Ieuan Rees, Creative Director of WinchesterloveArts, introduces the best this month has to offer.

One of the things I love about Winchester in June is that there are so many theatre and music events going on. Here are the ones which stand out for me. You might enjoy them, too!

The Theatre Royal is showing INTEGR8 Dance OFF 2014. Returning for a 3rd year in this showcase performance talented young dancers from the Winchester area come together for one weekend (20-22 June) that covers a dazzlingly diverse range of movement styles. A collaboration of local schools, dance companies and young people, INTEGR8 Dance OFF 2014 gives these potential future stars a platform that allows them to shine.

The Theatre Royal is also catering for opera fans this month with Donizetti’s
 L’Elisir d’Amore (The Elixir of Love) 
in a modernised English version by Thomas Eccleshare (11-12 June). Winchester’s young theatre-goers will be puddle-jumping pleased as punch with the new production of Peppa Pig’s Big Splash (18 -19 June 10am, 1pm, 4pm)

The Winchester Guitar Festival is returning again this year (13-14 June). Internationally renowned guitarist Gaëlle Solal is providing one of two celebrity recitals at St Lawrence Church. Gaëlle reworks classical pieces such as the stunning Bach’s prelude. She’s also leading an afternoon master class at Winchester Discovery Centre on Saturday, 14 June – a great opportunity for experimental guitarists! The festival this year has invited students from Peter Symonds College to provide lunch-time youth recitals, with a young artist’s platform taking place at St Lawrence Church on 13 June at 1pm.

The Link Gallery at The University of Winchester is exhibiting Angela Williams: An Eye for Fashion – Norman Parkinson Photographs British Fashion Designers 1950-1964. This careful selection of silver gelatin prints presents an excellent visual history of designers who transformed the perceptions, outlook and creativity of fashion.  It is a revealing look into the innovative techniques of the era, some of which are now a gold standard in fashion photography.

Finally, Martha’s Man is playing at The Railway, Winchester, on 13 June. Having supported bands such as Passenger and Seahorses and, more recently, performing at the E4 music stage at V festival, the acoustic-pop solo artist is launching his debut album ‘Tale of the Robin’. I’ve played his EP ‘If your heart feels mine’ on loop for a week now and am thrilled that he’s performing in Winchester. Once again The Railway has re-affirmed its reputation for providing some of the best music and comedy in the city.

Our next guest blog will be brought to you by Rebecca Nice. Writer, dance critic, history geek and Winchy lover. Rebecca is a mature student at The University of Winchester studying Choreography and Dance combined with History. After teaching for eight years, she now writes for various publications and blogs about dance and all things arty-farty, whilst drinking copious amounts of tea and day dreaming in Winchester’s many café windows. @rebeccajsnice