7 events in and around Salisbury in May, June, July and August

From theatre and live music to comedy there is something for everyone. 

1. City Encounters

To celebrate the return of live performance, City Encounters will offer a programme of free outdoor theatre, dance and circus to the city centre, Salisbury Arts Centre and the Cathedral Close on Sunday, May 30 and Bank Holiday Monday, May 31.

Simple Cypher  Picture by Andu Kaprar

The line-up includes  Alleyne Dance - Bonded, Black Victorians, Altered States - The Invisible Man, Pif-Paf’s Toast, Strong Lady Productions - Strong Enough, Simple Cypher, and What Happened to You?

There will also be free family activities at Bemerton Heath and Salisbury Arts Centre

Free family activities at Bemerton Heath include live performances from Strong Lady productions and an Outdoor Silent Disco on Saturday, May 29, which will also be at Salisbury Arts Centre on the Sunday (May 30) and Monday ((May 31).

For more information about the programme click here. 

2. Macbeth 

The Lord Chamberlain's Men return to Salisbury to present Shakespeare's Macbeth, which will be performed in Rack Close, Salisbury Cathedral Close.

Performances take place on Thursday, June 3 and Friday, June 4 at 7pm, and Saturday, June 5 at 2pm and 7pm.
For tickets or more information go to Wiltshire Creative's website.

3. Dogstival 

Dogstival returns for 2021 and takes on Saturday, June 5 and Sunday 6 at Burley Park in the New Forest. 

There will be BARKOUR!, pup participation activities, a live canine cooking stage, talks and demonstrations from vet Dr Scott Miller, pop-up vet and physio drop-in centres, doggy displays and demonstrations. 

For more click here. 

4. Lionel Richie at Longleat 

GRAMMY Award winner Lionel Richie is coming to Longleat for a special open air concert.

His performance on June 15 is part of a new concert series, Live At Longleat.

The show will form part of his 2022 UK tour, and is rescheduled from the original date which was due to take place in Bristol, but could not for logistical reasons.

5. Chalke Valley History Festival

The festival is welcoming back families and history enthusiasts from Wednesday, June 23 to Sunday 27.

This year the events will be spread across two big marquees, with socially-distanced seating, and two brand new amphitheatre-style outdoor stages at the Church Bottom site in Broad Chalke. 

An impressive list of eminent historians, writers and well-known personalities head up the wide-ranging and star-studded programme including playwright Tom Stoppard, historians Antonia Fraser, Max Hastings, Neil Oliver and Michael Wood, as well as Dan Snow just to name a few. 

Picture by Andrew Chorley 

And Al Murray and James Holland will be staging a ‘live’ episode of their popular podcast ‘We Have Ways of Making You Talk’.

For more click here. 

6. Salisbury Live 

The Lift Off! Launch is going to be held at Salisbury Rugby Club on Saturday, July 3 and will feature two stages.

It will be headlined by Oasis tribute act, Oasis Maybe.

Also on the bill is The Zucchinis, raucous punk/new wave covers band, Double J and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle and Evolution Choir.

Tickets will be available from skiddle.com at £5 and go on sale on May 17. Under 10s go free but must be accompanied by an adult.

This will be followed by Salisbury Live in the Square on Friday, July 9, from 5pm to 10pm in the market square. Entry is free.

The Deloreons, pictured below, will headline a five act line-up that features reggae stalwarts, HP and the Reggae Source, classic disco/dance covers band, The Stingrays, solo singer/songwriter, Jack Card and foot stomping folk duo, Ribble.

7. Salisbury Comedy Festival 

The festival takes place on Hudson's Field on August 7.

The line-up features Frankie Boyle, Dara Ó Briain, Seann Walsh, Dane Baptiste, Angela Barnes, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Joe Wells, Ninia Benjamin, local comedian Andrew White, Barbara Nice, Howard Read, Jonny Awsum, and The Noise Next Door. 

The event is also raising money for The Stars Appeal. 

For tickets or more information go to salisburycomedy.co.uk

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