Norfolk And Norwich Festival Opens

More than 300,000 people are expected at one of the biggest arts events in the country over the next two weeks.

For 16 days from the 6th May, the Norfolk & Norwich Festival brings a programme of international theatre, circus, dance, music and visual arts from all over the world.

Artistic director and chief executive William Galinsky said: "Festivals can turn the world upside down and NNF11 is a sixteen day adventure which will see our city and region transformed by great artists and world-class events with the power to move, delight, enrich and amaze.

This is my first year as artistic director and I’m thrilled to be taking the helm of one of the UK’s most diverse and dynamic arts festivals.  We are quickly becoming an international destination Festival attracting some of the world’s best artists to our region and increasing numbers of visitors keen to experience what we have to offer."

One of the organisers, Matt Bernham told Heart that it also brings a massive boost to the economy: "We get people coming up from Ipswich, Colchester, Cambridge, down from King's Lynn and from Cromer. For every £1 spent on tickets, £22 is spent in the local ecomomy, so that's in shops and restaurants and hotels. Last year the benefit was around about £9.5 million."

To book in person, call in at Norwich Theatre Royal Box office.  To book by phone call 01603 766400 or online at www.nnfestival.org.uk/nnf11.

Norfolk & Norwich Festival 11 is funded by Arts Council England, Norfolk County Council and Norwich City Council with its principal sponsor for the 20th year, National Express East Anglia.  Its outdoor performance programme is supported by May Gurney.