Official Programme of Events Wellington Festival 2016 All events A celebration of Arts, admission FREE ticketed Culture and Literature for capacity purposes Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards Olympian & national treasure – Opens the festival Eddie the Eagle in 1986. Photograph: Steve Wood/Rex Features ARTS & CULTURE COMEDY ENTERTAINMENT POETRY www.wellingtonartsfest.co.uk T: 01952 567697 l@litfest2016 DISCOVER WREKIN COLLEGE the OLD HALL SCHOOL The Old Hall School for boys and girls aged 4 - 11 E: [email protected] T: 01952 2 23117 Wrekin College co-educational 11 - 18 day and boarding E: [email protected] T: 01952 265603 www.wrekincollege.com І www.oldhall.co.uk Welcome and Foreword by Cllr Cindy Mason-Morris Chair of the Wellington Festival Committee We are delighted to launch the 2016 Wellington Festival – a spectacular three week celebration of The following day will see a Comedy Club night arts and culture. The Festival takes place in the with the award winning and nationally acclaimed vibrant market town of Wellington, Shropshire comedian Hannah Sylvester, ‘English Comedian of and aims to showcase artistes of local, national the year 2016’ Josh Pugh and four further acts who and international renown. have been delighting audiences across the country After the great success of last year’s Festival, we have with their observational insight and cutting satire; been working throughout the winter to put together this will be an evening to savour. Another major an amazing programme of events and activities for highlight of this year’s programme is our guest Tom the whole family. Watt, who was the Ghost Writer for David Beckham’s In celebration of its 20th Anniversary, the Festival biography. He is also an actor, broadcaster and film promises a fantastic line up of comedy, photography, maker and he returns to the Festival following a dance, culture and all aspects of literature including successful appearance in 2015. travel writing workshops, poetry and performance These are just a few of the unique experiences writing. We hope that you are inspired to have a go that the Wellington Festival has to offer and all are at some of the workshops on offer: try something FREE of charge. To bring a varied, high quality and new, visit more places on your doorstep, bring family entertaining mix of performers to our town every and friends and encourage tourists and visitors to year is a notable achievement, but we could not discover all that Wellington has to offer. do it alone. Wellington Town Council, sponsors, Opening the Festival will be the Olympian (and advertisers and loyal audiences all contribute to national treasure) – Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards – who the Festival’s continuing success and on behalf of will be talking about his escapades as he became the the Committee, I would like to thank them for their first competitor to represent Great invaluable support. Britain in Olympic ski jumping As the proud hosts of what is now one of the in 1988. This year, his story foremost free-access Festivals of its kind in the West was told in the biographical Midlands, we encourage you to spread the word film Eddie the Eagle, starring through either shouting it from the roof-tops or Hugh Jackman, which sharing it on Facebook and Twitter! So, please read showed his perseverance and on to find out what is taking place and do not delay achievements, all without in getting your tickets. Also, please keep in touch via funding. the website, Facebook, Twitter or face to face. We look forward to seeing you at the Festival’s events and enjoying all that our fantastic town, Wellington, has to offer. www.wellingtonartsfest.co.uk T: 01952 567697 l@litfest2016 3 Mayor of Important Wellington Information Councillor Phil About attending Morris-Jones MBE an event All of the Wellington Festival events are FREE, associated independent events carry a small charge. On behalf of Wellington Town Council, may I welcome you to our 20th Festival. Those more observant amongst you will To attend any of the festival events please reserve notice I have missed out the word LITERARY. your seat via www.wellingtonartsfest.co.uk. We This is because our Committee under its use the eventbrite ticketing system so that we can new Chair Councillor Cindy Mason-Morris gauge audience attendance levels. has chosen to expand further in the field of All our events are all FREE. If you do not have the Arts and Culture and provide a far more internet access you can still simply turn up on the diverse programme to encompass that aim. evening of the event but we would encourage you I should at this stage pay tribute to our to pre-book to avoid disappointment. retiring Chair Councillor Pat Fairclough for If you would like a ticket again please visit www. the excellent way in which she has led the eventbrite.co.uk If you are unable to do so please call committee over the last 10 years. 01952 567696, email [email protected] Special thanks must go to our event’s or pop into Wellington Town Council’s Civic Offices organiser Caroline Mulvihill for her hard on Larkin Way, Tan Bank, Wellington TF1 1LX and a work all year round in the preparation of this ticket can be obtained on your behalf. schedule. We have an excellent programme, so please join me and Remembrance let’s enjoy these Service events thoroughly. Fri 11 Nov Remembrance Parade If you have a business that you Sun 13 Nov Switching on of Christmas would like to promote, Lights and Victorian Market advertising space in next years programme Sat 26 Nov Carols in the Square is available at a minimum cost. Sat 17 Dec 4 Wellington Festival events are FREE – See programme overview page 8 and back cover for venues Wellington Town Council Celebrates its 20th Literary Festival by expanding into The Wellington Festival! Twenty years ago, Wellington Town Council The Wellington Festival Committee consists formed a working group of literary-minded people of the following volunteers: who initiated the first week of literary events, Chair: Councillor Cindy Mason-Morris, headed by Simon Brett the crime writer. Deputy Chair: Councillor John Alvey, Guiding principles were agreed by the group which were as follows: Councillors: Joan Gorse, Sherrel Fikeis, Pat Fairclough, Denis Allen, Phil Morris-Jones − To promote a wide range of literature to all ages; and Ralph Perkins. Richard Bifield, Mollie Bolt, − To encourage local budding authors/playwrights/ Kevin Tanner, Rev John Grice, Annie Savage, poets by providing a platform for their work; John and Joy Clayton, Geoff Harrison, − To be accessible to all; John Sweetland, Howard Perkins, Fay Easton − To work in partnership with all sections of the and Rebecca Dove. community. Communication and Events Manager: The Council agreed to give administrative and Caroline Mulvihill – who also manages the Festival financial support and that all events should be FREE and keeps the Committee focused. of charge unless organised by an outside body. After time, demand to extend the Festival grew It was with deep regret that we lost two of our culminating in the current format of three weeks of long-standing and most valued Committee Members planned events throughout the month of October. over the last year – Mr Chris Lewis and In 2016, the Festival has been re-branded and Mr Alan Cooper. Both Chris and Alan were extended, to increase the audience and to appeal to instrumental in the Festival being expanded to Remembrance a more diverse range of people. appeal to a greater range of people and they have been sadly missed. Service It has been our great pleasure to welcome the Fri 11 Nov Finally, the Committee welcomes new members Remembrance Parade following personalities in past years: Kate Adie MBE, and if you would like to get involved, in any capacity, Martin Bell MBE , Henry Blofeld, Colin Dexter, poet Sun 13 Nov please email [email protected] Switching on of Christmas laureate Andrew Motion, Ned Sherrin CBE, Lights and Victorian Market The Rt. Hon David Blunkett MP, poet laureate or write or call into Wellington Town Council’s Civic Offices on Larkin Way, Tan Bank, Wellington, Carol Ann Duffy, George Alagiah, Germaine Greer, Sat 26 Nov TF1 1LX. Carols in the Square Alexie Sayle, Fay Weldon and Ian McMillan. These are all but a few of the well-known authors/artistes Sat 17 Dec who have enthralled packed audiences with their literary prowess over the years. www.wellingtonartsfest.co.uk T: 01952 567697 l@litfest2016 5 Become a friend The Wellington Festival is largely run by If you would like to volunteers and enthusiasts. We rely on get actively involved funding from Wellington Town Council and with the Festival, public donations. The Festival Committee is always looking for your help would be extra volunteers to assist with the smooth greatly received. running of the events. To find out more please contact: [email protected] or call 01952 567696. Acknowledgements The Wellington Festival Committee wish to Music, a new string to the Festival’s bow this year, thank the following, in no particular order, for the was co-ordinated with the help of Joanna Deacon constant support and loan of venues each year, for which we are very grateful. without which the Wellington Festival would not Special thanks must go to: take place. Wrekin College, The Old Orleton, Wellington Library, Our dedicated website, www.wellingtonartsfest. The Telford Arena and Live Lounge, All Saints Church, co.uk, has been created and maintained by a local Wellington Methodist Church, New College Telford, Wellington man – Martyn Haynes – on a purely The Old Wrekin Tap, The Pheasant, The Belmont voluntary basis.