WELCOME TO THE PROGRAMME

Kate Abbey Head Of Programming

This festival is a year in the planning, from sparking initial conversations to developing collaborations with the most inspirational new and established talent across words and music. Bath will be overflowing with people opening up and sharing their stories, experiences and wisdom. Join in with our Poetry Open Mic, get your hands on the hottest reads pre-publication at our Proof Parties, deep dive into politics, art, history, nature and science or be transported into new worlds with our fiction writers. Come andl listen, learn, walk, write and enjoy the buzz in over 50 venues across our beautiful city.

Kate’s Festival Specials

• I’m thrilled that local award-winning author Max Porter brings his latest book Shy alive with an exclusive dramatic reading and live electronic score.

• We celebrate the magic that is literary cabaret sensation Polari Salon, with founder Paul Burston who has curated a special evening celebrating LGBTQ+ words and voices with Joelle Taylor and Miss Hope Springs.

• And in a pinch-me moment I’m already looking forward to seeing ‘rock star mythologist’ Natalie Haynes bring her irresistible take on Medusa in a one-night only appearance at the iconic Roman Baths.

James Waters Classical Music Programmer

This is a golden time for brilliant young classical musicians and I am delighted to be able to offer a showcase at one of the UK’s leading festivals. From BBC New Generation Artists to Young Musician finalists and from piano to cello via accordion, guitar and violin we have a remarkable lineup of soloists. Add the brilliant young ensembles in Connaught Brass, Agate String Quartet and Siglo de Oro and we have a wonderfully varied programme which affirms that the future for classical music is very bright indeed. Two orchestras light up the festival! The Bath Festival Orchestra offers a multi-faceted residency including a performance of Mozart’s timeless ‘Requiem’, and the Bath Philharmonia performs the Concert for the People of Bath – a viscerally exciting programme around the idea of flight including the talented violinist Esther Yoo and new compositions by Bath Schools’ Voices.