Latitude 2010 - Line-up announcement
Latitude Festival returns for an incredible 5th Edition on 15-18th July 2010 set in the beautiful countryside of Henham Park Estate on Suffolk’s Sunrise Coast.
Celebrating its fifth year, Latitude continues to lead the way as a bold and pioneering festival cherry-picking the very best from the worlds of music, theatre, comedy, literature, film, poetry, dance, art, fashion and cabaret and bringing them together for one glorious weekend. It is a place like no other; an intimate world away from reality that encourages you to be all that you’ve ever wanted to be whilst indulging in the spirit of exploration and discovery.
Building on its reputation as one of the most respected and highly anticipated events of the season, 2010 promises to be an inspirational and entertaining, sophisticated and scintillating weekend. Day and night, Latitude will boast an eclectic array of acts spread throughout the site with all manner of unexpected pleasures hidden around every corner. With over 700 performers to be announced over the coming months and a wealth of other weird and wonderful delights to be discovered – it is shaping up to be another spectacular slice of unadulterated cultural fun and adventure.
Festival Republic Managing Director, Melvin Benn says:
“Five glorious years on and Latitude Festival continues to be everything I wanted it to be. The breadth and calibre of programming across the arts and music consistently astounds me and I am delighted that Latitude has earned its place as a festival of choice for many. With an incredible wealth of talent joining us at Henham Park year on year, Latitude holds its unique position in the festival season.
It is indeed a very special weekend.”
Showcasing a wealth of diverse musical talent, Latitude’s four dedicated arenas provide a unique and perfect soundtrack to the weekend’s festivities. Across the Obelisk, The Word and Sunrise Arenas and the Lake Stage, the very best in both emerging and established bands and performers will play throughout the weekend. In the past Latitude has seen such spellbinding performances from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Tindersticks, Sigur Rόs, Arcade Fire, Blondie, Amadou & Mariam, dEUS, Glasvegas and has helped propel up and coming acts like The xx and Marina & The Diamonds into the spotlight. Across the four arenas, audiences can expect everything from rock to pop, indie to folk, electro to dance and world to jazz – whatever your taste, Latitude has it all.
Jon Dunn, Music Arenas Booker says:
“Year five…The first four Latitude festivals have left me with many highlights..Antony & Johnsons, Patti Smith, Arcade Fire, The Rapture, The Mars Volta, Blondie, Foals, White Lies, Thom Yorke, Joanna Newsom and Sigur Ros…..
I’m excited and honoured that such acts as Florence and the Machine, Belle and Sebastian and Vampire Weekend will be headlining our main stage, meanwhile I feel that in The Word Arena we have the real essence of Latitude in The National, The xx and Grizzly Bear, acts that carve out their own niche and journey and who are taken on the brilliance of their music..”
~ Florence + The Machine ~ Belle and Sebastian ~ Vampire Weekend ~
~ Empire of the Sun ~ The Maccabees ~ Rodrigo y Gabriela ~
The Obelisk Arena has been the focal point for many of Latitude’s most memorable performances. Thom Yorke’s mesmerising Sunday noon set, Grace Jones’ blazingly colourful headlining slot, Regina Spektor’s whimsical elegance and Doves’ epic street-swept triumph are all highlights from last year’s main stage line-up. Once more you’ll be watching this year’s exceptional cast assembled under the sun or the stars, which lends to the natural ambience so many have come to expect from Latitude.
This year – Latitude’s music headliners are:
Florence + The Machine, led by flame haired songstress Florence Welch, had an incredible 2009. Beginning with winning the Critics’ Choice award at the Brits, Florence won the coveted South Bank Award, graced NME covers and was a constant visible presence throughout the year at festivals and other award ceremonies. Her stunning debut album ‘Lungs’ released in June last year was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and has since won another Brit for Best British Album. ‘Lungs’ reached Number 1 in January this year, having been in the Top 40 since its release. On a heady wave of popularity that shows no sign of stopping, her effortless rise sees her top the bill on Friday night at Latitude 2010 – in what will be Florence and her mighty Machine’s very first festival headline performance. With her potent, soaring anthems and confident stagecraft, Florence will light up the Obelisk Arena.
With barely contained excitement, it’s a pleasure to announce the end of these legendary Scottish heroes’ hiatus. Belle and Sebastian haven’t played live together since September 2006 and it’s been a long four years without them. The quirky and humorous songwriting of this indie collective is widely celebrated and the band is highly revered by their fervent fanbase. They were voted Scotland’s greatest ever band via a poll by The List magazine back in 2005, assuring their beyond-cult status. With a brand new album, the follow up to 2006’s ‘The Life Pursuit’, soon to arrive, 2010 is bound to be a big year for Stuart Murdoch and co. It’s sure to be topped off, no doubt, by their Saturday night headline slot - one of Latitude’s most highly anticipated performances so far.
Literate New York quartet Vampire Weekend have exceeded all expectations with the release of their second album ‘Contra’, in January. It did the unthinkable and reached the top of the US Billboard Chart, a phenomenal success, coming only four years since their inception. Their afro-beat inspired tropical jangle, synonymous with a new breed of intelligent collegiate pop, has now reached mainstream success. With two inspired pop records under their belt plus a reputation for scintillating live shows, Vampire Weekend have earned their headline slot and we are proud to announce them as Latitude’s Sunday bill topper.
Luke Steele’s electronic synth-pop outfit Empire of the Sun has been embraced by a wide range of fans, young and old, with its timeless and infectious feel. Taking time away from his usual day job, The Sleepy Jackson, Luke has crafted a debut album of futuristic carnival ditties with elegantly crafted melodies and warped keyboard soundscapes. Empire of the Sun’s slot on the Friday night is sure to entice and enrapture with selections from their debut, Walking on a Dream.
Brighton’s finest The Maccabees join the Obelisk Arena’s line up for Saturday night. This indie-rock five-piece have gone from strength to strength in the three years since their debut album ‘Colour It In’ hit the Top 40 charts. Their youthful and vibrant music has won them a legion of fans and their recent second album ‘Wall of Sound’ released last year earned them critical acclaim from Steve Lamacq, Zane Lowe and NME.
The spellbinding musical brilliance of Rodrigo y Gabriela comes to Latitude Festival, to play the Obelisk Arena on Sunday night. Specialising in fast, rhythmic acoustic guitars, Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero are masters of fret-board wizardry straddling both world and rock with obvious Hispanic influences. Passionate yet melodic, the fire in their playing comes from their life-long love of metal music and they often cover Metallica and Led Zeppelin in their live performances. Gaining a burgeoning cult following since their inception in 2001 their recent album ’11:11’ has pushed them further into the mainstream prompting appearances on American TV and Jools Holland’s Hootenanny. Their performance at Latitude will be an absolute must!
~ The National ~ The xx ~ Grizzly Bear ~
~ Charlotte Gainsbourg ~ The Horrors ~
Inside the deceptively large canopy that comprises The Word Arena will be an amazing set of alternative artists crossing genre boundaries seamlessly. You’ll discover a host of fresh and exciting acts from across the spectrum. Last year included the lavish melodies of Bat For Lashes, a wall of light and sound created by the incredible Spiritualized, the spiky post-punk thrash of Magazine and the tribal drum passion of husband and wife duo Wildbirds & Peacedrums. The Word Arena is bound to satiate both the esoteric music fan and the casual passer-by as they enjoy these introductions to their new favourite sounds.
Latitude is proud to welcome Brooklyn-based indie rock outfit The National to The Word Arena. The Friday night headliners’ unmistakable sound coupled with lead singer Matt Berninger’s distinctive baritone vocal and a career now spanning over a decade will make this a must-see performance. With a new record to be released in May you can expect the band to have reached even greater heights when this headline performance comes to pass.
The xx have to be one of the success stories of Latitude’s short but prominent history. The Wandsworth three-piece performed an early afternoon set on The Lake Stage in 2009 and this year sees their return headlining The Word Arena on Saturday night. With the band’s debut album ‘xx’ only arriving in August of last year NME has already placed the record at #2 on their ‘50 Best Albums of 2009’ with Rolling Stone also placing it at #9 in their ‘Best of the Year’ list in 2009. Catch one of the fastest rising acts of the moment at The Word Arena.
Brooklyn-based Grizzly Bear are set to bring their psychedelic folk/pop to Latitude closing The Word Arena on Sunday night. The headliners will be showcasing old favourites and material from 2009’s critically acclaimed ‘Veckatimest’ album which has brought the band mainstream success with its accessible pop overtones reaching a Top Ten position on the US Billboard 200 chart. Their ambitious, symphonic pop will be the perfect way to bring Latitude 2010’s Word Arena to a triumphant close.
The velvety vocals of French actress and singer-songwriter Charlotte Gainsbourg will be soothing Latitude’s crowds with songs straight from her recent critically-acclaimed release IRM. As part of her very first tour, this performance will be exceptionally special as she brings her European chic and unshakable melodies drawn from renowned US songwriter Beck. Gainsbourg has also recently starred in the controversial and vivid Lars Von Trier masterpiece Antichrist.
Originating from Southend-on-Sea, black-clad quintet The Horrors formed in the summer of 2005 and quickly gained notoriety around London for their look, sound, and brief but frantic live shows. They released their debut album Strange House in 2007, reaching number 37 on the UK Albums Chart, and not long after that a world tour followed. Their second album Primary Colours was released in 2009 and saw the band opt for a very different sound, mixing shoegaze, post-punk, and goth. The album reached number 25 in the UK album chart and was nominated for the 2009 Mercury Prize. NME later gave the album first place in the 50 Best Albums of 2009.
A deliciously unexpected treat waits within the fragrant woods on the other side of the lake. The Sunrise Arena, situated along the nature trail spattered with flourishes of art and decadent spirit, is host to a splendid foray of new acts. Some of them will have been on the hushed lips of dedicated gem hunters for a while and others will be on the rise already, about to break for all to enjoy. With the likes of Band of Skulls, First Aid Kit and Local Natives rising steadily after last year’s appearances, The Sunrise Arena is the place to discover tomorrow’s stars today. This year will see plenty of tasty morsels for those who like to be at the start of something very special.
curated by Huw Stephens
A few metres away from the crystal waters of Latitude’s central landscape feature, The Lake Stage provides tantalisingly early glimpses of Huw Stephens’ freshest tips. Latitude audiences are treated to a full parade of diverse and exhilarating bands about to be splashed across magazines up and down the country. Last year, critics’ favourites such as Golden Silvers, Bombay Bicycle Club and Pulled Apart By Horses have since enjoyed mainstream successes, proving Latitude is the perfect place to catch such rising stars. Take the opportunity to absorb the sounds of next year in the surrounds of Latitude’s exquisite Lake Stage.
~ ARTS ARENAS ~
With the arts very much at its core, Latitude Festival brings every fraction of the arts together in one place, providing the ideal environment to discover new passions and explore things that you may have never encountered before. Ground-breaking, exciting and inspiring actors, writers, poets, authors, DJs, comics, dancers, choreographers, film-makers and visual artists will all be performing across the dedicated arts arenas and throughout the festival site. With an unrivalled programme running from Thursday evening to Sunday night, Latitude’s arts arenas will keep you enthused and entertained all weekend long and beyond.
Tania Harrison ~ Programmer of the Arts Arenas says:
“Booking the arts stages for Latitude is an incredible experience and my head is spinning with the huge talent, possibilities and ideas that will shape each arena. Latitude has far exceeded any of my dreams and it's such an honour to book the highest calibre of comics, film directors, writers, poets and artists and to work with some of the country's leading arts organisations including The Opera Group & London Sinfonietta, BAFTA, The Bush and Royal Shakespeare Company. This year we have extended our imagination into The Faraway Forest and the Royal Opera House will be staging a very special show deep in the heart of it. I am very excited too about the Masked Ball and a Bacchanalian party that we have planned there, plus I have quite a few more surprises that I'm working on for the arts arenas. I think this year Latitude will be a bit more devilishly decadent so prepare to unleash your wild side!”
~ Emo Philips ~ Ardal O’Hanlon ~ Rich Hall ~ Tommy Tiernan ~
~ Marcus Brigstocke: Early Edition with Andre Vincent and Guests ~
~ Arthur Smith ~ Richard Herring ~ Russell Kane ~ Holly Walsh ~
~ Sara Pascoe ~ Seann Walsh ~ Kevin Bridges ~ Charlie Baker ~
~ Doc Brown ~ Mark Olver ~ Joe Bor ~
~ Robin Ince’s Book Club ~ Adam Buxton: BUG ~ Popcorn Comedy ~
~ Rich Fulcher ~ Laura Solon~ Jonny Sweet ~
~ Pappy’s ~ Idiots of Ants ~ Cardinal Burns ~ Golden Lizard ~
Latitude has earned a fierce reputation for presenting the searingly sharp edge of comedy and this year Latitude will not disappoint with an incredible wealth of talent throughout the bill. One of the festival’s most enduring and prestigious fixtures, the Comedy Arena, sees a huge and varied bill of comic splendour. Vastly lauded by all who spend time within its bosom, you’re likely to have to hold back some energy in preparation as you’ll be expelling it in laughter and mirth for the duration of your visit. But don’t be mistaken, comedy magic will be sprinkled all throughout the programme in the Cabaret, Literary and Film & Music Arenas to name a few, and we can’t wait to tell you all about it. Taking in the finest names on the stand-up comedy roster as well as emerging acts on the cusp of widespread success, there are sure to be many unmissable moments this year.
With his unique take on the personality of the comic, the falsetto fantasist Emo Philips is a massive coup for the comedy bill at Latitude this year. Latitude regulars will be ecstatic when they discover this hugely popular and sought-after comic is bringing his show to Latitude’s Comedy Arena this summer for his first UK appearance for several years. Emo has over 6,000 live performances across the English speaking world under his belt. His inventive delivery and punchline trickery he is a maverick who puts ease into unease. Described by Jay Leno as ‘the best joke writer in America’ this is a rare chance to see the phenomenon that is Emo Philips this side of the pond. (Comedy Arena)
Bursting into the hearts and minds of the nation as the profoundly clueless Father Dougal in nineties hit TV series Father Ted, Ardal O’Hanlon has continued to make crowds and audiences laugh with sold out stand-up performances and a varied TV acting career. His stand-up routine showcases his trademark bewildered look at the world around him and exasperation as a husband and father, all delivered with a grumpy charm that will have you rolling in the aisles. (Comedy Arena)
Sketch and panel show regular, playwright, actor and stand-up comedian Rich Hall has long been coaxing laughter from his spouting of undeniable truths. Whether it’s the generic work of Tom Cruise or the civility of Londoners compared to American citizens, Rich Hall’s acerbic and direct humour sails over boundaries and all without a hint of a smile from the man himself. The former Saturday Night Live writer/performer has previously won the 2000 Perrier Comedy Award at the Edinburgh Fringe as his uncle alter ego Otis Lee Crenshaw and is the most regular victor of all the visiting panellists on BBC 2’s QI show. He’s also been described as an inspiration for The Simpsons character Moe Szyslak. (Comedy Arena)
Multi Award Winning Irish Superstar Comic Tommy Tiernan is a huge addition to Latitude’s comedy bill. A fearless force of energy, Tiernan is inspiring and one of the few comics to take his audience on a genuine emotional journey elevating the soul through rich, honest laughs, Tiernan has an instinctive way of crafting words to bring his anecdotes to vivid life and make the jokes truly resonate. Performances are high intensity, high octane, a no holds barred roller coaster ride as Tommy continues his constant interrogation of the big ideas - Sex, Religion, Family through the lens of his quirks, personal demons and sense of outrage. (Comedy Arena)
A festival favourite Marcus Brigstocke brings his Early Edition to Latitude with Andre Vincent and other special guests. Dissecting the daily newspapers with sharp political wit the show interviews politicians, campaigners, pundits and experts with a satirical and honest look at the world’s current affairs. A Latitude regular, Brigstocke has emerged over the last five years as a major comedy, writing and broadcasting talent appearing on countless TV and radio shows including debate show ‘Argumental’ and his hit Radio 4 programme ‘I’ve Never Seen Star Wars’ which has now transferred to TV. (Comedy Arena)
“My name is Arthur Smith, unless there's anybody here from the Streatham tax office. In which case, I'm Daphne Fairfax” has been Arthur Smith's opening line at hundreds of his legendary stand-up comedy performances and provides the title of his hilarious new autobiography ‘An Evening with Daphne Fairfax’. He reflects on the nature of comedy and his days as a scruffy kid on the bombsites of Bermondsey, a wild-haired undergraduate, a roadsweeper, an English teacher, a failed rock star, a boozed-up sexual adventurer and an intensive care patient who has been told never to drink again. As he guides us through his eventful memoirs, expect tales of turning down a Perrier Lifetime Achievement Award and losing a bet to writer Tony Hawks which resulted in him having to sing the Moldovan National Anthem naked on Balham High Road. A life less ordinary will make for an excellent storytime listen.
(Literary Arena)
Lauded comic and writer Richard Herring has been described by the British Theatre Guide as "one of the leading hidden masters of modern British comedy.” He has written and performed in a host of live one-man comedy shows including the acclaimed Talking Cock and the resulting book of the same name. He has also enjoyed a recent collaboration with Andrew Collins, initially on the radio comedy series Banter, on Collins' BBC 6 Music show and the well-received Collins and Herring Podcast. His most recent stand-up show, Hitler Moustache, received universal critical approval selling out for the entire Edinburgh Festival in 2009. (Comedy Arena)
Described as “one of the finest young performers around” by Time Out and an “inspiring and brilliant stand-up…perfect” by Chortle, Russell Kane is a rising comic star. In the past four years he has been nominated for the If.Comedy Awards (formerly the Perrier) three times, performed his hour-long Fakespeare play ‘The Lamentable Tragedies of Yates’s Wine Lodge’ at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-Upon-Avon, and performed at the Apollo Theatre for the BBC’s ‘Live At The Apollo’ show. He is currently in a new Fakespeare play as well as touring a new stand-up show called ‘Human Dressage’. (Comedy Arena)
The winner of the Chortle Awards’ 2008 Best Newcomer, Holly Walsh has managed to keep herself busy since joining the comedy circuit full time. With her irreverent but topical humour combined with her sardonic delivery, she’s been a perfect fit on shows like Mock The Week and 8 Out Of 10 Cats. With popular short comic ‘opinion’ videos on issues like the smoking ban, the credit crunch and her excellent short-lived attempt at becoming a hand model, her no nonsense, dry style is sure to keep the crowd entertained. (Comedy Arena)
Latitude is very proud to showcase the best of the established comedy talent whilst championing the hottest aspiring comic stars on the circuit. The first of these to be confirmed for the festival are: Sara Pascoe - named as one of Time Out’s Rising Stars of Comedy 2008, Sara has appeared in numerous shows such as Free Agents, The Thick of It and Being Human, and is described as “a cocky-cum-quizzical comic that resembles Russell Brand minus the libido" by the Evening Standard; Seann Walsh who delivers observational comedy with an affable charisma and charm; Glaswegian stand-up Kevin Bridges who, at 22, has already been nominated for the Breakthrough Act at the 2010 Chortle Awards; Charlie Baker and his Cornish comic timing spliced with his very accomplished jazz croon and Doc Brown, the younger brother of author Zadie Smith, whose eloquent, personal rapping style earned him third place in the English Comedian of the Year Award 2009. (Comedy Arena)
Bristolian Mark Olver has been a constant fixture on the TV warm up and comedy circuit in the last decade. His most recent Edinburgh show ‘Ramble On’ was based around a 500 mile walk from Bristol to the Scottish capital illustrated hilariously with road signs, maps and inspirational quotes from friends and families. Audience participation at his shows, whether willing or otherwise, is compulsory - positively encouraging heckling and friendly banter. His warm up for the massively successful ITV show Deal or No Deal have honed a rapier wit and shaped an interesting comic worthy of checking out. (Comedy Arena)
Joe Bor is an energetic observational character comedian, whose act consists of anecdotes from working in a school to his impressions of rugby players. He has acted in many short films for the BBC and written for TV and theatre including Newsrevue (Canal Cafe), The Comedy Business (Paramount Comedy) and Animus (Paramount Comedy). He has been the winner of Comedy Store Gong Show, Comedy Cafe New Act Night and Jewish Comedy Factor Award in 2007. "Hugely talented character comic, very funny and memorably charismatic." The Scotsman (Comedy Arena)
Latitude’s literary regular and house master of the written word, Robin Ince reprises the Book Club for Latitude’s Literary Arena, with specially created shows featuring incredible guests from the worlds of comedy, literature and science. A comic genius Robin succeeds in bringing both good and bad books to life, dissecting the themes, narratives and storytelling with hilarious observations and analysis. (Literary Arena)
Feast your eyes – and, of course, your ears – as comedian, writer, video director and general music video enthusiast, Adam Buxton brings a special edition of BUG to Latitude’s Film & Music Arena. BUG promises to bring you a programme of the weird, the wonderful and the truly great music videos from around the world this year. This special edition of BUG promises more outstanding clips rarely seen on a big screen (or even a TV screen) and some incredible online discoveries – with insightful and hilarious contributions from Adam. (Film & Music Arena)
Popcorn Comedy is a comedy show created by Jon Petrie and Holly Walsh in January 2009. It presents some of the strongest, sharpest and funniest videos online. The show also features the country’s best comedians as they showcase their own short comedy films. Previous live performers have included Peter Serafinowicz, Tim Key, Adam Buxton, Josie Long, Robert Popper, David Cross and Graham Linehan. The Film & Music Arena is the perfect rostrum for you to enjoy this creative revolution and laugh until you fall over. Popcorn Comedy is a Time Out ‘Critics’ Choice’ and has been featured on the BBC’s Culture Show. (Film & Music Arena)
Comedian Rich Fulcher – famed for his Boosh characters Bob Fossil, Kodiak Jack and cheesehead Tommy Nooka and co-star of the cult sketch show Snuff Box - will be bringing one ‘woman’ show, ‘An Evening with Eleanor: The Tour Whore [USA]’ to Latitude’s Cabaret Arena. Self-professed rock and roll ‘tour whore’ who recently appeared as Howard’s lover in The Mighty Boosh, Eleanor has lived a life most people scream about. Now the woman who claimed to make Neil ‘young’ and put the ‘wood’ in Woodstock – tells all through poetry, song, dance and confessional monologues that have been known to leave the audience feeling freshly molested. Prepare to get a pounding like you’re yesterday’s beef! (Cabaret Arena)
Having found her feet in character comedy, after being only the second solo female to win the Perrier Comedy Award (2005), Laura Solon will bring her acute observations and killer one-liners to the green fields of Suffolk. In the past she’s worked with comic TV stars Paul Whitehouse and Harry Enfield and most recently worked with Al Murray on Multiple Personality Disorder. (Cabaret Arena)
Jonny Sweet is a talented actor who won the 2009 Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer for his show ‘Mostly About Arthur’ (directed by Stefan Golaszewski), which Nica Burns of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards described as: "a delicious hour of character comedy...unexpected, highly original, very funny. Watch out for him." He also appeared in Tom Basden's new play ‘Party’ at the Edinburgh Festival which won a Fringe First award. He recently appeared as a young David Cameron in ‘When Boris Met Dave’ which recently aired on More 4. (Comedy Arena)
"The funniest sketch troupe on the Fringe" (The Scotsman) Pappy’s will be providing the madcap fun in the Literary Arena. Pappy's is a comedy team made up of trio Ben, Matthew and Tom - a tour de force of fun and laughter. Formerly a four piece, Pappy’s have steadily risen to fame since 2007 receiving nominations for Chortle's Best Newcomer and for the If.Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Festival. Their third Edinburgh show, Funergy, garnered further critical praise, and during early 2009 they toured Britain and Ireland with the hit show. This year sees them embark on their largest ever tour to date including Latitude, so expect wall to wall sketches and non-stop entertainment with this trio of comedic talent. (Literary Arena)
Formed in 2007 and after a sell-out Edinburgh Festival debut, Idiots of Ants have gone on to perform all over the UK. Idiots of Ants; Andrew Spiers, Elliott Tiney, James Wrighton and Benjamin Wilson, will be bringing their unique blend of fast-paced sketch comedy to the festival’s Cabaret Arena – a performance that will no doubt be jam-packed with intelligent wit and wonderfully timed observational comedy. Following three sell-out Edinburgh Festivals, an Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination (formerly Perrier) and hot off the heels of the Montreal ‘Just For Laughs’ Festival the Ants (BBC1, E4, Radio 4) bring their unique blend of fast-paced sketch comedy to the Latitude Festival. (Cabaret Arena)
Favourites on the UK live comedy circuit and two-thirds of If.Comedy nominees Fat Tongue, Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns will be bringing their imaginatively daft sketches to the Cabaret Arena this year. The Times has called them “the most original sketch act around”. If you are a fan of comedic preposterous stereotypes this double act will be right up your street! (Cabaret Arena)
Comedy’s future is in good hands with a fantastic new breed of comic stars emerging from the underground. Hotly-tipped turns Mike Wozniak and Henry Paker - alongside the sketch collective Superclump of which they are members – are leading the pack. Wozniak won an If.Comedy Best Newcomer nomination in 2008, with Paker’s aloof stand-up persona winning him the 2008 Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year. Together, they recently wowed audiences at the Leicester Comedy Festival with their hilarious play ‘Golden Lizard’, a fantastically funny play that they are bringing to Latitude’s Cabaret Arena.
~ THEATRE AT LATITUDE~
~ The Opera Group and London Sinfonietta ~
~ Bush Theatre ~ Lyric Hammersmith ~
~ Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse in association with Paines Plough ~
~ Northern Stage and Company of Angels ~
~ English Touring Theatre ~ Les Enfants Terribles ~ Soho Theatre ~ nabokov ~
~ Red Shift Theatre Company ~ Shatterbox Theatre Company ~ Mouth to Mouth ~
Showcasing performances from the nation’s leading theatre companies as well as work from emerging talent, Latitude has brought contemporary, physical, classical and performance theatre to a brand new audience, gaining an unrivalled reputation for its breadth and quality of programming. The calibre of theatre on offer has meant that Latitude now rivals such established theatre events as Edinburgh Festival and Manchester International Festival, and with more bespoke productions created especially for Latitude, there will be unique and exciting work to be unearthed and discovered with, undoubtedly, something for everyone.
We are very excited to announce that the Royal Opera House will be presenting performances of its latest commission ‘Pleasure's Progress’ by director and choreographer Will Tuckett. A fusion of dance, opera and music, Pleasure's Progress explores the vistas and vision of the English painter, printmaker and satirist William Hogarth (1696 - 1764). Tuckett brings Hogarth’s dark pictorial narratives right up to the current day, drawing on material from some of his most celebrated work including - A Rake’s Progress, Marriage à la mode, A Harlot’s Progress, Four Stages of Cruelty and Beer Street and Gin Lane, combining a vivid slice of historical Covent Garden with contemporary urban life. With a cast of dancers, singers and musicians, a witty libretto by Alasdair Middleton, beautiful music by Paul Englishby and contemporary designs by Jon Bausor this new production promises wit and wonder, fun and frolics and an irreverent take on the darker side of society. ‘Pleasure’s Progress ’will be performed in The Faraway Forest, the perfect place for such a magnificent addition to the bill. (The Faraway Forest)
The Royal Shakespeare Company will bring an anarchic theatrical event to the Suffolk countryside at Latitude this year. No tights, no skulls (and no burning witches or zombies this year) this is a new show created just for the festival. Details are currently under lock and key, fiercely guarded by this year’s playwright Carl Grose. Apparently there are weird and wonderful rumours racing through the RSC. Something extraordinary is brewing in Stratford-upon-Avon. Carl is keeping quiet. Whatever it is it will emerge, fully formed, in Suffolk at some point 15-18th July…and we cannot wait! (Theatre Arena)
The Opera Group and London Sinfonietta present composer George Benjamin’s, 21st century masterpiece, ‘Into the Little Hill’, which garnered rave reviews in its London premiere at the Royal Opera House in 2009. Into the Little Hill tells the tale of a morally bankrupt politician, who, desperate to shore up a flagging public vote, promises to exterminate a town’s plague of rats. A faceless stranger arrives and offers his services; but when the Mayor refuses to pay, his actions have terrible repercussions for the town’s population. Into the Little Hill features acclaimed international singers Susan Bickley (mezzo-soprano) and Claire Booth (soprano) who play all the roles in the story. Franck Ollu conducts the London Sinfonietta. Into the Little Hill appears at Latitude in an Aldeburgh Music/London Sinfonietta/ROH2/The Opera Group co-production. Latitude is delighted to be presenting this outstanding opera in the Theatre Arena.
‘Every piece of music leaves its own particular silence in its wake: the silence left after this work's last notes sounded was exquisite.’ – Independent. (Theatre Arena)
Bush Theatre presents ‘The Great British Country Fete’, a play dedicated to the British institution of the village fete. Home to Olympic jam makers, mammoth marrow growers, anarchist Brownies and enough bunting to cause a national fabric shortage; the fete is a pillar of country life, a melting pot of personalities, and the British summer wouldn’t be the same without it. Join the Bush for a day at the fete – as the tombola rolls and the skittles fall, battles are fought, victories (and prizes) won, loves lost and found, and we meet the characters behind this irreplaceable and irresistible British tradition. Stories and songs combine in this summer treat, featuring three actors playing a multitude of roles as the tea flows and the drama unfolds. London-based, The Bush is a world-famous home for new plays and an internationally renowned champion of playwrights. Discovering, nurturing and producing the best new playwrights from the widest range of backgrounds, The Bush presents exciting new voices that tell contemporary stories with wit, style and passion. (Theatre Arena)
Resonant with the diverse output of Latitude Festival, the Lyric Hammersmith is sure to astound with a special and unique work adhering to their values of evocative and esoteric performances. Bringing an eclectic selection of artistic disciplines – writers, visual artists, dancers, actors – to collaborate on crossing the boundaries between high art and populism, their unpredictable brand of storytelling is bound to be a highlight of the exceptional theatre programme at Latitude. (Theatre Arena)
Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse in association with Paines Plough present ‘Tiny Volcanoes’ by Laurence Wilson. Since they joined together in 1999, the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse have been on a remarkable journey, described as “a theatrical renaissance on Merseyside” (The Observer). Paines Plough is an award-winning, nationally and internationally renowned theatre company specialising exclusively in commissioning and producing new plays. Tiny Volcanoes is a new work by Wilson, who has previously been voted Writer of Liverpool Daily Post’s Play of the Year 2004, for Urban Legend. (Theatre Arena)
Northern Stage and Company of Angels co-production, ‘Apples’, adapted by John Retallack from the novel by Richard Milward, is an electrifying collision of Irvine Welsh and Virginia Woolf set on a Middlesbrough council estate. Returning to Latitude following 23 year old author Richard Milward’s reading from this, his debut novel last year in the Literary Arena, Apples depicts the brutal insecurities of adolescence; a world where the adults are absent, drugs are everywhere, sex is desperate and life is both terrifying and thrilling. The characters feed every stereotype currently applied to young disaffected people; they are violent, shameless, ruthless, and their horizons reach only to their next night out. And yet they challenge our prejudices because Milward reveals their brave, complex and profound inner lives, battling for self-esteem. “...Streaming with gorgeous language, a frighteningly recognisable glimpse into a particular experience of adolescence.” (The Guardian). (Theatre Arena)
The English Touring Theatre Company presents ‘Lovesong’ a stunning one-man play on a piano, written and directed by Che Walker and performed by British soul singer, Omar.
Che Walker is an actor, director and award-winning playwright – scooping both the George Devine Award for Most Promising Playwright and Arts Council England Writer’s Award for Drama in 2003 for his play ‘Flesh Wound’. Last year, Che brought the soul/funk musical ‘Been So Long’ which featured Omar in the cast. This year they team up for a more intimate performance showcasing Omar’s staggering vocal and musical talents. Omar is an internationally acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician – his most well-known song was the Top 20 debut single ‘There’s Nothing Like This’ in 1991.
As one of England's foremost theatre companies, ETT creates theatre of outstanding quality, imagination and ambition that is both emotionally and intellectually engaging. (Theatre Arena)
Les Enfants Terribles invite you to The Empire Music Hall for ‘Vaudevillains’ a night you’ll never forget. Charlie the owner is dead – but whodunnit? Could it be nervy knife thrower Ray the Blade; sexy Siamese striplets; The Cerberus Sisters; deranged ventriloquist Albert Frog; macabre mime artist Gaston Gasteau; or perhaps the mystifying magician – The Great Mephisto… Murder, mystery and mayhem combine with Les Enfants Terribles dark, twisted wit and inventive theatricality as they present their brand new musical extravaganza. After the show join the party as the Empire’s doors stay open and the band plays on into the night... (Theatre Arena)
London’s Soho Theatre presents ‘The Experiment’ a stunning play written and performed by Evening Standard award-winning playwright Mark Ravenhill. Included in last year’s Terror season at the Southwark Playhouse, this short horror transfers to Latitude’s Theatre Arena to shock, terrorise and torment. Not for the faint-hearted this is: “Shocking good horror.” (Michael Coveney – Whatsonstage.com) (Theatre Arena)
New writing theatre company nabokov presents ‘Amplified’ – a stag night set at a festival. Expect the traditional male mayhem of a group of friends celebrating a groom’s last night of freedom. nabokov is a company dedicated to commissioning, developing and producing backlash theatre; new work for the stage that offers an antagonistic response to contemporary agendas, trends and events. (Theatre Arena)
Discover the incredible ‘Invisible Show’ presented by Red Shift Theatre Company – a live theatre event embedded in the crowd audible via wireless headphones. Conceived, written and directed by Jonathan Holloway, The Invisible Show is a live theatre event embedded in the crowd, almost invisible, but audible via wireless headphones. It’s a celebration of frailty, a reassurance that we’re all rubbish at this thing called life. The dialogue is uncompromising as an estranged father and son duo meet, a couple discuss separation, lovers squirm sexed-up and desperate for privacy, a sick mother worries into her phone and ex-partners eye one-another with curiosity. Except for the smallest tell-tales the crowd is ignorant of these eddies of emotion.… unless they have the headphones, and then the live soundscape reveals itself. Search it out or just listen. The Invisible Show will be performed once a day over all four days of the Festival. Will you see it? (Pandora’s Playground)
Shatterbox Theatre Company bring their ‘Fair Trade’ project to the Theatre Arena at Latitude. Fair Trade tells the remarkable stories of two very different female survivors of the British sex slave trade. Their journeys – from their separate home countries to London – are told in a powerfully honest and unsentimental way. Inspired by the Journey Against Sex Trafficking (the 2007 art installation in Trafalgar Square made up of seven shipping containers each representing an aspect of the suffering experienced by trafficked women) of which Emma Thompson was a major collaborator, writers Anna Holbek and Shelley Davenport based their script on the survivors’ verbatim accounts. In full support of their work, Emma Thompson enthusiastically came on board as Executive Producer. The play's content is based on the real-life experiences of Elena and Samai, both trafficked women. While showing the harsh reality of the women’s experiences the play is careful to avoid sentimentality. It takes a farcical approach to a prostitute’s arrest in the style of a Punch and Judy show, a comical M.C. delivering facts about the sex trade and a human auction. Shatterbox is a young and exciting theatre company dedicated to new writing, with particular emphasis on awareness-raising, issue based work. (Theatre Arena)
Unique and very special Outdoor Theatre can be found throughout the Latitude site, on the banks of the lake and deep within the forest. Taking inspiration from the beautiful countryside in which it is set, performances vary from beat-boxing to classical orchestra and from musicals to Shakespeare.
One of East Anglia’s most inspiring local theatre companies, Mouth To Mouth take up their residency in Latitude’s outdoor spaces to bring their unique take on one of Shakespeare’s funniest plays. Under the guidance of Artistic Director, James Holloway, Mouth To Mouth will brave the British summer weather to perform ‘The Comedy of Errors’ – a farcical story of mistaken identities and slapstick. After their festival stealing performances of The Taming of The Shrew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Merry Wives of Windsor at previous editions of the festival, the company bring their idiosyncratic and crazy take on playing the Bard back this year. (Outdoor Theatre)
~ BAFTA ~
~ Mark Lamarr presents God’s Jukebox with Geno Washington,
The Jim Jones Revue and more to be announced ~
~ Riz MC MICroscope ~ James Rhodes ~
~ Adam Buxton: BUG ~ Popcorn Comedy ~ Modern Toss ~
A heady mix of visual and aural pleasure, the Film & Music Arena is home to some of the festival’s most mesmerising performances. Bringing together the worlds of alternative cinema and music, the arena will showcase a jam-packed programme of award-winning films, documentaries and shorts with Q&A sessions and discussions alongside musical treats and thrilling visuals.
BAFTA is delighted to be returning to the Latitude Festival for the fourth year. Latitude continues to provide a fantastic platform from which BAFTA can fulfil its mission of helping audiences access industry expertise and celebrate excellence in film and television, and we very much look forward to joining the party again this year. Coverage of BAFTA’s activity at Latitude will be hosted on www.bafta.org shortly after the festival.
The Film & Music Arena will be home to some of the best retro music around courtesy of radio DJ, presenter and all-round music aficionado Mark Lamarr. Presenting his renowned Saturday night Radio 2 show - God’s Jukebox - Lamarr will be DJ-ing an eclectic mix of his top tunes from soul, ska, reggae, country, gospel and rap as well as introducing five specially selected bands and performers to the Film & Music Arena. The first to be announced are: legendary American R&B singer Geno Washington and punk rock ‘n’ rollers The Jim Jones Revue.
Geno Washington and The Ram Jam Band rose to fame in the sixties with two of the biggest selling UK albums of the decade. ‘Hand Clappin, Foot Stompin, Funky Butt Live’ was in the album charts for 48 weeks of the year in 1966 and was only out-sold by The Sound of Music and Bridge Over Troubled Water. Immortalised by Dexy's Midnight Runners in their 80's hit Geno - his high energy live performances were, and still are to this day the stuff of legends.
The Jim Jones Revue are an epiphany of velvet waistcoats, sideburns, quiffs and great shoes – and wouldn't be out of place in a Tombstone gin joint. Melding the best of old school traditional forms with the fire of punk, they create an exciting hybrid referencing Jerry Lee's 50's blueprint and the crash-clatter chaos of The Cramps, MC5 and The Birthday Party.
Hailed as a conceptual event which includes music, a bit of theatre and a whole lot of hype, fans of Riz MC will unite as the legendary MC/Actor does what he does best, entertain a crowd. MICroscope promises to be a mad ‘immersive and interactive gig experience’ – think audience participation, improvisation, and some experimental lyrical gymnastics. Riz Ahmed shot to fame with his hip hop debut single ‘The Post 9/11 Blues’ causing controversy across TV, radio and newsprint. Since then he has been championed by BBC Radio 1, toured the USA, and played shows from Fabric to the Royal Festival Hall with the likes of Massive Attack, Nitin Sawhney, Dizzee Rascal, and Mos Def. As an actor his screen credits include, the multi award winning ‘Road to Guantanamo’, BAFTA nominated ‘Dead Set’, and the BAFTA winning and Emmy nominated ‘Britz’. He was nominated for Best Actor at the 2008 BIFA Awards for his performance in the title role in ‘Shifty’ opposite Jason Flemyng and Daniel Mays. Forthcoming screen appearances include Sally Potter’s ‘RAGE’ alongside Jude Law and Judy Dench, ‘Centurion’ with Michael Fassbender and Dominic West.
James Rhodes is known as the classical pianist with a rock-star attitude. His second eagerly-awaited album ‘Now Would All Freudians Please Stand Aside – Bach Busoni Beethoven’ has recently been released on the award-winning independent classical label Signum Classics. “The centrepiece of this recital, a performance of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata in E major Op 109..stands comparison with the finest on record and knocks those of more self-consciously highbrow pianists into a cocked hat.” The Telegraph. Rhodes will be in the Film & Music Arena to invite you to join him in an evening of Bach, Beethoven and banter. For classical junkies, virgins and everyone in between. “Bursting through the era of political correctness in a haze of Byronic romanticism, James Rhodes, is swiftly making himself a name as the wild man of the keyboard.” Classical Music magazine.
Feast your eyes – and, of course, your ears – as comedian, writer, video director and general music video enthusiast, Adam Buxton brings a special edition of BUG to Latitude’s Film & Music Arena. BUG promises to bring you a programme of the weird, the wonderful and the truly great music videos from around the world this year. This special edition of BUG promises more outstanding clips rarely seen on a big screen (or even a TV screen) and some incredible online discoveries – with insightful and hilarious contributions from Adam.
Popcorn Comedy is a comedy show created by Jon Petrie and Holly Walsh in January 2009. It presents some of the strongest, sharpest and funniest videos online. The show also features the country’s best comedians as they showcase their own short comedy films. Previous live performers have included Peter Serafinowicz, Tim Key, Adam Buxton, Josie Long, Robert Popper, David Cross and Graham Linehan. The Film & Music Arena is the perfect rostrum for you to enjoy this creative revolution and laugh until you fall over. Popcorn Comedy is a Time Out ‘Critics’ Choice’ and has been featured on the BBC’s Culture Show.
The hilariously foul-mouthed Modern Toss present groundbreaking work featuring a newly recorded narration and a freshly tailored soundtrack to enhance specially-edited highlights of their two Channel 4 animation series, featuring sweary signwriter Mr Tourette, Drive-by Abuser, Space Argument and Alan. Jon Link and Mick Bunnage are the writers, cartoonists and animators behind the stylish and hilarious cult comic Modern Toss and the TV series of the same name. A mixture of blunt-talking, animated characters with bizarre and surreal live action, their two series of the Modern Toss cartoon sketch show were broadcast on Channel 4 and nominated for a Rose D'Or award in 2009. The second series was broadcast in the U.S in 2009.
~ Robin Ince’s Book Club ~ Word Theatre ~ 5 X 15 ~
~ Bret Easton Ellis ~ Adam Foulds ~ Natasha Walter ~
~ Jon Ronson ~ Arthur Smith ~ Jon McGregor ~ Samantha Harvey ~
~ Philippa Perry ~ Jane Bussmann ~ Anthony Cartwright ~ Louise Stern~
~ Pappy’s ~ The School of Life ~
The best literary event of the summer, Latitude’s Literary Arena celebrates the written word in all its fabulous glory. For both book worms and casual readers, the best authors and special guests will all congregate under the canopy of the arena and take you on a journey to the far reaches of your imagination. Stories are told, books are dissected, discussions are had and debates fought over; these are book readings with a difference so sit back and enjoy Latitude’s fun-filled library by the sea.
Latitude’s literary regular and house master of the written word, Robin Ince reprises the Book Club for Latitude’s Literary Arena, with specially created shows featuring incredible guests from the worlds of comedy, literature and science. A comic genius Robin succeeds in bringing both good and bad books to life, dissecting the themes, narratives and storytelling with hilarious observations and analysis.
The Literary Arena is set to sizzle with WordTheatre's line-up of renownedactors from Hollywood and the UK, performing short stories by world-classauthors. Among the notable actors scheduled to perform are the originalHutch - David Soul, Amber Tamblyn from 'The Sisterhood of the TravellingPants', CSI's Gary Dourdan, Harry Potter's Professor Quirinus Quirrell - IanHart, Brian Cox ('The Bourne Supremacy'), Sally Hawkins (‘Happy Go Lucky), John Schwab ('The Complete Works of William Shakespeare'), Chris McDonald ('Thelma and Louise' & 'Requiem for a Dream') and Ben Miller ('Armstrong and Miller'). Over in the Poetry Arena WordTheatre presents David Soul reading Pablo Neruda accompanied by classical guitarist Hugh Burns and Amber Tamblyn will read from her highly acclaimed book of poetry 'Bang Ditto'. Produced by Cedering Fox and Kirsty Peart and directed by Cedering Fox.
5x15 brings together five outstanding individuals to enlighten, entertain and inspire, as they tell the story behind their personal histories, most innovative ideas, grandest achievements, and deepest obsessions - all in just 15 minutes. This is non-fiction story telling at its best - completely unscripted and PowerPoint free. 5x15 launched earlier this year in London to rave reviews and packed out auditoriums and is the brain-child of Eleanor O’Keeffe, Rosie Boycott and Daisy Leitch. This is mind-expanding entertainment that gets you thinking about far-ranging topics from unusual perspectives. Without doubt those fifteen minutes will be informative, lively and packed full of thought-provoking sound.
Latitude is delighted to welcome notorious modern day American novelist Bret Easton Ellis for a reading and discussion of his brand new novel, ‘Imperial Bedrooms’. In his own inimitable style the characters from the successful and highly acclaimed debut ‘Less Than Zero’ are brought into the present day – 25 years later. Bringing the vivid and brittle disaffection of middle age into the picture, art imitating life won’t be far from the passionately inscribed words. Bret Easton Ellis gained notoriety after the murderous pulp fiction of 80’s satire novel ‘American Psycho’, a novel that has since become a cult classic as well as a cherished movie starring Christian Bale. ‘Imperial Bedrooms’ follows 2005’s ‘Lunar Park’, an excellent pastiche-esque riff on autobiographical fiction, which only fuelled intrigue about this spectacular talent.
With his debut novel ‘The Truth About These Strange Times’, Adam Foulds won a Betty Trask award and was made Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year in 2007. For the follow up Adam crafted a narrative poem entitled ‘The Broken Word’ (2008), which detailed fictional events during the Mau Mau Uprising and again gained several accolades. Last year’s ‘The Quickening Maze’ saw a return to standard prose, this time focusing on the Victorian mental asylum where the poet John Clare was held. This work was nominated for the Booker Prize. With an undeniable pedigree arising from such a small body of work so far, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to see this amazing talent.
Writer and campaigner Natasha Walter will be presenting readings from her new book ‘Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism’ which is out this Spring. The follow-up to the inspirational and critically applauded book ‘The New Feminism’ which came out in 1998, Walter examines today’s society and shines a light on the way the dreams of young women are being restricted by our hypersexual culture and by the resurgence of biological determinism. Reviewer, columnist and feature writer at the Independent, the Observer and the Guardian, Walter is also a regular broadcaster particularly on BBC2's Newsnight Review and BBC Radio 4's Front Row. She has been a judge on many literary prizes, including the Booker Prize in 1999, is a passionate advocate for the rights of women and children who seek asylum in the UK, and in 2006 she founded the charity Women for Refugee Women.
Not afraid to breach journalistic boundaries, or indeed those of common sense, Jon Ronson will be sharing snippets of his latest work before its publication next year. Jon Ronson unveils his new book, a work in progress called ‘The Psychopath Test’, or maybe called ‘The Right Sort of Madness’. For the past few years, ever since he published his last book ‘The Men Who Stare At Goats’ (which was recently adapted into a George Clooney movie) and quit his Guardian column, Jon has been quietly undertaking strange, funny, mysterious adventures in the world of psychopaths. And those who treat them. And those who make good money out of them. The book isn't quite finished yet (it will be published in 2011) but he will be sharing parts of it at this year's Latitude.
“My name is Arthur Smith, unless there's anybody here from the Streatham tax office. In which case, I'm Daphne Fairfax” has been Arthur Smith's opening line at hundreds of his legendary stand-up comedy performances and provides the title of his hilarious new autobiography ‘An Evening with Daphne Fairfax’. He reflects on the nature of comedy and his days as a scruffy kid on the bombsites of Bermondsey, a wild-haired undergraduate, a roadsweeper, an English teacher, a failed rock star, a boozed-up sexual adventurer and an intensive care patient who has been told never to drink again. As he guides us through his eventful memoirs, expect tales of turning down a Perrier Lifetime Achievement Award and losing a bet to writer Tony Hawks which resulted in him having to sing the Moldovan National Anthem naked on Balham High Road. A life less ordinary will make for an excellent storytime listen.
Famed author Jon McGregor joins the line-up in the Literary Arena this year performing readings from his fantastic new novel 'Even The Dogs'. Centred on a man found dead, alone, one cold day between Christmas and New Year, McGregor takes us on a journey into the underclass of British society with profound empathy; an intimate exploration of life at the edges of society, littered with love, loss, despair and a glimpse of redemption.
Jon McGregor is the author of the critically acclaimed ‘If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things’ and ‘So Many Ways to Begin’. He is the winner of the Betty Trask Prize and the Somerset Maugham Award, and has been twice longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
A well travelled writer – having lived in New Zealand and taught in Japan – and co- founder of an environmental charity, Samantha Harvey garnered prizes and praise for her debut novel ‘The Wilderness’ last year. It was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book award and the Orange Prize for Fiction as well as winning the AMI Literature and Betty Trask awards. This sensitive portrayal of a man with Alzheimer’s and his struggles to keep his life together makes for a compelling, poignant read.
Trained psychotherapist Philippa Perry will bring her thoroughly original debut to Henham Park for reading and discussion. ‘Couch Fiction: A Graphic Tale of Psychotherapy’ is a witty, fly-on-the-wall novel based around a psychotherapy case study with fantastic cartoons that fully illustrate the workings inside a consulting room. The novel brings together the thoughts and dialogues of both the therapist and the patient James; handsome and successful yet he struggles to cope when his girlfriend refuses to move in with him. It is only by confronting the reality of his past and admitting his insecurities through therapy that he can move on with his life. A thought-provoking story which both entertains and educates, Couch Fiction explores several difficult themes and reveals how therapeutic change takes place by looking at the inner thoughts of both the therapist and the client.
Hollywood showbiz reporter turned author Jane Bussmann brings readings from her hit novel ‘Worst Date Ever’ – the true story of the past six years of Bussmann’s life where she developed a crush on conflict negotiator John Prendergast and followed him to Uganda. A darkly comic memoir, ‘Worst Date Ever’, is gonzo journalism at its best – straddling the divide of wry humour and inappropriateness perfectly, creating a piece of satire condemning account of the failure to apprehend Joseph Kony, The Ugandan terrorist who has led his army of child soldiers on a 20 year campaign of hostage-taking, exploitation and murder. Bussmann is a comedian and writer who has written for television and radio including The Fast Show, Smack The Pony, Brass Eye, Jam and South Park.
In ‘Heartland’ Anthony Cartwright brings together the ingrained English threads of politics and football to a backdrop of the England vs Argentina World Cup match in 2002. Set in the West Midlands Cartwright explores the complex plot of a game of football alongside the grass-roots politics and the rise of the BNP in the footholds of this working class, multicultural and racially charged area. Laced with resonance and experience, it is a mature and vital second novel. Anthony’s debut ‘The Afterglow’ was released in 2004 and won a Betty Trask Award. He’s currently working on his third for Tindal Street Press, while teaching English in Nottinghamshire.
London-based American writer Louise Stern will be coming to Latitude with readings from her book ‘Chattering: Stories’. Stern is fourth generation deaf in her family and her characters in the stories of this book all share the condition. Centred on a group of brave young girls, out to party, travel the world, and go a little bit wild, they communicate with the outside world via a complicated mixture of sign language, lip-reading, note-scribbling, guesswork and instinct. Yet they are full of daring, ready for adventures that take them into unfamiliar places and strange, cockeyed relationships with people whose actions they observe, but never wholly understand.
"The funniest sketch troupe on the Fringe" (The Scotsman) Pappy’s will be providing the madcap fun in the Literary Arena. Pappy's is a comedy team made up of trio Ben, Matthew and Tom - a tour de force of fun and laughter. Formerly a four piece, Pappy’s have steadily risen to fame since 2007 receiving nominations for Chortle's Best Newcomer and for the If.Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Festival. Their third Edinburgh show, Funergy, garnered further critical praise, and during early 2009 they toured Britain and Ireland with the hit show. This year sees them embark on their largest ever tour to date including Latitude so expect wall to wall sketches and non-stop entertainment with this trio of comedic talent.
~ The School Of Life ~
New to last year’s festival, the Literary Salon is the noisy little sister of the Literary Arena that encourages you to get involved. A hub of interactive workshops, open discussions and wide-ranging debates all ready to get stuck into – it is a place to air your opinions, learn a brand new skill, discover new and exciting things and explore your inner most interests.
This year The School of Life will be sharing three of their specialist workshops at the Literary Salon at Latitude designed to help us all live life to the full. This central London social enterprise offers ideas to help make everyday living - work, rest & play - a joy for you and everyone around you; tickling, exercising and expanding your mind with its emporium of emotions, a bazaar of bibliotherapy, a convenience store of concepts, a trading post of triumphant philosophies. A place to step back and think intelligently about everyday questions and concerns, you will be exposed to a variety of ideas - from philosophy to literature, psychology to the visual arts. This School Of Life will literally make you too cool for school! Look out for the School of Life-hosted dinner party based on Plato’s Symposium over in The Faraway Forest.
~ Hair the Musical ~
New York and Broadway come to Latitude’s beautiful floating stage this year with a 30 minute excerpt of the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical HAIR, featuring the 2009 Tony-Award winning cast direct from Broadway. A celebration of life, love and freedom, and a passionate cry for hope and change, HAIR features some of the greatest songs ever written for the stage, including ‘Let The Sun Shine In’, ‘I Got Life’, ‘Hair’ and ‘Aquarius’. HAIR is about a group of young New Yorkers in the 60’s struggling to balance their lives and loves, rebelling and rejecting the lifestyles of their conservative parents. Infectious, outlandish and exuberant, HAIR has gained iconic status since erupting onto the stage in 1967 and the messages of HAIR are as relevant today as they have ever been. This fantastic production returns to London at the Gielgud Theatre this April, and Latitude is thrilled to have this amazing piece of musical theatre at the Waterfront Stage.
~ Wendy Cope ~ John Cooper Clarke ~
~ Blake Morrison ~ Luke Wright ~ Jacob Polley ~
~ Spoken Word All Stars ~ WordTheatre presents David Soul and Amber Tamblyn ~
Over the past four years, the Poetry Arena at Latitude has grown into one of Europe’s leading poetry events in its own right, boasting the hottest slam poets, spoken word, storytelling, comedy sketches, rappers and much, much more. The Poetry Arena lures in passers by with comfy bean-bags and cushions which entice you to stay all day transfixed by the magnificence of the raconteurs on stage. Laugh, cry and become enlightened in Latitude’s now famous Poetry Arena.
Kent-born Wendy Cope is one of England’s most accomplished poets, which earned her Radio 4’s Listeners’ Choice for the post of Poet Laureate in 1998. Often compared to Larkin, her light-hearted style focuses on the mundane aspects of everyday English life, with a wry, comical bent. She has won several awards, notably the Cholmondeley Award (1987) and the Michael Braude Award for Light Verse from the American Academy of Arts and Letters (1995), as well as a nomination for the Whitbread Poetry Award for ‘If I Don’t Know’ (2001).
The bard of Salford and the fore father of punk poetry, John Cooper Clarke will be bringing his renowned satirical, political and extremely entertaining verse to Latitude, delivered in his trademark rapid-fire performance style. Rising to fame in the late ‘70’s supporting punk bands Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, The Fall and Joy Division he has continued to be as reverent and relevant today as ever, writing new and vital poetry and being regularly seen and heard on TV, radio, in films and music. See a true legend in action at Latitude’s Poetry Arena.
Poet and author Blake Morrison has been a subtle guiding force in British poetry since his first book ‘The Movement: English Poetry and Fiction of the 1950s’ (1980). This was followed by co-editing ‘The Penguin Book of Contemporary British Poetry’ (1982) with last year’s distinguished Poetry Arena guest Andrew Motion. He has written several collections of poetry including ‘Ballad of the Yorskhire Ripper’ – written throughout with a Yorkshire dialect – and his debut ‘Dark Glasses’. He began his career as a journalist and poetry critic and was made Professor of Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmith’s College in 2003. His most recent novel ‘South of the Border’ is being made into a TV series while his J.R. Ackerly Prize-winning autobiography ‘And When Did You Last See Your Father?’ (1993) was made into a feature film in 2007.
Latitude favourite Luke Wright is a poet and spoken word performer whose quirky blend of anecdotal humour and verse assures a livewire performance. This Essex via Hackney lad formed performance collective Aisle16 in 2000, which has since taken several shows to the Edinburgh Fringe and toured around the country to critical acclaim. From the dark comic lecturing of ‘Poetry Boyband’ (which won a Time Out Critics’ Choice Award in 2005) to ‘Services to Poetry’, a tour to find poetic inspiration at service stations across the UK, Aisle16’s output has been lauded and celebrated. Since 2006 Luke has launched his own curve-ball bid to become Poet Laureate and has become the newest poet-in-residence on BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live. In 2009 he took contemporary poetry onto primetime TV, writing all the poetry for Channel 4’s The Seven Ages of Love, a 30 minute documentary that gained ‘pick of the day’ in eight national publications and was broadcast to over a million people.
Jacob Polley, novelist and poet, has released two sets of poetry – ‘The Brink’ (2003) and ‘Little Gods’ (2006) - and a novel – ‘Talk of the Town’ (2009), awarded 5/5 by the Independent on Sunday. His work has been praised by the Guardian as “the kind of poetry that imbues the everyday, the tarnished and burnished, with the possibilities of the transcendent” and has often been shortlisted for prestigious awards including a nomination for the Forward Prize for Best Poem (‘The Cheapjack’, 2006). In 2002 Jacob won an Eric Gregory Award and the Radio 4/Arts Council ‘First Verse’ Award. Jacob was selected as one of the Next Generation of British poets by the Poetry Book Society in 2004.
Poet in the City, working with Apples & Snakes, has created a Spoken Word All Stars event, featuring some of the best spoken word artists in the UK in a fabulous live show.
The poets, El Crisis, Charlie Dark, Kat Francois, Chris 'Ventriloquist' Redmond and musician, Jason Yarde will create a show of wall-to-wall words with an unflagging backbeat. Expect a seamless flow of poetry, improvised and otherwise, jousting with jazzy rhythms and forging a hip-hop-skip-and-jump of its very own. Poet in the City is a registered charity committed to attracting new audiences to poetry, making new connections for poetry. Apples & Snakes is England's leading organisation for performance poetry, working with emerging artists, producing new work and putting poets in education. It works extensively with schools, prisons and libraries to develop literacy, communication skills, motivation and self-esteem through high quality performance poetry workshops.
Latitude’s Literary Arena is set to sizzle with WordTheatre's line-up of renownedactors from Hollywood and the UK, performing short stories by world-classauthors. Among the notable actors scheduled to perform are the originalHutch - David Soul, Amber Tamblyn from 'The Sisterhood of the TravellingPants', CSI's Gary Dourdan, Harry Potter's Professor Quirinus Quirrell - IanHart, Brian Cox ('The Bourne Supremacy'), Sally Hawkins (‘Happy Go Lucky), John Schwab ('The Complete Works of William Shakespeare'), Chris McDonald ('Thelma and Louise' & 'Requiem for a Dream') and Ben Miller ('Armstrong and Miller'). Here in the Poetry Arena, WordTheatre presents David Soul reading Pablo Neruda accompanied by classical guitarist Hugh Burns and Amber Tamblyn will read from her highly acclaimed book of poetry 'Bang Ditto'. Produced by Cedering Fox and Kirsty Peart and directed by Cedering Fox. All cast subject to change without notice.
~ Duckie ~ The Crack ~
~ Rich Fulcher ~ Laura Solon ~
~ Idiots of Ants ~ Jonny Sweet ~ Cardinal Burns ~ Golden Lizard ~
Latitude’s veritable den of mischief and mayhem, the Cabaret Arena is sumptuously tantalising, seductively tempting and always exceedingly teasing. Enticing you in with the powers of seduction, curiosity and intrigue, once inside you will find an elaborate mix of comedy sketch shows, freak, burlesque and drag shows together with illusionists, puppetry and good ol’fashioned sing-a-longs. Leave your inhibitions at the door!
London pop and performance peddlers Duckie stage a rock’n’roll masked ball for the big Saturday late night party. Join DJs Readers Wives, hostess Amy Lamé and their crew of modern show starlets including Ida Barr, Ursula Martinez and others. If you haven’t packed a mask in your rucksack, visit the Duckie pop-up mask workshop and craft one in the style of quirky retro pop cultural icons. A big late night show, a big indie dance den, a few mollies and a lot of wearing of paper bags over your head.
Famed promoter Mick Perrin for Just for Laughs Live and Miss Behave present: ‘The Crack’ – an explosive combination of stand-up, variety and side-splitting comic performance. Celebrating all that is funny, diverse and truly original in live comic entertainment and brought to you by part of the team behind Olivier Award-winning sensation La Clique (Best Entertainment 2009) this anarchic, chaotic, and fun-filled show will have you amazed and entertained with an absolutely stellar cast of comic geniuses and variety virtuosos.
Comedian Rich Fulcher – famed for his Boosh characters Bob Fossil, Kodiak Jack and cheesehead Tommy Nooka and co-star of the cult sketch show Snuff Box - presents ‘An Evening with Eleanor: The Tour Whore’, a one ‘woman’ show to Latitude’s Cabaret Arena. Self-professed rock and roll ‘tour whore’ who recently appeared as Howard’s lover in The Mighty Boosh, Eleanor has lived a life most people scream about. Now the woman who claimed to make Neil ‘young’ and put the ‘wood’ in Woodstock – tells all through poetry, song, dance and confessional monologues that have been known to leave the audience feeling freshly molested. Prepare to get a pounding like you’re yesterday’s beef!
Having found her feet in character comedy, after being only the second solo female to win the Perrier Comedy Award (2005), Laura Solon will bring her acute observations and killer one-liners to the green fields of Suffolk. In the past she’s worked with comic TV stars Paul Whitehouse and Harry Enfield and most recently worked with Al Murray on Multiple Personality Disorder.
Formed in 2007 and after a sell-out Edinburgh Festival debut, Idiots of Ants have gone on to perform all over the UK. Idiots of Ants; Andrew Spiers, Elliott Tiney, James Wrighton and Ben-in Wilson, will be bringing their unique blend of fast-paced sketch comedy to the festival’s Cabaret Arena – a performance that will no doubt be jam packed with intelligent wit and wonderfully timed observational comedy. Following three sell-out Edinburgh Festivals, an Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination (formerly Perrier) and hot off the heels of the Montreal ‘Just For Laughs’ Festival the Ants (BBC1, E4, Radio 4) bring their unique blend of fast-paced sketch comedy to the Latitude Festival.
Jonny Sweet is a talented actor who won the 2009 Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Newcomer for his show ‘Mostly About Arthur’ (directed by Stefan Golaszewski), which Nica Burns of the Edinburgh Comedy Awards described as: "a delicious hour of character comedy...unexpected, highly original, very funny. Watch out for him." He also appeared in Tom Basden's new play ‘Party’ at the Edinburgh Festival which won a Fringe First award. He recently appeared as a young David Cameron in ‘When Boris Met Dave’ which recently aired on More 4.
Favourites on the UK live comedy circuit and two-thirds of If.Comedy nominees Fat Tongue, Seb Cardinal and Dustin Demri-Burns will be bringing their imaginatively daft sketches to the Cabaret Arena this year. The Times has called them “the most original sketch act around”. If you are a fan of comedic preposterous stereotypes this double act will be right up your street!
Comedy’s future is in good hands with a fantastic new breed of comic stars emerging from the underground. Hotly-tipped turns Mike Wozniak and Henry Paker - alongside the sketch collective Superclump of which they are members – are leading the pack. Wozniak won an If.Comedy Best Newcomer nomination in 2008, with Paker’s aloof stand-up persona winning him the 2008 Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year. Together, they recently wowed audiences at the Leicester Comedy Festival with their hilarious play ‘Golden Lizard’, a fantastically funny play that they are bringing to Latitude’s Cabaret Arena.
~ Royal Opera House ~
~ The School of Life ~
~ The Masked Ball ~ Bacchanalian party hosted by Johnny Blue Eyes ~
~ The Dialogue Project ~
In its fifth year Latitude unveils The Faraway Forest; a sumptuous home for the festival’s rich and decadent side. At sundown this secret place will transform into a den of magical intrigue. Indulge your darkest desires and set free any inhibitions as you lose yourself in the depths of The Faraway Forest.
We are delighted to announce the Royal Opera House presents performances of its latest commission ‘Pleasure's Progress’ by director and choreographer Will Tuckett. A fusion of dance, opera and music, Pleasure's Progress explores the vistas and vision of the English painter, printmaker and satirist William Hogarth (1696 - 1764). Tuckett brings Hogarth’s dark pictorial narratives right up the current day, drawing on material from some of his most celebrated work including - A Rake’s Progress, Marriage à la mode, A Harlot’s Progress, Four Stages of Cruelty and Beer Street and Gin Lane, combining a vivid slice of historical Covent Garden with contemporary urban life. With a cast of dancers, singers and musicians, a witty libretto by Alasdair Middleton, beautiful music by Paul Englishby and contemporary designs by Jon Bausor this new production promises wit and wonder, fun and frolics and an irreverent take on the darker side of society and will be performed in The Faraway Forest, the perfect place for such a magnificent addition to the bill.
Asking one of the greatest questions in life, “How do we know what we know?” The School of Life will be developing the budding philosopher in you by hosting a dinner party based on Plato’s Symposium. Relating to the philosophical text of the genesis, purpose and nature of love, you can deliver an encomium of love or literally become a lover of wisdom. Tickets to be an honoured guest at the dining table will be available to lucky festival goers over the weekend.
Saturday night will witness The Masked Ball - a fabulous night of fantastic attire and extravagant adornments to provide the perfect veil to indulge in some mischievous fun.
Under a canopy of fairy lights and behind a mask, anything can happen in the magical Faraway Forest!
You are cordially invited to Latitude’s very first Bacchanalian party hosted by fashion designer and stylist to the stars Johnny Blue Eyes. Last year, Johnny shocked and inspired crowds with Latitude’s first fashion show on The Waterfront Stage. Fusing the worlds of fashion and rock ‘n’ roll, the catwalk show was fierce, fabulous and fun with a heart-pumping soundtrack and stunning outfits. For this party with a difference, expect more elaborate garments ranging from full attire to the skimpiest of outfits depending on how you feel! The theme is whatever you fancy, whatever you desire and whatever you dare!
Taking place deep within The Faraway Forest, acclaimed Dialogue Project artist Karl James presents Intimate Conversations. Take an early morning stroll and you will encounter a series of beautifully crafted extraordinary and private conversations made public for the first time. They are real, they are moving and they are disarmingly honest, these tender one-way conversations provide a wonderful insight into the minds and thoughts of people from all walks of life.
~ Red Shift Theatre Company ~
Whilst Latitude’s extensive line-up is an incredible assortment of riches that can keep you entertained all weekend, there is also a treasure trove of unexpected pleasures that lie through the festival’s magical woods and beyond. Pandora’s Playground is where anything and everything can happen. A mini festival of its own, this quirky corner of the Latitude site features side shows, games, interactive art, dance troupes, theatre and an all night disco shed. This is the place for pure, unadulterated playtime in all its childish and fun-filled glory.
Discover the incredible ‘Invisible Show’ presented by Red Shift Theatre Company – a live theatre event embedded in the crowd audible via wireless headphones. Conceived, written and directed by Jonathan Holloway, The Invisible Show is a live theatre event embedded in the crowd, almost invisible, but audible via wireless headphones. It’s a celebration of frailty, a reassurance that we’re all rubbish at this thing called life. The dialogue is uncompromising as an estranged father and son duo meet, a couple discuss separation, lovers squirm sexed-up and desperate for privacy, a sick mother worries into her phone and ex-partners eye one-another with curiosity. Except for the smallest tell-tales the crowd is ignorant of these eddies of emotion.… unless they have the headphones, and then the live soundscape reveals itself. Search it out or just listen. The Invisible Show will be performed once a day over all four days of the Festival. Will you see it?
~ Guilty Pleasures ~ Smash & Grab ~
~ Goldierocks ~
~ Club de Fromage ~ Beef Warehouse ~ Cosmic Underground ~
An unashamed festival hit, Guilty Pleasures is the consistently celebratory night of unforgettable pop, rock and cheesy anthems. Whether it’s air guitar 80s style or disco pomp, you’re sure to know every single chorus and here is the perfect time to admit it. You’ll be amongst friends – glitter, fairy wings, afro hair, spandex adorned – singing every word to the songs you love to love. Unashamedly admit your guiltiest musical pleasures and have a night to remember.
Smash & Grab is all about kissing and dancing. Smash & Grab is the perfect place for all of Latitudes hot young singletons to find a partner, and, it is where Queens of Noize and (very special) guests will take you to the next level of Ultimate Party Fever!!!! The Queens will be playing love inspired party classics, which we can guarantee will leave you screaming for MORE, MORE, MORE! Expect to hear 80's anthems, 90's hip hop, house and pop classics we can all reminisce to, fun and cool sounds from the last decade with a bit of 60's and 70's rock, soul, disco and pop! The Queens will be laying down plenty of SLOW DANCES giving you the perfect opportunity to approach the girl or guy of your dreams....
Exploring the winding pathways that lead through Latitude’s stunning woodland you can encounter a myriad of magical wonder and delight. With art adorning the old oak trees, hidden shacks of art installations, ad hoc performances and fairy lights decorating the branches there are treats and surprises at every turn. By day, the little stage will host a diverse range of intimate performances whilst by night DJs will help you party the night away. Hosting the kind of parties everybody claims to have been at, In The Woods is the place to be for late-night party people in the know. With its big bad sound system filling a stunning woodland setting, these four nights of great music and non-stop dancing are where you'll find the DJ's like the crowd - hands in the air & loving it! There are no stuffy DJ egos here - it's all about good times.
DJ, presenter & producer Goldierocks is gaining a worldwide reputation for her energised DJ appearances as well as her debauched glamourpuss all-guns-blazing rock n roll style, and we just love her. Anyone who caught her 'Woods' debut last year will know what all the fuss is about…. catch her before she goes stellar!
Club de Fromage is London’s top weekly fancy dress & pop hotspot. Darlings of the social pages, always playing to a packed house, they'll be bringing their crowd pleasing night of non-stop classic belters, air guitar, big tunes and even bigger DJ's…don't miss the meat pie raffle!
Beef Warehouse caused Latitude’s one and only faux-barrier crush last year, playing "Killing in the Name Of" ...a year later that track was the Christmas Number 1. Co-incidence?..we think not. One's hairy, one's lairy, who better to host our PG-rated 5th birthday party than this gloriously inappropriate and erratic duo.
Cosmic Underground DJ's have been hosting great parties since before Latitude was born! With deep dirty electro & penetrating bass lines overlaying the unexpected, the whole dance party will be at the mercy of this Mexican wrestling tag team!
~ CHILDREN'S ARENA ~
Sharon Reuben ~ Children’s Arena Booker, says:
“Surrounded by woodland, colourful sheep and lake-skimming dragonflies, the Children’s Arena is its own little festival, offering a world of art & crafts, drama workshops, theatre & puppet shows, literary tales and creative fun. We have activities for young wildlife explorers, budding chefs and circus performers plus the chance to join Latitude's own Glee Club! Local children's organisations are at the heart of the area, catering for everyone from babies to teens. The family campsite will feature activities for early risers while the children's arena guarantees to wear out the toughest of infants! ”
Weekend tickets £155 including VAT, subject to booking fee
Day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun £65 including VAT, subject to booking fee
Weekend tickets prices include car parking and camping
Day tickets include car parking only
Credit Card line: 0871 2310846
Online: http://www.festivalrepublic.com/ • http://www.seetickets.com/ • http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/
Labels: 2010, henham park, latitude, latitude festival, line-up, lineup, suffolk
posted by Press Counsel PR at
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