Speen Festival, 8th to 18th September 2011

Your Website Guide to the Speen Festival 2011

All those into Shakespeare, and those keen to give it a try should run to book up for The Dreaming (Thurs 8, Fri 9 and Sat 10 Sept), a superb musical, based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with music by the highly acclaimed Howard Goodall and lyrics by Charles Hart. Updated to just before the start of the First World War, the action takes place in a small hilltop village surrounded by ancient and mysterious woodland – in fact a place not unlike Speen. This production is part of the RSC Open Stages Project.

Wild Workshop Saturday (10 Sept) offers Wild About Craft – traditional craft workshops for younger children in the Village Hall from 10-4pm (need to book!). Surviving in Ridgley’s Field where local survival experts and outdoor craft enthusiasts will be on hand to put older children (but also whoever turns up!) through their paces – experimenting with shelter building and basic bush-craft skills: activities tailor-made to suit participants on the day. Finally you can also polish your photographic skills at the Photo Shoot and Exhibition – we supply the expertise, professional kit and props and you just book 15 minutes of our ‘Studio’ to use as you like. Come and release your inner David Bailey!

Apart from the Food Festival (Sun 11), and stunning music from one of the UK’s top chamber choirs The Elysian Singers (Mon 12,) the ever-popular Jazz Concert (Wed 14) and a bit of relaxed Friday Folk (Fri 16) the following events are grouped to appeal to different age groups to help sort what to look out for:

For those of all ages into music and big free events you must come to our grand festival finale Prom in the Playing Field (Sun 18, 3pm) featuring a huge Symphony Orchestra, starry soloists and some hit numbers from the classics and film.

For children under 10 look out for: Young Speen Goes Wild (Tues 13 after school) for fun hands on wildlife activities and catch the return of the riotous theatre company Teatro Unfortunato with a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party (morning of Sat 17).

For those aged 6-18: test your biking skills to the limit with our new biking challenges in the Speen Bike Park Challenge (Sat 17). Three age groups will compete for the coveted awards and prizes.

For students and adults needing a bit of intellectual stimulus join us for Echoes of Old Village Life (Sun 11) and Wild about Speen (Tues 13) or Science Matters (Thurs 15) a lively, mind-expanding debate on topical science issues.  The panel chaired by Speen villager Prof Barry Stickings will include the editor of New Scientist Roger Highfield and the science writer John Emsley.

Youngsters (13+) and students can sign up for our Youth Takeover (Fri 16) and if they offer to take part (and can prove their talent!), they get in free! Youth Takeover Workshops are currently being planned for the end of the summer holidays – including a free day-long workshop with artist Stu McClellan www.stumclellan.co.uk on Thursday 1 Sept to create a backdrop for the event. Check out noticeboards and Festival website for details of how to take part.

We welcome your support as we enter the final stages of our race to put on this, the best Festival in the world ever.
All the best

Jem Symondson
Festival Chairman