Get Set...

So, tomorrow...?

One week before the big event, what do you think the Festival Director is doing? Getting ready for a sponsored run of course!?!  I may be crazy, but thank goodness I'm not alone!  At 10.30am the LAF relay team (comprised of myself, fellow committee member Esther Featherstone and LAF super-fan Ben Goodman), will set off on the Haywards Heath leg of Sussex Living Marathon!

But that's only the beginning, because then we're into the lead up to the Festival.  We opened the Box Office earlier this year and good job too, tickets have been flying out.  A weekend jam-packed with performance, music, art, food & craft, workshops and much more!  And there's not long left to book.  Online bookings will close on Wednesday 9th, but you'll still be able to get tickets from Heart & Soul (on Lindfield High Street) and at the various venues (that's if there are any left!)

Levity III is certainly the talk of the village, but there's so much more on offer, so please take a look round the website for all the details.

We can't wait!

Robin

Volunteers needed!

What a day!  Despite the grey weather, a team of LAF supporters were out in force at The Orchards in Haywards Heath spreading the word and handing out some 2,000 Festival Guides!  

After this myself and LAF Technical chief Mervyn Huggett, armed with a ladder and rope, braved the drizzle once more to put up the banners around the village.  With those up (more to go up next week) and our fabulous poster on the pond, it must mean the Festival is nearly here!

But as today just proves, the Festival can only exist with the extraordinary amount of support from YOU, the community!  And I'm don't just mean donations (although they are very handy!)...I'm really talking about volunteers. Donating a small amount of your time can ensure the Festival runs smoothly and we all enjoy a fantastic weekend of arts and culture!

There are a number of areas where help is needed:-

• A variety of venues throughout the village (inc. All Saints, URC, Lindfield Primary School and King Edward Hall) require stewards for various workshops, performances, music and exhibitions. (See attached brochure).

• LEVITY III - the main feature of this year's Festuival requires stewards who are 18 years or over for a variety of roles needed for the smooth running of this unique installation.

• On Thurs 10th and Sun 13th we require a crew to assist with the set-up and strike of LEVITY III.  (Some heavy lifting may be required here!)

 If you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering to help please email us and let us know when you are available - volunteers@lindfieldartsfestival.com

The festival is only a couple of weeks away, so any offer of help will be gratefully received!

Robin

Poetry Competition - WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

The Lindfield Arts Festival launched a poetry competition and challenged the pupils of the local primary schools to compose a poem inspired by our village.  The response was phenomenal!

The judges were assembled and from the hundreds of entries ten were selected for inclusion in our poetry trail, two (one from each category) were deemed 'Highly Commended' by the panel and two (one from each category) were judged as overall winners.

William Ward (Tavistock & Summerhill) - Winner (4-6)
Laura Tucker (Tavistock & Summerhill) - Winner (7-11)
 
Scarlett Cole (Lindfield PS) - Highly Commended (4-6)
Seren Billson (Lindfield PS) - Highly Commended (7-11)
Saskia Fitzsimons (Tavistock & Summerhill)
Class 6 (Great Walstead)
Mia Barker (Lindfield PS)
Charlie Carter (Tavistock & Summerhill)
Lauren Eastman (Burgess Hill School for girls)
Sebastian Towler (Tavistock & Summerhill)

Well done to all the winners - an official prize giving ceremony will take place at the Jubilee weekend, thanks to the support and generousity of Fun Pots.

But the story doesn't end there!  With my other hat on, I'm the Artistic Director of Yellowtale Theatre Company so I took those ten poems, assembled a cast of professional and young local actors and with the help of David Hentschel and his recording studio, set about recording these fantastic poems. 

And how did they turn out...well you shall have to be the judge of that!  We will upload the recordings on to our website for you to download and you can listen to them at home, or better still follow the trail around the village and listen to them while look at the very views they describe!

The cast were:

Belinda Owusu, Alex Packer, Andy Burse, Emma Procter, Morgan Kemeys, Ben Baeza & me.

My thanks to them, David and the judges for lending their time and expertise to the Festival.

Robin

Festival Online Box Office - NOW OPEN!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend.  We are now just one month away from the third Lindfield Arts Festival.  The team have been working round the clock and our online Box Office is NOW OPEN!

You can now book for your session inside the incredible LEVITY III - take a look at the fabulous events and performances we have lined up inside the luminarium throughout the day on Sat 12th.

Also we have a great line up of performances - from classic comedies such as Shakespeare's "The Comedy of Errors" (OnO Theatre) and Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Ernest" (Barefoot Players) to the brilliantly fresh cabaret show "Polyester Fiesta" direct from Brighton. Also we have many of the local performing arts schools and community choirs performing across the weekend and lots, lots more....

Following the tradition of the past two years, we have a great selection of creative workshops on offer for those who want to get involved and learn something new.  

So there's really something for everyone! 

Last year many of the events sold out so we are strongly advising to book early to avoid disappointment!

You can book tickets in two ways:

• Online, right here at www.lindfieldartsfestival.com

or

• From Thursday 12th you can book in person at HEART & SOUL on Lindfield High Street

Please note that all FREE events must be booked in person at HEART & SOUL.

 Of course, we'll keep tweeting and posting on Facebook all the different events on offer so get following and make sure you don't miss a thing!

LAF supports All Saints Church 'Design A Sign' Competition

Many of you will have noticed, others may have read in this month's Lindfield Life, that the sign for The Tiger was removed due to damage.  All Saints Church are now planning to hold a competition to design a new sign and contacted me to see if the Lindfield Arts Festival would support this creative competition!

Entry is open to everyone and you will be able to get the full details on the All Saints Church website when the competition opens on 2nd April.  The closing date for entries will be on 10th May (12noon).

Lindfield Arts Festival are proud to have the entries displayed and judged as part of this year's event.

For more information please contact the Church Office:

e. allsaints@lindfield.info

t. 01444 482405