ArtsFest runs from September 18 to 21, and features music, drama, poetry, visual arts, talks from renowned speakers and performers and professionally-led workshops. To view the full programme and book tickets, go to https://www.stpaulsartsfest.
org/ . Highlights this year include a talk on September 18 by former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams on 'Faith and the Imagination', followed by readings of his own poetry. On September 19, Olivier-award winning director Guy Masterson-Mastroianni joins forces with writer and performer Justin Butcher for a performance of Scaramouche Jones , which premiered 23 years ago and starred the late Pete Postlethwaite.
The play is set at 11pm on the eve of the Millennium, as centenarian clown Scaramouche breaks 50 years' silence to give his final performance. Jazz composer and performer Tim Boniface and his quartet will perform Psalter: Themes for Peace on the evening of September 20. Described as an "evocative and gripping journey" through the Book of Psalms, Psalter will be followed by the quartet's exploration of some classic jazz material.
On the same day, artist Issam Kourbaj will give a talk about his life and artwork. Since 2011, Issam's artwork has reflected the suffering of his fellow Syrians and the destruction of his cultural heritage. Poet Helen Mort will present two events on September 21.
In the morning, she will host a workshop exploring the 'ordinary extraordinary', poetry and everyday beauty, and in the afternoon she will .