The Alderley Edge Festival of Music, Speech and Drama is returning to the village after an enforced two year absence due to the covid pandemic.
The recently appointed Chair of the organising committee, Amanda Brabban-Brown, said: "We are thrilled that entries are back to pre-pandemic levels across all age groups. After necessary health measures prohibited events such as the Festival, we were concerned that our performers might have been reluctant to return to the stage.
"But nothing could be further from the truth. It's been a tough time for teachers and pupils but their enthusiasm for the Festival has exceeded our expectations and we are delighted to welcome them back to one of the oldest and best festivals in the country."
Organisers are particularly delighted to have one of their biggest ever entries in the adults choir classes which take place on the Wednesday evening (5th May).
Throughout the week there will be classes for woodwind, brass, piano, string and percussion, as well as many vocal classes, both solo and choral.
Then on Friday and Saturday, it's the turn of the young speech and drama performers, with classes in verse-speaking, prose-reading, drama, Shakespeare and more.
Amanda Brabban-Brown added "I would urge everyone in the local community to come along and listen to the performers and their equally entertaining adjudicators who give fascinating critiques of every performance - it's always fun to see if your decision about the best performance matches up with the professional adjudicator. It is just £3 for a daytime ticket, or £2.50 for an evening ticket.
"As Her Majesty the Queen is the patron of our governing body, British & International Federation of Festivals, we are using this Festival to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. Every performer will receive a commemorative badge which features our specially redesigned logo to mark this historically significant occasion."
Once again, the highlight of the week is set to be the Festival Finale on Saturday evening, where the 'best-of-the-best' are invited to perform once more in front of an appreciative audience. Tickets for this will only be available during Festival week from the Festival Hall and are always highly sought after. Tickets can be purchased from the Festival Hall from 10.30am on Wednesday 4th May, £15 for adults, £7 for under 18s.
