There’s less than two weeks to go until The 2024 Festival of Wonder kicks off in St Laurence Church, the Stroud Centre for Peace & the Arts in the centre of town.
The Festival of Wonder offers a weekend of spectacular free entertainment allowing all to step back from the busyness of life to enjoy the fun, amazement and simple joy of Wonder.
The festival launches with a very special Gala Evening on Friday 15th, featuring internationally known circus and comedy artists. As the only paid performances, this fundraising evening allows guests to ‘pay forward’ thus enabling others to attend the free festival on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th.
The Gala Evening provides a more refined and decorous environment, yet with all the fun of the circus. It will be the first performance of a specially commissioned circus show The Snow Globe, written and directed by Andy Bewley (ex-Giffords) and starring BGT 2023 Finalists aerialists Duo Odyssey, alongside popular French Shadow Dance Duo, Claire & Antho (118,000 followers on Insta), and award-winning international clown/comedian Viktor Vassiliev.
The Gala will also feature comedian Jo Enright (Phoenix Nights, The Job Lot, Life’s Too Short, After Life). Comedian Peter Kay says: “Jo Enright is one of the most naturally gifted comic talents I’ve ever seen. I’d put her in the same league as Julie Walters.”
The Gala event will be the only show to provide guaranteed seating and it is expected to sell out quickly, as it did last year, so people are encouraged to book early to avoid disappointment. Tickets are available from £20 seated with a small number of standing tickets at £10.
Earlier on Friday 15th is a Relaxed Performance which has already sold out.
The Festival of Wonder is run entirely by volunteers but there are still gaps in the volunteer rota that need filling in order for the festival to run safely. If you can help please visit the volunteer page on the festival’s website; you will join a wonderful community.
Event organiser Phil Coysh says: “Our Gala Evening is a highlight of the festival for many. It provides quality entertainment in a more relaxed and refined environment, people like to ‘pay forward’ to enable the other days of the festival to be free and therefore fully inclusive, and there’s an opportunity to see acts, like the incredible funny Jo Enright, who are only performing at the Gala.”
Doors and bar open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Full details and tickets at www.festivalofwonder.org
