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CURIOUSARTSFEST

13:30: Expect jazz soaked beats, folk

melodies and effortless gospel harmonies from

JORDAN MACKAMPA, who opens this year’s

music at Curious14:00: Join BELLA

AND THE YOUNG ONES for entertainment

and creativity throughout

the weekend

19:00: Bedtime stories with Curious Arts Festival favourite

PAUL BLEZARD

16:30: Coda Music Fun

14:00: Join NICHI HODGSON and

ROWAN PELLING in conversation about

women writing about sex, love and dating

13:00: Back by popular demand is the CURIOUS

CRICKET FIXTURE between the Authors

XI, a team dating back to the time of Arthur Conan Doyle and PG Wodehouse, and the

Pylewell Park Cricket Club

23:15: Late night DJ sets in the Main Festival Bar from festival favourites

HMS SWEET CHARITY and headline DJ act

HARRIET ROSE

15:00: Art impresario JAMES STOURTON

provides fascinating insight into the life and times of Kenneth Clark

18:00: Legendary writer PETER FRANKOPAN joins

us for a very special event about his seminal

book The Silk Roads

14:45: The immensely talented and versatile

singer-songwriter BENEDICT BENJAMIN

plays our acoustic stage

16:00: No1 bestselling novelist RACHEL JOYCE will be in conversation about her new book The

Music Room with resident DJ HARRIET ROSE

13:30: Join authors JOE THOMAS & LUKE BROWN

for a conversation about place and the

novel – particularly the landscape of

South America

16:00: The incredible 21-year old singer-songwriter BROOKE BENTHAM brings the

first day of our afternoon acoustic sessions to a close

CRICKET PITCH

FESTIVAL MAIN BAR

CARTHAGE

19:30: Pack your dancing shoes, IBIBIO SOUND

MACHINE is in town and opening the main stage

music. Expect cool, funky disco beats

20:45: “Prince meets D’Angelo meets Tom Waits meets Joe Cocker” is the

assessment of the Sunday Times for Marcus Foster’s

new project, SERAMIC.

21:45: Expect a vivid, idiosyncratic headline

performance from BRIT-nominee, IZZY BIZU, an artist whose star is very much in the ascendancy

13:00: Celebrated young poet MAX WALLIS launches our weekend

long recital of Paradise Lost –

Milton’s epic poem

23:10: The inimitable MURRAY LACHLAN YOUNG

presents his new show How Freakin’ Zeitgeist Are You?

17:00: SIMON EVANS presents the first night

of comedy gold at Curious 2017 featuring sets from IVO GRAHAM,

CHARLIE BAKER, NAT LUURTSEMA and PAUL

TONKINSON

FRIDAY 21ST JULY, MIDDAY CURTAIN RISES

CURIOUS ADVENTURESIn the park, watch out for life drawing, drinks masterclasses from our sponsors Chapel Down,

The Botanist and Fever-Tree, The Emergency Poet, Jane Austen Parlour Games, Coda music classes and songwriting workshops, nature walks, Crazy Golf, Gong Baths, snail racing, MJ’s Big Choir Love In, the Magpie and the Wardrobe - not to mention the opportunity to enjoy delicious

food from our pop-up restaurant or a gorgeous glass (or two) from our festival bars.

Booking required via website for some Curious Adventures, please see individual listings. Alternatively, please ask at the Box Office.

PARADISE LOST RECITALAfter the roaring success of our Sonnet-a-thon in 2016 to mark the 400 year anniversary of

Shakespeare’s death, this year we turn our attention to Paradise Lost. Festival goers are invited to join acclaimed writers in a weekend-long recital of Milton’s epic blank verse poem which concerns the Biblical story of the Fall of Man, the temptation of Adam and Eve by the fallen angel Satan and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Festival Curator Clare Conville will

lead authors and performers in reading all twelve books over the course of the weekend.

You can sign up to take part on arrival at Curious – ask at the box office for more details.

NIDDFEST COMES SOUTHNiddfest is a jewel-like festival that celebrates writing about nature. Nestled in the beautiful

Nidd Valley in Yorkshire, Niddfest is immersive, inquisitive and creative, like Curious.

This year Niddfest Comes South to Curious for a second time to present a range of fantastic talks and discussions about the natural world.

FESTIVAL DIARY

WELCOME TO

THE WALLED GARDEN GATES OPEN AT 7.30AM EVERY DAY AND CLOSE AFTER FINAL ORDERS

CURIOUS ARTS FESTIVAL IS SPONSORED BY: PLANTS COURTESY OF NICELYPLANTED.COM

WATCH OUT FOR

“ONE OF THE UK’S TOP BOUTIQUE FESTIVALS” THE GUARDIAN

C U R I O U S A RT S F E S T I VA L . C O M

PLEASE NOTE THE PROGRAMME IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. ANY CHANGES WILL BE POSTED ON TWITTER AND ON

RUNNING ORDERS OUTSIDE EACH PERFORMANCE SPACE.

@CURIOUSARTSFEST

BOX OFFICE

FOOD

HOT DRINKS

BAR

JUICE BAR

CONCESSIONS

TOILETS

WATER POINT

SHOWERS

FIRST AID

PRIVATE/NO ENTRY

PARKING

TAXI DROP OFF

LOST PROPERTY

LOST CHILDREN

MAGGIE’S STAGE

ARCADIA

CARTHAGE CRAZY GOLF

BABYLON

DRIFT

FESTIVAL BAR

BOOKSHOP

FEVER TREE

CHILDREN’S

EAST END

MAIN AREA

ENTRANCE

GORSE STAGE

GLAMPING

KANGA SPA, WELLNESS AREA

& STALLS

FESTIVAL KEY

12:00: Gaia Yoga Dance

13:15: Therapeutic Movement

15:00: Yoga for all the family

17:00: Evening Kanga Yoga

18:00: Evening Meditation

7:30: Morning Meditation

9:00: Morning Kanga Yoga

10:45: Yoga for all the family

12:00: Gaia Yoga - Dance

13:15: Therapeutic Movement

15:00: Yoga for all the family

17:00: Evening Kanga Yoga

18:00: Kirtan with Bhavini Vyas

19:30: Kanga Soundscape

7:30: Morning Meditation

9:00: Morning Kanga Yoga

10.45: Yoga for all the family

12:00: Gaia Yoga - Dance

13:15: Therapeutic Movement

15:00: Yoga for all the family

17:00: Evening Kanga Yoga

18:30: Evening Meditation

19:30: Kanga Soundscape

7:30: Morning Meditation

9:00: Morning Kanga Yoga

FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAYWELLNESS AREA

Visit The Kanga Spa for meditation, yoga classes, Soundscape sessions,

Gaia Yoga-Dance, and Therapeutic movement workshops. A haven of peace

and tranquility, there are also a wide range of holistic therapies including

massage, reflexology, homeopathic treatments and remedies.

The Kanga Spa will be open daily 7.30am until 9pm, offering the following treatments:

Massages (Swedish Body, Aromatherapy, Deep Tissue, Ayurveda Yoga)

Reflexology, Reiki and other Spa Therapies. Booking required for treatments and classes,

at the Wellness Area reception via phone on 07940 001124 or via our website.

Please keep dogs on leads & tidy up after them.

GORSE DRIFT EAST END MAGGIES CHILDRENS ARCADIA BABYLON OTHER

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BOOK IN ADVANCE

BOOK IN ADVANCE

12:00: The Magpie and the Wardrobe

13:00: Join BELLA AND THE YOUNG ONES for entertainment and creativity throughout

the weekend 14:00: Join BELLA AND THE YOUNG ONES

for entertainment and creativity

throughout the weekend

19:15: Icelandic folkster JÚNÍUS MEYVANT opens

the Gorse Stage on what is set to be a thrilling

night of live music

11:00: Literary legend JOANNA TROLLOPE will

be in conversation about her new novel City of

Friends. ROWAN PELLING will ask the questions

12:30: Bestselling author of Reasons to Stay

Alive, MATT HAIG, will be launching his much-anticipated new novel

How to Stop Time

20:15: London’s legendary WHOREDOGS

with guest vocalist JOHN ILLSLEY of

DIRE STRAITS and some other unmissable

Star surprises

21:30: The ludicrously talented Ivor Novello

and BRIT award-winner TOM ODELL headlines

the Main Stage

12:45: HARI KUNZRU joins us from New York

to discuss his new novel, White Tears

9:45: The Breakfast Club. Join festival favourite

PAUL BLEZARD and editors from The Week for a

dissection of the day’s national and local news

11:00: Join MAX WALLACE & friends for a Poetry Duel

11:30: Highly distinguished editor

and writer ROBERT MCCRUM

joins us to discuss his new memoir with

BELLA POLLEN

14:00: Join BRON TAYLOR, HELEN SCALES,

VALENTINE WARNER and TONY JUNIPER for this

year’s Edward Goldsmith discussion

16:30: Here is a rare chance to hear from the

inimitable psychotherapist, writer and broadcaster

PHILIPPA PERRY

11:00: Curious about songwriting

12:00: Folk-Americana group THE WANDERING HEARTS perform on the

acoustic stage

13:15: Prepare to be dazzled by ALEX FRANCIS’ emotive melding of rock

and soul

10:00: Join ALLISON DEFREES and her team of magical

puppeteers as they explore puppetry and

imagination

10:30: A “Bees Knees” masterclass exploring

the art of fusing honey and whisky

BOOK IN ADVANCE

10:30: Re-connecting with nature walk for adults

11:15: RICHARD BEARD discusses his beautiful memoir The Day That

Went Missing

13:00: PETER DUNNE discusses The 50 Things – a book inspired by his

three children

14:00: Life Drawing workshop

14:30: NICHI HODGSON talks to ROWAN PELLING

about The Curious History of Dating from Jane Austen to Tinder

16:00: Jane Austen Parlour Games with

BETSY DE LOTBINIERE

13:15: Debut novelist TOM HOCKNELL

discusses The Life Assistance Agency

15:00: New York based writer KATIE KITAMURA will be in conversation about her new novel,

A Separation

16:00: ALEX PRESTON will be discussing his

new book, As Kingfishers Catch Fire - a talk about nature writing and his

passion for birds

13:30: The Week Junior Photography Masterclass

12:00: The Story Cure with ELLA BERTHOUD

14:30: The Week Junior Journalism Masterlcass

15:30: LAS Theatre return to Curious to deliver

a fabulous immersive experience. Expect

paint, pipe cleaners and craft related pizzazz

16:30: Prepare for the adventure of a life-time

as we hunt down THE JABBERWOCKY in the

borogroves of Pylewell Park. Pith-helmets to

be worn!

19:00: Bedtime stories with Curious Arts Festival favourite

PAUL BLEZARD

14:15: Producer, director and writer, RICK STROUD, discusses his new book

Lonely Courage

15:15: The inaugural winner of the Notting Hill

Editions / Curious Arts Festival Film Essay Prize

will be announced

16:30: Fabulous underground pop-up,

Cinema Hades, present films to make you think

and feel

10:30: Fabulous underground pop-up,

Cinema Hades, present films to make you think

& feel

12:15: JESS KIDD discusses her new book

with PAUL BLEZARD

13:15: HOWARD READ presents an hour of fun for kids with stand-up,

interactive digital animation, sound effects,

jokes and lots more

8:00: Classic cartoons and a screening of Where

the Wild Things Are

20:30: Life Drawing workshop for adults only

14:30: ‘70s songwriting craft meets modern

influencers - MARTHAGUNN performs

for the first time at Curious

16:00: The supremely talented ÁINE CAHILL

brings the second day of the acoustic stage to

a close

15:30: Bailey’s Prize-winning author of A Girl is A Half formed Thing, EIMEAR MCBRIDE, discusses her

book The Lesser Bohemians with GEORGINA GODWIN

17:15: SIMON EVANS presents the second

night of dazzling comedy at Curious 2017

featuring sets from GEORGE EGG, FERDY RAY,

PAUL TONKINSON and none other than ED BYRNE

GORSE GORSEDRIFT DRIFTEAST END EAST ENDMAGGIES MAGGIESCHILDRENS CHILDRENSARCADIA ARCADIABABYLON BABYLONOTHER OTHER

10:00: Rehearsal for MJ’S BIG CHOIR Love In!

13:00: Author, journalist, activist, publisher and

all round hero DAVE EGGERS joins us all the way from San Francisco

to present his book Heroes of the Frontier

15:30: CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON, one of

the world’s greatest playwrights, joins us

for an unmissable conversation about his

life and work

14:15: Join Costa Biography Award-

winner KEGGIE CAREW whose spellbinding

memoir celebrates the technicolour life of her impossible, irresistible and unstoppable father

12:00: MJ’S BIG CHOIR Love In – PERFORMANCE!

20:00: THE ROYAL PHILHARMONIC CONCERT

ORCHESTRA will close this year’s Curious Arts Festival with a sensational

evening celebrating over 50 thrilling years

of iconic songs and themes from films about

everyone’s favourite secret service agent

– 007!

14:00: Booker-shortlisted writer

ANDREW O’HAGAN discusses his book

The Secret Life with legendary interviewer,

LYNN BARBER

9:45: The Breakfast Club. Join festival favourite

PAUL BLEZARD, ADNAN SARWAR and editors from The Week for a

dissection of the day’s national and local news

11:30: Celebrated novelist ROSS RAISIN

discusses his brave new novel, A Natural, with

GEORGINA GODWIN

16:15: Sunday Times bestselling novelist,

DANIEL COLE, joins us to discuss his novel,

Ragdoll

11:00: Ukuele workshop with Coda Music Trust

13:15: Expect folk’n’roll from MORRISSEY AND

MARSHALL

10:00: The Week Junior - The Big Debate

10:45: Debut writer and longstanding friend of

Curious SUSANNA BEARD discusses her novel Dare

to Remember

11:45: Marine biologist, best-selling author and documentary-maker, DR HELEN SCALES searches for stories connecting

people and nature

11:00: Join Beer Writer of the Year, PETE

BROWN, for an event about… You guessed

it…Beer!

14:00: Life Drawing workshop

14:00: Join JACK COOKE for a discussion about

how climbing trees helps us make a deeper

connection to our natural surroundings

15:45: Connecting with nature walk for children

12:45: Join TV chef and personality VALENTINE WARNER for a foraging event in the grounds of

Pylewell Park

15:00: 5x15 presents: ELIZABETH DAY; IMRAN

MAHMOOD; JOHN CRACE; KEITH STUART; and

BELLA POLLEN

11:30: Join ALLISON DEFREES and her team of magical

puppeteers as they explore puppetry and

imagination

15:30: The Story Cure with ELLA BERTHOUD

14:30: Prepare for the adventure of a life-time

as we hunt down THE JABBERWOCKY in the

borogroves of Pylewell Park. Pith-helmets to

be worn!

19:00: Bedtime stories with Curious Arts Festival favourite

PAUL BLEZARD

15:00: BRON TAYLOR discusses the complex relationships between

religion, ecology, ethics, and the quest for

sustainability

16:15: Fabulous underground pop-up,

Cinema Hades, present films to make you think

and feel

12:15: Join CHRISTINA FRANKOPAN for an

inspirational talk about women and technology

13:30: Celebrated gardeners to HRH

The Prince of Wales, JULIAN AND ISABEL

BANNERMAN, will be in conversation about their

book Landscape of Dreams

8:00: Classic cartoons and a children’s film

followed by the fabulous underground pop-up, Cinema Hades at 10:00

11:00: Grief and Empathy workshop with

EMMA DOUGLAS

20:30: Life Drawing workshop for adults only

14:15: Local act, the SOUTHERN COMPANION,

brings his own particular blend of Americana/Alt

Country to Curious

16:15: SHANE O’REILLY from BI-POLAR EMPIRE

closes the acoustic stage at this year’s festival

15:15: The extraordinary novelist and editor

VENDELA VIDA joins us all the way from San

Francisco to discuss her life and work

17:15: SIMON EVANS presents the final night of glorious comedy at Curious 2017 featuring

sets from DAPHNA BARAM, HOWARD READ,

festival favourites THE NOISE NEXT DOOR, JEM BRAITHWAITE and

ED BYRNE

15:45: The Big Snail Race

15:45: The Big Snail Race

23:10: DJ sets from festival favourites HARRIET ROSE and

HMS SWEET CHARITY close the Saturday

of Curious

12:00: FEVER-TREE DRINKS MASTERCLASS

Fever Tree Bar

13:00: CHAPEL DOWN MASTERCLASS

Festival Main Bar

15:00: THE BOTANIST DRINKS MASTERCLASS

Festival Main Bar

16:30: CURIOUS BREW MASTERCLASS

Festival Main Bar

12:00: THE BOTANIST DRINKS MASTERCLASS

Festival Main Bar

13:30: CHAPEL DOWN MASTERCLASS

Festival Main Bar

15:00: FEVER-TREE DRINKS MASTERCLASS

Fever Tree Bar

16:30: CURIOUS BREW MASTERCLASS

Festival Main Bar

FESTIVAL MAIN BAR

FESTIVAL MAIN BAR

DRINKS MASTERCLASSES

DRINKS MASTERCLASSES

CARTHAGECARTHAGE

11:00: Paradise Lost Continues

11:00: Paradise Lost Continues

SATURDAY 22nd JULY SUNDAY 23rd JULY

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