Dartington's spring performing arts programme

Artists from across the UK will join talent from across the South West for the new season of performing arts events at Dartington Hall. Music, dance, theatre, poetry and digital arts are all in the mix, with appearances from both award-winning established artists and the best emerging talent in the region.

Perrier-award winner Stuart Silver performs alongside contemporary folk outfit Pencil Stringhorn, on Friday, February 25 and local hero Matt Harvey on Wednesday, March 23. Writer and performer Molly Naylor completes the line-up, with Whenever I Get Blown Up I Think of You, a spoken word show about her first-hand experience of the 7/7/2005 London tube attacks on Thursday, April 28.

Another season highlight sees the return in February of Britten Sinfonia, one of the UK’s most exciting music ensembles, with celebrated tenor Mark Padmore. The concert will take place in Dartington’s Great Hall on Sunday Sunday, February 6, with a programme of English Song from some of England’s best-loved composers.

Musical excellence continues with Moishe’s Bagel, and their heady mix of Eastern European and Middle Eastern traditional music, on Thursday, February 24 (when the line-up for HOME Festival 2011 will also be announced); free showcases of outstanding work by students from South West Music School on Sunday, February 27 and Saturday, April 2; and multiple award-winning folk gods LAU on Wednesday,  March 26.

There will also be theatre from acclaimed companies Theatre Alibi (Tuesday, April 19) and Mind the Gap, with an award-winning adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic Of Mice and Men on Thursday, March 3 at the Ariel Centre, plus family theatre from Norwich Puppet Theatre and Indefinite Articles on Saturday, March 26. Theatre innovators Stan’s Café make an unusual contribution on Thursday, April 14 with Tuning Out With Radio Z, an improvised, interactive theatre show-cum-radio broadcast that sees the audience setting the agenda by sending the actors notes, phone messages and emails, even while the action unfolds in front of them.

The line-up is completed by contemporary performances from Hetain Patel, with his Time Out Critics’ Choice-winning dance show, TEN on Thursday, March 24, plus genre-busting music from Joby Burgess’ Powerplant ensemble on Thursday, March 10, which features live visuals alongside works by Steve Reich, Gabriel Prokofiev and a world premiere from Max de Wardener.

For full information pop along to the Dartington Arts site. Tickets are available online and from the box office on 01803 847070.

(image: Chalk Giants)