FEATURING THE BEST ARTS & CULTURE EVENTS THIS YEAR MAY 2014 PRODUCED BY THE OFFICIAL TOURIST BOARD www.visitisleofwight.co.uk SPONSORED BY
Catch A Star
Katie Price is the latest name to join a star-studded bill at the Isle of Wight Literary Festival in October. These include accomplished actors Simon Callow and Sheila Hancock along with Brian Aldiss, the ‘elder statesman of Sci-Fi’, novelists Katie Fforde and Daisy Goodwin, crime writer John Harvey, food writer and author Jonathan Meades and celebrity gardener and author Alan Titchmarsh. Neil Oliver, presenter of ‘Coast’, Philip Hook from ‘The Antiques Roadshow’ and former politician Ann Widdecombe will also be coming to share their experiences along with Charles Spencer, brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
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BESTIVAL!
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Famous faces will appear at a host of cultural and arts festivals across the Isle of Wight this year. If you prefer being on the ground as new talent breaks, Ventnor Fringe in August is for you. Just like the famous Edinburgh Fringe, acts have to apply to perform and venues spring up in the unlikeliest of places. A stage in a secret wood, a bank that has been converted into a club and a pumping station on the seafront that becomes a club, venue and bar are just three. Plus this year the Fringe open their own arts centre, The Exchange, in the town’s former post office. Past acts have included Marques Toliver, Liam Bailey, Disraeli and talented singer songwriter Johnny Flynn.
As one of the first Festivals on the Island each year, Isle of Arts is the perfect way to spend the early May bank holiday weekend. With over forty events across four days the Festival features comedy, drama, music, literature, film and visual arts, and includes household names as well as local talents. Festival highlights in 2014 included celebrity gardener Monty Don, Kyle Eastwood (son of Clint) and deadpan comic Rich Hall. Next year’s dates are May 1st to 4th 2015. To be the first to hear about acts as they are confirmed, sign up for the monthly newsletter at www.artsisle.org
www.vfringe.co.uk
www.isleofwightliteraryfestival.org
Literatours
Talking Tours with
Celia Imrie
Time travelling literary tours around the Island featuring the voices of Celia Imrie, Richard E Grant and Hugh Bonneville have been a great success since their launch at the first Isle of Wight Literary Festival.
Jean Pierre Masclet
Festival Fever
So much so that Celia and her friends with Sian Thomas, Fidelis Morgan and intend to make them a regular attraction Andrea Miller. throughout the season. Along the way you hear anecdotes A celebrated actress, Celia Imrie often from the Island’s literary history, with Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kings of Leon and Biffy Clyro are headlining the IW visits the Island, which she sees as her readings of poetry, letters and diaries Festival this June with Outkast, Chic featuring Nile Rogers, Foals and Beck second home. “I absolutely love every of the celebrated literary and historical time I come to the Island. It’s an escape figures who once lived on the Island, headlining at Bestival in September. for me,” said Celia. “Your shoulders along with music from Island composers. Music as an art form is very big on Bookending the summer, Bestival at go right down as you board the ferry. Each coach tour leaves Cowes Parade the Island, especially since the re- Robin Hill just outside Newport, which There’s something about that little boat at 10am and travels through Gurnard, introduction of the music festivals. runs this year from September 4th to 7th, trip that is absolutely wonderful. I think Yarmouth, Freshwater, Niton, Ventnor, Massive names from the music world has seen Elton John and Stevie Wonder the sun always shines at some point in with a brief stop at Bonchurch. At Shanklin there is a 40 minute lunch appear at the Isle of Wight festivals topping the bill in recent years. Every the day on the Isle of Wight.” every year with acts such as The Rolling year there is a fancy dress theme and Literary and musical greats from the past break on the seafront and the coach Stones, REM, David Bowie and Bruce this year it is ‘Desert Island Disco’. Loads are brought to life as you tour around continues to Newport, Carisbrooke Springsteen having headlined at the of different stages feature everything some of the most stunning parts of the and Calbourne returning to Cowes IW Festival, which sets up camp on the from hip hop, spoken word and theatre Island on these top flight Literatour approximately four hours later. eastern banks of the River Medina – this performances to dancing lessons and coach tours. Celia, Richard and Hugh take “It’s a real magical mystery tour,” said character parts in the audio presentation Celia Imrie of the tour that she devised year from June 12th to 15th. comedy. www.bestival.net that is played throughout the tour along with Fidelis Morgan. “You’re taken on Continued on page 3 www.isleofwightfestival.com
this fabulous adventure. I’m a part of it and I’m really proud of it. It’s a really fascinating journey.” The next Literatour is on Sunday 25th May. Telephone 01983 508854 to book a place or go to www.literatours.org.uk