From Peru to Skegness

I grew up in Cleethorpes on the NE Lincolnshire coast and we used to visit Skegness, another seaside place further down the coast. At the time, Skegness's advertisting campaign centred on the motto 'Its so bracing' with a slightly alarming dancing sailor. Now the town has its own arts festival, the SO Festival which takes place between 23 June and 1 July in and around Skegness.

This year they are broadcasting the Garsington production of La Perichole live on a large festival screen on the beach on Sunday 1 July. Early arrivals will be able to sit and watch on deck-chairs and of course everyone will be able to take advantage of the ice-cream and fish and chips for sale near by. There will be pre-show street theatre and post-show fireworks. Offenbach, fireworks and fish and chips, what more could you want! Further details from the SO Festival website.

Also in Skegness, the UK debut of the Helsinborg Symphony Orchestra, who will be appearing at the Embassy Theatre on 17 June as part of East Lindsey Live (a summer programme of events across the region).   Helsinborg Symphony Orchestra is one of Sweden's oldest orchestras, being founded in 1912. Their programme is an interesting mixture of English and Swedish, with Walton's Crown Imperial and Britten's Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes along with music by Stenhammer and Alfven. They will be conducted by their Artistic Director, Andrew Manze, a name familiar to many in the UK for his work with period performance groups.

And what has Peru got to do with it? Well, though the Garsington production of the opera sets La Perichole in Cuba the original story is set in Peru.