Thank you to everyone who came along to a very sunny Benenden Arts Festival this weekend to enjoy a wonderful few days of dance, drama, music, poetry, art, crafts, comedy, food, wine and much more!
The event got underway on Thursday night when Red Priest gave girls a taste of their unique brand of Baroque music infused with some punk sensibility. Friday afternoon saw a fantastic Junior Music Scholars’ Concert and then a workshop and performance by the brilliant Sleeping Trees before the girls were thoroughly entertained by Indigo Sea – a high energy funk, pop and rock band.
Saturday was the day of real activity though with almost 30 events going on across the School. There was an opportunity for girls and parents to try their hand at activities including printmaking, sketching with watercolours, floristry and creative writing. There was dance, music, poetry and drama aplenty.
The Modern Dance Show was, as ever, hugely popular, everyone was treated to some fantastic music during lunch as part of the Music Live Lounge, The Arabian Nights and Vampire of Barcelona drama performances showcased the depth of talent the School has in that department and parents were taken on a top quality retelling of Romeo and Juliet around the School grounds as part of the Promenade Theatre.
View our Arts Festival photo gallery
We had two fabulous performance poets, in the form of Francesa Beard and Amina Jama, read some of their work, and girls performed a range of poetry themselves, including their own compositions in the Poetry by Heart Competition in the Library.
Evening events were kicked off by a spectacular set of jazz and cabaret in the hall, before the Cafe played host to the final two events of a busy day – former NME Male Vocalist of the Year and West End lead performer Oliver Darley presenting his unique interpretation of the songs of the legendary British musician David Bowie, and then Olivier-winning comedian Pippa Evans closed events with her wonderful Stand-Up Comedy routine.
The pace was a little more relaxed on Sunday, but there was still plenty to do including drama, music and dance workshops, life drawing and the showpiece event to round off the weekend – a wonderful Gala Concert featuring the School’s choirs and major instrumental groups.
Thank you to everyone who supported the event, we hope you all had a wonderful time.