SEVERNDROOG CASTLE ONLINE FESTIVAL

The royal borough’s most beautiful hidden gem, Severndroog Castle, is hosting a week-long online festival of music, arts and crafts masterclasses, stories, yoga, talks and workshops filmed in an around the beautiful 18th century tower in the heart of ancient Oxleas Woods.

It opens on Saturday (29 August) with a gig featuring sax star Phil Veacock - arranger/musical director of Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra – and virtuoso jazz guitarist Dave Warren.

Other gigs during the week will showcase local musicians, including the debut of emerging songwriter Daisy Veacock and a daily morning performance at 9.30 from Monday to Friday by Razamataz stalwarts Heather Haywood and Roy Hamilton.

In all, the festival – which runs till 5 September - is presenting 60 online events reflecting and celebrating the castle, its fascinating history, its magical location and the vibrant community that surrounds it.

Highlights include artist Wayne Foskett transforming the castle into a camera obscura, literature and storytelling activities from Eltham Arts, yoga with professional teacher and Severndroog trustee Kallie Schut, daily history talks by castle volunteer Ian Small and Ben Newell’s Big Severndroog Online Quiz. More festival info at: www.severndroogcastle.org.uk