Author: Jonathan Kaufman, Director

9th June, 2010: Well, it’s up and running! The festival had its spectacular launch on Sunday 6th June with Kirkdale Bookshop’s fantastic Alice in Wonderland Tea Party. Despite dire warnings of thunderstorms the weather remained fine and nearly 200 people packed into the delightful front garden of Kirkdale Care Centre to eat cakes, drink tea, make Mad Hatter’s hats and watch magical excerpts from the Lewis Carroll classic, performed by members of my Spontaneous Productions theatre company.

Thanks to all the helpers on the day who made this event such a huge success – and thanks especially to Jennifer Hall, our official festival photographer this year whose pictures you can see here and on our other online sites. Also, a special mention goes to Lewis Cook, a local actor, who stepped in at the last minute to play his namesake Lewis Carroll and the Mad Hatter – with only two days’ rehearsal he managed to deliver a sterling, word-perfect performance. Thanks, Lewis!

Now, you’d think after this storming opening the festival director would want to take a well-earned break but no such luck! I went straight into rehearsals last night (Tuesday) for my next show, The Brothers Kaufman’s Three-Course Comedy, to be performed at Trattoria Raffaele (29th, 30th June & 1st July). Another great cast will perform three short comic plays in a restaurant setting – expect a few surprises!

But next up in the festival is Meet the Artist at Kirkdale Bookshop. Renowned print-maker Richard Spare will be talking about his Japanese-influenced work in the gallery, where examples of his work are currently on display.

And there’s more events at the bookshop in the coming week:

A Book Group Party on Monday 14th June – come along and discuss Sarah Waters’ gothic ghost story The Little Stranger over a glass of wine.

Local author Jad Adams will be talking about his latest book Gandhi: Naked Ambition on Weds 16th June, uncovering this legendary Indian’s battle with celibacy.

Fiona Watt of Usborne Books will return to the bookshop on Friday 18th June to run another children’s doodling workshop.

On Saturday 19th June we have two exciting events at the shop – a bookbinding demonstration by Liz Howard – an intriguing insight into this most mysterious of crafts.

And in the evening of the same date, members of Kirkdale Bookshop Writers’ Group will be reading stories and poems in locations around the shop.

As I’m one of the readers that evening I will then take a well-earned rest, I promise, before we embark on our third week of what’s proving to be an enormous festival of spectacular proportions!

See our website for more details!

Author: Jonathan Kaufman, Director

27th May, 2010: Ten days and counting!

The long-awaited second Sydenham Arts Festival is nearly upon us – featuring over ninety exciting events throughout the summer.

Kicking off with a magical Alice in Wonderland Tea-Party in Kirkdale Care Centre’s Garden, Kirkdale Bookshop will be presenting promenade theatre, children’s art activities and free tea and cakes! (3-5pm, Sunday 6th June) Come along and meet your favourite Lewis Carroll characters!

Other early events in the festival to look forward to include:

• Artist and print-maker Richard Spare will be visiting Kirkdale Bookshop to talk about his work (currently on display in the bookshop’s gallery). Come along and meet him at 6.30pm on Wed 9th June.
• Sydenham Sings – a scratch choir for anyone who just wants to sing – any ability, age, experience welcome! You don’t need to read music or even sing in tune – just come along on June 12th to Dietrich Bonhoeffer Church at 2pm.
• To tie in with Independent Booksellers’ Week there’s quite a few events at the bookshop in June, including a Book Group Party (Mon 14th), a talk from author Jad Adams about his latest book, Gandhi: Naked Ambition on Wed 16th (7.30pm) and an Usborne Craft Workshop (4-5.30pm, Fri 18th).
• Also at Kirkdale Bookshop, on Saturday 19th June, bookbinder Liz Howard will be giving a demonstration of her craft from 11am until 4pm.
• And in the evening of the same day, members of the Kirkdale Bookshop Writers’ Group will present readings of their latest work. (7.30pm)
• Children’s entertainers Bedlam Bunch present two fantastic interactive storytelling shows from children and parents/carers on Sun 20th June at Albion Millennium Green. Pirate Pete’s Treasure Adventure and Fairy Fidget’s Magic Medley are suitable for all between 3-10. Shows at 1pm and 3.15pm.
• Movement coach and choreographer Ita O’Brien will be hosting a Physical Theatre Workshop for Performers on the weekend of Sat 26th & Sun 27th at FH Space, Havelock Walk, Forest Hill.
• A unique theatrical experience is to be had at The Two Half’s Pub on Sun 27th June as Bickles Banana Tree Theatre present The Colour of Deception, a story of adultery and revenge – actors will perform while they serve up a three-course Caribbean meal. Show at 4pm (£10).
• Then there’s Jazz at The Dulwich Woodhouse, a free concert at 4.30pm on the same Sunday.
• Lastly in June is Spontaneous Productions’ latest theatrical venture: The Brothers Kaufman’s Three-Course Comedy at the Trattoria Raffaele combines three short comic plays with a starter, main course and dessert. Three performances only on Tues 29th, Wed 30th June and Thurs 1st July.

In July and August there’s lots more to look forward to, including:

• Sydenham’s Got Talent in Tudor Livesey Hall
• London Bubble’s The Sirens of Titan in Sydenham Wells Park
• Lewisham Youth Choirs at St Bart’s Church
• Free film-making workshops for young people at Sydenham Library
• Trio l’Aria at the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Church
• Folk & Blue Grass Night with The Coal Porters and Keston Cobblers Club at Tudor Livesey Hall
• Oh Là Là! French Cabaret and Balalaika at the Dolphin Pub
• A Fiesta of Poetry at the Golden Lion
• Two Visual Arts Exhibition and Artists’ Trail weekends
• Forest Fest at Forest Hill School
• A children poetry’s workshop and jamboree at Kirkdale Bookshop
• Sydenham Unsigned – a brand-new ‘battle of the bands’ at Tudor Livesey Hall
• A Summer Family Day – dance activities presented by Disco Dayz on the bowling green of Tudor Livesey Hall
• A beach outside Kirkdale Bookshop with storytelling for children
• A Jamaican Cultural Weekend at The Two Half’s
• A fantastic Family Fun Day in Home Park
• Followed by a free Open Air Film Show
• The Three Musketeers in the garden of The Dolphin Pub
• Children’s theatre show The Search for Love in The Hob, Forest Hill
• Two concerts to mark the 70th anniversary of the Blitz presented by Alexandra Carter at Tudor Livesey Hall and St John’s Church, Penge
• Barbershop Belles – an a capella singing troupe – at the Hob, Forest Hill

This is just a selection of more than ninety events taking place between 6th June and 11th September. Kirkdale Bookshop and Alhambra Home & Garden have many more events over the three summer months – check out their websites for more details.

For dates, details, times and prices of all events please see our website. Or pick up one of our brochures in the Sydenham area (available in most cafes, shops, pubs, libraries and arts venues).

Author: Jonathan Kaufman, Director

So, it’s finally put to bed – our festival programme, that is, with nearly 70 events over three summer months! – and will be going to the printer’s next Monday [10th May]. It looks fantastic and has a great array of events, with something for everyone, I hope: a few old favourites, lots of new stuff and a couple of wildcards that should get people talking. I’m excited – let’s hope everyone else is!

The next step is letting people know it’s happening. We’ll be giving out brochures next weekend in Sydenham, in the high street and beyond, and on Sunday 23rd May there’ll be a few surprises if you board the brand new East London Line extension at any of the stations between Sydenham and New Cross Gate between 2-4pm. To celebrate the arrival of the London Overground in SE26 I’m rustling up a few actors to improvise comic scenes on the train, as well as musical entertainment, to amuse and possibly bemuse unsuspecting travellers. You have been warned!

For comprehensive details about all of our festival’s events, check out our website since it is now being updated on a regular basis.

And, of course, it’s still not too late to get involved. We rely on a brilliant team of volunteer helpers so if you’d like to help out, please email me or pop into Kirkdale Bookshop, Sydenham, to speak to either me or Geraldine Cox, the festival’s administrator.

We need particular help with stewarding, box office duties, leaflet & brochure distribution, technical matters, front-of-house and stage-management jobs and general ‘tea-making’ chores. If you have any specialist skills – e.g., health & safety, first aid, technical know-how or are CRB-checked – we’d also love to hear from you. Anyone with a van would also be most welcome!

Lastly, follow us on Twitter and check us out on our Facebook page.

Keep abreast of the latest developments and last-minute changes here. And let people know what you’re planning to see! We rely on word of mouth to make this festival even more successful than last year’s!

Author: Jonathan Kaufman, Director

The festival’s exciting programme is at last firming up, with nearly fifty events confirmed and just a few more still to chase up. Our brilliant graphic designer Emma Ashby will be getting to work on our festival’s brochure this weekend and it’s going to be a job to fit it all in.

The festival committee have now decided to split the publicity materials into two: a 16-page brochure listing all the performance and workshop events; and an A2 broadsheet covering all the artists opening their homes and studios, as well as exhibition spaces, during the two Visual Arts Trail weekends (17th/18th & 24th/25th July).

Some recent additions to look forward to include a Family Fun Day in Home Park on 12th August – culminating in a Free Film Show in the evening – in which local young people will show a film they’ve made with Treasure Films, followed by a feature film chosen by the young people.

Also for families, The Bedlam Bunch present two fantastic storytelling shows on Sunday 20th June in the unique Albion Millennium Green. Bedlam create wonderfully funny and vibrant characters and are experienced children’s entertainers. Expect a pirate-themed show and a fairy-themed show, £6 each or £10 for both and accompanying adults come along for free!

Also just confirmed is a weekend of Jamaican culture courtesy of Lavern Archer and the Bickles Dinner Theatre group at The Two Half’s Pub. To celebrate Jamaican independence there’ll be all sorts of things to try out on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th August: Jamaican food, music, fashion, performing arts and more! This should tie in nicely with Kirkdale Bookshop’s Beach on the same Saturday (7th August): again, the bookshop will be turning its pavement into a tropical beach, complete with sand, palm trees, live music and children’s storytelling.

Right, now to chase up those last few events…

Author: Jonathan Kaufman, Director

3 April, 2010: We said last year we’d do things differently this year. Not so much a festival, more a way of life! Instead, we’ve settled on a three-month long affair, which we’re catchily calling Sydenham Arts Festival’s Summer Season 2010, or Summer Season for short. Anyone who wants to promote an event during the summer months (June-August and even a little bit of September) can do so through our website and publicity materials. Our full programme will be available in mid-May, and the season kicks off on Sunday 6th June with Kirkdale Bookshop’s Alice in Wonderland Tea-Party in the Excel Care Home garden (next to Cobbs Corner roundabout).

With over forty exciting events already scheduled, it promises to be a bumper year. Some old favourites are back: London Bubble at Wells Park with another mystery show yet to be voted on by their audience shareholders; Sydenham’s Got Talent, this year with two heats and a grand final at the Tudor Livesey Hall; The Visual Arts Trail in Sydenham & Forest Hill, in which over 50 artists are expected to open their homes or studios, or exhibit work in other spaces; Balalaika at The Dolphin, this time with some klezmer thrown in! Not to mention my own theatre company, Spontaneous Productions, who are presenting an evening of short, comic plays at the Trattoria Raffaele as well as a brand new production of Dumas’ swashbuckling classic The Three Musketeers in The Dolphin Pub garden.

There’s also comedy, poetry, cabaret, film, dance, children’s events and workshops – so, plenty to see and take part in!

It’s still not too late to get involved – if you wish to propose an event please let us know by Friday 9th April. Email me at sydenhamartsfestival@hotmail.co.uk or call in at the Kirkdale Bookshop (tel. 020 8778 4701). We also need volunteers to help out before and during the Summer Season. So please also contact me if you’d like to volunteer.

Come on Sydenham, Show us your Artistic Side!

Author: Jonathan Kaufman, Director

2 April, 2010: I’m in Huddersfield for Easter but luckily still in email range to continue planning what’s turning out to be another bumper event. Every day I hear of another new event somebody wants to stage during our Summer Season. And as someone who these days seldom says ‘no’ to anything, I then have the unenviable task of finding a slot for it in the increasingly crowded schedule. Most recently I got to hear of Simon Cummin’s intriguing project ‘Home’, which brings art installations and site-specific theatre into a house on the Sydenham-Penge border. It sounds fascinating and too unusual not to include – why didn’t we hear about it last year?

I’m also trying to get a ‘Battle of the Bands’ back up and running after a potential organiser pulled out. If anyone out there knows of bands in the local area and would be keen to talk to the manager of Livesey Hall, I know we could get a great event organised. It was a real disappointment not to include a music event for young people last year, so this is a fantastic opportunity for those of you wanting to get involved!

Now, I’d better get back to writing the script for Three Musketeers (opening 17th August at The Dolphin) and scheduling rehearsals for my forthcoming theatre show, Ocelot Gymkhana: Heat 2 at The Hob from 27th April. It’s a real headache, nothing like scheduling a three-month festival season…