Kids hear unheard voices
– and iron out their creases

Freedom and fun are the themes for this year’s Hebden Bridge Arts Festival as far as the kids are concerned.

And, thanks to £10,000 from HBOS, the Festival has been able to open up its programme of events to even more children.

All children who attend the combined event of Unheard Voices by author Malorie Blackman and the world premiere of Grand Union Orchestra’s Can’t Chain Up Me Mind on June 30 will get a copy of Unheard Voices included in the ticket price of £7.

Musicians from Grand Union are also working with children at Calder High during two days of workshops – culminating in a performance by the kids on the Hebden Bridge marina between Malorie’s talk and the evening concert. 

Unheard Voices is an anthology of stories and poems, written by those who were themselves slaves, as well as by contemporary writers, and collected by award-winning author Malorie Blackman. It has been published to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the Slave Trade Act.

Sponsorship from HBOS has also meant the Festival has been able to subsidise ticket prices so that young people can attend all the music events at Heptonstall Church for just £1 for lunchtime performances and £2 for evening events.

There’s plenty of fun too on the weekends of June 30-July 1 and July 7-8. The action happens between lunchtime and 4pm and includes crystal ball juggling, stilt characters and human statues, as well as the Crease Police, whose mission is to eliminate the crinkle and the wrinkle from everyday wear by giving out certified ironing lessons and sound advice. 

Other events include Golden Goose, a fairytale puppet play, on Sunday, July 1; the Kidsfest Children’s Art Festival and Puppet Show from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, July 14, and, on July 15, Dan and Jeff’s send-up Potted Potter – the Unauthorised Harry Experience. On the same day, there are two sessions of Tatty Bumpkin physical movement classes too.

Postal bookings opened on Monday, May 14 and programmes are available at libraries, tourist information centres other public venues, plus countless cafes, shops and pubs.