Autumn Festival of Norfolk

Autumn Festival of Norfolk A county-wide celebration of arts & culture in Norfolk. Inspiring events each autumn since 2010.

Tickets available from the Theatre Royal Box Office, or visit www.hostryfestival.org

Wonderful to see the inclusion of the African Choir of Norfolk on the cover painting by J.G. Fox for this month’s Specta...
04/04/2026

Wonderful to see the inclusion of the African Choir of Norfolk on the cover painting by J.G. Fox for this month’s Spectator magazine; confirming once again the contribution the choir made to the new Archbishop of Canterbury’s installation service on 25th March.

Canterbury Cathedral Anna MudekaProjects The Spectator The Autumn Festival of Norfolk

Swipe to zoom ➡️ Anna Mudeka

Peter Barrow MBE attended his official investiture at Windsor Castle today, accompanied by festival Co-founder & Total E...
31/03/2026

Peter Barrow MBE attended his official investiture at Windsor Castle today, accompanied by festival Co-founder & Total Ensemble Artistic Director
Rebecca Chapman.

Peter received his MBE from King Charles, in recognition for his philanthropic support of the arts in Norfolk for over 15 years.

Along with co-founder Stash Kirkbride they have initiated and produced The Autumn Festival of Norfolk, The Norfolk Arts Awards, Total Ensemble: Arts Initiative, The Norfolk Actors Company and The African Choir of Norfolk, all under the creative umbrella of The PBSK Partnership.

The 31st of March 2026 marks the day Peter is recognised for his unwavering support of the festival, with so many lives enriched for the better.

“Peter has made it possible for so many of us to take part. To play our parts. To contribute and create lasting communities. I am so happy for my friend of over 30 years today. On behalf of us all, our thanks to Peter today and always”

Stash

Stash Kirkbride
Co-founder & Artistic Director of
The AUTUMN FESTIVAL of Norfolk
Produced by The PBSK Partnership

Image description:
Peter Barrow MBE with Rebecca Chapman at Windsor Castle.

Official images to follow from Windsor Castle soon.

The journey begins… the choir are on their way to Canterbury for a truly momentous day.Tune in at 3pm on BBC1.
25/03/2026

The journey begins… the choir are on their way to Canterbury for a truly momentous day.

Tune in at 3pm on BBC1.

✨ Celebrating a momentous moment ✨Huge congratulations to Artistic Director & Choir Leader Anna Mudeka and all members o...
20/03/2026

✨ Celebrating a momentous moment ✨

Huge congratulations to Artistic Director & Choir Leader Anna Mudeka and all members of The African Choir of Norfolk…

The choir has been invited to be part of the historic installation of The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally, the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury - a truly extraordinary honour and moment of national significance.

The African Choir of Norfolk, a Signature Project of The Autumn Festival of Norfolk, produced by The PBSK Partnership, have been preparing for their performance next week which will showcase the power of music, community and cultural storytelling.

This is a huge moment not only for the choir but for Norfolk’s cultural community and we couldn’t be prouder to see their talent and dedication recognised at this level.

Wishing Anna and the entire choir the most incredible experience. Everyone can tune in next Wednesday for the broadcast of the service on BBC.

14/03/2026

We are delighted to share some recent highlights from

Much more to come…

As the days grow lighter, we invite you to Move into the Spring.Total Ensemble’s unique mini-residency brings people of ...
03/03/2026

As the days grow lighter, we invite you to Move into the Spring.

Total Ensemble’s unique mini-residency brings people of all ages together through shared creativity, energy and expression, join us for a beautiful celebration of new beginnings.

Places are limited and booking is essential.

Having completed our 15th anniversary in autumn 2025 we have decided it will be our last year of programming. We’re endi...
09/01/2026

Having completed our 15th anniversary in autumn 2025 we have decided it will be our last year of programming. We’re ending the festival on a high and leaving everyone wanting more.

What a time, all delivered over 15 remarkable years throughout Norfolk.

The festival itself will remain online, producing our legacy project the NORFOLK ARTS AWARDS, in partnership with the Eastern Daily Press & University of East Anglia; with Creative Industries & Public Voting opening this spring.

We will be archiving and posting all your comments and quotes on our website, looking back over the years of our Hostry productions with The Norfolk Actors Company, as well as all other projects, events and alumni created under the umbrella of the festival.

We’d love to hear from you…

A harvest of 15 outstanding years of sharing to celebrate.

… email your thoughts, quotes, reviews & images by end of May 2026 to: [email protected]

A huge thank you to:
Our Principal Partners of 9 years The University of East Anglia. The Dean & Chapter and Bishop of Norwich. Norfolk Trusts, Charities and Philanthropists. All our Patrons and Ambassadors, Partners in Norfolk Businesses & Education, including and
Our Media Partners: Newsquest
BBC Radio Norfolk and Future Radio

And, of course, our special thanks go to our Audiences, Volunteers, Friends of the Festival, Practitioners, Project Leaders, Artists, Technicians, Performers, Participants, without whom none of the creativity imagined & delivered over these past 15 years would have taken place.

With much pride and thanks.

All best wishes,

Stash & Peter

Co-Founders of
The AUTUMN FESTIVAL of Norfolk
Produced by the PBSK Partnership
(Peter Barrow & Stash Kirkbride)

The PBSK Partnership, commissioning producers of
The Norfolk Arts Awards
Total Ensemble: Arts Initiative
The African Choir of Norfolk

For more details visit our website landing page www.autumnfestivalofnorfolk.org

Cover painting, commissioned for The Autumn Festival of Norfolk 2026, by local artist Nicola Slattery

Congratulations to The AUTUMN FESTIVAL of Norfolk’s Co-Founder Peter Barrow MBE!We are incredibly proud to share that ou...
30/12/2025

Congratulations to The AUTUMN FESTIVAL of Norfolk’s Co-Founder Peter Barrow MBE!

We are incredibly proud to share that our very own Peter Barrow has been honoured in the 2026 New Year’s Honours List with an MBE for Charitable Service to the Community in Norfolk. 

Peter’s passion, vision and dedication to the arts have been at the heart of the festival since its beginnings. From building creative opportunity across our county to championing cultural experiences that bring people together, his contribution has helped shape Norfolk’s vibrant arts landscape for 15 years.

Thank you Peter for inspiring us all and for helping to make The AUTUMN FESTIVAL of Norfolk what it is today.

Join us in congratulating Peter on this richly deserved honour!

01/12/2025

Thank You to Our 2025 Partners & Supporters

As we celebrate our 15th anniversary year, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible partners, sponsors, trusts and supporters who make The AUTUMN FESTIVAL of Norfolk possible. Your commitment to creativity, community and culture powers every signature project - The Norfolk Actors Company and Total Ensemble Arts Initiative to the Norfolk Arts Awards and The African Choir of Norfolk.

We are proud to work alongside:

In Partnership With



Media Partners









Supported By




































Charities & Trusts
Freemans Charity
Geoffrey Watling Charity
John Jarrold Trust
Paul Bassham Trust
Jane Hawksley
PBSK Partnership

⸻

We are endlessly grateful for your belief in our mission to celebrate creativity across Norfolk. Here’s to another extraordinary year of performances, discussions, talent development and community celebration.

Interested in supporting the 2026 programme?
Visit the Support page on our website to learn how your organisation can get involved.

We’re thrilled to announce that SALLY PHILLIPS (Smack the Pony, I’m Alan Partridge, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Miranda) and ...
10/11/2025

We’re thrilled to announce that SALLY PHILLIPS (Smack the Pony, I’m Alan Partridge, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Miranda) and KIRSTY BUSHELL (Motherland, Murder in Provence, The Dark Tower, King Lear - Duke of York Theatre) will appear in a new play by UEA Creative Writing alumna, as part of The AUTUMN FESTIVAL of Norfolk 2025.

Written by Rachel Osborne, Unlettered is a sharp, funny and revealing dark comedy exploring creative identity, ambition, and escape. The story is told through two women whose lives collide unexpectedly in rural Norfolk.

Directed by Nicky Allpress (The Shape of Things, Ulster American, The Walworth Farce), this presentation marks the first public staging in Norfolk, following an earlier private reading in London.

For the first time, an audience will experience the play live, with the chance to share their response and join a post-show conversation with the writer, director and cast.

Developed in partnership with the University of East Anglia, this final event of the festival season celebrates our 15th anniversary through a commitment to showcasing original voices and new writing from Norfolk.

Sunday 23rd November 2025

7.30 pm – UEA Drama Studio

Tickets: £10 / £7 concessions

Book online, visit Norwich Theatre Royal box office in person, or call our dedicated festival booking line on 01603 598676

Staged Reading of new play Unlettered by Rachel Osborne UEA Drama Studio Literature, Drama and Creative Writing: University of East Anglia (UEA) University of East Anglia (UEA)

TICKETS:
https://www.autumnfestivalofnorfolk.org/event/unlettered

7am start Did you know that for the 15 years of this festival, the get in at The Hostry has always been a beautiful sun...
26/10/2025

7am start

Did you know that for the 15 years of this festival, the get in at The Hostry has always been a beautiful sunny autumn morning?

Here’s to a fantastic festival week ahead.

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Norwich Cathedral
Norwich
NR14EG

Telephone

+441603598676

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