Rye Festival offers closing highlights

The 40th anniversary Rye Arts Festival closes this weekend and is set to go out with a bang.

Tonight (Friday) there is a choice of events.

Paul Lamb and the King Snakes are playing their earthy, energetic blues music at the Community Centre at 8pm.

The George sees the return of Lonestar Comedy at 8pm featuring four comedians, plus compere. Ring The George direct on 01797 222114.

On Saturday, Craig Sams, founder of Green and Blacks chocolate company and who now owns Judges Bakery in Hastings, will be talking about sustainability and what lessons we can learn from the Central American cocoa farmers. His talk starts at 3pm in the Community Centre. Everyone who attends will receivefree chocolate samples.

On Saturday evening one of the highlights of this year’s Festival sees the first fully-staged opera. A cast of 10 singers and an orchestra of 30 musicians, all of whom are professional artists, perform Gluck’s Iphigenie en Tauride at 7.30pm in Rye College. Tickets cost £12 and £18.

The Festival closes on Sunday with Ising on the Cake – soprano Sharon Elizabeth will sing everything from opera arias to popular standards, and mix a cake at the same time. This afternoon treat starts at 3pm in the Community Centre and includes a slice of chocolate cake and a cuppa. For more details of these and all other events go to www.ryeartsfestival.co.uk or for tickets ring the Box Office on 01797 224442 10am and 2pm. Otherwise, tickets are available on the door.