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For a free brochure e.festivities@pgs.org.uk or t. 023 9268 1390.
Welcome
The Portsmouth Festivities is nine day summer celebration of the arts across the city and this year there is a hugely exciting and wide-ranging programme of events on offer.
Where else can you hold parkour workshops in the same setting as the Monteverdi Vespers performed by His Majesty's Sagbutts and Cornetts with international tenor Charles Daniels? Where else can you hear speakers such as Paddy Ashdown, Jonathan Miller and General Sir Mike Jackson and also catch outstanding young ‘cellist Natalie Clein or experience an extravaganza of flamenco dance with Flamenco Express?
Festivities 2008 will celebrate our links with Europe as the City marks the 21st anniversary of its twinning with Caen. Poet and comedian Ian McMillan will be devising a new musical work with children from both cities across the Channel, whilst Louis de Bernieres picks up the mandolin to perform in the Square Tower. Children’s Theatre Company Tall Stories will perform a new show for children age 4 + and leading writers Dame Beryl Bainbridge, Francis King, GP Taylor and Michelle Magorian will talk about their work. With Young Musicians' platforms throughout the week and master classes with experts such as Zoë Tyler from the BBC's Any Dream Will Do, the Festivities is an opportunity for new, local talent to flourish.
The week starts with the launch of the Round Britain Powerboat Race, viewed from Southsea Castle, and on the final weekend The Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth will perform a free family concert in the Dockyard.
And the BBC have agreed to record Radio 4's hit comedy The Now Show featuring Hugh Dennis & Steve Punt, live in the Kings Theatre as part of the Festivities!
There is something for everyone in this year's Festivities.
