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 Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the Stoke
Newington Festival is that it ever happened at all. Given that inner-city areas are not
always known for their community spirit, it's a tribute to the hard work and ingenuity of
the organisers that they manage to bring 40,000 people together each midsummer. We asked
them to let us have a preview of the 1999 events:
For those reading this at the end of a cold and damp London winter, summer in the street
may seem a long time away. Not so, however, for the organisers and key volunteers of the
seventh annual Stoke Newington Festival who have been making plans since last October.
Director Kay Trainor and Programme Producer Fiona Fieber have been huddled round a heater
in the Festival office talking to artists and performers.
This year the Festival has been re-structured to take place over three weekends, to give
more people a chance to enjoy everything that's on offer.
Weekend 1 will launch the programme with the Street Festival on Sunday 13 June.
Weekend 2 will be four days of events on Friday 18, Saturday 19, Sunday 20 and Monday 21
June.
Weekend 3 will be three days of events on Friday 25, Sat. 26 and Sun. 27 June.
 One of the star performers last year was live artist Tom Geoghegan, who amazed
passers-by as he hung on to Trayman's wall 38 feet up, 8 hours a day, for 8 days. Tom was
one of four artists selected and commissioned to produce work on Church Street for the
Festival as part of the visual arts programme, Temporary. This year the Festival offered
three commissions of £1,000 for exciting new works. They were swamped with proposals from
artists, and the selectors faced the difficult task of shortlisting from such a high
standard of work.
The programme will focus on live literature, drumming and percussion, opera and new music.
There will be dance, theatre and film all taking place in unusual, temporary or community
venues such as Abney Cemetery, empty buildings, shops and schools. The Opera Cabaret will
lift the roof and the Comedy Cabaret will be back with a brilliant line up, both important
benefit gigs for this Festival. And something most extraordinary will happen to the 73
bus!
Many Stoke Newington people would like to be part of this lively,
interesting and enjoyable series of events.
Nothing could be easier. The Festival happens each year through the help of its
volunteers. From office work to venue management and from technical assistance to
stewarding events, running bars or putting up posters, there is something for everyone
that is rewarding and fun. Call the Festival Office on *** ****** at 59 Kynaston Road, N16
OEB to receive a volunteer information pack and discuss how to join in.
Not everyone is able to offer their time. By subscribing to the Supporters' Club you can
support the Festival and help put it on a secure financial footing. John Hegley and a host
of performers delighted Festival supporters at last year's brilliant Gala Dinner and
preparations for the next are under way. For more information call the office. Local
businesses can become involved by joining the Traders' Scheme and receive discounts on
advertising in the brochure as well as a highly sought after Festival Traders' Scheme
sticker for their window.
Write On
by Tim Webb |
Stoke Newington people should be good communicators. The
area contains a high proportion of teachers, lecturers, writers, journalists and all sorts
of media folk.
This paper wants to tap into readers' opinions and beliefs. The more strongly held and
vigorously expressed the better. There are plenty of matters to be debated. Some of them
are in this issue and there are many more which need airing. They don't always have to be
complaints about the Council or the holes in Church Street (we shall be covering that in
our next issue) but could range from the political to the historical, from the price of
beer to the possibility of paving over the street. The environment is of particular
concern around here and education is always a hot topic.
It's your choice that matters, however, so please drop us a line at N16 Magazine, PO Box 44624, London N16 5WN phone/fax 020 7502 2532 info@n16mag.com for speedier arrival.
We look forward to hearing from the anxious, enraged, concerned, fed up and even the happy
of Stoke Newington.
Our next issue will be in June and we will be publishing bi-monthly thereafter.
We do reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of space but we shall do our best to
ensure that your views are put clearly and concisely.
Tim Webb, Editor
Next Issue
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