As always, the Canterbury Festival offers the best in entertainment to brighten the autumn evenings. From top-class musical performances to jaw-dropping circus and acrobatic skills, comedy and cabaret there’s a great night out for everyone in Canterbury this October.

The Festival opens with two outstanding concerts. Canterbury Cathedral Nave will be filled with the medieval splendour of the Armonico Consort and Baroque Players in a unique programme of multipart works from the 16^th Century. Expect ‘medieval surround sound’ in  stunning acoustics. On the same opening night, words and melodies take centre stage as multi-million selling recording artist Barbara Dickson brings her exceptional catalogue of songs to the Festival. ln the beautiful surroundings of Kent College’s Great Hall, and supported by Belfast songwriter Anthony Toner, this will be an acoustic performance to remember. Book early.

Stephen Barlow conducts Timeless Classics in the Great Hall with the Festival Chamber Orchestra whilst, later that week, the Cathedral Nave hosts another show-stopping performance as The Kingdom Choir gives a life-affirming performance of favourites with their distinctive gospel take. Songwriter Chris Wood brings his honest folk to the Westgate Hall and Opera-lele make a triumphant return to the same venue taking you to the theatre in unexpected ways with operatic and Broadway favourites presented on the ukulele

Chris Ingham’s pin-sharp trio is joined by award-winning vocalist Matt Ford in an evening of the best of popular jazz. The Cathedral is once again the venue for the very best of classical music. The Eastern Crypt is the perfect venue for Mozart’s Divertimento for Strings performed by the highly-acclaimed Karolos and, at the other end of Mozart’s vast repertoire, Canterbury Choral Society fills the Nave with his Great Mass in C Minor. The same evening, Westgate Hall brings back the Kent legend that is Hamish Stuart to give a locomotive performance of his back catalogue and new material in what is bound to be a sell-out evening.

Those looking for top-quality drama will find great nights out. The two-man performance of Dad’s Army Radio Show will transport you straight back to Walmington with all the characters and catchphrases in a highly-acclaimed production in the Great Hall. A haunted woman tells strange and terrifying tales in Female Gothic whilst, in another production, life with Winston Churchill is explored in a moving and informative portrayal of his wife, Clementine. The Festival is pleased to present a brand new musical comedy, Lord God, which sees God taking an incognito holiday and confronting an array of people and difficulties determined not to make it too easy for him.

The Hogwallops are a chaotic, dysfunctional family whose spectacular circus skills blend physical comedy, juggling and theatrical storytelling in an evening of virtuoso acrobatics in the Malthouse Theatre for all the family. Canterbury favourite Marlene Cheaptrick presents the rather more grown-up Marlene’s Cabaret Cocktail, an evening of music, comedy and burlesque in the Westgate Hall.

No Canterbury Festival would be complete without a Comedy Club and the Westgate Hall will host some of the best on the circuit today. Join us for an evening of brilliant standup, guaranteed to cheer the darkest autumn evening.