Norfolk & Norwich Festival, Friday 9 - Sunday 25 May

Norfolk & Norwich Festival returns this May, bringing 17 days of spectacular events, international artists and unusual experiences to Norwich and Norfolk. As a proud Festival partner, we’ve pulled together five of the best moments for you to look out for in a packed 2025 programme.

BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists

The Festival’s partnership with BBC Radio 3 platforms some of the brightest young classical music stars. At the Octagon Chapel this year, you can catch a matinee performance from American cellist Sterling Elliot and Australian pianist Joseph Havlat as they perform pieces from modern American composers including William Grant Still’s poignant and romantic Mother and Child on Tuesday 13 May.

The following evening, Wednesday 14 May, the multi-award winning Chaos String Quartet present a blend of classic and contemporary work from Haydn, Beethoven and Francesca Verunelli.

Upswing - Showdown

Circus at the Adnams Spiegeltent has become a staple of the Festival and this year the beautiful Art Nouveau travelling tent plays host to leading UK company, Upswing’s Showdown. This high-energy spectacle combines jaw-dropping circus stunts with razor-sharp humour and music in a one-of-a-kind competition where the audience is invited to vote for their favourite. Who will be the new face of circus?

Showdown runs at the Adnams Spiegeltent from Wednesday 14 to Sunday 25 May.

Sarah Jane Morris – The Sisterhood

A fantastic show which celebrates some of music’s most iconic female stars. Sarah Jane Morris first found fame with the Communards, featuring prominently on a number of their hits including Don't Leave Me This Way – her deep vocal range contrasting with Jimmy Somerville's falsetto.

Sarah Jane’s stunningly expressive voice has gone on to define her career and in this show, she pays tribute to a dozen equally iconic voices from Nina Simone and Billie Holiday to Kate Bush and Annie Lennox.

The Sisterhood is at the Adnams Spiegeltent on Thursday 15 May.

Andrew Pepper – House of Pepper

Singular singing sensation, Andrew Pepper brings his musical cabaret show, House of Pepper to Norwich for the first time.

Positioned somewhere between a Las Vegas showroom and a Roald Dahl character, Andrew Pepper’s cabaret alter-ego bring tall tales, risqué gags, a hurricane of limbs and an enormous musical repertoire to the Adnams Spiegeltent on Tuesday 20 May.

Aakash Odedra Company – Little Murmur

Something for the family? Aakash Odedra’s dance theatre show, Little Murmur provides a stunning visual treat. With groundbreaking projection, extraordinary soundscapes, humour and a blizzard of paper and confetti, watch bodies and words fly like flocks of birds… a murmuration… a little murmur.

Presented in partnership with Norwich Theatre, Little Murmur takes place at Norwich Theatre Stage Two on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 May.

Norfolk & Norwich Festival runs from Friday 9 to Sunday 25 May. Find out more at www.nnfestival.org.uk