I’d love to be kicking off with a “spring has sprung” opener but it feels like we’re wading through the dregs of winter doesn’t it? How about some soul-feeding, original art and entertainment to give you a lift instead?

It was World Theatre Day on Monday and we’ve got some world-class examples this week, both of which are Cambridge Junction commissions. Tonight we’ve got the second performance of Action Hero’s The Talent which has been delighting audiences around the country.

And we’re delighted to be presenting Quarantine’s 12 Last Songs in partnership with the Cambridge Festival on Saturday. This is an incredible 12 hour performance and a genuinely unique experience, featuring 24 local people who will be sharing their work and labour with us, and our cast captures Cambridge in all its diversity. We’ve got a councillor, a life-model, a dog groomer, an astrophysicist, a mid-wife and many more besides… You can come and go as you want but I guarantee you’ll be mesmerised and want to spend all day with us.

Next week we’ll be announcing the full line-up for DISRUPT Festival at the end of May. The programme for the UK’s finest art party this year is once again platforms the best in UK theatre and performance, with 13 new shows all topped off with biggest Club Urania of the year. Get your tickets now.

And the full line-up for Sound + Vision has also now been revealed. Really looking forward to finding new music and get my fill of belly laughs from the finest new comedy around. Festivals are such are great way to binge on shared experiences. Like a box set but better for your social life.

Our Creative Learning team is one of the busiest in the building, delivering so many fabulous projects with young people across the city. We’ve got just a few tickets left for our Industry Evening tonight, for young people to get insights in to work in the cultural sector and creative industries. And we’ve just reopened recruitment for Contemporary Youth Choir, the only fully accessible choir in the city, and a project we’ve all become incredibly fond of and committed to over the last year. If you know someone who would be interested, send them our way!

See you all soon I hope.

Best wishes

Matt Burman, Artistic Director, Cambridge Junction