Play the Town Launch Party
🌟 Embark on an Adventure: Join Us for the Launch of Play the Town! 🌟
Get ready to unlock the magic of art and exploration on April 30th with the exciting launch of Play the Town, an interactive treasure trail that will transform our town into a vibrant canvas of creativity!
Jack in the Green
Curious Agenda will be collaborating with the seminal Hastings event Jack in the Green this May! Come and celebrate the slaying of Jack with us. We are running games for all ages up on the West Hill - crazy golf, Stack in the Green and more.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!
Festival Exhibitions
We are thrilled to present two captivating exhibitions in St Andrews Mews this year: the Curiosity Cabinet and the Curious Arcade.
Step into adventure as you ascend the stairs to the heart of our festival—the Curiosity Cabinet of Play. What wonders await you inside?
Ignite your sense of wonder as you navigate the enchanting winding rooms of our exhibition space, showcasing incredible artwork created by a diverse array of local artists and community groups. The theme of ‘Play’ invites you to explore a rich tapestry of interpretations presented in various mediums, from vibrant oil paintings and intricate sculptures to thought-provoking photography and interactive installations.
Discover The Dollhouse nestled at the back, where you can immerse yourself in captivating sets from this interactive installation. Join the fun as you dance in the Kitchen Disco, engage in classic parlour games, or unearth your alter ego in the Dressing Room—and more!
Return downstairs to unearth the Curious Arcade, where nostalgia meets creativity. Step into a world where you can enjoy vintage video games, classic carnival games, and art-inspired games crafted by both local talents and guest artists.
Join us in celebrating our town’s talented local artists and discover how they interpret the essence of Play!
Private View: May 9th 6-8pm - Join us for the Private View, part of the Festival Opening Night Party!
Opening Times: Thursdays 12.30pm-7.30pm, Saturdays 11.00am-4.30pm, Sundays 12.00pm-4.00pm (+additional times - check back on website or socials for info)
FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT PARTY
🌟 Unlock Your Curiosity at the Opening Party of A Curious Town Plays Festival! 🌟
Join us as the gates swing wide open, officially launching A Curious Town Plays Festival! Step into St Andrew’s Mews and immerse yourself in a world of wonders waiting at every turn.
Prepare for an unforgettable experience with a dazzling array of performances. Enjoy captivating burlesque and fire acts, evocative poetry, lively walkabout games, energizing DJs, live bands, and more—there’s something to enchant everyone!
Take a leisurely stroll through the Curiosity Cabinet, showcasing works from local artists, and unleash your playful spirit in the Curious Arcade. Be sure to visit The Dollhouse, where you can dance your heart out at the Kitchen Disco, explore your alter ego or engage in delightful parlour games in the Dressing Room and more —there’s a surprise around every corner!
Indulge in delicious food and drink, including signature Curious Cocktails, from our amazing partners in the Mews.
For updates on the incredible lineup, keep an eye on our website and social media channels. Don’t miss this enchanting festival opening party—come and explore the magic!
*Adults only after 8.30pm*
Speckled Wood Fun Day
All are welcome to the Curiously Playful Speckled Wood in Ore this year for the whole month of May!
Join us on 24th May for the special Speckled Wood Fun Day full of activities and surprises.
Acclaimed local artists, Peter Quinnell, Martin Brockman and Mark Daniels are creating an art trail through this woodland to intrigue and delight folk of all ages. There will be workshops throughout the month of May, with main activity days on the 11th and 24th of May.
The entrance is on Victoria Avenue, which you won’t be able to miss due to Martin’s beautiful arch featuring two Stags. We hope to stir your imagination by adding curiously fascinating artworks throughout the month.
Including: A swinging singing tree, Magical bridges, Otter Creek, a Wishing tree, Draw your
dreams and little things to find along the way.
24th May Speckled Wood Fun Day
Your guide for this fun day for all the family will be a very Curious Owl!
Activities include:
Wonder Walk - An awe filled journey through enchanting woodland led by master storytellers and musicians Zoie Kennedy and Desmond O’Connor. Each step will beckon you deeper into an improvised tale, fed by your curiosity and underscored by nature
Musical Instrument Making - An all-ages workshop with artist Peter Quinnell making various easy musical instruments and noise-makers from household rubbish and woodland stuff.
Block Printing - An all-ages workshop block printing on Japanese Paper
Kiln Firing - A workshop led by Martin Brockman firing clay found in the Woodland’s own Otter’s Creek
Woodland Creature Cutout Painting - Make and paint your own woodland creature workshop with local artist Mark Daniels. Celebrating the local wildlife in Speckled wood by making a Badger, Fox, Robin or butterfly to name but a few. And you get to take them home!
Keep an eye out on the website and socials for timings.
Village Fete
Bless our bunting! It’s the Curious Coastal Village Fete. Join our hip Rev Colin Durr and our gorgeous grannies for an afternoon of hilarity. With lots of stations to explore and try your hand at, this will be a day of silly fun and prizes to be won, for all the family.
With all the charm and wholesome informality of a traditional English Village Fete, A Curious Town brings you a day with all the norms, plus a few curious twists. Come along between midday and 5pm to gorge yourself on cream teas, Pimms and high quality local produce from our market stalls. Take part in vegetable carving, get in a spin with our hula hoop workshop and let your creative side out with flower arranging and cake decorating. Have your face painted, enter the raffle to win fabulous prizes, or get your furry best friend to enter into the dog show - because pets deserve prizes too!
And don’t forget to explore the space while you’re at it! St Leonards church will be filled with fantastic artwork in the exhibition, installation pieces upstairs, and curious musicians and walkabout performers roaming around to entertain you!
Curious Kids
A vibrant celebration where creativity and play will merge, inspiring young minds through colour, design and imagination, hosted by Little Mashers.
Back for its third year, The Curious Kids Day is an immersive child centric arts festival which aims to provide young people with an opportunity to take part in a variety of vibrant workshops. There will be a diverse programme of activities run by experienced local artists, including Little Mashers, ZEROH, Marie Louise and Makedo.
Each child will be given a Curiosity Passport on entry to prompt them to explore the space, take part in all the activities on offer and create their own collection of festival memorabilia to take home.
The festival will be split into two sessions from which to choose, 10-1.30pm and 2.30-6pm. Families will have the opportunity to explore as many of the activities as possible during their session all designed to captivate and excite children, with the emphasis being on creativity and the importance of PLAY!
Hagstone Stunners presents the May All Day Smackdown
Perfect for wrestling fans & curious folk of all ages - get ready to rumble in a lucid dream! Hagstone Stunners is a show that brings Hastings folklore to life through a mix of drag, high flying wrestling and comedy theatre. This is not wrestling as you’ve seen it before!
The Playbus
Welcoming all Grown Ups aboard the Playbus - the Final Stop of A Curious Town Plays festival!
Join the double decked red wonder on this most curious journey, stopping for marvellous music, playful performances and superb surprises.