This year’s Benenden Arts Festival has come to a fun-filled close after a three-day celebration of the arts.
This afternoon’s traditional summer fete signalled the end of the extravaganza, which has featured more than 40 different events and activities.
This morning we held two entertaining sessions of the Great Benenden Bake-Off, kindly judged once again by renowned chef Marcus Wareing. Other events included a promenade performance of drama and music around the School site, a National Youth Theatre workshop, dog show and classic car show.
Today was something of a relaxation day following Saturday’s non-stop array of events, which included modern dance shows, floristry, a Music Scholars’ concert, presentations by girls, art workshops and exhibitions, comedy, the Fourths’ performance of The Tempest and an English discussion, among many others. We were also treated to some wonderful performances from external guests, including the National Youth Ballet, Picasso’s Women, night-time ghost stories and Saturday’s headline act, a sublime concert from the James Taylor Quartet.
The Festival began in style on Friday with events including poetry from Theresa Lola, an art lecture, late-night comedy, the girls’ songwriting competition, and workshops and a performance from a cappella group Sons of Pitches, which were incredibly well received by pupils.
Benenden Arts Festival 2019 has truly been our biggest and best festival yet – and we are already looking forward to the next one!