What’s in the diary? June 2008
1st GO DUTCH 1-22 The Netherlands’ annual arts festival returns to Amsterdam – think critically acclaimed plays, opera and avant-garde art installations rather than stadium concerts. This year’s performances include Fiona Shaw in the Samuel Beckett play Happy Days and the unveiling of new public artwork in the Amsterdam Dream series; www.hollandfestival.nl 8th BE FASHION [...]
1st
GO DUTCH 1-22
The Netherlands’ annual arts festival returns to
Amsterdam – think critically acclaimed plays,
opera and avant-garde art installations rather
than stadium concerts. This year’s performances
include Fiona Shaw in the Samuel Beckett play
Happy Days and the unveiling of new public
artwork in the Amsterdam Dream series;
www.hollandfestival.nl
8th
BE FASHION FORWARD 8-12
London’s Graduate Fashion Week sees budding designers show off their creations
during catwalk shows at the Earls Court 2 arena. Unlike most major fashion
events it’s open to the general public, but Victoria Beckham and designer Jimmy
Choo have been spotted at past shows. Admission from £10;
www.gfw.org.uk
And from 6-7 June Brussels hosts catwalk shows by the graduates of Belgium’s
prestigious La Cambre fashion school. Admission from €10; www.lacambre.be
GET LUCKY All of June-17 July
The World Series of Poker has just started at the Rio Hotel &
Casino in Las Vegas. Anyone can apply to play in this Texas
Hold ’Em tournament which has a $10,000 prize. Since this
could also mean parting company with a lot of cash along the
way, perhaps you’ve had a lucky escape. A better bet is to get
into the Vegas spirit by simply attending as an audience
member;
www.worldseriesofpoker.com
9th
KICK IT 9, 13 & 17
It’s time for Euro 2008 and Zurich’s Letzigrund stadium is the
venue for three matches, on 9, 13 and 17 June. Romania,
France, and reigning champions Italy will all be in attendance
here, as will a few thousand fans. And if you notice two
cartoon characters all over town, they’re Trix and Flix, the
mascots for the competition;
www.euro2008.uefa.com
10th
HAVE A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM 10-14
Opera North presents three operas based on Shakespeare plays at The Lowry in Manchester
(pictured). See Macbeth by Verdi on 11 and 14 June, A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Benjamin
Britten on 12 June, and Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette on 10 and 13 June. Tickets cost
from £13.50. Box office +44 (0)870 787 5790;
www.operanorth.co.uk
11th
WRITE ON 11-15
Dublin is famous for its literary
tradition and so it makes sense
that it plays host to this fun
Writers Festival every year, at
venues across the city.
American author Tobias Wolff,
Booker Prize winner Anne
Enright and chick lit queen
Marian Keyes are among the
scribes making appearances.
For more details about readings
and venues see the website;
www.dublinwritersfestival.com
18th
CATCH KEIRA 18-29
Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller will be heading to the
opening night of the Edinburgh International Film Festival,
one of the UK’s best events for cinephiles. The pair star in
The Edge Of Love (pictured), which tells the story of the
romantic life of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. It’s just one of the
new films you can see during the festival, while classic French
actress Jeanne Moreau is the subject of a retrospective;
www.edfilmfest.org.uk
18th
SEE THE FUTURE 18 June-14 September
The Louisiana gallery near Copenhagen presents Museums in the
21st Century – Concepts, Projects, Buildings. See which museums
are contemporary design success stories and what’s planned for
the future in this exhibition about museum buildings around the
world, including the Quai Branly in Paris;
www.louisiana.dk
27th
HEAR ERYKAH SING 27-29
Neo-soul songstress Erykah Badu and reggae veteran Jimmy Cliff
will be among those making music in Brussels at Couleur Café
Festival, an annual extravaganza of Latin and Caribbean beats. The
event takes place at one of the city’s biggest venues, the Tour &
Taxis complex (www.tour-taxis.com). A one-day pass costs €36
and can be purchased on arrival;
www.couleurcafe.be
Or how about…
ABERDEEN
19-21 JUNE
The Bacchae
Alan Cumming (X-Men) stars in Euripides’ Greek tragedy
at His Majesty’s Theatre;www.boxofficeaberdeen.com
AMSTERDAM
UNTIL 4 JUNE
Stasi – Secret Rooms
Cutting-edge photography gallery Foam presents a
glimpse into hidden rooms that were used by the
secret police of the former GDR;
www.foam.nl
CHICAGO
14 JUNE
Drinking & Writing Festival
The unconventional lit fest takes its inspiration from
Hunter S Thompson;
www.drinkingandwriting.com
COLOGNE
26 JUNE-6 JULY
Pride
The German city hosts its annual gay pride parade,
attracting thousands of revellers;
www.csd-cologne.de
LAS VEGAS
26-28 JUNE
Great West Truck Show
Truckers and trucks congregate at the Las Vegas
Convention Centre for this celebration of monsters
on wheels;
www.greatwesttruckshow.com
LONDON
5-6 JUNE
Reading Room
A dance event at The Southbank Centre sees Miranda
Richardson and Juliet Stevenson reading literature
aloud;
www.southbankcentre.co.uk/dance
LONDON
12-15 JUNE
International Music Show
Buy or learn about musical instruments at Excel in
Docklands;
www.londoninternationalmusicshow.com
LYON
19 JUNE-29 SEPTEMBER
Italian Drawings
Italian Renaissance drawings are on display at the
Musée des Beaux-Arts near Lyon, including works by
Fra Bartolommeo;
www.mba-lyon.fr
MANCHESTER
21 JUNE
Santana
Carlos Santana and his band bring their popular
Latin rock to the MEN arena;
www.men-arena.com
ZURICH
20 JUNE-13 JULY
Zurich Festival
The annual arts festival includes open-air theatre and
a midsummer’s ball;
www.zuercher-festspiele.ch
