February 11, 2025
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First Look at PAW 2025 Festival Concerts & Other Events Programme
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our 2025 programme, featuring an array of concerts, workshops, exhibitions, and performances celebrating creativity across Purbeck from 24 May – 8 June.
Festival Highlights
Saturday 24 May, 6pm – Priory Church of Lady St Mary, Wareham
Concert: Apollo’s Cabinet – a fascinating exploration of 18th-century baroque theatre music.
Sunday 25 May, 12 noon – Church of St Peter, Church Knowle
Concert: Ayres Extemporae & Hannah Ely, ‘Bach and His Roots’ – a journey through the influences that shaped Bach, featuring music by Schein, Buxtehude, and Erlebach.
Wednesday 28 May, 10.30am – 11.30am – The Mowlem, Swanage
Storytelling workshop for children (4 – 8 years) with travel writer Nick Jubber.
Mini-Festival Weekend
Friday 30 May, 6pm – Priory Church of Lady St Mary, Wareham
Concert: Stile Antico, ‘Palestrina 500’ – a tribute to Renaissance composer Palestrina, marking 500 years since his birth.
Saturday 31 May, 10:30am-12:30pm – United Reform Church, Wareham
Workshop for Singers – a fantastic opportunity for singers of all levels, led by members of Stile Antico.
Saturday 31 May, 2pm – Priory Church of Lady St Mary, Wareham
Concert and Talk: a talk on Handel’s Art Collection followed by a 2:30pm concert with Augelletti Ensemble (BBC New Generation Baroque Ensemble) & Alexander Chance.
Saturday 31 May, 5:30pm – Priory Church of Lady St Mary, Wareham
Concert: Saraband & The Opera Company (with Samuel Boden, Hilary Cronin, Emily Gray), ‘Love After the Storm’ – French cantatas from the salons of Rameau and his contemporaries.
Saturday 31 May, 9:30pm – Priory Church of Lady St Mary, Wareham
Concert: Ensemble Gamut & Aino Peltomaa – a musical exploration of Finnish mythology mixing medieval sounds with electronics.
Sunday 1 June, 2pm – St Edward, King & Martyr, Corfe Castle
Concert: Toby Carr, Elizabeth Kenny & Nicholas Mulroy, ‘Cubaroque’ – a fusion of early English and modern South-American sounds.
Monday 2 June, 7.30pm – Royal British Legion, Swanage
Poetry open mic night with Martin Hobdell.
Wednesday 4 June, 6pm – 7pm – The Mowlem, Swanage
Writing workshop for adults with travel writer Nick Jubber.
Thursday 5 June, 10.15am – Encombe House
Coffee concert.
Friday 6 June, 7pm – The Mowlem, Swanage
Talk: An atmospheric feast of magical tales with travel writer Nick Jubber and folk musician, actor, and storyteller Tim Laycock.
Saturday 7 June, 4pm – Carey’s Secret Garden, Wareham
Concert: The Echoing Air & Music for Awhile – ‘The Fairy Queen’ – a picnic performance featuring local primary school students.
Stay Tuned for More!
The full PAW 2025 programme and ticket information will be released soon. Visit www.purbeckartweeksfestival.co.uk for updates.
We are also delighted that The Lulworth Estate will be sponsoring the Festival again this year, helping us to expand our reach, providing more opportunities for artists and audiences alike. PAW Chair, Charlotte Heath, expressed her gratitude, saying, “Their continued sponsorship enables us to foster creativity and cultural exchange throughout Purbeck. This support is instrumental in growing our Purbeck Young Artists (PYA) project, providing free workshops in schools and inspiring the next generation of artists. We can’t wait to showcase their incredible artwork at Rollington Barn during this year’s Festival and create unforgettable moments that celebrate the energy and diversity of our community.”