All are invited to the Festival of Wonder Nov 17th – 19th which offers an exploration of wonder in an age of exhaustion. This largely free Festival, based in Stroud at St Laurence Church: the Stroud Centre for Peace and the Arts centres around the circus spectacular of Magnificat!, an exhilarating and uplifting performance.
Andy Bewley, Associate Director of Giffords Circus and Writer & Director of the Festival’s centrepiece circus performance, Magnificat!, says: “We are thrilled to have a number of very exciting and unique acts in this year’s exploration of the magic of wonder. Artists include an amazing sand artist flying in from Cyprus to share an extraordinary act so rarely seen in this country, and circus legend Gordon Marquez, seen at Giffords in 2022 and one of the world’s great jugglers with such a thrilling and daring act.
“This is a show that redesigns how people view churches and brings together people of faith and no faith to appreciate a common and universal love, welcoming all into the conversation and the community.”
“Following the success of last year’s Festival of Wonder, we are thrilled to again curate this amazing community event and bring it free to the people of Stroud,” says Festival Director, Phil Coysh.
“It’s important that in this age of exhaustion we support families and those who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and we are therefore committed to our core value of providing a mainly free festival.”
As well as the circus spectacular, the Festival includes a wide range of additional free events and activities throughout the weekend including a free café, comedy & magic, drumming & storytelling, children’s activities, face painting, a circus skills workshop and opportunities for community singing.
For those able to support the fundraising needs of the Festival, two special ticketed events are available; the opening Gala Evening featuring the grand opening of Magnificat! as well as the comedy folk band Folk On. This Gala Evening commences with a glass of fizz on arrival and offers the only guaranteed seating of the Magnificat! – all other performances will be standing room only for all but the most in need.
The second ticketed performance with guaranteed seating is the Finale! Concert featuring the inspiring music of internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Philippa Hanna – think stunning soulful, country-tinged vocals – and the blues fusion sounds of Out of the Ashes.
Tickets are limited and available at: festivalofwonder.org
