THE KING'S ANIMALS

An interactive workshop for children aged 3-6 and their families comes to Beverley on Saturday 27 May.

Two performances, 10 am & 11.30 am (each approximately 40 mins in length) Hexagon Music Centre, Coltman Avenue.

This May, Beverley Early Music festival presents two workshops for families celebrating the world of the famous Sun King, Louis XIV and his vast collection of amazing animals.

King Louis XIV of France had one of the most impressive collections of animals in Europe. He was immensely proud of his menagerie housed at the palace of Versailles, where his collection of exotic animals included lions, monkeys, tigers, lynx, camels, llamas, ostriches, flamingos, gazelles, plus parrots and monkeys who were Queen Marie Theresa’s special pets. These amazing creatures were not kept in a zoo or farm but housed in the antechambers and apartments in the grand palace itself!

The King’s Animals will take children on a musical journey around the famous 18th century Palace of Versailles and its grounds, when, through music, they can “meet” the household pets, the farm animals and the weird and wonderful animals who lived there. There will be a chance to learn which animals sparked composers’ imaginations during this age, as well as the opportunity to sing, play and create new animal music in this interactive workshop for all the family.

The workshop is led by experienced early years music specialist Catriona McDermid, bassoonist of Ensemble Molière, the BBC New Generation Baroque Ensemble, who will be joined by the four other members of the group – so as well as meeting the strange animals, families can discover some the weird and wonderful instruments used to create the animal sounds.

Ensemble Molière will be performing two concerts at the festival this year - in the Minster and the East Riding Theatre. Highlights of the Festival also include The Tallis Scholars (Beverley Minster Saturday 27) and the Ministers of Pastime (St Mary’s Church Friday 26).

The King’s Animals, The Hexagon Music Centre, Saturday 27 May 10.00am & 11.00 am

£8.00 (£6.00 under 16)

Family Ticket: £20.00 (2 adults, 2 children or 1 adult, 3 children)

Tickets available in person from Beverley Tourist Information Centre, Treasure House, Champney Road

Or online from https://www.ncem.co.uk/events/the-kings-animals/ or call 01904 658 338