Richmond plays host to Swaledale Festival events

The renowned Swaledale Festival is an annual celebration of music, arts and walking that takes place in the Yorkshire Dales every May and June.

Supported by Arts Council England, it sees international artists performing on Dales stages – from Australia, the Middle East, India, Africa, Canada, the Americas, Japan, China and all over the UK and Europe.

This year’s Festival runs from Saturday 27 May to Saturday 10 June and Richmond will be hosting a number of key events.

First to feature is the award-winning Dutch violinist and so-called ‘climate composer’ Tim Kliphuis. His ensemble will perform The Five Elements, an ode to the earth that embraces classical, gypsy, jazz and folk on 29 May at St Mary’s Church.

Also at St Mary’s are Manchester Baroque playing Handel and Corelli on period instruments on 2 June and the upbeat young brass ensemble Connaught Brass will perform a few days later on 6 June.

The Georgian Theatre Royal is another of the town’s unique performance venues and will host Enoch Arden on 30 May – a deeply touching narrative poem written by Tennyson and set by Richard Strauss for narrator and piano.

This is followed by Lempen Puppet Theatre’s Cardboard Carnival at the Georgian on 31 May. In this performance, a series of ingeniously created animals will unfurl to Camille Saint-Saëns’ evocative Carnival of the Animals music. The show is a magical celebration of the power of puppetry that will delight all ages.

The beautiful St Agatha’s Church at Easby sets the scene for the woodwind group Trio Volant on 8 June and on the same day you can hear Wor at the Influence Church – a Belgian five-piece who provide an exciting modern take on Medieval themes.

Swaledale Festival runs from Saturday 27 May to Saturday 10 June 2023. Tickets for under 25s are available for nearly all events for just £3. For details and tickets please visit www.swalefest.org.