Profiling performers and activities coming up at this year’s ArtsFest.
Based in Canterbury, St Stephen’s Junior School has been busy devising a performance from scratch based on telling the Australian Dreamtime story called ‘The Wagalak Sisters’.
The performance combines music, dance and drama to guide the audience through the story about the girls who are creation sisters.
The sisters carry their power in their dilly bags. When they walk they use the contents of their dilly bag to create beautiful and lush landscapes. But one day they become distracted…
It’s certain to be a beguiling event: make sure you’re there!
Fresh from celebrating its fortieth birthday last year, the University of Kent’s Gulbenkian Theatre is proud to be the focus of family fun and children’s activities at ArtsFest this Saturday 12 June, from 1pm onwards.
With plenty of tables and chairs, a café bar, children’s menu and baby-changing facilities, the Gulbenkian for the first time offers a dedicated area especially for children and families on the day. Dee Ashworth, Gulbenkian Director says he is delighted at the prospect of extending the Gulbenkian welcome to all families.
Mimirichi: Paperworld!
Ukrainian comedy act Mimirichi will delight and entertain children (both young and old!) with ‘Plastic Fantastic’ which combines pantomime, improvisation and lots of cellophane and ‘PaperWorld.’ There will also be face-painting, a BBQ, candy-stall and ice-cream machine, and the spacious café will be providing a variety of children-friendly meals to keep youngsters happy.
Stage Spiders will be performing Hansel and Gretel, a 15-minute play for children, on the Gulbenkian Foyer Stage at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm.
Elsewhere around the campus, all manner of family-friendly live music, drama, comedy and entertainers will be taking place: there’ll be something for everyone.
For those of you who just can’t wait until Saturday to find out what’s going on at this year’s ArtFest, fear not: from this morning, you can now download a pocket-size brochure of events that will tell you exactly what’s going on.
What's On at ArtsFest: click to download!
As well as a guide to all the events on the stages and around the grounds, the reverse side includes a map of the campus with details of exactly what is appearing where.
You’ll need to print it double-sided and fold accordingly. Click here to open the brochure.
Profiling performers and activities at this year’s ArtsFest.
On the scene: Luke Palmer-Divers
Already a performer on the local music scene, Luke Palmer-Divers is a pupil at Canterbury High School, and has already appeared at ArtsFest to an enthusaisdtic reception.
Luke started writing his own songs in late 2006. Since then he has played in multiple bands; however, he’s always found himself occasionally with more drive and determination than other band mates, resulting in a bold decision to go it alone.
After recording five songs privately for “The Acoustic Sessions”, Luke started gigging around Canterbury and the surrounding area.
Last year alone, Luke played at such prestigious events as ArtsFest, The International Kent Jamboree and Lounge on the Farm
With an E.P due to be released this year, the future looks bright for Luke Palmer-Divers. Keep an eye out: you saw him here first!
Profiling performers and activities coming up at this year’s ArtsFest.
Lords (and Ladies) of the Dance: Macmanigan Academy
Based in the Medway towns, with classes in Chatham, Gillingham, Aylesford and Faversham, the Macmanigan Academy of Irish Dancing is taught by ex-Riverdance cast members Nula and Kirsty Macmanigan.
The Academy was founded in 2001 by twin sisters Kirsty & Nula. Both girls have toured the world performing on cruise ships, in dance shows, pop videos and even in a film directed by John Henderson with Randy Quaid, Whoopi Goldberg, Roger Daltrey, Colm Meaney and Zoe Wanamaker, called ‘The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns’.
The school provides opportunities for children and adults to participate in showcases and competitions locally and all over the world. It has won many competitions including Great Britain titles in figure, and competes at world-class level in many countries abroad including Ireland, Italy, and Spain. They also dance regularly at festivals throughout Kent, including Rochester Sweeps Festival and the Faversham Hop Festival.
This is the second year that the dancers will appear at ArtsFest, and they’re looking forward to high-stepping and kicking their way into your hearts.
Profiling performers and activities appearing at this year’s ArtsFest.
Sedecim
Sedecim is a group of young singers aged between twelve and seventeen, all of whom are pupils at Kent College, Canterbury.
The group has only been formed recently, from present and ex-members of the well-established Kent College Choristers, winners of the ‘Outstanding’ award at the National Festival of Music for Youth and finalists in the Children’s Category of the BBC Choir of the Year 2008.
The members of Sedecim sing regularly in various local churches, both leading the worship in services and performing concerts for charity and fund-raising events. They have already had some success, reaching the finals of the Top Choir Kent Competition in March 2010.
This will be their ArtsFest debut, and it promises to be a great event: make sure you’re there!
The summer term is always a mixture of pleasure and regret: sadness that so many who have been a vibrant part of the musical life of the university are about to leave, but pleasure at being able to acknowledge some of them formally.
Last Friday saw the prize-giving for this year’s Music Awards prizes, and a chance for members of the staff and scholarship committee to recognise and thank particular students for their contribution to the year.
Winner of the Canterbury Festival Music Prize Maddie Harris received her award from Rosie Turner, Director of the Canterbury Festival, in acknowledgement of her outstanding contribution as a final-year student to Kent’s musical life.
Suzy Walton, last year’s Music Society Secretary, received the Colyer-Fergusson Music Prize for her contribution to organising music at the University from Jonathan Monckton, Chair of the Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust. It’s always a genuine pleasure for Jonathan to be able to present the award in honour of Sir James Colyer-Fergusson, who supported music at the University and after whom the Cathedral Concert every March, given by the University Chorus and Symphony Orchestra, is named.
(l-r): Elizabeth McIver, Alanya Holder, Maddie Harris, Suzy Walton
The University Music Awards Committee Prize, an occasional award to recognise a special contribution to the year’s musical activities, went to Biosciences student Elizabeth McIver. Presenting her award was Dr. Dan Lloyd, a lecturer in the Biosciences Department, who was delighted to be able to recognise a musical student’s achievements from within his own faculty.
The University Music Prize, awarded to a returning student, went to Alanya Holder, the new Music Society President. She received her award from Dame Anne Evans, Patron of the Music Scholarship Scheme.
Each of these worthy winners has played a significant role in the continuing success of music-making here at the University, and hopefully they will continue to be involved in music after life at Kent.
To all those musical students who are leaving this year, and who have done so much to make the University’s music a success: ave atque vale. You will all be much missed.
Profiling performers and activities coming up at this year’s ArtsFest.
The Maridadi Singers: Photo credit: Robert Berry
Formed in 1997, the Maridadi Singers are a popular feature at the University’s ArtsFest. Conducted by the dynamic Anita Memmott, the group is a community of world singers who perform regularly including concerts in Canterbury Cathedral, the Canterbury Festival, the University of Kent’s Gulbenkian Theatre, and in London.
Anita is delighted to be back at ArtsFest again. ”Our group will be performing songs and drumming numbers from South Africa. We will also do some spirituals and songs from Israel/Palestine.Audience participation is encouraged and there’s always singing, drumming and dancing during our sets. Children usually have a great time with us!”
The Maridadi singers & The Strode Park Foundation are coming together for Arts Fest: Anita had the idea of a ‘Singing for Fun” group at Strode Park. Anita volunteers to facilitate the group once a fortnight and around sixteen residents regularly attend the sessions. The benefits are clear to see as the residents reminisce with songs from their past, and are always adding new songs to their repertoire.
The residents will be with the Maridadi for the first time and will perform a selection of their favorite songs at ArtsFest.
Based in Canterbury, St Stephen’s Junior School has been busy devising a performance from scratch based on telling the Australian Dreamtime story called ‘The Wagalak Sisters’.
With plenty of tables and chairs, a café bar, children’s menu and baby-changing facilities, the Gulbenkian for the first time offers a dedicated area especially for children and families on the day. Dee Ashworth, Gulbenkian Director says he is delighted at the prospect of extending the Gulbenkian welcome to all families.
Stage Spiders
