A ten day celebration of the written word...

With its signature blend of award winning writers, world-renowned thinkers and international star names The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival is a hotbed of debate and discussion with a unique regency style. In this year’s literary line-up Man Booker Prize winners rub shoulders with the finest classically trained actors, whilst top class comedians appear alongside leading political figures. With more than 450 writers and over 350 events this promises to be an exhilarating ten day celebration of the written word.

30-07-2008

Cheltenham Music Festival success!

This year's Cheltenham Music Festival was a critical and box office success selling over 15,500 tickets and attracting more bookers than ever before.

"I was really delighted with the way my first festival went as director in Cheltenham," says Meurig Bowen.

"Having managed to attend almost everything in the 16 day programme - that's nearly 150 hours of concert-going in a fortnight! - I was struck by how fantastically enthusiastic and attentive our audiences are, and by the sheer number of incredibly moving, exciting, inspired performances we were all treated to. There was humour and profundity, a sense of shared musical exploration, and a sense of enjoyment and buzz. Racing on the last night from a Pump Room performance of premieres and thematic interconnection to the Town Hall, where hundreds revelled in the thrilling musical antics of Romanian gypsies Taraf de Haidouks, powerfully highlighted for me the depth and breadth of this year's Music Festival.

I'm really looking forward, after a summer break, to finalising the plans for the July 2009 programme, and making sure it delivers just as much as this year's, and more."

And Chief Executive Donna Renney is simply thrilled with Meurig's success;

"I am delighted with the success of Meurig Bowen's first festival as director. The quality and new work has been as inspiring as ever, and we have taken major steps in attracting new audiences which has been very well received. With superb concerts from performers as far afield as Venezuela, Estonia and Romania, the festival has continued to secure Cheltenham's international status as a crucible of culture."

29-07-2008

Sir Peter Maxwell Davies talks in The Telegraph

Adam Sweeting talks to musician Sir Peter Maxwell Davies about the Cheltenham Festival...
Read the article online at telegraph.co.uk (published Thursday 4 July 2008)

04-07-2008

Meurig Bowen, director of the Cheltenham Music Festival in The Guardian

Over 100 years ago, musicians were warning of the loss of local culture. Meurig Bowen on the world's first folksong collectors...
Read the article online at guardian.co.uk (published on Friday 4 July 2008)

04-07-2008

Listen to the Music Festival podcast now!

Christopher Cook and Meurig Bowen introduce the Festival programme, with a host of music extracts featured in this wide-ranging and international musical feast.

With thanks to Chandos, Hyperion, ECM, Linn & Nimbus and to Lyndon Jones 07813145106 for production.

11-06-2008

The best science festival...

'Undeniably and undoubtedly the best science festival in this country, and one that only gets better'

Robert Winston's glowing endorsement at the festival launch rang true as Cheltenham Science Festival has enjoyed its most successful year to date. Selling over 19,000 tickets the festival burst through 2007's record-breaking ticket sales with a 20% rise. As Cheltenham basked in a splash of early summer, the Town Hall and Imperial Gardens thronged with festival goers all unleashing their inner scientist!

In a programme which read as a who's who from the scientific scene Richard Dawkins rubbed shoulders with Tony Robinson whilst Richard Hammond took a lighter look at cars and Robert Winston himself took a fascinating journey into epigenetics. All spoke to packed audiences eager to join the debate.

The festival once again proved that the unique blend of cutting edge debate, mind-expanding explorations for young adventurers and alternative angles to view the big issues was the perfect formula for a festival with a bang.

11-06-2008