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Contrary Life is a website covering quirky events across the UK.

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  • This summer, the East London Shakespeare Festival (ELSF) are welcoming you to 1980s Illyria as they bring their rip-roaring take on Twelfth Night to outdoor spaces...

  • This spring, discover Coventry's brightest new creatives and performers at the city's Shoot Festival...

  • For ten days each spring, the village of Wray in Lancashire is overrun with colourful characters as they host their fun and quirky scarecrow festival...

  • The 20th Kinoteka Polish Film Festival begins this month and is showing solidarity with Ukraine by donating its proceeds to help the humanitarian crisis...

Jun.T. Lai, Alice in Wonderland © Photo courtesy of Cenan Nazif

Discover Nocturnal Creatures at Sculpture in the City

For one night only, discover Nocturnal Creatures amongst the striking architecture of the City of London…

The HandleBards on tour

The HandleBards head out on bikes to pedal their plays

Fancy some open-air theatre this summer? The popular Shakespearean troupe known as The Handlebards are back with another bicycle-powered tour…

Audio Tales in Lincolnshire

Take a wander outdoors in Lincolnshire with Audio Tales

An ambitious new arts project is giving you the chance to get out and about on an interactive arts trail. Audio Tales takes you through areas of Lincolnshire you might otherwise miss…

Latest Headlines
Painted Hall, Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich

Mystery artists play concert in unique Painted Hall

Fancy doing something different this summer? Why not enjoy a concert of mystery artists in the unique Painted Hall at Greenwich’s Old Royal Naval College?

The Crash Test R&D

Puppetry and large-scale projection combine for the_crash.test

This summer, Hijinx returns to the stage and screen with the_crash.test, a new darkly playful Frankenstein tale for our age…

Festival of Sleep (Photo: Acharaporn Kamornboonyarush on Pexels)

A world of dreams, pain and recovery at the Festival of Sleep

This summer, London’s Museum of the Home wants you to relax and get comfortable as they host their Festival of Sleep…

World Egg Throwing Championship 2016

The World Egg Throwing Championships are no yolk

Are you a tosser? If so, you may want to head to Lincolnshire this weekend as the 15th World Egg Throwing Championships takes place…

Contrary Life - World Worm Charming Championship

Worm Charming teams go to ground

An unusual sporting event is about to take place in Cheshire. It involves worms and a whole heap of sporting tactics…

Another Fine Fest 2017 - Ulverston - Cumbria - Contrary Life

Lip-sync challenges and live street art at Another Fine Fest

Today and tomorrow, Ulverston will come alive with everything from live street art to lip sync challenges as Another Fine Fest returns to the Cumbrian town…

Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival

Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival rolls into town

Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival turns almost every space and venue into a stage and brings singing groups together with songs celebrating the sea and Cornish culture…

A Festival of Korean Dance

Festival of Korean Dance is a feast for the senses

Get ready to fill your senses with sound and movement as A Festival of Korean Dance returns to The Place in London…

World Custard Pie Championship 2016

Teams face up to the World Custard Pie Championships

The World Custard Pie Championships take place every year in Kent and the 2022 contest is happening this weekend and will see around 2,000 ‘pies’ being thrown…

Previous articles ➡

Curiosity of the Week

Woodhenge, Stonehenge’s lesser-known neighbour
Woodhenge - ©English Heritage, Historic England Photo Library

You have heard of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, but have you heard of its lesser known neighbour, Woodhenge? Find out more in our latest Curiosity of the Week…

Top Story

A five-metre tall puppet travels through Crawley
Aura’s Odyssey with five-metre tall puppet visits Crawley

This week, see a five-metre tall puppet travel through Crawley in West Sussex. Puppet Aura will visit the town centre and parks, and ride on an open-top bus…

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