Victorians - Age of Wonder
17-27 June 2010
The Portsmouth Grammar School is proud to be a key partner and founding sponsor of the Portsmouth Festivities, the city’s annual arts festival which celebrates the history and heritage of Portsmouth and provides opportunities for the local community and young people in particular to engage with the best in the arts.
From Corsets to the Cosmos, Penny Farthings to Punch and Judy and from Mendelssohn to Mumbai, the 2010 Portsmouth Festivities will take you on a journey to Victorian Portsmouth and the world beyond.
Inspired by the 150th anniversary of the building of HMS Warrior 1860, an 11 day programme of events will explore all aspects of Victorian life and culture, from the huge advances in industry and engineering to the opportunities for leisure and recreation. With music from the Romantics to the music hall; discovery and exploration; science and engineering; literature and architecture, Victorians – Age of Wonder will celebrate this extraordinary period which brought such enormous change to the face of Portsmouth.
An impressive line-up of performers and speakers include Seth Lakeman, Sandi Toksvig, Sheila Hancock, Peter Donohoe, Andrew Motion, Julian Lloyd-Webber, Julian Fellowes, Kate Bellingham, Opus Anglicanum, Andrew Lambert, Richard Corfield and the London Mozart Players. Echoes of Empire will celebrate music from around the globe with Gamelan from Java, Indian Classical Music and Caribbean music and storytelling. Events for children feature Stomp, Alex Pascall, Ian Beck and Stuff & Nonsense Theatre and more.
To end the Festivities we have a weekend of celebrations featuring the Massed Bands of HM Royal Marines with a ‘South Coast Proms’ firework spectacular and a final family day celebrating the Victorian Seaside and marking the end of National Bike Week with music, food and entertainment for all the family ending with a unique display of Daylight Fireworks.
The 2009 Festivities attracted over 22,000 people with a wide-ranging programme of events celebrating Henry 500. The 2010 Festivities promises a wider than ever appeal - with more events than ever, a greater breadth of events and new opportunities for young people to get involved.
For further information visit the Festivities website on http://www.portsmouthfestivities.co.uk/
Contact: Mrs Pippa Cleary, General Manager
Tel: 023 9268 1390 E-mail: p.cleary@pgs.org.uk
