12 Best Performing Arts in East Anglia, England

East Anglia's most important arts festival, and one of the best known in Britain, is the Aldeburgh Festival. It's held for two weeks in June in the small village of Snape, 5 miles west of Aldeburgh. Founded by Benjamin Britten, the festival concentrates on music but includes exhibitions, poetry readings, and lectures. A handful of events are aimed specifically at children.

Spread over four days in late July or early August at Cherry Hinton Hall, the Cambridge Folk Festival attracts major international folk singers and groups.

It's worth a stop to take in the peaceful River Alde location of this cultural center. It includes nine art galleries and crafts shops in distinctive large brick buildings once used to malt barley, plus a café and tearoom. There's a farmers' market on the first Saturday of the month, a major food festival in September, and a Benjamin Britten festival in October. Leisurely 45-minute river cruises (£12) leave from the quayside in spring and summer. From the Maltings, you can stroll out along an elevated trail through some reed marshes for beautiful views—just watch for uneven ground.

Home of the famous Cambridge Footlights Revue, the ADC Theatre hosts mainly student and fringe theater productions.

The city's main repertory theater, built in 1936 by John Maynard Keynes (one of the most influential economists of the 20th century and a Cambridge University alumnus), still supports a full program of plays and concerts. It also has three lively bars and serves food.

The beautifully restored Corn Exchange presents classical and rock concerts, stand-up comedy, musicals, opera, and ballet.

During regular terms, King's College Chapel has evensong services Monday through Saturday at 5:30 and Sunday at 3:30. Your best chance of seeing the full choir is Thursday to Sunday.

Patterned on the layout of Elizabethan theaters, the Maddermarket has been the base of amateur and community theater in Norwich since 1911.

A fine Victorian auditorium, the New Theatre Royal previews plays and musicals before their London runs and also hosts touring productions and comedy.

This eclectic venue hosts a busy program of live music, dance, and comedy.

This professional repertory group performs everything from Shakespeare to world premieres of new plays.

Norwich's biggest and best-known theater, the Theatre Royal hosts touring companies staging musicals, ballet, opera, and plays.