Hip happenings in all your favourite holiday destinations

Cliff faces

Ogliastra Teatro
Theatre throws open the curtains and gets outdoors in August, when the Ogliastra region, on the eastern edge of Sardinia, hosts its Festival dei Tacchi, or “festival of the cliffs”. Local troupes and mainland Italian players, including Teatro Club Udine and Florence’s Teatro Minimo (pictured), will all put on theatre workshops, poetry readings, plays and musicals.
Tel: 008 008 889 9900 (Toll Free), www.cadadieteatro.it

This summer’s events will take place in a variety of odd locations, so look out for shows in Stazione dell’Arte – the local museum – as well as town squares, a secondary school, caves and beneath breathtaking cliffs. The action takes place 2–10 August.

Surfin’ safari

Windsurfing & Kiteboarding World Cup, Fuerteventura
Strong winds and big prize money attract some of the world’s best adrenalin sportsmen to Fuerteventura this season, to participate in this multi-discipline, hard-blowing championship in the Canary Islands.

Held at the Pro Center René Egli, Sotavento, the event awards about €18,000 in prize money to the winners of five different events. Windsurfers and kiteboarders compete in speed and slalom trials, in front of crowds of awe-struck spectators. Come down and watch the spray fly, 18 July–2 August.
www.fuerteventura-worldcup.org

Frock star treatment

Fashion in the Mirror
Although it’s a medium where first impressions are everything, this London exhibition delves below the surface of fashion photography, examining how it’s staged and the manner in which it deals with notions of beauty. Featuring the likes of Terence Donovan and Jonathan de Villiers (pictured), Fashion in the Mirror is a thought-provoking meditation on modern image-making, as well as a beautiful collection of chic shots
18 july–14 september, the photographers’ gallery, 8 Great portland st, london, www.photonet.org.uk

Winging your way

The World Gliding Championships
Watch the skies – the 30th FAI World Gliding Championships are being held 2–16 August, in Lüsse, an hour southwest of Berlin. With more than 130 pilots from 34 countries competing, the championship is regarded as a Formula One for motorless aircraft. Catch the opening ceremony on 2 August, the main airshow on 10 August or watch the gliders on one of the competition days.
For more details, visit www.wgc2008.org

Celtic steps

Rhythm of the Dance
The Algarve resounds to the sound of Irish footwork this month, as two-hour choreographic extravaganza, Rhythm of the Dance jigs into Silves, just outside Faro. This show, which premiered in Norway nine years ago, follows the progression of Irish Celts through history, detailing the travails of two clans, Leinster and Ulster, in music and dance. The show has already played to over 3 million people, in 33 countries. Catch it at the breathtaking industrial space, Fábrica do Inglês, on 24 July–30 August.
For more details, visit www.rhythmofthedance.com

Kinder surprise

Kulturufer
While many of this summer’s festivals have children’s facilities, outdoor happening Kulturufer is probably the only event truly doing it for the kids. Held in tents pitched on the shores of Lake Constance, near Friedrichschafen in Germany, the 10-day event brings together comedy, theatre and cabaret. On 25 July–3 August, acrobats, jugglers and storytellers are all on hand to entertain the kids, although billings like Rock Me Amadeus – Falco Live Forever, a rousing rock show and a tribute to the late Austrian pop superstar, may appeal more to the parents.
www.kulturufer.de

Block party

London Festival of Architecture
The stony blocks of London are whipped into the middle of a design-led fiesta this month, with the city’s Festival of Architecture. There will be talks from the likes of Daniel Libeskind, major public art installations and countless performances and exhibitions held in some of the city’s most impressive buildings. This celebration of the built environment runs until 20 July.
for more details, visit www.lfa2008.org

Divine sounds

The International Sacred Music Festival
Praise be! Riga in Latvia hosts the 11th International Sacred Music Festival this summer, 19 July–9 August. Although the annual event does focus on Godly, large-scale vocal, instrumental and a cappella pieces, it isn’t all the usual choir-boy material. Performances include Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem, modern Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina and Latvia’s Eriks Esenvalds. Look out for recitals in cathedrals, sport centres and even an old gunpowder cellar!
www.sacredmusicfestival.lv

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 1st, 2008 at 2:50 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.