May 23, 2008

Children's voices ring out
at Hebden Bridge Arts Festival

From theatre for the under-6s to satire for the over-12s, this year’s Hebden Bridge Arts Festival promises to be a magnet for families with children.

Shoe Baby, a fantastical puppet show based on Joyce Dunbar’s endearingly surreal book, comes to the Little Theatre on July 5. Aimed specifically at two- to six-year-olds, the performance is followed by an opportunity to meet the puppets, and promises to be a wonderful singalong adventure for all who attend.

To celebrate 2008, Year of Language, the theme of Many Voices unites many events within the festival programme. On Sunday July 6, many voices will be heard on the streets of Hebden Bridge, when school and community choirs come together to perform a day of song in the Words on the Street event.

Presented in partnership with Square Chapel’s July Project and supported by HBOS, this is the culmination of a project that sees local schools benefit from expert tuition. The free event is open to anyone who would like to hear established choirs such as Calder Valley Voices performing alongside younger talent.

Parents have a chance to coax their teenage children out from behind the sofa and set them aboard award-winning comedian Toby Hadoke’s tardis in Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf, which comes to the Little Theatre on Friday July 11. Over 12s will enjoy this one-man nostalgia trip loosely themed around Doctor Who. A dalek obsession isn’t compulsory, but it’s a must-see for anyone who’s even slightly nerdy!

Finally, for those with an open mind and an eagle eye, there’s conceptual artist Richard Dedomenici’s specially commissioned Hebden Bridge Arts Festival Treasure Hunt. Described as a cross between Dave Gorman and Mark Thomas, this one-man subversive think-tank will launch his treasure hunt at Artsmill on Saturday July 5, and from Sunday July 6, the clues will be available from the festival shop.

Postal booking for the 40-plus performances and workshops is now open. The box office on Albert Street opens on June 14.

The 2008 Festival runs from Friday, June 27 to Sunday, July 13.

If you’d like to be kept in touch with what’s planned, e-mail hbfestival@gmail.com or visit www.hebdenbridge.co.uk/festival.