Salisbury International Arts Festival: All you need to know

Wiltshire Creative has announced programming for the Salisbury International Arts Festival 2024.

The annual arts festival, founded in 1974, returns on Sunday, May 26 to Sunday, June 9 2024 with a variety of performances and events for the community.

Gareth Machin, Artistic director of Wiltshire Creative, said: "The Salisbury International Arts Festival lies at the epicentre of our programming, and we’re proud to bring a wealth of talent to the region with a diversity of programming for all.

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"This year’s Wiltshire Creative’s summer season is no different and offers a breadth of programming from spoken word, music, circus and dance events right in the heart of Salisbury.

"We’re bringing back the popular City Encounters, an event which not only brings the community together but showcases the wonderful talent we have in the town. It’s set to be a summer to remember."

Salisbury International Arts Festival: All you need to know:

• Patch's Parade, Milford Street Bridge to Market Square, Sunday, May 26

​Patch is a giant who lives beneath Milford Street Bridge but dreams of venturing out into the exciting city of Salisbury to meet other Giants.

At over six metres tall and with an army of nine puppeteers, Patch, and his trusted Penguin pal will travel the Salisbury streets, swathed in stunning patchwork costumes heralded by musicians and dancers, rocking the route.

• City Encounters, Salisbury City Centre, Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27

The city will come alive with professional original street theatre, dance, music and circus performances to delight all ages. There will be craft activities and fun for all the family.

• Anthony Horowitz in conversation, Salisbury Playhouse, The Salberg, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury SP2 7RA, Wednesday, May 29 at 7.45pm

Renowned author and screenwriter, Anthony Horowitz, has written over 50 books, including the bestselling teen spy series, Alex Rider.

Horowitz has also written the award-winning novel Magpie Murders and Foyle’s War. Join Anthony in conversation with Matthew Stadlen.

• Tim Kilphuis Trio, St Thomas’ Church, St Thomas’ Square, Salisbury, SP1 1BA, Wednesday, May 29 at 7:30pm

Award-winning Dutch violinist Tim Kilphuis has created a new style embracing classical, gypsy jazz and folk.

• Lîla Dance presents Fault Lines, Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin Street, Salisbury SP1 3UT, Wednesday, May 29 at 7.30pm

Fault Lines pulls at the tension in our relationship with nature and explores the emotional journey from feeling overwhelmed to empowerment.

Blending stunning dance with immersive digital imagery, evocative writing and cinematic music, the work is faced with a sense of hope and allows us to rethink our individual impact.

• Long Nose Puppets presents Out of the Hat! Salisbury Playhouse, The Salberg, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Thursday, May 30 11am and 2pm

A story about friendship and the true magic of nature. Full to the brim with lively songs by the talented Tom Gray of Gomez, this is a feast for the senses and spectacular theatre experience for everyone.

• Justin Webb, Salisbury Playhouse, The Salberg, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Thursday, May at 7.45pm

Webb is a former BBC North America Editor, he has presented Today for nearly 15 years, and hosts the BBC’s Americast podcast. Join him in conversation with broadcaster Matthew Stadlen.

• The best if Gilbert and Sullivan, Salisbury Playhouse, Main House, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Thursday, May 30 at 2.15pm and 7.30pm

A whirlwind tour of the immortal Savoy operas, set in context by fascinating historical and gossipy anecdotes that effortlessly transport you back to the glitter and glamour of the 19th century Savoy Theatre.

• Bam: Babies Adventures in Music, Salisbury Playhouse, The Salberg, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Friday, May 31 at 11am and 2pm

Bring your baby for a bounce with singer and harpist Sam Frankie Fox and multi-instrumentalist Ricardo Rocha.

• An evening with Alan Johnson, Salisbury Playhouse, The Salberg, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Friday, May 31 at 7.45pm

Join Alan Johnson in conversation with broadcaster Matthew Stadlen as he discusses his forthcoming thriller, Death on the Thames.

• The Clare Teal Seven, Salisbury Playhouse, Main House, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Friday 31 May at 7:30pm

​Award-winning jazz vocalist and longtime BBC Radio 2 and Jazz FM broadcaster Clare Teal returns with a fabulous new show, The Clare Teal Seven.

• Barbara Nice, Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin Street, Salisbury, SP1 3UT, Friday 31 May at 7.30pm

Join housewife superstar, Edinburgh Fringe Festival regular and 2019 Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist, Mrs Barbara Nice for a joyful get together with a comedy pick-me-up.

• David Baddiel, Salisbury Playhouse, Main House, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Saturday, June 1 at 2. 15pm

Author, comedian, screenwriter and presenter, David has written four novels and two non-fiction books including the bestselling Jews Don’t Count, which was the Sunday Times Politics and Current Affairs Book of the Year 2021. Join David in conversation with broadcaster Matthew Stadlen.

• Punt and Dennis, Salisbury Playhouse, Main House, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Saturday, June 1 at 7:30pm

Hugh Dennis and Steve Punt are back on tour for the first time in 10 years. They are older, but not really wiser. They are returning to what they do best, sitting in traffic jams wondering if a different route would have been better and then, in the evening, presenting their new live show. What have they learned from a decade of following the news for Mock the Week and The Now Show? What wisdom has experience taught them? And have they learned any new jokes? Let’s hope so. They promise they have.

• Ockham’s Razor, produced by Turtle Key Arts, presents: Tess, Salisbury Playhouse, Main House, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Wednesday June, 5 at 7.30pm

Tess is a groundbreaking circus adaption of Thomas Hardy’s classic novel Tess of the D’Urbervilles.

• Shirley Smart Trio, Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin Street, Salisbury, SP1 3UT, Saturday, June 1 at 7.30pm

Shirley Smart and her trio work with the overlapping worlds of jazz, Arabic, Turkish and North African music, as well as classical.

• Mark Padmore and Elizabeth Kenny: Sonnets in Song, St Thomas’ Church, St Thomas’ Square, Salisbury, SP1 1BA, Wednesday, June 5 at 7.30pm

Tenor Mark Padmore CBE is joined by world-renowned lutenist Elizabeth Kenny, and together they explore lute-songs as a vital part of the history of song.

• Juliet Stevenson, Salisbury Playhouse, The Salberg, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Wednesday, June 5 at 7.45pm

Juliet Stevenson CBE was BAFTA-nominated for her role in the film, Truly, Madly, Deeply and other film appearances include Emma, Bend It Like Beckham and Mona Lisa Smile. Join Juliet in conversation with broadcaster Matthew Stadlen.

• Ruby Wax: I’m not as well as I thought I was, Salisbury Playhouse, Main House, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Thursday, June 6 at 7.30pm

After a complete sell-out first run in 2023, Ruby Wax’s rawest, darkest, funniest and most compelling stage show yet returns with brand-new dates for 2024.

• With The Rolling Stones, Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin Street, Salisbury, SP1 3UT, Thursday, June 6 at 7.30pm

Wiltshire Creative in association with Salisbury History Festival celebrates the 60th anniversary of The Rolling Stones’ appearances at Salisbury City Hall during 1964.

• Christina Lamb, Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Thursday, June 6 at 7.45pm

Christina Lamb OBE is Chief Foreign Correspondent at the Sunday Times and one of Britain’s leading foreign journalists as well as bestselling author. Join Christina in conversation with broadcaster Matthew Stadlen.

• The Lord Chamberlain’s Men present: Hamlet, Rack Close, Salisbury Cathedral, Salisbury, SP1 2ES, Friday, June 7 at 7pm, Saturday, June 8 at 2pm and 7pm

Join The Lord Chamberlain’s Men this summer, in their 20th year, for arguably the greatest play in the English language, Hamlet.

• Red Sky at Sunrise: Laurie Lee in Words and Music, Salisbury Playhouse, Main House, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Friday, June 7 at 7.30pm

Laurie Lee’s extraordinary story is told in a captivating weave of music and his own words by Anton Lesser (Games of Thrones, Wolf Hall, Endeavour) and Charlie Hamblett (Killing Eve, Ghosts).

• Sophie Duker and Matt Winning: Work in Progress, Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin Street, Salisbury, SP1 3UT, Friday, June 7 at 7:30pm

We’re thrilled to welcome two award-winning comedians in a double bill as they warm up for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

• Tiny Violins, Salisbury Playhouse, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Friday, June 7 at 7:45pm

Tiny Violins is a new music show featuring a magpie’s nest of English folk, hip-hop, indie and Midwest emo, with lyrics exploring anarchist theory, Greek mythology and living with a super wonky brain.

• Claytime, Salisbury Playhouse, The Salberg, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Saturday, June 8 at 11am and 2pm

Get involved in this live, interactive show with clay, where you get to mould the story. 

• Barbara Dickson, Salisbury Playhouse, Main House, Malthouse Lane, Salisbury, SP2 7RA, Saturday, June 8 at 7.30pm

Barbara and her pianist Nick Holland explore her catalogue of songs, drawing on her folk roots, contemporary greats and some of her classic hits. With support from Anthony Toner.

• Vagabond, Salisbury Arts Centre, Bedwin Street, Salisbury, SP1 3UT, Saturday, June 8 at 7.30pm

Violinist Adam Summerhayes plays the most brilliant and seductive of gypsy melodies with master accordionist Murray Grainger in this award-winning duo.

• Trash test Dummies, Rack Close, Cathedral Close, Salisbury, SP1 2ES, Sunday 9 June at 2pm and 5pm

Everyone put your bins out, tonight’s bin night and the Trash Test Dummies are on duty. This award-winning, side-splitting, slapstick comedy circus routine takes the household wheelie bin to new heights and delivers a dump-truck full of hilarity.

For more information, visit www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk