It will be a 50th birthday party like no other.

For 16 glorious days, Southampton is set to celebrate its 50 years of city status with a fun-fuelled festival of theatre, film, music, visual art and dance.

This will include two newly commissioned plays – The Saints, which kicks of festivities on Saturday (August 2-17) charting the peaks and troughs of being a Southampton Football Club fan, and Hampshire Youth Theatre’s new adaptation of War Horse author Michael Morpurgo’s The Best Christmas Present in the World.

Hampshire Chronicle:

The First World War is remembered in The Best Christmas Present in the World

Art at the Heart will take place at the new pop-up venue that is rapidly nearing completion at Nuffield Playing Field, Guildhall Square.

This exciting project also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Nuffield itself, who are working in partnership with some of the City’s leading arts organisations – Art Asia, City Eye, John Hansard Gallery, Turner Sims, Nuffield and Mayflower Theatre.

Prominently situated at the heart of Southampton’s Cultural Quarter the festival and venue are precursors to the opening of the new arts complex in 2016.

Nuffield Playing Field – designed by Assemble Architects, who built Chichester Festival Theatre’s Theatre on the Fly – has been taking shape over the last month. The pop-up venue’s exterior looks and feels like a sports stadium, whilst the interior resembles a Jacobean theatre. It ingeniously merges the two popular worlds of sport and culture.

The structure has been built and managed by Nuffield, who have engaged the community in its creation by allowing volunteers to come together and collectively build it over the last few weeks.

Among the other events will be film screenings curated by City Eye, a concert series presented by Turner Sims, a day of global music, and a light installation by artist David Ward presented by John Hansard Gallery.

Art at the Heart – what’s on...

  • The Saints, Nuffield (August 2-17)

A newly commissioned play about Southampton Football Club.

Kenny Glynn is the world’s biggest Saints fan and for 25 years he has been locked in a game of football against the world. On his 26th birthday the world steps up its game and Kenny Glynn faces the match of his life as he takes on women, money and status with the help of his mates, his family and the guiding spirit of Matt Le Tissier. Can they conquer all the things the world is throwing at them? Will Southampton ever win the FA Cup again? And what can we learn from the icons we hold so dearly at the club?

The Saints, written by Luke Barnes and directed by Matthew Dunster, explores football in Southampton, the history of the club and how it's shaped the City’s understanding of itself.

  • The Best Christmas Present in the World, Hampshire Youth Theatre (Nuffield, August 14-16)

In commemoration of the centenary of the start of the First World War, Hampshire Youth Theatre (HYT) run by Nuffield, presents a brand new adaptation of this work by War Horse author Michael Morpurgo.

Almost a century after the famous Christmas truce of 1914 and the football match in no-man’s land between the British and the Germans, this production will allow audiences to reflect on the events of a hundred years ago.

  • 451, Apples and Snakes (August 11)

451 is Apples and Snakes’ regular poetry event in Southampton that brings national performance poets to the city and offers a chance for local poets to share the stage with them.

  • Global Rhythms, Art Asia (August 8)

Featuring music from Africa, the Caribbean, India and Bali, Global Rhythms take audiences on a whistle stop tour around the globe through music and dance.

Global Rhythms includes professional musicians from Art Asia and Panjazz International.

  • Film screening series, City Eye (August 3, 10, 11 & 15)

Gather your friends and family, picnics, cushions and rugs to enjoy film screenings from the playing field pitch. With morning and late night films as well as a special Sunday afternoon family screening on August 10 – a fun and unique way to enjoy film in the city!

Film titles include: The King and the Mockingbird, Brazil, Jaws and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

  • Stolen Wishes, by ZoieLogic, Mayflower Theatre and The Point, Eastleigh (August 11)

Local professional dance company ZoieLogic perform alongside young local male dancers for a 360-degree experience. This project has been funded by Mayflower Theatre and The Point, Eastleigh. Supported by Carnival: UK.

  • Five of the Best, Mayflower Youth Theatre (August 9)

Mayflower Theatre’s second summer youth project, Five of the Best is a celebration of 50 years of musicals. A talented cast of 100 local young people will perform with a live band in this new production. This performance showcases hits from some of the biggest musicals on the Mayflower stage over the last 50 years.

  • Concert series, Turner Sims (August 3 & 10)

The Turner Sims presents Red Priest and the Fapy Lafertin Quartet. Red Priest: Sunday August 3; Fapy Lafertin Quartet: Sunday August 10.

  • John Hansard Gallery

John Hansard Gallery have been working with visual artist David Ward on light-based artwork which will illuminate Nuffield Playing.