1 WITH THANKS TO: WELCOME TO THE Patron: Morag McLaren FROME FESTIVAL 2019 Founder and President: Martin Bax MBE Vice Presidents: Rt Hon David Heath CBE, John Birkett-Smith Chairman: Dr Robert Morris Our themes for each Frome Treasurer: Margaret Perry Festival are often decided Creative Director: Martin Dimery by historical anniversaries, Board of Trustees / Directors of Frome Festival Ltd: notably of great artists and Theresa Clark, Dr Robert Morris, Dara O’Hare, Gail Norris, Simon Norris, Gavin Rea, Dr Mick Randall, Roger Southard, writers like Jane Austen, Mary Hugh Deed, Dr Rick Rycroft, Jeremy Towler, Karen Ogborn. Shelley, Shakespeare and General Manager: Beverly Jones Mozart. We have celebrated Food Feast Co-ordinator: Tracey Rupp Rawlins the brief residencies in Frome The Sponsorship Team: Marjorie Morris, Karen Ogborn, Suzanne Cooke, Gavin Rea of Christina Rossetti and Social Media: Gail Norris, Dara O’Hare the Duke of Monmouth too. Steward Co-ordinator: Theresa Clark These themes are often suggested by contributors to Website: stellasoft.co.uk the Festival and local organisers. Printers: Avon Printing Services Ltd. Design: blackinkstudio.co.uk Cover and Poster Illustration: Sholto Walker One of my personal favourites was the 2009 www.myportfolio.com/sholtowalker celebration of Sir Benjamin Baker, who was born Photography: Frome Wessex Camera Club and educated in Frome, before going on to create some of the greatest feats of engineering, including With Special Thanks to: the original Forth Bridge in 1890. Like many, I was Frome Town Council, our sponsors, unaware of Baker’s roots in Frome, and would like to event organisers and venues. think that the Festival helped to raise awareness of The Festival wishes to thank Mercer Design, this great local hero to many others. PPS Commercial Print, Barters Plant Centre and The Residents Handbook for their generous support This year, I think we have been presented with possibly of Frome’s Hidden Gardens. the best and most relevant theme to the Festival in its 19 years. When Sue Bucklow and Tabitha Clayson proposed the Festival being part of their planned celebration of the Singer’s foundry in Frome, we were immediately inspired. The project, in collaboration with Rook Lane Arts and the Frome Museum, has received Heritage Lottery funding to celebrate the bi-centenary Charity no: 1120329 of the birth of J W Singer, who started his fairly modest Open Studios Open business making brass church candlesticks in the very office premises we now occupy with our generous landlords, Eyetech, in the Market Place. INSIDE: Scouting for Girls / Event 1211 The Coral / Event 814 04 - 33 Festival Events 34 - 39 Workshops 40 - 43 Visual Arts & Exhibitions 44 - 49 Information / Booking Form 50 Map 51 Venues & Places 2 Many in Frome will recall the enormous Singer’s factory which stretched across much of the current riverside housing development opposite the Market Yard car park. The company’s work expanded into producing the castings of some truly inspiring landmark statues like Justice, which stands on top of the Old Bailey, or the awe-inspiring Boudica on the Thames Embankment, as well as the Scottish National War Memorial at Edinburgh Castle, the King Alfred statue in Winchester, and the famous lions in Cape Town. Moscow Drug Club / Event 1015 JW Singer and Sons Art Metal Works brought industry 23 JUNE // 11:00 - 17:00 and great art together. Seven hundred skilled workers FROME CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL helped to bring magnificent public icons to realisation. All the fabulous activities and entertainment The completed works were hoisted onto horse drawn that you’ve come to know and love from the carts and paraded through Frome town centre Children’s Festival including a zip wire (or 2) past cheering crowds to be waved off to the railway across the river, stunts on the pump track station. That legacy lives on in this remarkable town of and magical decorations in the woods. This creativity and craftsmanship. year we’ll be back at the Cheese and Grain through to Welshmill Park with loads of fun and I very much hope the Frome Festival programme has a performances - all for FREE. Keep an eye out for wide appeal this year and will draw visitors and locals news of special guests and an exciting new event to the exhibitions and events, especially those who for teenagers in the evening! Parents remain worked for Singer’s and recall its long-standing place responsible for their children while at this event. in the history of Frome. For details contact us via fromechildrensfestival. org or fb frome children’s festival. My thanks again to Frome Town Council, all our Cheese & Grain / Free Event sponsors, volunteers and Festival Friends subscribers. In particular, huge credit must go to Beverly Jones 2 JULY // 19:30 - 21:30 and Margaret Perry, our professional team; to Tracey CASTING THE WORLD - ARCHITECTURE Rawlins for organising the Food Feast, to Gavin Rea CLUB - NEW BOUNDARIES and Marjorie Morris for their work on sponsorship Architecture Club with Chris Romer-Lee of Studio OVERTURE and advertising, and to all those mentioned in the Octopi. Water and sculpture connect Chris’s credits opposite. Special thanks must also go to the projects and that of his relative, the artist, Hamo wonderfully enthusiastic and supportive Festival Thornycroft, who had much of his work cast at Board under the inspirational guidance of our Singer’s foundry. The talk will provide insight Chairman Bob Morris. into Studio Octopi’s award winning work on ‘Writ in Water’ with Mark Wallinger and also plans to Martin Dimery, Creative Director provide London with a floating lido. Rook Lane Chapel / Free Event The Coral / Event 814 Casting the World / Various Events 3 EVENTS FRIDAY 5 JULY 19:00 - 22:00 FRIDAY 5 JULY VANGUARD READINGS Vanguard Readings is a free monthly literary salon based in London, which provides a platform for 13:00 - 14:00 new and emerging writers alongside established SCHUBERT ‘UNCUT’: PIANO TRIO NO.2 authors and has toured the salons in Grasmere, IN E FLAT Birmingham, Hay-on-Wye, Margate, Norwich, Leeds, Described by Schumann as a ‘comet in the sky’ and Ludlow, Manchester, Salisbury, Brighton and Harlow, towering in length and landscape, Schubert’s last piano widening access to disadvantaged communities, trio takes us on a rollercoaster of melodies, ideas and giving voice to diverse voices. Curated and hosted by emotions and sparkles with brilliance. Violinist Katalin Frome writer, Hannah Cox. It showcases the work of Kertesz, cellist Lorna Davis and pianist Liz Kozlowski six local authors. perform the original, uncut version of Schubert’s Archangel / Free Event / Event 506 masterpiece in this lunchtime recital. Doors open 12.30pm with pre-concert refreshments. 19:30 - 23:45 Christ Church / £10.00 / £5.00 / Event 501 JUDGE JULES LIVE! Judge Jules, the world-renowned award-winning DJ, 17:00 - 23:00 brings his live touring show to the Cheese and Grain CANTINA FESTIVAL POP UP TAPAS BAR with a full ten piece band, recreating classic dance The Cantina is back! Frome Festival’s pop up tapas bar tracks in a fabulous opening night party to kick off the will be serving delicious Spanish food and drink on the Frome Festival. Silk Mill terrace. Family friendly vibes, ping pong, table Cheese & Grain / £24.00 door / £20.00 adv / Event 507 football and music! The Silk Mill / Event 502 19:30 - 21:45 FAB PROMOTIONS PRESENTS IVAN 17:00 - 19:00 BRACKENBURY HOSPITAL RADIO RETRO SUMMER FAIR CELEBRATING 60 FAB Promotions presents writer and comedian Tom YEARS OF SELWOOD Binns’ unique and original comedy shows which have Selwood Academy is now in its 60th year and our been described by The Times, Telegraph and Time Out Summer Fair will celebrate all things ‘retro’. Old fashioned as “Comedy Genius”. He’s the star and creator of his games, afternoon tea, music and lots more! own Friday night BBC1 Comedy Series, Hospital People Selwood Academy / Free Event / Event 503 and an 8/10 Cats Do Countdowns favourite, on Channel 4. Tonight a variety of award-winning characters from 19:00 - 21:00 8/10 Cats and Hospital People (show 2 X 45 mins). DANCEWORKS 2019 Merlin Theatre / £16.50 / £14.50 / Event 508 Danceworks 2019 will be performed across 3 dates this July. Act One will be a performance of Peter Pan the Ballet. Act Two will see performances of The Greatest Showman and American Pop Idols. Get your tickets early to see this fantastic local showcase from the Memorial Box Office. Memorial Theatre / £10.50 / £8.50 / Event 504 19:00 - 22:00 FROME FESTIVAL SKETCHBOOK POP-UP EXHIBITION (ANN HARRISON-BRONINSKI) Start this year’s Frome Festival with a review of last year’s events. Drawn from life, Ann’s drawings are in charcoal, pencil, and watercolour, and are all for sale. They will only be on display for one night this year - so don’t miss them! A pop-up exhibition with live music overlooking Frome’s Market Place. Ann will be recording events in this year’s Frome Festival as Festival Sketch Artist. Ivan Brackenbury / Event 508 George Hotel & Granary / Free Event / Event 505 4 FRIDAY 5 JULY Box Office01373 455420 // fromefestival.co.uk 19:30 - 22:00 influences range from Jacques Loussier to George BOX TALE SOUP PRESENTS “MANALIVE” Shearing via Bill Evans and the Modern Jazz Quartet. G.K. Chesterton’s Manalive!, featuring beautifully hand- Expect an evening of exquisite chamber music from crafted puppets and stunning original music. Beacon three remarkable musicians fluent in the language House, a broken-down boarding establishment, and of both classical music and jazz. Dominic Alldis is a its bored, brooding tenants, are about to receive a recognised Steinway Artist.