ABSOLUTELY Fabulous The Movie star Celia Imrie is joining prize winning authors, comedy legends and musical talent for a weekend of high-minded hi-jinks for all ages at the Curious Arts Festival.
The Isle of Wight based actress, who also appeared in Calendar Girls, will join Michel Faber, author of the highly acclaimed novel The Crimson and The White prize-winning Zimbawean novelist, Petina Gappah (The Book of Memory) on the bill.
The festival has also announced that history writer and indefatigable champion of trees Thomas Pakenham and British Army veteran Harry Parker will also be bringing their illuminating perspectives to the programme along with countercultural hero and original manager of The Ramones, Danny Fields, who will talk candidly about his extraordinary life in music.
On the music stage, hotly tipped Paloma Faith support Jake Isaac is confirmed along with the smokey soul-drenched folk of newcomer Willow Robinson and the eclectic sounds of Jackson Scott.
Other festival highights include performances by literary icon Carol Ann Duffy including a special children’s event and Billy Bragg on the music stage.
A weekend-long Sonnet-a-thon will be launched by playwright Polly Stenham to mark the 400 year anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.
There's also music from Bombay Bicycle Club vocalist Lucy Rose, HMS Sweet Charity and Gus Robertson, the lead guitarist for Razorlight.
The Curious Arts Festival takes place at Pylewell Park near Lymington from July 22 to 24.
Tickets from curiousartsfestival.com
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