FORMER Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe will open the Thornbury Arts Festival on Friday, May 5 with a talk about her life and career, and the politician-turned-author is set to be followed by other famous faces over the course of the 10-day event.

Professor Robert Winston will give a talk on the ethics of modifying humans, while antiques enthusiasts will have an opportunity to hear from Judith Miller, who is well known for her many books and her appearances on BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.

Music always plays a key role in the Festival and, after the huge success of Seth Lakeman last year, the folk theme continues on May 10 with the award-winning Cara Dillon, who will be joined on stage by Niall Murphy and her husband Sam Lakeman – Seth’s brother.

There will also be a family theme to the Festival’s closing event, Stringfever.

Three brothers and their cousin combine unrelenting energy and humour with great musical skill as they perform their captivating show.

The Thornbury Choral Society, meanwhile, is set to give one of its outstanding concerts featuring Mozart’s Requiem and Handel’s Coronation Anthems, and on May 14 the popular Ukulele Band will perform a selection of favourite songs.

The renowned Reduced Shakespeare Company will make a welcome return to the Festival on May 12, with the hilarious trio of American actors presenting Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play - allegedly discovered next to a pile of old bones in a Leicester car park. Shakespeare will never be the same again.

There’s a treat in store for all garden enthusiasts on May 8, when Dale Dennehy, the garden and park manager at Dyrham Park, gives an illustrated talk on the restoration of the gardens.

Elsewhere in the diverse programme are lunchtime events including talks on film locations, the Badminton railway line, 100 years of the WI, and local historian Meg Wise on objects that illustrate Thornbury’s history.

On May 6, younger enthusiasts can enjoy a street dance workshop and performance, which will be run by one of the members of Release Dance Crew, based at the NGM Caedmon Complex.

A week later at the Castle School, Squashbox Theatre will perform the Sea Show, a quirky and hilarious mix of puppet show, natural history and comedy cabaret.

  • For more information on the Arts Festival and to book tickets, go to http://thornburyartsfestival.com