Swansea International Festival Returns to Swansea Bay
As the major urban arts festival in Wales, Swansea International Festival is an integral part of Swansea’s cultural scene. Over the last few years the Festival has expanded the events and venues, offering more for the City’s young people and the wider population.
There’s a packed programme over two weeks at venues across the City. This year the Festival begins a little earlier when, in association with the Swansea Big Weekend, the Swansea Fringe Festival is re-instated after an absence of 20 years. Over three days (29, 30 September and 1 October) Swansea’s High Street will be alive with comedy, bands, poetry and performance.
The Swansea International Festival begins on 4 October at the Great Hall, Swansea University Bay Campus, with the return of Swansea’s favourite soprano Elin Manahan Thomas, who will present songs from Wales and the wider world, including the première of a new song cycle My Own Country, commissioned by the Festival and composed and played by pianist Jeffrey Howard.
Throughout the Festival there is a wealth of Welsh and International talent. On the Centenary of the Russian Revolution, St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra perform a concert in Wales; The Dunvant and Morriston RFC Male Choirs join forces for a memorable evening of Welsh song; BBC National Orchestra of Wales perform two concerts: the first conducted by Tecwyn Evans and featuring harpist Catrin Finch; the second their hugely popular Family Concert.
There are recitals by pianist Llŷr Williams, organist Jonathan Hope and Orpheus Sinfonia with cellist Thomas Carroll; conversations with both Michael Heseltine and Stephen Johnson and appearances from The Society of Strange Instruments; percussionist Joby Burgess; and improvised gong-playing with Philip Corner. Along with visual art displays, lunchtime talks, an education project on The Bells of Santiago, a dedicated Primary Schools Music Festival, and a programme of live music and a Mini Music Festival at Morriston Hospital, this year’s Swansea International Festival truly has something for everyone.
The Festival is proud to support and be part of the City of Culture 2021 bid.
For more information and tickets, visit www.swanseafestival.org
Fri 29 Sep – Sun 1 Oct
Swansea Fringe Festival
High Street, Swansea
Wed 4 Oct
The Bells of Santiago (Education Project)
National Waterfront Museum
Wed 4 Oct
My Own Country – Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano)
Great Hall, Swansea University
Thu 5 Oct
Society of Strange and Ancient Instruments
National Waterfront Museum
Thu 5 Oct
Shylock
Swansea Grand Theatre, Arts Wing
Thu 5 Oct
Not About Heroes
Taliesin Arts Centre
Fri 6 Oct
BBC National Orchestra of Wales with Catrin Finch (harp)
Brangwyn Hall
Fri 6 Oct
Not About Heroes
Taliesin Arts Theatre
Sat 7 Oct
BBC National Orchestra of Wales Family Concert
Brangwyn Hall
Sat 7 Oct
Powerplant – Joby Burgess (percussion)
National Waterfront Museum
Sun 8 Oct
Presteigne Festival Tour – Tim Horton (piano)
Great Hall, Swansea University
Sun 8 Oct
Festival Friends’ Lunch
Great Hall, Swansea University
Sun 8 Oct
Festival Friends’ Lecture – Stephen Johnson (broadcaster)
Great Hall, Swansea University
Sun 8 Oct
Llŷr Williams (piano)
Great Hall, Swansea University
Mon 9 Oct
Jonathan Hope (organ)
Brangwyn Hall
Tue 10 Oct
Michael Heseltine in Conversation with Jamie Owen
Swansea Grand Theatre
Wed 11 Oct
Orpheus Sinfonia with Thomas Carroll (cello)
Great Hall, Swansea University
Wed 11 Oct
Madama Butterfly – Russian State Opera
Swansea Grand Theatre
Thu 12 Oct
The Hunting of the Snark
Taliesin Arts Theatre
Thu 12 Oct
Metal Meditations – Philip Corner
Mission Gallery
Thu 12 Oct
Tosca – Russian State Opera
Swansea Grand Theatre
Thu 12 Oct
Granton Street – Fluellen Theatre Company
Swansea Grand Theatre, Arts Wing
Fri 13 Oct
Dunvant Male Choir & Morriston RFC Male Choir
Brangwyn Hall
Fri 13 Oct
Granton Street – Fluellen Theatre Company
Swansea Grand Theatre, Arts Wing
Fri 13 Oct
Jo Brand
Swansea Grand Theatre
Fri 13 Oct
Leviathan with James Wilton Dance
Taliesin Arts Theatre
Sat 14 Oct
St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra
Brangwyn Hall
Sat 14 Oct
The Light Princess – Ballet Cymru
Swansea Grand Theatre
Sat 14 – Sun 22 Oct
TOSH: A Swansea Football Fairytale
Galerie Simpson, High Street, Swansea
Sun 15 Oct
Primary Schools’ Music Festival
Brangwyn Hall
