Summary of Landulph Festival 2024
by our chair Kirstie Evans
Another year of Festival activity is over, and we have been delighted to hear from appreciative supporters that they thought that this year's was the best ever, so thank you very much for that vote of confidence.
Creating a programme of increasingly expensive acts of high quality and which will enable a local audience to participate in new and exciting experiences is always both a challenge and a leap of faith. It is interesting that performers from far and wide invariably comment on the warmth of their reception in Landulph, the enthusiasm of their audiences here and how lucky we all are to live in Cornwall.
Bertie Pearce
The first weekend saw the return visit of the irrepressible Bertie Pearce, a comedian who performed magic, or should it be the other way round? Financed by the Festival, he started his afternoon by performing for the Landulph School children, proving very popular and a great success. Younger members of the evening audience also really enjoyed their chance to appear on stage, alongside other hilarious participants in Bertie’s world of magic and illusion.
Sam Jewison Jazz Trio
The Sam Jewison trio on Saturday night, playing the American songbook featured outstandingly talented young musicians and the audience was dazzled by their skill and engaging style. It was an exceptional evening and I sincerely hope that they will return to Landulph. I first met Sam, late one evening on an Earls Court tube station bench waiting for the last train, both of us wearing black tie outfits and we started talking, when he mentioned he was a singer of the American songbook, I asked if he would consider coming to Cornwall. He gave me his card and when I got home, I checked him out, put the idea to the committee and ‘Hey presto’, an impressive, globally acclaimed performer, straight from Ronnie Scott’s, which shows that sometimes it is good to be chatty!
Mark Agnew
Sunday evening, and we were canoeing through the North West Passage with Mark Agnew, winner of the European Explorer of the Year 2023, who gave a very informative and interesting account of his adventures. In recognition of his own mental health issues prior to his journey, he nominated Mind Uk as his preferred charity and so this year's Festival raffle raised over £400 for this worthwhile cause. Thank you to all who donated prizes and bought tickets.
Druzba, Klezmer Band Oktoberfest
The second weekend, featured the Landulph version of Oktoberfest, with lederhosen, bavarian pinafores and dirndls much in evidence as everyone present enjoyed a feast of German delicacies including bratwurst, rollmop herring and black forest gateau as they listened to the Druzba Klezmer band playing Eastern European tunes.
Inn Theatre Company
By contrast, the Inn Theatre Company from Dartmouth gave a very special and memorable performance of extracts from some of the better known Shakespeare's plays, bringing to life his Heroes, Villains and Lovers, including Romeo and Juliet, Othello, Hamlet, Titania and Bottom, much to the audience’s delight.
Pavel Ralev
Our classical concert this year proved extremely popular. Pavel Ralev, a brilliant international guitarist recommended by John Williams kept us all entranced and totally silent. His personality and performance were equally compelling. It was another exceptional evening, and another performer who I hope will return before too long.
Dalla Duo
Dalla Duo started off the final weekend with Neil Davey playing his bouzouki and Hilary Coleman, the clarinet with a range of Cornish and original songs, local anecdotes and tasty Cornish pasties from Veg Box Fresh.
Vox Beatles
Our final Festival event was the stunning performance of the Vox Beatles; it was great to see all the variations of wigs and colourful outfits from different eras of the Fab Four. We all sang and danced to the Beatles classics, perfectly played, and ended the Festival hoarse and totally exhausted, but everyone had a fab time.
Art Exhibition
The paintings on display for sale at the Art exhibition throughout the Festival were, as usual, a mixture of all mediums, subjects and tastes; they certainly attracted a lot of attention and praise for the quality of the exhibits and many sales were made. Creative artwork by the Under fives decorated the bar and the vivid display in the Hall by classes from the School was both eye-catching and educational. Many thanks to those who organised and manned the exhibition, the artists who gave talks and those who provided delicious cream teas at the weekends.
Thanks
As always my thanks must go to the patrons and sponsors, and those who support us by attending all our events; Jason, our bar manager and his team, Hannah our resident mixologist, Debbie who takes amazing photographs, and Martin who provides a fully professional sound and light service the very high quality of which amazes performers and delights the audience; and finally the Festival committee who are always cheerful and accomplish miracles when required. We are already planning next year’s programme with the pantomime Peter Pan scheduled for February. Your input is always appreciated and ideas for future events always much appreciated.
