From May 12-28, Norfolk and Norwich Festival returns with two weeks of music, theatre, dance, circus and free family fun.

There’s just two weeks to go until Norfolk and Norwich Festival returns for another year, packed full of events. To get things kicked off in style, there’s a bumper first week of performances and experiences to look forward to.

Take a look at some of the highlights…

THE REST OF OUR LIVES

Head to Sedgeford Village Hall on Friday, May 12, Hindolveston Village Hall on Saturday, May 13 and Barton Bendish Village Hall on Sunday, May 14 to begin the festival with a joyful dose of dance, theatre, circus and games. This unique evening of entertainment features a soundtrack of floor-fillers, a book of raffle tickets and a sprinkling of eco-friendly optimism. 

Eastern Daily Press: The Norfolk and Norwich Festival includes free performances for all the familyThe Norfolk and Norwich Festival includes free performances for all the family (Image: JMA Photography)

WELCOME WEEKEND

On Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14, head to Norwich city centre for a pop-up programme of free performances.  

Highlights include a world of illusions and music from Avanti Display’s Crow, surrealistic comedy juggling from Dulce Duca, award-winning dance from Candoco Dance Company and Serving Sounds – a multi-sensory sound installation that serves bass rather than beer.

Time Machine Disco promises foot-tapping fun while Fussy Foodies: The Game Show invites participants to play games and learn how food can explore histories.

Top-off the festivities with the unmissable Unity by Gorilla Circus – a large-scale aerial-spectacular that features high-flying acrobatics and dance, wire walking and hair hanging artists.

COSMIC CARE

Also on Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14, The Garage hosts an intimate, interactive performance where audiences are invited to participate in acts exploring ceremony and care from French Moroccan artist, Zineb Benzekri.

GEMMA CORRELL: I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING
The Corn Hall in Diss hosts an exhibition from Gemma Correll, an illustrator, cartoonist and writer who graduated from Norwich University of the Arts in 2006. 

Marking her first solo exhibition in the UK, Gemma has a worldwide following for her cartoons that have appeared in newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times. Her work portrays serious subjects in a witty way, particularly addressing issues such as feminism and mental health.

Eastern Daily Press: Join an extreme origami experience with Club Origami Join an extreme origami experience with Club Origami (Image: Summer-Dean)

CLUB ORIGAMI

On Tuesday May 16 and Wednesday, May 17, Norwich Puppet Theatre hosts an immersive and interactive dance show for family audiences.

Get creative with origami and let imaginations run wild in an inspiring adventure through a land made purely of paper and play.

LE COUP!

On Wednesday, May 17, this international hit production begins its run in the Adnams Spiegeltent located in the heart of Festival Gardens. Join a ragtag troupe of travelling misfits as they compete and challenge each other with amazing circus skills, fire breathing, daring aerial feats, tap dancing and acrobatics.

Sure to be a highlight of the festival, it needs to be seen to be believed. 

Eastern Daily Press: Di-Beat-es is a fun-filled party centred around the T1 diabetic experienceDi-Beat-es is a fun-filled party centred around the T1 diabetic experience (Image: Supplied by N&N Festival)

PAUL O’DONNELL: DIA-BEAT-ES

The world’s first Type 1 Diabetes themed party (probably) comes to the Adnams Spiegeltent on Thursday, May 18 at 10pm.

This hilarious fun-filled party is a true one-off theatrical event as DJ Beat-es mixes popular songs like Sweet Dreams, Because I Got High (blood sugars) and Bleeding Love into his own story of living with the condition. 

For more information and to book tickets, visit nnfestival.org.uk