional works in 18th century Scottish folk music, presented by violinist Zak Ozmo, early music ensemble L’Avventura and Scottish traditional group, Old Blind Dogs
- Top classical artists including Natalie Clein (cello), Cedric Tiberghien (piano), Chloe Hanslip (violin) and The Coull Quartet
- Jess Robinson’s stand out, stand up show from Edinburgh Festival: Impressive… and we’re certain it will be!
- A ‘Come and Sing’ event for all-comers with Ben Parry featuring the classic and much loved The Sound of Music.
- Frances Hatch’s new exhibition Impromptu at Kevis House Gallery featuring drawings based on dancers and musicians in rehearsal, which will be on show for the entire duration of the Festival.
- The superhero duo of Tommy Foggo and his cello will create a fantastical world of music and performance for families at Leconfield Hall.
- A Duo of concerts featuring musicians from the Royal Academy of Music including Lucy Humphris (trumpet) and Harry Rylance (piano) on 14th July, and Hao Zi Yoh (piano) on the 26th July.
- Lyricist to Donna Summer and multiple Grammy nominee, Pete Bellotte, presents The Unround Circle in a literary event packed with entertaining stories of his work in the music industry.
- There’s an extra date, due to popular demand for the raffish cabaret duo Bounder and Cad. They’ve entertained royalty and prime ministers and now they are here to sing for us!
This year also sees the first
Artistic Director’s Trail in which we encourage audiences to try something new and outside their normal comfort zones. For more information, see the website for video blogs and catch up with the festival on social media.The annual
Jazz in the Stables event has sold out, but there are more jazz events with the
Jay Rayner Quartet and
Claire Martin’s Hollywood Romance and with so many other events to see and experience in the stunning beauty of the Sussex Downs, we look to welcoming everyone to celebrate with us.Tickets for this year’s Petworth Festival are available to purchase online at
www.petworthfestival.org.uk, by downloading the booking form and posting it to Petworth Festival 151 Whites Green Lodge Lurgashall Petworth GU28 9BD or by telephone on 01798 344576.For more information, become a sponsor or friend or volunteer, please contact the festival office on 01798 343055 or email
info@petworthfestival.org.uk 
25 JULY11.00am – 8.00pmThe Horn Fair at Ebernoe takes its name from the horns taken off the ram which is roasted for the village feast every St James’ Day (25th July). The horns are presented after the days cricket match to player who scores most highly in the game, and the meat cooks while the match is played. A special Horn Fair Song is sung and the roast mutton shared out.
30 MARCH – 15 APRIL11.00am – 4.00pmBunny’s been busy making mud pies, digging holes and planting seeds. Help her find out the best way to grow a perfect garden. Complete the trail and win a chocolate prize.£3 per child.
Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture, bringing together over 2,500 organisations, 5,000 events and 40,000 volunteers. Every year for four days in September, places across the country throw open their doors to celebrate their heritage, community and history. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – and it’s all FREE.Heritage Open Days 2017 will be 7-10 September.Plenty of places open in and around the Petworth area, so please go along as it will be well worth it. 
