Culture

Plymouth is a city packed with cultural gems and interesting things to see and do. The more you look, the more you’ll find. Here’s just some of what’s on offer this year.

Art runs through Plymouth’s blood from Joshua Reynolds, Beryl Bainbridge, George Passmore (of Gilbert and George fame) and more recently Robert Lenkiewicz and Monika Kinley have all, in one way or another, used Plymouth’s setting to build their fame.

Witht the British Art Show 7  contemporary art descends on Plymouth this year, thanks to the arrival of ‘In the Days of the Comet’, the theme of the largest contemporary art festival around. The event will come to Plymouth, one of only four host cities, between September 17 and December 4 2011.

The award-winning Theatre Royal puts Plymouth on the entertainment map for the whole country. It secures some of the best shows in the UK, thanks to its innovative TR2 theatre workshop which designs and makes many of the sets for shows before they start their national run. Alongside the Theatre Royal is The Drum, the cities ‘arthouse’ auditorium. 

Plymouth is a city that loves great music. There’s loads of live acts happening throughout the week and weekend – from big-ticket arena acts to excellent local artistes.

Plymouth Pavilions is the city’s arena, promoting top pop and rock acts.

The Barbican International Jazz and Blues Festival takes place from April 29 to May 2 this year, blending headline acts with top-quality performers from the region.