Welcome to AFOC2019

A Festival of Colchester - 23 August to 15 September 2019

Our hottest ticket!
AFOC2019 Marina Warner
*AFOC2019 Marina Warner*
Marina Warner. BEYOND THE VISIBLE: Art, Artists and Enchantment

Firstsite, 29 August 2019, 7.00pm

Artists have always travelled beyond the borders of the visible and made angels, devils, hobgoblins, and fairies appear before our eyes. Marina Warner will explore the work of contemporary artists such as Paula Rego, Helen Chadwick, and Kiki Smith, and place them in a context of the fantastic and its expression in the work of earlier visionaries.

Marina Warner is Professor of English and Creative Writing at Birkbeck College, President of the Royal Society of Literature, and author of studies of art, myths, symbols and fairytales, as well as novels and short stories.

Tickets £10
A special treat!
AFOC2019 Avianthropy
*AFOC2019 Avianthropy*
Adrian May. 'AVIANTHROPY' and the High Flying Ballad in The Earl of Mar's Daughter

Firstsite, 1 September 2019, 2.00pm

Adrian May will sing this rarely-heard ballad in full and talk about bird, love and maturation symbolism. The mythic and historical elements of the long ballad and of ballads generally will also be discussed.  
The Earl of Mar's daughter is a forty-one stanza ballad, ostensibly a happy love story.  It is also a tale of high magic and of people turning into birds, and a mythic exploration of transformative flights of love, comparable with Cupid and Psyche.

​Adrian May is a folksinger and Creative Writing Lecturer at the University of Essex.

Tickets £5

Full Event Listing

Days 1-24      Throughout

(continued below)
Nic Sandiland. THE HUM
SOUND + MOVEMENT TRAIL / APP
The Hum guides users to a variety of locations around Colchester, each one the focus of interaction between the public and the urban infrastructure. Upon arriving at a location users can listen through headphones to a soundtrack / narration describing and embellishing the everyday actions that take place in each particular place. Each narrator presents his or her idiosyncratic narrative that may be: personal, ironic, poetic, humorous or subversive.
ADORN. Jewellery: The Human Story
COLCHESTER CASTLE
From Bronze Age torcs to modern bling, people have adorned themselves with jewellery for thousands of years. What hidden stories do these objects hold and why do we still choose to express ourselves in this way?
​10.00-17.00 Mon-Sat  11.00-17.00 Sun  Free after admission
Mark Titchner. SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT US
FIRSTSITE
Artist Mark titchner explores the tensions between the different belief systems that inform our society, be they religious, scientific or political. In this exhibition, he presents a number of works exploring the notions of displacement and belonging in connection to migration and national identity, including large-scale posters developed with asylum seekers and refugees, as well as a new wall drawing based on the Colchester coat of arms.
​10.00-17.00 daily  FREE

Day 1      Friday 23rd August

DINOSAUR TRAIL
FINGINGHOE WICK
Come and find clues that lead to our scientific dig site where we can practice our palaeontology skills and dig up fossils!
13.30-15.30  £6  Booking essential
FAIRY DOOR DROP-IN TRAIL
ABBERTON RESERVOIR
See if you can complete the trail and find all the fairy doors around the Nature Reserve, (to 7 September).
​10.00-15.00  £2
BERLINER PHILHARMONIC LIVE
FIRSTSITE
Kirill Petrenko conducts the orchestra for the first time, includes Beethoven's 9th Symphony.
​17.30  £12 £10
COLCHESTER MORRIS MEN
THE CHEQUERS, GREAT TEY
​20.00  FREE
USOL'S BEST FRIENDS CLUB
COLCHESTER ARTS CENTRE
The Unmistakable Scent of Leopard's alternative comedy show.
​20.30  £6 £5

Day 2      Saturday 24th August

DAYS OUT WITH THOMAS
EAST ANGLIAN RAILWAY MUSEUM
Enjoy an extra special day out as Thomas the Tank Engine pulls into Chappel station.
10.00-16.30  £15 £11
HISTORY COMES ALIVE!
COLCHESTER CASTLE
Re-enactors take you back in time and bring history to life.
​10.00-17.00  Free after admission
SOLAR GAZING
ABBERTON RESERVOIR
An afternoon looking at the sun with specialist solar telescopes.
​12.00-15.00  Donation
UNCOVERING ROMAN COLCHESTER
TOUR starts at HOLLYTREES
​14.00  £4.60 £3.20

Day 3      Sunday 25th August

HISTORY COMES ALIVE!
COLCHESTER CASTLE
​See 24 August
DAYS OUT WITH THOMAS
EAST ANGLIAN RAILWAY MUSEUM
​See 24 August

Day 4      B H Monday 26th August

PANTO HORSE DERBY BANK HOLIDAY RACES
TOWN CENTRE
Back for more rip-roaring action, fun and frivolity in the High Street with dancing, singing and the famous panto horse race.
10.30-15.00  FREE
PICCOLO HORSESHOE HUNT
TOWN CENTRE
Piccolo, our Pantomime Horse, has lost a number of his horseshoes around the town and needs your help to find them so that he can take part in the race. Sign up to join the quest to help him.
​10.30 and each half hour  £3
DAYS OUT WITH THOMAS
EAST ANGLIAN RAILWAY MUSEUM
​See 24 August

Day 5      Tuesday 27th August

STORYTELLING AT THE CASTLE
COLCHESTER CASTLE
Meet characters from history, hear their stories and discover the secrets of treasure, jewellery and adventure.
​Free after admission
DINOSAUR TRAIL
FINGRINGHOE WICK
​See 23 August
Film. MAKING NOISES QUIETLY
FIRSTSITE
​19.30  £8 £7

Day 6      Wednesday 28th August

Open Clay Session. MONSTER POTS
COLCHESTER MAKERSPACE
Explore clay work and techniques with your favourite story book creature or a total figment of your imagination, every participant will produce one fired piece.
​19.00-21.00  £20
THE "IN" CROWD. Jazz in the 60s
HEADGATE THEATRE
Blessed with a rich voice and superb sense of swing, Kevin Fitzsimmons explores songs by cool jazz artists, plus some inspired new jazz reworkings of songs of the period.
​19.30  £14 £12

Day 7      Thursday 29th August

DINOSAUR DISCOVERY
ABBERTON RESERVOIR
Dig for bones, hunt for dinosaurs and even recreate the volcanoes from the time.
​10.00-12.00  £6  Booking essential
Marina Warner. BEYOND THE VISIBLE. Art, Artists and Enchantment
FIRSTSITE
Marina Warner will explore the work of contemporary artists such as Paula Rego, Helen Chadwick, and Kiki Smith, and place them in a context of the fantastic and its expression in the work of earlier visionaries.
​19.00  £10

Day 8      Friday 30th August

Film. OLDBOY
FIRSTSITE
​20.10  £8 £7
COLCHESTER MORRIS MEN
THE ALE HOUSE, BUTT ROAD
​20.00  FREE

Day 9      Saturday 31st August

TREASURE ISLAND. Chapterhouse Theatre Company
NATIONAL TRUST FLATFORD
Brand new adaptation of evryone's favourite swashbuckling pirate adventure - Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.
​14.00  £16 £11
Film. NOTORIOUS
FIRSTSITE
Dazzling new 4K restoration of one of Alfred Hitchcock's most tense, romantic and darkest thrillers, starring Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains.
​17.40  £8 £7
THE COMEDY OF MAGIC
HEADGATE THEATRE
​20.00  £12
OVERNIGHT GHOST HUNT
RED LION HOTEL
Join the Paranormal Emporium while they investigate this most haunted hotel.
​22.00  £34.99

Day 10      Sunday 1st September

DUTCH QUARTER HERITAGE TOUR
TOUR starts at TYMPERLEYS
Explore the history and stories of Colchester's Dutch Quarter.
​11.00  FREE  Booking essential
DESTINATION MOON
LAYER MARNEY TOWER
Celebrating 50 years since the Apollo Moon landing with two lectures, a planetarium dome and telescopes.
​11.00-17.00  £9 £5
KITE FESTIVAL
LAYER MARNEY TOWER
Fly your own kite and be wowed by amazing shapes. Workshop (£2 extra) and professional demonstrations.
11.00-17.00  £9 £5
Adrian May. 'AVIANTHROPY' and the High Flying Ballad in The Earl of Mar's Daughter
FIRSTSITE
Adrian May will sing this rarely-heard ballad in full and talk about bird, love and maturation symbolism. The mythic and historical elements of the long ballad and of ballads in general will also be discussed.
​14.00  £5
OF ALL THE BIRDS. Blondel
MARKS TEY CHURCH
Blondel performs on shawms, bagpipe and recorders, giving engaging and spirited performances of Medieval and Renaissance wind music.
​14.30  £15 £10
TONY WOODS PROJECT
COLCHESTER ARTS CENTRE
Happily shifting gear between jigs and reels, free funk, Balkan dances and ambient electronics. Tony's folk roots are immediately obvious in his jazz compositions.
​19.30  £15 £13

Day 11      Monday 2nd September

THE EPIC NOW. Gilgamesh and Beowulf
QUEEN STREET BREWHOUSE
Chris McCully presents a new translation of the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf, while Philip Terry reads from his Gilgamesh, Dictator.
19.00  FREE  Booking essential
Film. THE CHAMBERMAID
FIRSTSITE
​19.30  £8 £7

Day 12      Tuesday 3rd September

A PORTRAIT OF VICTORIAN COLCHESTER
LION WALK CHURCH
19.30  £4
THE GIFT. The Packing Shed Theatre Company
CASTLE PARK
This new promenade play tells the story of the Castle's renovation in Georgian times by Charles Gray through the eyes of his long suffering wife, Sarah Webster.
​20.00  £12 £10

Day 13      Wednesday 4th September

Film. LUCAS AND ALBERT
HEADGATE THEATRE
The story of two ageing hitmen who have been put together on what could be their last job. A black comedy thriller with twists and turns that will keep you guessing.
​19.30  £10 £7.50
THE GIFT
CASTLE PARK
​See 3 September

Day 14      Thursday 5th September

Film. MELANIE MARTINEZ: K-12
​FIRSTSITE
A brave-hearted girl and her charming best friend make a bewitching pair as they embark on a mission to take down the oppressive schooling system of K-12.
​19.30  £12 £10
Film. LUCAS AND ALBERT
HEADGATE THEATRE
​See 4 September
BEETHOVEN 5th SYMPHONY + VIOLIN CONCERTO
STOKE BY NAYLAND CHURCH - Roman River Music
Orlando Jopling conducts one of classical music's most enduring popular works, and introducing violinist Jonian Ilias-Kadesha.
​20.00  £24 £18 £12 £6
THE GIFT
CASTLE PARK
​See 3 September

Day 15      Friday 6th September

OYSTER FISHERY OPENING
CUDMORE GROVE or BRIGHTLINGSEA HARD
​The traditional opening of the famous and historic oyster fishery with proclamation read by the Mayor of Colchester at noon on the first Friday in September.
AN EVENING WITH ADORN
COLCHESTER CASTLE
Unlock the hidden tales behind the objects in the Adorn Exhibition. Enjoy complimentary refreshments whilst hearing the fascinating human stories that have inspired Adorn.
​Evening  £7.50
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY. DOT Productions
HEADGATE THEATRE
With its heroes, heartbreak, debonair villains and a dashing duel, this adaptation will have you falling in love with Jane Austen's novel, wondering if you are an Elinor or a Marianne.
​19.30  £13
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
STOKE BY NAYLAND CHURCH
​20.00  £18 £12 £6  Roman River Music
THE GIFT
CASTLE PARK
​See 3 September

Day 16      Saturday 7th September

COLCHESTER OPEN STUDIOS
CUCKOO FARM
Artists will be in their studios and printmakers in the Prink Workshop. Talk to artists, see how they work and perhaps buy something special. Parking and refreshments.
​11.00-18.00  FREE
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
HEADGATE THEATRE
​See 6 September
SIBELIUS 5th SYMPHONY
STOKE BY NAYLAND CHURCH
Conducted by Orlando Jopling, Sibelius's most popular symphony is a musical poem depicting the vast, exhilarating Scandinavian landscape.
20.00  £18 £12 £6
THE GIFT
CASTLE PARK
​See 3 September
GHOST HUNT
COLCHESTER CASTLE
Join the Haunted Happenings team investigating the hauntings of historic Colchester Castle. With such a bloody history this location will not fail to impress even the most hardened ghost hunter.
​21.00  £59

Day 17      Sunday 8th September

TRINITY STREET PHONEY TOUR
TOUR starts at TYMPERLEYS
Join Trinity Street's phoney tour guide for a completely inaccurate history of its buildings, from the Countess Rivers' feather chamber to the notorious Clarence.
​11.00  FREE  Booking essential
COLCHESTER OPEN STUDIOS
CUCKOO FARM
​See 7 September
TOWER TOUR
LAYER MARNEY TOWER
​14.00  Free after admission
FRIENDLY, FAMILY ORCHESTRA CONCERT
STOKE BY NAYLAND CHURCH
Childrens' author James Campbell introduces some of the most hummable and enjoyable orchestral music. Fun for the whole family.
​15.00  £10 £5  Roman River Music

Day 18      Monday 9th September

SHARON SHANNON + BAND
COLCHESTER ARTS CENTRE
The legendary Irish accordion maestro's new Sacred Earth show, with special guest Seckou Keita from Senegal playing kora and percussion.
​19.45  £20

Day 19      Tuesday 10th September

MOOT HALL ORGAN RECITAL
COLCHESTER TOWN HALL
​13.00  FREE
Q & A WITH ROBERT RADCLIFFE
WATERSTONES
​19.00  £2
MARGARET ATWOOD. Live in Cinemas
FIRSTSITE
Margaret Atwood in conversation with Samira Ahmed, spanning the length of her career, her diverse range of works and why she has returned to the handmaid story after 34 years.
​19.30  £16 £14
THE GIFT
CASTLE PARK
See 3 September

Day 20      Wednesday 11th September

LIFE AND TIMES OF JUMBO
RED LION BOOKS
Talk bt Brian Light and launch of a new book about Colchester's iconic water tower.
​18.30  FREE  Booking advised
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Handlebards
LAYER MARNEY TOWER
Expect outdoor theatre with riotous amounts of energy, a fair whack of chaos and a great deal of laughter.
​19.00  £18 £16 £10
SPRING AWAKENING. Mad Hatter Productions
HEADGATE THEATRE
An electric, vibrant celebration of youth and rebellion, Spring Awakening fuses issues of morality, sexuality, and rock and roll into a story that packs a powerful emotional punch.
​19.45  £14 £12
THOMAS GOULD (violin) + IVANA GAVRIĆ (piano)
FORDHAM CHURCH
Thomas Gould returns to North Essex.
20.00  £24 £18 £6
AFOC. POETRY AND JAZZ
CODA
An evening of stunning and arresting poetry from Essex Poet and Kent Poetry Champion, Sadie Davidson, plus jazz from Blue Town and an open mic!
20.00  £4
THE GIFT
CASTLE PARK
​See 3 September

Day 21      Thursday 12th September

CHIMP AND ZEE & THE BIG STORM
MARKS TEY PARISH HALL
Early Years music specialist Vanessa King and five musician friends take the under 5s on a magical musical journey. Based on the story by Catherine and laurence Anholt.
​11.00 & 13.00  £4 £2
NT Live: FLEABAG
FIRSTSITE
See the hilarious, award-winning, one-woman show that inspired the hit TV series, written and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and directed by Vicky Jones.
19.15  £16 £14.50
SPRING AWAKENING
HEADGATE THEATRE
​See 11 September
CLARINET QUINTETS
DEDHAM CHURCH
​20.00  £12 £6
THE GIFT
CASTLE PARK
​See 3 September
Film. HORROR EXPRESS
COLCHESTER ARTS CENTRE
​20.00  Pay what you can afford

Day 22      Friday 13th September

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
Numerous places across Colchester will open their doors for free visits and experiences, (to 22nd September).
LOVE DEDHAM. Plein Air Painting Competition
Inspired by Munnings' love of Dedham and its Vale, the heart of the village has been added to the river bank locations of previous competitions. Take part in one or both days. All abilities and a £250 prize.
09.30-15.30  £20
SPRING AWAKENING
HEADGATE THEATRE
​See 11 September
LEONARD ELSCHENBROICH, RICHARD UTTLEY + MARK SIMPSON
WIVENHOE CHURCH
Clarinetist Mark Simpson brings two other stellar musicians to play Beethoven, Brahms and two of his own compositions.
​20.00  £12 £6
CHRISTINA BIANCO. First Impressions
COLCHESTER ARTS CENTRE
The girls with a thousand voices returns with he uncanny impressions and musical mash-ups.
​20.00  £14 £12
THE GIFT
CASTLE PARK
​See 3 September

Day 23      Saturday 14th September

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
MULTIPLE VENUES
​See 13 September
LOVE DEDHAM. Plein Air Painting Competition
​See 13th September
TRINITY STREET HERITAGE TOURS
TOUR starts at TYMPERLEYS
​11.00  FREE  Booking essential
MARK SIMPSON SOLO CLARINET
ABBERTON CHURCH
Mark Simpson concludes his residency in this year's Roman River Music festival with a wide-ranging programme of works by himself, Stravinsky, Berio and Steve Reich.
​11.00  £12 £6
PIRATES LOVE UNDERPANTS. Storytelling
RED LION BOOKS
Taking children on a hunt for pirates, sharks, traesure and pants in this exciting adventure on the seven seas! A workshop will follow.
​14.00-16.00
STRING TRIOS. The Veles Ensemble
FINGRINGHOE CHURCH
This sensational young string trio plays a varied menu, including the world premiere of a new piece.
​18.00  £12 £6 £5
COLCHESTER CARNIVAL
TOWN CENTRE
​18.00  FREE
LOVE DEDHAM. Exhibition + Secret Auction
THE MUNNINGS ART MUSEUM
All works completed during the competition will be on display and a secret auction will take place. All welcome to view and bid!
18.00  FREE
STARLIGHT SAFARI NIGHT
COLCHESTER ZOO
Enjoy a magical twilight spectacular as the zoo stays open late with a packed timetable of special feeds, encounters and training sessions.
​17.00-21.30  £21.59 £15.29
STAR GAZING
ABBERTON RESERVOIR
A look at the night sky through large telescopes and talks through the evening.
19.30-22.30  £5 £3
SPRING AWAKENING
HEADGATE THEATRE
​See 11 September
THE GIFT
CASTLE PARK
​See 3 September

Day 24      Sunday 15th September

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
MULTIPLE VENUES
​See 13 September
TRINITY STREET HERITAGE TOUR
TOUR starts at TYMPERLEYS
​See 14 September
COSTUMED CIVIL WAR TOUR
TOUR starts at WAR MEMORIAL
​11.00  FREE
DIFFERENT TRAINS
EAST ANGLIAN RAILWAY MUSEUM
Steve Reich's mesmerising Different Trains (string quartet plus electronics) will make Beethoven's exhilarating F minor quartet sound truly revolutionary.
​15.00  £10 £6 £5
COSTUMED ROMAN TOUR
TOUR starts at WAR MEMORIAL
​15.00  FREE
Paul Higgs. 'PAVANE'
HEADGATE THEATRE
Trumpeter Paul Higgs' original compositions for 'Pavane' blur the boundaries between classical and jazz. 'Pavane' takes us on an inspiring musical journey.
​19.30  £15 £13

Days 1-24      Throughout

(continued)
FOUR & TWENTY DAYS IN COLCHESTER
TOWN CENTRE
​Pick up a mystery map and track down twenty four locations in Colchester town centre - one for each day of the festival - associated with myths, legends, folklore and nursery rhymes. You will be amazed at how many stories and customs are on show or echoed in our streets.
A FOUNDATION MYTH FOR COLCHESTER
ANYWHERE & EVERYWHERE!
In Roman mythology, Romulus and Remus were twins and their legend was used to explain the founding of the city of Rome.
We are inviting Colcestrians to write a short story that explains the founding of the city of Camulodunum, and modern Colchester.
Lilah Fowler. CODE CLAY, DATA DIRT
FIRSTSITE
Lilah Fowler makes artwork that examines the effect and consequence of technology on our contemporary landscape, revealing how the 'natural' and the 'man-made' are interwoven, a state that she refers to as 'nth nature'.
​10.00-17.00 daily  FREE
Elsa James. BLACK GIRL ESSEX
FIRSTSITE
British artist, producer and activist Elsa James's work focuses on opinions held towards people of African Caribbean heritage and the stereotyping of Essex women.
10.00-17.00 daily  FREE
Siobhan Coen. UNKNOWN KNOWNS
FIRSTSITE
Artist Siobhan Coen presents her work Unknown Knowns - a large print of enlarged coloured pixels that is animated by flickering RGB lights, and a recorded monologue created from extracts of former US Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld's audiobooks.
10.00-17.00 daily  FREE
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