New season of arts delights to look forward to this autumn
'The Library Presents’ is back for a new brilliant season of arts in Cambridgeshire libraries this autumn and tickets go on sale today. The Season starts on Saturday 21 September - taking high quality, affordable arts activities into the heart of towns and villages across the County - until Saturday 15 December.
Nearly 400 local people took part in selecting performances and activities for this new season, shaping a tailor-made programme for each participating library. There is something for everyone, whatever their age and interests, including dance, lots of music to brighten-up the winter evenings, puppetry, magic, comedy and theatre.
There is also a great variety of arts and craft workshops, including arts, drama, lantern making, print making and even science. Other workshops will explore objects from the University of Cambridge Museums’ collections, or help with improving performance skills while discovering the art of African Township Theatre.
Twenty-three libraries are involved this season. They are : Arbury Court, Barnwell Road, Burwell, Cambourne, Cambridge Central, Clay Farm, Cottenham, Chatteris, Cherry Hinton, Ely, Great Shelford, Histon, Huntingdon, Littleport, March, Milton Road, Ramsey, Soham, St Ives, St Neots, Warboys, Whittlesey and Wisbech.
One of the highlights of the programme is the special one-off event in Ely Market Square, in partnership with Ely Markets – Family Day on 23 October. On this day, families will enjoy free performances of ‘Moon’, a spectacular dance and circus production by 2Faced Dance (12pm and 2.15pm). www.vimeo.com/288501780
The Library Presents’ first ever international performers are travelling from Thailand to Huntingdon and Cambourne to share ‘Mahajanaka Dance Drama’; a show based on one of the oldest surviving folk tales in the world retold through dance, music and animation. www.neondance.org/mahajanaka
In Fenland, Sherlock Holmes will be visiting March and Wisbech, but this detective adventure by Edinburgh Fringe Festival regulars Last Chance Saloon will include pop songs, slapstick and physical comedy. www.lastchancesaloon.org
Another theatre highlight is ‘Greyhounds’ by the up and coming Time and Again Theatre Company (pictured above), who will bring their clever and charming production to Chatteris and St Neots Libraries. Set during WW2, the story tells of a local drama company battling to overcome the war raging in the skies above them, as well as the tribulations of village life, to stage a production of Henry V. www.facebook.com/timeandagaintc/videos
'The Library Presents’ is funded by Arts Council England and managed by Cambridgeshire County Council working with Babylon ARTS.