Photo of Arthur L Wood
Hat Fair, the UK’s longest running festival of Outdoor Arts, which runs from Friday 5 – Sunday 7 July, is ready to celebrate local and young talent with an extensive line-up of performances from youth theatre groups, drama students, local choirs, musicians, singers, dancers, and more.
Playmakers Youth Theatre groups will perform a number of entirely original book-themed shows inside P & G Wells bookshop, and on Jane Austen’s Lawn – including a choose your own adventure piece called The Search for Winnie the Pooh’s Honey Pot, an alternative version of the classic fairy tale is explored in Cinderella: A Story Retold, while Who Stole The Jam Tarts? will be an interactive mystery featuring song, dance and poetry.
The Top Hat competition, which showcases outdoor work by students and recent graduates of the University of Winchester, also returns – with a Laurel and Hardy style performance; a piece about playground games and growing up; an autobiographical work exploring ADHD; and a Live Art installation celebrating women’s free spirit. Plus, previous winners, Georgina Willis, Holly Foskett and Billstar are back with original work.
Winchester-based theatre company Blue Apple Theatre’s Special Assignments Company will present a Jane Austen themed walkabout performance, A Literary Promenade; plus, the company’s singers return to the stage to shine new light on familiar songs.
There will be song from the award-winning Andover Ladies Choir; the pop, dance and country music singer, Eric Walker, Elvis classics from Jelvis, a showcase by the Ukrainian Women’s Choir, originals and covers from Millie, pop and rock songs from acoustic harmony duo, River Knight, Southampton’s oldest musical society, SOS Presents, will perform songs from the musicals, and there will be singing from Winchester Rock Choir.
Folk music will be performed by Driftwood Troubadours; traditional and modern music by the Hyde Pipers; pop-punk and classic rock by Ian Myers; ukulele music by Lounge Room Lizards and Uke Box Glory; gypsy jazz, soulful blues and Celtic folk by Sang Froid; and drumming from Swan Samba and Westgate Samba.
Hampshire Youth Dance Company and wheelchair-based dance company, Liberate Dance, will also perform; plus, there will be contemporary dance from ORB Youth Dance; traditional Bulgarian dance from Samodeitsi, South American dance, music and poetry in 432 NO-MADS’ Clash of Cultures, and dance from Ukrainian troupe, Impulse.
There will also be poetry from the award-winning Arthur L Wood; and comedy and circus from celebrated street performer, Harvey Juggling.
There are opportunities for local individuals and groups to be a part of Hat Fair’s 50th birthday celebrations too – including singing in the festival’s special community opening on the Friday evening, and joining in with Autin Dance Theatre’s moving performance, Parade: The Giant Wheel.
More information about how to get involved is available at www.hatfair.co.uk.
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