A Year of Celebration!
This year, we are celebrating 80 years with a programme of events that honours a remarkable legacy and looks confidently to the future.
This anniversary season celebrates the enduring spirit of the Arts in Stroud.
It brings the very best of the arts to Stroud—music, theatre, dance, poetry, visual art and more—while also showcasing the distinctive creative voice of Stroud to the wider artistic world.
Upcoming Events
Raphael Wallfisch &
Simon Callaghan
Saturday 3rd October
World-renowned cellist Raphael Wallfisch joins acclaimed pianist Simon Callaghan for an inspiring evening showing the power of the cello and piano. Two iconic masterworks sit alongside a rarely performed 20th-century gem in a programme brimming with lyricism and virtuosic brilliance.
Capriol Chamber Concert
with Clare Hammond
Saturday 10th October
A thrilling evening of orchestral brilliance awaits as the Capriol Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Jonathan Trim, led by Natasha Bowen-Jones with acclaimed pianist Clare Hammond provide a dazzling programme of music by Gavin Sutherland, Beethoven and Haydn.
80 Years in the Making –
A Community Celebration!
Saturday 17th October
Join us for a joyful community concert packed with music, poetry, drama, a spectacular light installation by ShadowWorks, performances from the Stroud Scouts, The Acapellies and Minpins — plus plenty of surprises! Eight decades of creativity, community and brilliant arts. One unforgettable celebration.
Jonathan Trim with the Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra
Sunday 18th October
Celebrate 80 years of the Festival with the world premiere of this new orchestral work, performed by the Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra. Inspired by the rivers flowing through the Five Valleys, this vibrant new piece celebrates Stroud, its landscapes and its creative community.
Sleeping Beauty
Ballet Cymru
Saturday 24th October
Step into an enchanted world of love, magic and destiny. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Ballet Cymru brings Sleeping Beauty to life with this spellbinding reimagining of the classic fairy tale, with stunning choreography, immersive projections and Tchaikovsky’s unforgettable score.
A Christmas Carol
Opera Holland Park
Friday 11th December
This Christmas, Opera Holland Park brings Charles Dickens’s timeless tale to life in Will Todd’s enchanting musical retelling. Traditional Victorian carols, magical handbells and haunting melodies weave through Scrooge’s ghostly journey from miserly gloom to Christmas cheer.
Supported Events
Play On Stroud: The All New Stroud Theatre Festival
Friday 9th – Sunday 11th October
A vibrant celebration of theatre, this new annual festival brings bold performances, family shows, talks and workshops to Stroud, inspiring audiences of all ages.
For more information
Dobunni
Poetry Festival
Friday 16th – Sat 17th October
Stroud’s first dedicated poetry festival and creating a cultural home for writers, readers and audiences of all ages. Featuring – Pascale Petit and Alison Brackenbury
For more information
Orgreave
By John Salter
Wed 25th – Sat 28th November
An exciting new play! Our lives, today, have been profoundly influenced by the 1984-85 miners strike and that pivotal moment in the strike – The Battle of Orgreave.
For more information
Get Involved
Join Us in Celebrating 80 Years of Creativity!
Calling all art lovers, community champions, and passionate individuals: we need YOU to help us make the 80th Anniversary Arts Festival a celebration to remember!
This milestone year marks eight decades of incredible artistic expression, culture, and community spirit. As we look back on the history of this festival, we invite you to be a part of something truly special—a celebration of creativity, history, and the people who make it all happen.
Keep up to date by joining our mailing list
Contact Us
For general enquiries, sponsorship for an event or information on any of our activities contact:
Stroud Arts Festival Co-ordinator
Email: info@stroudartsfestival.org
Secretary and Treasurer:
Email: finance@stroudartsfestival.org