Mvula to headline summer festival in heart of Rugby - The Rugby Observer

Mvula to headline summer festival in heart of Rugby

Rugby Editorial 17th Mar, 2017   0

A-LIST stars have been lined up for a five-day music, dance and drama festival which will transform the iconic pitch where the game of rugby began into a 1,000-seat arena.

Singer Laura Mvula, X Factor stars G4 with guest Lesley Garrett, and comedian Simon Evans will headline The Festival on the Close, part of Rugby School’s year-long 450th anniversary celebrations.

Dame Judi Dench and novelist and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz are among the patrons of the June event, which will see the famous pitch at The Close turned into a covered arena.

MOBO award-winning and Mercury Prize nominee singer Laura Mvula has recently returned from a successful US tour, and has written the music for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s newest production of Antony and Cleopatra.




The ‘kings of popera’ G4 will welcome guest soprano Lesley Garrett to perform songs from their new album Love Songs.

Edinburgh Fringe stand-up comedian Simon Evans has taken centre stage in the Michael McIntyre Roadshow, Live at the Apollo and Mock the Week. He will compare a comedy show featuring Zoe Lyons, Gary Delaney and Alasdair Beckett-King.


The festival will also feature local school pupils performing plays, concerts, film premieres, dance shows, art exhibitions, poetry readings and more.

They will also take part in workshops with percussion-dance-theatre group Stomp, Motionhouse and The National Youth Jazz Orchestra live on stage.

There will also be a range of workshops for school children – covering flamenco dancing, creative writing, sculpture, fashion, stage combat and live sports commentary.

Dame Judi said: “The way to get young people involved and interested in the theatre and the arts is to provide exciting works for them to see.

“I am proud to support The Festival on The Close in its work creating opportunities for young people from all backgrounds to engage with arts and culture.”

The festival takes place from June 25 to 29. Visit www.thefestivalontheclose.co.uk to book tickets for the main events.

* THE CLOSE will also host a music festival created by the man behind the Lakefest Festival on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Toploader, Imelda May, Wilko Johnson and the Roving Crows will headline Down on the Close – A Festival in a Night on Saturday August 26.

Visit www.downontheclose.co.uk for tickets. VIP packages are available, which offers guests exclusive entry to a private gin bar, have access to the side of the stage and backstage seating area. Standard and under-15s tickets are also available.

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