Tenby Arts Festival has come round again and this year it’s better than ever!

Starting tomorrow (Saturday and running until October 1), this special festival is now in its 25th year and amongst the usual rich and varied programme is a special treat for all, as this year the festival proudly welcomes the BBC Young Musician of the Year to give a concert.

On Friday, September 30, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, the highly acclaimed cellist, will be accompanied by members of his family in an evening concert in St. Mary’s Church, Tenby. Sheku will be appearing at the Tenby Festival with five of his six siblings, all of whom are exceptionally talented. They will play works by Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Bloch, Handel, Monti and Shostakovich.

The festival starts with a brass band kicking off proceedings at 11 o’clock outside St. Mary’s Church. Then it is straight into the first event of the week, which is the popular Book Fair in Church House. The Book Fair is now an established regular feature of the festival and it gets better each year.

Local author Judith Barrow has put together a wonderful group of authors who will be available to talk about their books and, of course, to sell them. Refreshments will be available.

All the festival favourites are all still in the programme, including the sandcastle competition, Graham Hadlow’s Art Workshop, the Jazz Brunch, Poetry Please, and the ever-popular Pint Sized Plays. The plays are free to attend and always excellent - this year’s round is served up on: Monday, September 26 - 7.30 pm Normandie, Upper Frog Street, 8.30 pm Hope & Anchor, St. Julian Street, 9.30 pm The Crown, Lower Frog Street; Tuesday September 27 - 7.30 pm 5 Arches, St. George Street, 8.30 pm The Cove, High Street, 9.30 pm The Buccaneer, St. Julian Street

Another firm festival favourite is the afternoon programme which is mainly an eclectic mix of talks and presentations: from talks on The History of Flying Boats in Pembroke Dock, on the Sinking of the Laconia, on the extra-marital affairs of Augustus John, on the dancer Joséphine Baker (who is infamous for dancing in a skirt made of bananas and not much else), and a talk about Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, followed by a screening of the film ‘Sylvia’ about the life of the poet and this year even has a talk on Evolution. Such a wide variety of topics! The talks are exceptionally good value and always interesting and entertaining.

The festival is also hosting an evening talk by the micro engraver Graham Short, with the added bonus of a light supper served by the committee. The price of tickets has been kept as low as possible.

The first weekend, also sees ‘Cantemus!’ return under the baton of Alexander Martin, with a scratch choir group singing ‘The Messiah’ on the first Saturday. If you would like to sing at this event, then you will be made most welcome. Full details are available on the website or in the brochure.

The festival would never be complete without choirs and, in contrast to the classical oratorio, they have the ever-popular Tenby Male Choir which has performed in every festival since it started in 1992 and they are staged in St. Mary’s Church on Thursday 29th.

Another regular feature of the festival is a recital given by the Gregynog Young Musician of the Year. These young musicians are talented beyond their years; in line with last year, the overall winner and two winners of their section will take part in an afternoon concert on Saturday, October 1.

On Tuesday the 27th, Alison Neil again presents a one man show and this year presents the ‘Shakespeare Ladies’ Club’ - the festival couldn’t let Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary go by unmarked.

There is a fantastic finalé to end the week-long proceedings. On Saturday, October 1, there will be ‘A Night of Romantic Opera’ when Swansea City Opera Company will give a concert of favourite arias and duets from famous operas by Mozart, Verdi, Puccini and Bizet. A pre or post concert dinner can be ordered from Café Pura. Please contact them for details - phone Fern on 07715232219, as booking is essential.

This year’s festival promises to be the best yet, with something for everyone. The brochures can be picked up from all Pembrokeshire Libraries and Tourist Information Centres.

For further details of the programme, please go to www.tenbyartsfest.co.uk or phone 01834 218408. The website has all the details of the many events - too many to mention here.