Wuzhen Theater Festival

IN the sixth Wuzhen Theater Festival, which will be held from October 18 to 28, 2018, in addition to the list of theatrical performances specially invited to the event, represented by masters of the world theatrical and operatic, there will be an Outdoor Carnival that will be presented to more than 100 companies and performances that will perform more than 1800 works in the district of Xizha in Wuzhen during the 11 days of the event.

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A new beginning for an iconic show under the Big Top in 2019

CIRQUE du Soleil has announced that #Alegría, one of its most iconic shows, will return to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Staying true to the essence of the original creation, Alegría will retain its unique spirit of joy and optimism for which it was renowned around the globe.  

Cirque du Soleil first presented Alegría in April 1994, a production destined to change the history of the company, an emblematic show that was to win over more than 14 million spectators. Under the traditional Big Top and in its arena version, Alegría visited 255 cities around the world in its 19 years of touring before finally bidding audiences farewell on December 29, 2013 in Antwerp, Belgium. 

The classic power struggle of old meets new is reinterpreted for today’s cultural pulse. Alegría translates from Spanish to ‘happiness and joy’. High energy acrobatics and progressive visions of youth collide with traditional aristocratic perspectives to slay old notions, rise with wisdom, and propel forward with no holding back.

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Full-on fun and games for free

IMAGINE an arts and culture extravaganza where the backdrop is just as impressive as the star performers on stage. Welcome to Festival 2018 – 12 fabulous days of diverse entertainment held in conjunction with the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games from April 4-15. 

The Festival 2018 program features more than 1000 holiday-highlight experiences across the genres of music, theatre, circus, dance, ideas, visual arts and film. It will involve more than 1440 artists from 50 countries. Festival goers will enjoy 35 world premieres and 15 Australian premieres. The program will run from 9am until late each day. 

Many Festival performances will be framed by the spectacular backdrops of the Gold Coast’s world-famous beaches and lush mountain hinterland. Just as impressive, it’s all free! 

The two main Festival sites will be at Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. There also will be roving performers outside stadiums along with interactive art installations and live performances spilling onto beaches and waterways at more than 28 locations across the Gold Coast.

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Radisson Blu to embrace the heart of Venice

NOMINATED as the European Capital of Culture in 2019, #Venice is home to the Venice Biennale, one of the most prestigious cultural institutions in the world; it draws more than 500,000 visitors to its bi-annual International Art Exhibition. Venice is also home to La Fenice theater and one of the oldest film festivals and carnivals.

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has signed a long-term management agreement of a canal-side hotel in the inner part of Venice’s San Marco district, just steps from renowned Saint Mark’s Square. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Venice San Marco is expected to open by the end of 2019.

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Long Nights in Cologne

EVERY year, Cologne’s cultural institutions kick off the autumn cultural season in the Rhineland with a series of “Long Nights”. 

On September 30, Cologne's vibrant music scene will be showcased at the music night. 

www.koelnermusiknacht.de

While the city's multitude of theatres will play host to a range of taster performances at the theatre night on October 2 www.theaternacht.de

The museums night has long been a popular and successful highlight, and will be taking place on November 4 www.museumsnacht-koeln.de

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NYC Black history month

THE Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhatten, Queens and Staten Island will all be honouring African-American history in New York City as part of February’s Black History Month. 

Commemorating key moments, movements and figures in time, organizations across the five boroughs will host events, including discussions, museum and cultural tours, live entertainment and interactive kid-friendly activities.

"African-American history has shaped New York City’s history. This is where the Harlem Renaissance challenged cultural norms, hip-hop music was born and Jackie Robinson broke down baseball’s color barrier,” said Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company. “We invite New Yorkers and visitors to honor this history by engaging in informative events across the five boroughs."

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Theatre by the Lake

THEATRE by The Lake (TBTL) – Cumbria’s only producing theatre - is delighted to announce its eagerly anticipated 2017 season, the first under the leadership of new Artistic Director, Conrad Lynch – marking the theatre’s bold move to being a producer-led venue for the first time. Theatre by the Lake is on the edge of the bustling Lake District town of Keswick in a uniquely beautiful setting close to Derwentwater.

World Premiere of William Wordsworth - by award-winning playwright Nicholas Pierpan

World Premiere of Remarkable Invisible –by Laura Eason, writer of Sex with Strangers

World Premiere of Howard Brenton’s new adaptation of Miss Julie

Major revivals of Two-Way Mirror, After the Dance and Handbagged

First Co-productions with Royal Exchange Theatre, English Touring Theatre, Shared Experience and Jermyn Street Theatre

Tickets go on general sale from January 9th, 2017. Full theatre listings and bookings will be available. 

attheatrebythelake.com 

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Ayers Rock showcases indigenous art and crafts

THE Ayers Rock resort in #Australia will this year feature a line-up of indigenous artists as part of its Artist-in-Residence programme.

‘Our Artist-in-Residence programme is a unique opportunity for guests to engage with these talented artists and provide meaningful connections with indigenous art while enhancing their understanding of indigenous culture,’ said Andrew Williams, CEO for Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia.

The offering at #AyersRock Resort is being supplemented by its art installation, Bruce Munro's Field of Light Uluru. The giant solar powered artwork made with 50,000 frosted glass spheres is open until March next year, with entry priced from AU$35 per adult. 

www.ayersrockresort.com.au

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Heritage status for Philly

#PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, has become the first #WorldHeritageCity in the United States. 

‘From its colonial history to the present day, Philadelphia has rightfully earned its place as one of the greatest cities in the world,’ said Deputy Mayor Alan Greenberger.  

The city is the home of Independence Hall, where America's Founding Fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the US constitution in 1787.

‘As the birthplace of America, with its rich heritage of history, arts, and culture, Philadelphia has so much to offer the world,’ said Jack Ferguson, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau.  ‘The World Heritage City designation will help to attract even more tourists and conventions to Philadelphia.’

The city was founded in 1682 by William Penn as the capital of the Pennsylvania Colony.

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Picture Credit: Philadelphia-CityHall by Versatile Aure - originally posted to Flickr as City hall - 01. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Enchanted Forest nominated for UK awards

PERTHSHIRE’S Enchanted Forest sound and light show has been shortlisted for two titles in this year’s prestigious UK Event Awards.  

The shortlisting will see it battling out in December for its place at the top against some of Britain’s biggest events. It will compete for the title of the UK’s Cultural Event of the Year, while its agency, Volpa, has been shortlisted for Event Marketing & PR Strategy of the Year.

The Enchanted Forest has become a mainstay of #Scotland’s tourism calendar and is organized by The Enchanted Forest Community Trust under the Perthshire Big Tree Country brand.

Founded in 2002 with just 3,000 visitors, this year’s event smashed all box office records with more than 50,000 attending.

www.enchantedforest.org.uk

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Capital attraction

#LONDON last year welcomed more international visitors than ever before, with the city’s cultural attractions and sporting events proving draws for millions, according to new figures released by the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey.

The figures show there were 17.4 million visits to the city in 2014, up 3.5 percent from the previous record of 16.8million in 2013.

Visitors boosted London’s economy by £11.8 billion compared to £11.5 billion in 2013, up by three percent.

The city proved to be one of the world’s biggest tourist magnets with a mix of blockbuster exhibitions and events, including Henri Matisse: The Cut Outs at the Tate Modern, Ming: 50 years that Changed China at the British Museum, Anselm Kiefer at the Royal Academy, Sherlock Holmes at the Museum of London, the Frieze Art Fair, the Tour de France Grand Départ, Wimbledon Tennis Championships, and the Chelsea Flower Show.

The uplift in visitor numbers is reflected across Britain, which welcomed almost 34.4 million visitors, a 5.2 percent increase compared to 2013. International tourists spent £21.8 billion, up 2.8 percent on the 2013 total.

A record 58 million people from the UK and overseas visited London’s 40 most popular tourist attractions last year, up four percent compared to 2013, according to the Attractions Monitor, a visitor survey compiled by London & Partners, the Mayor’s international promotional company for the city.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49647919@N00/11045579983">London Dawn</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)

Van Morrison booked for Blenheim

SINGER-SONGWRITER and musician #VanMorrison will be on stage for the first night of Nocturne at #BlenheimPalace on June 25.

The event is the first joint venture from Neapolitan Live Events, creators of the critically-acclaimed Love Supreme Jazz Festival, and U-Live, the new live music division of Universal Music Group. The five-year deal with Blenheim Palace sees an investment of £2.5 million to bring live music back to the historic Oxfordshire venue this year.

Ciro Romano at Neapolitan Live Events said: ‘It is a huge honour to be entrusted by the Duke of Marlborough to bring #music back to this unique palace. We are thrilled that we have secured Van Morrison to return to Blenheim Palace for the first time since his historic performance in 2004.’

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Picture Credit: Moondance by sahlgoode - http://www.flickr.com/photos/sahlgoode/4862507834/in/photostream/. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Summer in Dubrovnik

THE #Dubrovnik Tourist Board has announced its #Summer Festival programme, which runs from July 10 to August 25.

It features more than 2,000 artists and 70 plays, plus classical concerts, films, and folklore performances in 15 open-air venues across the city.

‘During the summer months, Dubrovnik becomes the cultural capital of #Croatia and South-Eastern Europe,’ said Romana Vlašić, director of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board.

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Picture Credit: Dubrovnik june 2011by Bracodbk - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

55,000 tickets to be released for Enchanted Forest show

THE ENCHANTED FOREST, Perthshire’s award-winning sound and light show, has confirmed that 55,000 tickets will go on sale June 12.

After smashing box office records last year, the show’s run this year will be extended from 23 to 32 nights, including a dedicated charity night. The extended run is expected to be worth more than £500,000 in additional income to the local economy.

Confirming the title of this year’s show will be FLUX, Graham Brown, chairman of The Enchanted Forest Community Trust that runs the show, commented: ‘We are delighted that we have been able to extend our run this year to accommodate growing demand to attend the event and to continue to expand this popular spectacle for visitors to the area.’

This year’s show – in a forest near Pitlochry – runs from October 1 to November 1.

The show has been named Best Event at the 2015 Scottish Thistle awards.

www.enchantedforest.org.uk/charity

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/15256562@N00/286041636">Trunk</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/20172348@N00/3074295117">Enchanted Tangle</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

East Germany in tourism push

EAST GERMAN destinations are trying to raise awareness in a drive to attract domestic and international tourists.

Many of Eastern Germany’s attractions were lost during WW2 and in the subsequent decades of Soviet rule. Despite 25 years of re-unification, few tourists visit the region, and when they do, they tend to go to sites associated with the 1939-45 war.

Tourism bodies want to promote cities such as Weimar and Dresden – the latter was destroyed by British and US bombing, but the historic centre of the city has since been re-constructed – along with contemporary art and music events.

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Picture Credit: Dresden-nightpanorama-dri by User:Kolossos - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Fests in the Med … Coming up in Malta & Gozo

Malta’s International Arts Festival (July 10 to August 3) features local and international artists and performers, workshops, and masterclasses in Valletta.

This year’s highlights include classical pianist and Debussy specialist Noriko Ogawa from Japan, and from the Czech Republic, the Talich Quartet – one of the world’s finest string quartets. www.maltaartsfestival.org

On Gozo, the Victoria International Arts Festival (June 10-July 13) offers 33 concerts by musicians from nearby Sicily to far-flung South Korea and Australia.

A special feature is the inclusion of a five-day mini-festival of Baroque music within the larger programme. www.viaf.org.mt

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Picture Credit: Valetta by NoFear0710 - Steven Cogburn. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons, Orquesta de camara Sibeliusby Jlpeli - Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Fun fortnight in Adelaide

THIS year’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival runs from June 5 to June 20, and in charge as artistic director will be Australia’s comic genius, Barry Humphries … better known to some as Dame Edna Everage and the Australian beer-swilling, foul-mouthed cultural attaché, Sir Les Patterson.

Humphries promises ‘beauty, wit and astonishment’ in a programme of music, story-telling, and comedy featuring more than 350 artists in 152 performances over 14 days and nights.

www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/adelaide-cabaret-festival

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Picture Credit: Dame Edna by Eva Rinaldi from Sydney Australia - Dame EdnaUploaded by russavia. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Adelaide Festival Centre Triangles by Michael Zimmer from Brisbane, Australia Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Dorset art on show

THIS year’s Purbeck Arts Festival runs from May 23 to June 7.

More than 80 artists living and working in Purbeck, Dorset, open their studios to the public during the festival.

http://purbeckartweeks.co.uk

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Picture Credit: Chapman's Pool by Alexsheppard11  Own work. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons 

Manhattan options

DELTA VACATIONS is giving family travellers more options with new apartments in New York City.

The additions to its property portfolio are: 888 Apartments on Sixth Avenue at Herald Square; Kimberly Apartments in Midtown on East 50th Street; and the Madison Avenue Apartments on 38th Street.

Along with more space than standard hotel rooms typically provide, these studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments offer more flexibility and options when planning their vacations.

The self-catering apartments with fully-equipped kitchens are in Midtown Manhattan and close to attractions including Times Square, the theatre district and Central Park.

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Picture Credit: NYC wideangle south from Top of the Rock by Daniel Schwen - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons 

Siege celebrations

EVENTS to mark the 450th anniversary of the Great Siege of Malta are being planned by the island’s arts council and Heritage Malta.

The siege began in May 1565, when the island – then occupied by Order of the Knights of St John – was attacked by the Ottoman Empire. The siege was the climax of an escalating contest between a Christian alliance and the Islamic Ottoman Empire for control of the Mediterranean, The knights, with 400 Maltese men, women and children and 2,000 soldiers, broke the siege in the September of that year.

Anniversary events will begin on May 17 with Dawn of the Great Siege – Life at Sea at the Malta Maritime Museum, feature tours, exhibitions, and lectures.

Between June 26 and 29, there will be an interactive performance in Fort St Elmo. It’s called 1565 – First and Last Hope, and some of Malta’s best-known actors will be taking part.

Other events include an international exhibition at the Grand Master’s Palace, Valletta, from September 4 to December 6, which will include artefacts surviving from the siege.

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Picture Credit: Great Siege monument Valletta Maltaby © Marie-Lan Nguyen / Wikimedia Commons, GrandMastersPalace-Malta by Plamen Agov • studiolemontree.com. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons