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All you need to know for Festival of Wonder this weekend
With just days to go until Stroud’s much-loved Festival of Wonder begins this year, here’s everything you need to know for this weekend of performance.
St Laurence Church will be transformed from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 November, as performers, artists and community groups gather for a three-day celebration themed around ‘The Pearl of Great Price’.
To enhance the atmosphere and this year’s wider focus, ‘finding wonder in the heart of nature’, the church will become a woodland wonderland, decorated with hundreds of leaves designed by primary school children from across the district.
The festival offers a weekend of spectacular free entertainment, blending circus, music, workshops and reflective spaces. There is something there for all ages to enjoy.
The main show: The Briar and The Bramble
The weekend pivots around ‘The Briar and The Bramble’, a specially commissioned 45-minute circus show written and directed by Andy Bewley and Tatiana Ozhiganova.
Inspired by this year’s theme, the story explores ideas of value, sacrifice and discovery. New for this year’s show is a live band.
The production stars: aerialists and acrobats Klodi & Yann, who are coming directly from the West End show ‘Come Alive’; champion juggler, Gordon Marquez; and stage magician, Marco Cardoso.
Show times:
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Friday 21 November: Two relaxed performances
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Saturday 22 November: Shows at 12pm and 3pm
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Saturday evening: Paid Gala show with Tweedy the Clown (almost sold out)
→ ‘The Briar and The Bramble’ director’s note by Andy Bewley
Friday night: Cabaret circus showcase, ‘whispers and wings’
The weekend gets off to literally a flying start on Friday when, after the relaxed performances, a free cabaret circus showcase, ‘whispers and wings’, will be presented by School of Larks. There will be a bar and cocktails. Doors open at 8.15pm for an 8.30pm start.
Saturday: Free community day
Free community Saturday includes performances from circus performers, dancers, choirs and musicians.
Across the whole weekend, visitors can enjoy:
- The ‘wall of wonder’
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Photo exhibition
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Secret garden
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Craft activities
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Free café (plus paid evening bar)
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Under 5s play area
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Hot food from community chef Sam Angelo
- For the first time, there is a youth club in Shambles Hall on Saturday evening, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, offering a silent disco, games consoles, snacks and music, hosted by IlluminateStroud.
Sunday: Workshops and finale
Sunday afternoon hosts several bookable workshops, including the popular School of Larks circus workshop. You can book for workshop tickets online.
The festival closes at 6pm on Sunday 23 November with ‘circus of the Soul’. This free finale is expected to be extremely popular as it features Bristol’s Renewal Gospel Choir and Stroud’s Midnight Quartet, plus a range of circus acts, spoken word and aerial interpretations. Places are limited so free tickets need to be booked online on a first come, first served basis.
Festival of Wonder takes place at St Laurence: Stroud Centre for Peace & the Arts, The Shambles, Stroud, GL5 1JL.
