Kenilworth will welcome a host of award-winning artists and performers to a transformed town centre location when a beloved three-day festival returns.

Dancers, actors, authors, and musicians will take to the stage at Talisman Shopping Centre from 17 to 19 September as part of Kenilworth Arts Festival, and there will be a focus on storytelling and sustainability.

Talisman Shopping  Centre, which has been turned into a vibrant community space over the past 18 months, will be at the heart of the festival which is funded by Kenilworth Town Council and sponsorship from local businesses.

The brand new eco stage, surrounded by murals and gardens created by volunteers in partnership with Kenilworth Books, will host a series of music and theatre performances, also giving visitors the opportunity to meet local authors.

Kenilworth Arts Festival will also host Peace at the Pavilion, (located at Castle Pavilion off Forrest Road), a series of workshops for all ages looking at the environment, sustainability, arts, and wellbeing, while local artists and creators will showcase their works at the Abbey End Arts and Crafts Market.

The festival will kick off with a literary event at Kenilworth Castle celebrating 200 years of Kenilworth, the historical novel by Sir Walter Scott, before heading to Talisman Shopping Centre, where there will be a range of Covid-compliant outdoor events for the whole family, including music from a variety of genres as well as children’s theatre and entertainment.

Alex Clarke
Credit: Ron Milson photography

Alex Clarke, finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, will bring four of the UK’s finest jazz musicians to perform in Talisman Shopping Centre on Friday, September 17 before multi-skilled artists and family entertainers Enter Edem join award-winning dance company Matsena Productions for Saturday’s programme, followed by Latin and African grooves from jazz group Interplay.

Organisers have also teamed up with The Stuff of Stories Podcast and the Kenilworth Centre to curate a programme of audio events featuring a drop in podcast event and a workshop with animation company Scripts Out Loud, letting young voice actors loose on their work.

 

Becky Webb, Kenilworth Arts Festival, said: “At this year’s festival we want to provide a platform to some of the finest multi-genre artists working today to reflect on the last couple of years and inspire a new generation of artists.

“With a focus on storytelling, sustainability and wellness, we not only want to expose people to new forms of artistic expression, but to encourage young visitors to take an interest in the arts by showing them what passion for your work can achieve.”

Events in Talisman Shopping Centre will be accessible to pedestrians and passers-by, but seating will also be available to book in advance. Each table will seat a maximum of six people, with takeaway food and drink available from local cafes and restaurants.

Hugo Hawkings, chief executive of Discovery Properties – the developers of Talisman Shopping Centre – added: “The Kenilworth Arts Festival has been a key fixture on the local calendar for a number of years now, and we are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to Talisman Shopping Centre to share in the celebrations.

“The new-look area will provide a fantastic setting for the Kenilworth community to enjoy the performances and displays from the range of incredible artists in attendance.”

To find out more about Kenilworth Arts Festival and its programme of events visit https://www.kenilworthartsfestival.co.uk/