<strong>SLANT</strong>: <strong>Cheshire</strong> IN PRAISE OF COLOUR Left: the chapterhouse at Chester Cathedral transformed by a striking installation from British artist Liz West Far right: music at last year’s Bluedot 1093 Height The date of the earliest parts of Chester Cathedral 89m at of the Lovell Telescope Jodrell Bank <strong>2018</strong> A year of northern lights <strong>Cheshire</strong> is unique – an exceptionally beautiful British landscape; a county of rich heritage; and a creative hotbed. The Slant festival offers a year-round programme of arts and culture, across a range of <strong>Cheshire</strong>’s outstanding and unusual settings. Here’s the plan: you could catch world-class live music and cutting-edge science stars in the shadow of the Lovell Telescope. You could experience opera and classical performance in the middle of a farmer’s field. The whole family could get <strong>to</strong>gether for a Wild Rumpus fiesta with outdoor pillow fights, circus acts and midnight feasts. In this special guide, discover a place where community spirit is a creative force – from Chester’s S<strong>to</strong>ryhouse arts hub, <strong>to</strong> Macclesfield’s “repurposed” venues. It’s a place where rural and industrial traditions come <strong>to</strong>gether, where inspirational women are celebrated, and where contemporary art talents create work in ancient settings – check out the virtual reality dance installation Salt, at the Lion Salt Works, near Mars<strong>to</strong>n, <strong>to</strong> see how workers <strong>to</strong>iled. You can find the zoo turned in<strong>to</strong> a vast creative playground – or woodland transformed by lighting. Because <strong>Cheshire</strong>’s Slant festival covers all the angles. Spring highlights ADA.ADA.ADA Touring <strong>Cheshire</strong> in June Ada Lovelace was a spirited Vic<strong>to</strong>rian socialite, the only legitimate child of Lord Byron (who died when she was eight), and a tech pioneer – she wrote the world’s first complex algorithm for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, in 1843. She died aged just 36, but this performance piece, part of the Shift series of sciencethemed events, reclaims Ada’s place in his<strong>to</strong>ry and offers inspiration for new generations. It merges monologue, interactive s<strong>to</strong>rytelling and digital design – Ada’s LED-illuminated dress is a star in its own right. A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC S<strong>to</strong>ryhouse, Chester May 5–July 8 Chester’s new arts hub, S<strong>to</strong>ryhouse, opened in 2017 but already feels like an institution. Situated in the shell of the city’s former 1930s Odeon cinema, this bright, accessible, multi-level venue is put <strong>to</strong> good use with kids gathering in the enchantingly designed library, an eclectic mix of films in the boutique cinema and a Levantine restaurant. This spring sees the new stage version of Stephen Sondheim’s iconic musical A Little Night Music being performed on the main stage. BARNABY FESTIVAL Macclesfield, various venues June 15-24 Macclesfield’s biennial celebration has a deep-rooted his<strong>to</strong>ry – it’s named for the Feast of St Barnabas, and until the 1980s, this was a holiday period for the <strong>to</strong>wn’s fac<strong>to</strong>ry workers and their families. In 2010, the festival was revived through local support. Things kick off in June with 15 live acts playing across 15 venues; there’s a Saturday parade and works from more than 20 visual and digital artists, including Lumen prizewinner Zarah Hussain’s special commission, Invisible Threads, at the Silk Museum. GROSVENOR PARK OPEN AIR THEATRE Chester July 6-August 16 The noise of popping corks, picnics being unpacked and happy audiences is the defining sound of Chester’s summer at this much-loved open air theatre. This year, Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing and The Tempest play alongside Bryony Lavery’s new adaptation of Swallows and Amazons. Bluedot festival Jodrell Bank Observa<strong>to</strong>ry July 19-22 “TO EXPLORE the frontiers of human advancement. . . To highlight the fragility of planet Earth. . .” Bluedot festival matches its stra<strong>to</strong>spherical ambition with a stellar <strong>2018</strong> bill (from the Chemical Brothers <strong>to</strong> physicist and Radio 4 science presenter Jim Al-Khalili), and a spectacular setting – the grounds of the deep space observa<strong>to</strong>ry at Jodrell Bank in <strong>Cheshire</strong>. These are overlooked by the iconic Lovell Telescope, responsible for the discoveries that altered our understanding of the universe, including our own planet – the “blue dot” of the title. For Professor Teresa Anderson, direc<strong>to</strong>r of the University of Manchester’s Discovery Centre at Jodrell Bank and co-cura<strong>to</strong>r of the festival’s science programme, the giant telescope is a focal point. “It’s got this monolithic appeal,” she says. “It’s like holding a festival at S<strong>to</strong>nehenge – except the telescope is even bigger than the s<strong>to</strong>nes.” This year the event opens with The Blue Planet in Concert, featuring The Slant festival creates a lovely umbrella that encompasses the varied cultural events taking place throughout <strong>Cheshire</strong>. It’s also galvanising – presenting exciting new opportunities for artists. LIZ WEST ‘It’s like holding a festival at S<strong>to</strong>nehenge’ composer and conduc<strong>to</strong>r George Fen<strong>to</strong>n with the Hallé Orchestra. Among other performers is DJ Gilles Peterson, who embodies bluedot’s experimental ethos. There’s also the Flaming Lips, while reformed ‘90s dream-poppers Slowdive may encourage a little shoegazing among all the stargazing. Scissor Sister Ana Matronic will be DJing and hosting The Future Then: talks inspired by the 50th anniversary of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey – crossover curation that breaks down the division between arts and sciences. What the artists say... With its close proximity <strong>to</strong> the Peak District, Macclesfield straddles the boundaries between rural and urban settings. For me, and many other artists, this interplay of landscape constantly informs the work. MIKE THORPE 2 Slant <strong>2018</strong> For more details on all the listed events, go <strong>to</strong> visitcheshire.com/slant Slant <strong>2018</strong> 3