Welcome to the Rye Arts Festival
World Première of the The Mayor of Casterbridge musical! Rye Arts Festival has a special event coming in November and tickets are on sale now.
Sunday 29th November 2026
A vibrant musical based on Thomas Hardy’s iconic novel plotting the rise and fall of Michael Henchard, “A man of character”. “It isn’t done to sell your wife, by definition she’s for life” observes the chorus and the wry observations continue. Written by Mike Hatchard, it is directed by Oliver Post. Definitely one for your diary!
Our Corporate Sponsors
The key purpose of sponsorship is to support us in our charitable objectives of promoting the arts by enabling us to bring high quality performers to Rye at modest ticket prices and invest in assisting the appreciation and education of the arts.
Ethel Loves Me; The George in Rye; Hayden’s; Heringtons Solicitors; Mermaid Inn; Phillips and Stubbs; Puckhaber Decorative Antiques; Rye Fine Wines; Rye News; Rye Art Gallery; Rye Conservation Society; RX Architects; Clive Sawyer Gallery; W Tollett Builders; Wilson, Wilson and Hancock.
Our Private Sponsors
We very much welcome the contribution of our private sponsors as a vital element of our funding, especially when supplemented by our ability to claim Gift Aid within the established rules. Our wide range of events also benefits the individual venues that we use through the fees that we pay them.
Adrian and Lisa Binks; Kenneth and Margaret Bird; Lady Clarke; Steve Edge and Jane Fogg; Mike Eve; Stuart Harland; Andrew Hitchings; Sarah Hodson; Sir Paul McCartney CH; Alexander Stiller; Nigel and Heather Wilkinson; And our anonymous sponsors.
Our thanks to Rye Town Council and Rother District Council for grants they have provided.