13 unforgettable days of performances, competitions, exhibitions, talks and workshops.
A Festival to Remember
We were delighted to welcome our community to the 2025 St Dunstan’s Festival, a vibrant celebration of creativity, collaboration, and connection. Spanning both the main College campus and our dedicated festival site at the Jubilee Grounds, the Festival once again proved to be one of the most loved parts of College life — evolving, growing, and inspiring year after year.
What began as an arts festival has been reimagined into today’s inclusive, diverse programme — a true expression of St Dunstan’s spirit and its commitment to a renaissance education.
Highlights of 2025
A key moment of this year’s Festival was the return of The Catford Weekender, which has become the dynamic heart of our celebrations. The Weekender championed local music, art, sport, craft, and theatre, and for the first time, extended beyond the Festival site into the heart of Catford, with events in pubs, halls, churches and community spaces.
Another milestone was our new partnership with Lewisham Council, which brought to life The BIG Catford Weekender, a borough-wide community celebration. Thousands joined us over the central weekend for live music, football, family fun, workshops, and entertainment for all ages.
Across the Festival
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Our outdoor stage showcased incredible performances by local musicians.
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The Big Top hosted talented makers and designers selling and exhibiting their work.
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Workshops welcomed participants of all ages to try everything from circus skills to soul singing.
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Talks and performances from authors, artists, and creatives inspired and challenged us.
A Shared Celebration
The Festival once again brought our motto, Albam Exorna, to life, as our community transformed a blank canvas into a rich, shared tapestry of talent and creativity.
We are proud that the 2025 Festival not only celebrated who we are as a College, but also strengthened our place in the wider community of Lewisham and beyond.
Richard Gregg
Festival Director and Director of Drama
History
St Dunstan's Festival originated in the 1990s under the stewardship of Dr Anthony Seldon, who was Deputy Head of the College at that time. It was originally named ‘The Catford Arts Festival’ and ran over two and a half days at the very start of July.
The Festival was quickly dubbed ‘The Edinburgh Festival of South London’, and comprised over twenty main events and ‘a rich and enterprising fringe’. The 1994 College Chronicle describes the Festival as ‘catering for the souls’ and it contained an array of eclectic events including the St Dunstan’s jazz group, lectures given by writers Brian Masters and Gwendoline Butler, and a Shakespeare play with a twist, entitled ‘A Pocket of Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
Growth and Change
The Festival was short-lived, only lasting a few years. The current Head reignited the Festival on his arrival at the College, with its relaunch occurring in the summer of 2015. The now two-week event is a firmly established highlight at the end of the academic year, enabling pupils to engage with a huge variety of activities and performances, involving not only the College, but also our broader Lewisham community.
St Dunstan's Festival and Catford Weekender
