Two events have already sold out at the 2019 Rye Arts Festival! Just one week after releasing tickets for all the 60 events that make up the 48th annual festival (which runs from September 13 to 29, this year) the eager public has snapped up all the tickets for one book talk and one walk.
First to sell out was a talk by Dr Richard Ormrod on Radclyffe Hall and Una Troubridge on Wednesday, September 18, followed hotly by the Rye In All Its Wonders walk on Sunday, September 15 led by Rye town crier, Paul Goring.
Mike Eve, chairman of the Rye Arts Festival organising committee, says: “We are delighted that the sales for this year’s festival have got off to a racing start but we are sorry for those who will miss out on the talk about Hall & Troubridge. Similarly, for those who wanted to go on the walk with Paul Goring. But the good news is that the town crier is doing a second walk on Friday, September 27, but although there are a still a few tickets left, they are going quickly too!”
Other events that are selling very fast include the talk by Lord Owen on Wednesday, September 25 based on his book called Hubris: The Road to Donald Trump which is at 7pm in St Mary’s church.
The world-class English violinist Tasmin Little is also proving a huge and understandable draw, since she has announced her retirement from the concert stage in early 2020, making her Rye concert with pianist Martin Roscoe on Saturday, September 14 one of the last opportunities anywhere, and certainly in Rye, to see her perform.
On the literary front, Raynor Winn is proving very popular, with tickets already flying out through the box office door for her talk on Friday, September 18. Her book, The Salt Path, is a moving – sometimes deeply sad, other times funny – tale of humanity as her life with husband Moth crumbles almost overnight. But there is a redemptive and hopeful message. This book has deservedly topped the best sellers lists for most of this year.
Sales for Martin Carthy and Eliza Carthy’s gig on Saturday, September 21 are also moving at a steady lick, so if you want to see British folk royalty perform it would be advisable to secure tickets now rather than wait till later, as you are likely to be disappointed.
Tickets for nearly 60 world-class events are on sale online, or go into the box office at Phillips & Stubbs in Cinque Ports Street or ring 01797 224442.
Image Credits: Rye Arts Festival .