Windsor gears up for festival fever

Art and music lovers will be converging  on Windsor this month as the new Firestation Centre opens its doors and the countdown continues to the town's two festivals.

The Firestation Centre for Art and Culture opened its doors on Monday in St Leonard's Road.
Friday sees the first of its big events with a performance by the band Sennen.

But the big opening night is next Friday, September 12, when the centre is inviting members of the public to be part of the biggest ribbon cut ever.

Windsor Festival launches spectacularly on Sunday, September 14, with an Opera Gala Night featuring world famous baritone Mark Stone at the Theatre Royal.

An extraordinary series of concerts, lectures and events will follow in venues ranging from the Guildhall and Parish Church to St George's Chapel and the Waterloo Chamber at Windsor Castle. 

Famous contributors will include Esther Rantzen, Sir John Mortimer, Kate Adie, journalist Dame Ann Leslie, veteran actor and director Lord Attenborough, the King Singers, violinist Tasmin Little and military reporter and historian Peter Snow.

For the first time the festival is organising an international String Competition in memory of Lord Menuhin. 
Eight semi-finalists all aged under 26 will play in lunchtime concerts at Windsor Parish Church with the final on September 25  in the presence of the Earl of Essex who will present the prizes.

South West Trains has sponsored a series of walks taking place round historic Windsor thoughout the festival, ranging from a comedy ghost walk to serious looks at aspects of mediaeval England still surviving in the town.

Programmes can be obtained at the Information Office at Windsor Royal Station while the box office for these events is 01753 740121.

Meanwhile Windsor Fringe Festival will run from September 19-October 5 based in venues all over the town. 
Highlights will include veteran actor Dudley Sutton - star of Lovejoy and EastEnders - describing The 9 Lives of Dudley Sutton at the Firestation Arts Centre.

Author Louis De Bernieres will read from his latest novel A Partisan's Daughter while he and Ilone Antonius-Jones perform Serbean/Eastern European music to compliment its story.
There will also be poetry, films and comedy.

The Fringe box office number is 01753 743915 or www.windsorfringe.co.uk

To be part of the Firestation ribbon cutting call 01753 866865 or www.firestationartscentre.com to bhe part of it.

Log on next week to read a review of Sennen's performance at the Firestation.