Rochester. Fri, 29, Sat 30 & Sun, 31 May

Transcription

1 Rochester This Oliver Twist year s festival theme is Fri, 29, Sat 30 & Sun, 31 May

2 Welcome to the 2015 Rochester Dickens Festival Oliver Twist Born into a life of poverty and misfortune, the orphaned Oliver spent the first part of his life in an appalling workhouse. After the famous Please, sir, I want some more request, Oliver was ultimately sold. After more torment at the hands of the Sowerberry s, Oliver decides to run away to London. On his way, Oliver meets the pickpocket, the Artful Dodger. And soon after the infamous Fagin, who forces him into a life of crime. Sympathetic Nancy looks out for Oliver as best she can, but still coerces him into a robbery, which results in Oliver becoming injured. Cared for by his captors, Fagin tries to exact revenge on Oliver... 2

3 Craft Fair Castle Gardens City of Rochester Society s traditional craft fair with stalls selling all types of wares: knitted children s clothes, jewellery, china, preserves and home-made fudge. The emphasis is on hand craft and individuality, set within an old-time fair environment. Seven Dials Rapscallions Roaming the High Street Witness bare-knuckle fights, try your luck at games of chance, meet beggars, the flower seller and ladies of a not altogether honest nature. And spot the peelers who try to impart law over the disorder. Gillingham Lions tea tent and charity stalls Castle Moat, and Sunday Smith s traditional fun-fair Castle Gardens Attending the Dickens festival for over 20 years, with a range of rides to suit all ages. Guided Walking Tour of Rochester Visitor Information Centre, 2.15pm Led by the City of Rochester Society, the tour lasts 90 minutes and is free of charge but donations to the society are welcome. Advert Dickens Festival Ball Thursday, 28 May, 7.30pm, Corn Exchange Three course meal followed by dancing in the grand ballroom. Victorian costumes are a must. Tickets 24.50, chinalion0210@btinternet.com or phone Kent Stage Academy Guildhall Forecourt, 2pm & 3.45pm We welcome back Kent Stage Academy, recreating some of Oliver Twists most famous scenes. Children can join Fagin, Nancy and the Raggamuffins for a plate of gruel and a sing along. But watch out they may try to pick a pocket or two. Play on Words Theatre presents A Bite of Oliver Twist Blue Boar Lane, 11am, 2pm and 3.30pm A bite sized version done at a whirlwind pace and full of fun, in 20 minutes flat. This action packed, madcap street theatre features the characters and themes of one of Dickens most loved stories. Allow this award winning Medway based theatre company to share with you the very core, the very essence of this classic tale. You ll be left wanting more. Gerald Dickens Guildhall Chamber, 3.15pm Reading Sikes and Nancy (murder from Oliver Twist). 3

4 Festival competitions Why not enter one of our festival competitions? They are free and open to everyone eligible for the category. Cash prizes and trophies to be won. To enter, go to the Rochester Castle Gardens Stage in time for the competition to start. Please turn up in good time to secure your entry place. Friday, 29 May, 2pm Baby and children s Victorian costume competition Open to children aged 0-15 years. A child may only enter into one age group: under 3, 3-6, 7-11 or Friday, 29 May, 2.30pm Children s Dickens character competition Dress your child as their favourite Dickens character. Open to children aged 0-15 years. Friday, 29 May, 3pm Children s gurning competition A child may only enter into one age group: under 3, 3-6, 7-11 or Friday, 30 May, 3.30pm Widow Corney s workhouse tea party Enjoy a limited supply of gruel (ice cream). Open to children in Victorian costume. Saturday, 30 May, 2.30pm Best-dressed Dickens adult character ladies and gentlemen Dress as your favourite Dickens character and show the audience your knowledge of this character to be in with a chance of winning. Sponsored by Mirror Group Newspapers. Saturday, 30 May, 3.15pm Mr and Mrs Rochester Competition Who will be the Mr and Mrs Rochester of 2015? Enter this light hearted, fun-filled competition to be in with a chance of taking first place. Sponsored by Slinders Florist and The Royal Victoria and Bull Hotel. Saturday, 30 May, 4pm Adult gurning competition Can you contort your features to fantastical effect? Then put your mouth where your nose is and get gurning. Sunday, 31 May, 2.45pm Best dressed ladies competition Ladies, this is your chance to parade your finest attire in front of the judges and the arena audience. At least two items of the costume must be home-made. Sponsored by Mirror Group Newspaper. Sunday, 31 May, 3.30pm Best dressed gentlemen competition At least two items of the costume must be homemade. Sponsored by Confucious Chinese Restaurant. This will be followed by the presentation of The Spirit of Dickens Award. Sponsored by Tony Knight and family. Who has made the Dickens festival extra special? Ask for a voting form at the Visitor Information Centre to vote for someone to win this illustrious award. Vote today! 4

5 At a glance Friday 10am Rochester Community Hub Great Kenspectations 10.30am Castle Gardens Stage Dance Alley 10.30am Guildhall Forecourt Three Towns Theatre Company 11am Outside Oliver s Wine Bar Glenduart Pipe Band 11am Rochester Community Hub Dickens Fellowship reading 11am Blue Boar Lane A Bite Oliver Twist Play On Words 11.15am Guildhall Forecourt Right Royal Revels 11.15am Castle Gardens Punch & Judy with Crazee Hazee 11.30am St Mary s Meadow Punch & Judy 12noon High Street and Castle Gardens Grand Parade and welcome speech 1pm Rochester Community Hub Great Kenspectations 1.15pm St Mary s Meadow Punch & Judy 1.30pm Castle Gardens Punch & Judy with Crazee Hazee 1.30pm Crow Lane Right Royal Revels 1.30pm Outside The Crown Dance Alley 1.30pm Guildhall Forecourt Photo opportunity with Fagin 1.45pm Boley Hill Area Glenduart Pipe Band 2pm Rochester Community Hub Dickens Fellowship reading 2pm Outside Oliver s Wine Bar Three Towns Theatre Company 2pm Blue Boar Lane A Bite Oliver Twist Play On Words 2pm Guildhall Forecourt Kent Stage Academy 2pm Castle Gardens Stage Baby and children s Victorian costume competition 2pm La Providence Photo opportunity with The Rochester Pickwick Club 2.15pm Visitor Information Centre Guided Walking Tour of Rochester 2.30pm Castle Gardens Stage Children s Dickens character competition 2.45pm St Mary s Meadow Punch & Judy 3pm Crow Lane Right Royal Revels 3pm Castle Gardens Stage Children s gurning competition 3.10pm Outside Oliver s Wine Bar Glenduart Pipe Band 3.15pm Guildhall Forecourt Photo opportunity with Fagin 3.15pm Guildhall Chamber Gerald Dickens performing Sikes and Nancy 3.30pm Blue Boar Lane A Bite Oliver Twist Play On Words 3.30pm Castle Gardens Stage Widow Corney s workhouse tea party 3.30pm Boley Hill Area Dance Alley 3.45pm Outside Oliver s Wine Bar Three Towns Theatre Company 3.45pm Guildhall Forecourt Kent Stage Academy There are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts. 5 Oliver Twist

6 Saturday and Sunday (unless otherwise stated) 10am Rochester Community Hub Great Kenspectations 10.30am Castle Gardens Stage Dance Alley 10.30am Guildhall Forecourt Three Towns Theatre Company 10.45am Northgate Hornchurch Drum and Trumpet Corps 11am Rochester Adult Library Dickens Fellowship reading 11am Rochester Community Hub Victorian Boutonniere workshop 11am Outside Oliver s Wine Bar City of Rochester Pipe Band 11am Blue Boar Lane A Bite Oliver Twist Play On Words 11.15am Guildhall Forecourt Right Royal Revels 11.15am Castle Gardens Punch & Judy with Crazee Hazee 11.30am St Mary s Meadow Punch & Judy 11.30am Boley Hill BAE Systems Brass Band 12noon High Street and Castle Gardens Grand Parade and welcome speech 1pm Rochester Community Hub Victorian History (Sat only) 1pm Rochester Community Hub Great Kenspectations 1pm Guildhall Museum Meet author Janet Skinner 1pm Boley Hill BAE Systems Brass Band 1.15pm St Mary s Meadow Punch & Judy 1.20pm Outside Oliver s Wine Bar Hornchurch Drum and Trumpet Corps 1.30pm Castle Gardens Punch & Judy with Crazee Hazee 1.30pm Crow Lane Right Royal Revels 1.30pm Guildhall Forecourt Photo opportunity with Fagin 1.30pm Outside The Crown Dance Alley 1.45pm Boley Hill Area City of Rochester Pipe Band 2pm Guildhall Forecourt Kent Stage Academy 2pm Outside Oliver s Wine Bar Three Towns Theatre Company 2pm Rochester Community Hub Boutonniere workshop 2pm Rochester Adult Library Dickens Fellowship reading 2pm Blue Boar Lane A Bite Oliver Twist Play On Words 2.15pm Visitor Information Centre Guided Walking Tour of Rochester 2.30pm Boley Hill BAE Systems Brass Band 2.30pm Castle Gardens Stage Best dressed Dickens adult character ladies and gentlemen (Sat only) 2.45pm St Mary s Meadow Punch & Judy 2.45pm Castle Gardens Stage Best dressed ladies competition (Sun only) 3pm Crow Lane Right Royal Revels 3.10pm Outside Oliver s Wine Bar City of Rochester Pipe Band 3.15pm Castle Gardens Stage Mr and Mrs Rochester competition (Sat only) 3.15pm Guildhall Forecourt Photo opportunity with Fagin 3.15pm Guildhall Chamber Gerald Dickens Performing Sikes and Nancy 3.15pm Rochester Cathedral Choral Evensong 3.30pm Blue Boar Lane A Bite Oliver Twist Play On Words 3.30pm Castle Gardens Stage Best dressed gentlemen competition (Sun only) 3.30pm Boley Hill Area Dance Alley 3.45pm Guildhall Forecourt Kent Stage Academy 6

7 3.45pm Outside Oliver s Wine Bar Three Towns Theatre Company 3.45pm Outside The Crown Pub Hornchurch Drum and Trumpet Corps 4pm Castle Gardens Stage Adult gurning competition (Sat only) 4.45pm High Street Afternoon Parade 5pm Castle Gardens Stage Music Hall Festival Finale Also appening Princess Hall, Corn Exchange Kent Costume Trust A display of mid-victorian costumes and dolls clothes. Charles Dickens Museum Friday, 10.30am 12noon and pm Butter Churning Saturday, 11am - 1pm and 2 4pm Notebook making Sunday, 11am 1pm and 2 4pm Hot air balloon making Rochester Community Hub Dickens Fellowship, 11am and 2pm Reading Oliver Twist and the workhouse - Oliver leaves the orphanage with Mr Bumble and goes to the workhouse. Great Kentspectations, 10am and 1pm Come and listen to a talk about Steampunk and Dickens interest in the Victorian science fiction. Upstairs, Saturday and Sunday 10am 4pm, Victorian Craft Fair 10am 2pm,Victorian Farm to Fork 1 3pm, Victorian History (Sat only) 11am 12noon and 2 3pm, Victorian Boutonniere making. Festival parades Join us for the spectacular parades of Dickensian characters and Victorian costumes. Led by the Mayor of Medway and Oliver Twist s finest characters. The parade will form at the Star Hill end of the High Street and move along to its junction with Corporation Street, before making its way into Rochester Castle Gardens. Friday, 29 May 12noon Opening Parade/Mayor s welcome speech Saturday, 30 May 12noon Grand Parade 4.45pm Afternoon Parade Sunday, 31 May 12noon Grand Parade 4.45pm Afternoon Parade/closing ceremony 7 Outside The Crown Come and see an authentic Commodore Coach and see how the Victorians used to travel in style.

8 Festival performers BAE Systems Brass Band Brass concert band. City of Rochester Pipe Band watch them lead the processions each day. Colin Greenslade Fagin spot this loveable rogue but beware he may pick a pocket or two. Cyril Baldwin Mr Pickwick look out for the inimitable Mr Pickwick, a friend to all. Dance Alley performing Victorian/Dickensian dancing. Gerald Dickens The great great grandson of Charles Dickens. Glenduart Pipe Band Leading the Friday festival parade with stirring and well-loved Scottish music. Great Kentspectations telling all about the Victorian science fiction of Steampunk. Hornchurch Drum and Trumpet Corps Youth marching band. Janet Peters Mrs Pocket wandering the streets with her invitation to tea with Miss Havisham. Kay Rouse the amazing travelling Camera Obscura. Lynn Quo Miss Havisham s cook. Phil Haze Crazee Hazee Punch and Judy and circus skills. Please, sir, I want some more. Oliver Twist 8

9 Play on Words Theatre Company performing a bite sized version of Oliver Twist. Right Royal Revels Dickens with a twist and slice of lime. Robert Styles make young eyes wonder with Punch and Judy. Rochester and Chatham Dickens Fellowship Reading Oliver Twist and the workhouse. Shirley and Brian Goodhew Organisers of the Dickens competitions. Three Towns Theatre Company Join us Many of the wonderful characters that help to transform Rochester into a Dickensian vision are not listed above. You could join the passionate volunteers at our next Dickens festival and see what makes them return year after year. Rochester Pickwick Club photo opportunity with members from the Rochester Pickwick Club. Ruth Dye Estelle Havisham adopted and raised by Miss Havisham. Seven Dials Rapscallions a group who play characters living the dirty side of Victorian life. Have you... Picked Fagin s pocket? Sampled Oliver s gruel? Had a stroll around the craft fair? Watched A Bite of Oliver Twist? Sung along with the workhouse kids? 9 Dickens wash-up meeting Corn Exchange, Tuesday, 16 June, 7pm. Acknowledgements Medway Council acknowledge support from: Arriva Kent Police City of Rochester Society Shirley and Brian Goodhew and Angela Maybourne Rochester Cathedral Rochester City Centre Forum Gillingham Lions The Rochester Pickwick Club Rochester and Chatham Dickens Fellowship St John Ambulance (Kent) Simon Kelsey, Photographer The Victorian Strollers

10 Treasures of Rochester Guildhall Museum Janet Skinner - Australian author visits Medway While revisiting her childhood haunts in Medway towns, Australian resident and author/painter, Janet Skinner,introduces her new book, Janagatha The Australian Dog Kent Along with 80 Medway paintings, Skinner will take you on a Dickens-style adventure. Book signings will take place from 1 2pm Saturday and Sunday. The Guildhall Museum will be open 10am 5pm each day. Rochester Castle Rochester Castle is one of the best-preserved and finest examples of Norman architecture in England. Castle construction began in 1087 under Bishop Gundulf, one of William the Conqueror s finest architects, utilising the remnants of the original Roman city walls. Climb to the top of Rochester Castle Keep and enjoy the Dickens festivities from up high. 10am-6pm (last admission 5.15pm) 6.20 for adults, 3.90 for children and concessions and a family ticket is Group rate 15% off groups of 11 or more. Restoration House Restoration House is inextricably woven into the fabric of Great Expectations as Satis House, the dark, foreboding home of Miss Havisham. Its ancient and venerable allure impressed the young Dickens who first saw it as a boy. Today's visitors can see ravishing interiors of great poetic resonance, splendid formal gardens and the emerging restoration of the newly acquired Tudor garden. Special Dickens festival openings; Thursday, 28 and Friday, 29 May, from 10am and Saturday, 30 May, 12noon to 5pm. The charity teashop will also be open. 10

11 Eastgate House and Gardens In the gardens of Eastgate House is the Swiss chalet from Gad s Hill place, Dickens last home. It was in the chalet that Dickens was writing the final chapters of The Mystery of Edwin Drood just before his death. Thanks to an exciting Heritage Lottery funded project, the house is being restored to its former glory and will open to the public with improved access and visitor facilities in Keep in touch with the project and get involved by visiting or eastgate.house@medway.gov.uk The Friends of Eastgate House will be at the Rochester Community Hub during the festival, with more information about how you can get involved in this exciting project. Six Poor Travellers House This charming Tudor Almshouse is situated in the high street, next door to the Visitor Information Centre. The house is the inspiration for Dickens short story, The Seven Poor Travellers. The original travellers rooms are open to the public and the house has a beautiful herb garden. The house is open 11am 1pm and 2 4pm, Wednesdays to Sundays only (closed during parades). Rochester Cathedral service times Friday, 29 May 8am Morning Prayer 8.30am Holy Communion 5.30pm Said Evening Prayer Saturday, 30 May 8am Morning Prayer 8.30am Holy Communion 3.15pm Choral Evensong Sunday, 31 May 8am Holy Communion BCP Lady Chapel 9.45am Choral Mattins 10.30am The Cathedral Eucharist 3.15pm Choral Evensong - Join orator Lee Ault, costumed members of The Rochester and Chatham Dickens Fellowship and The Rochester Pickwick Club in a service of Commemoration to the memory of Charles Dickens. 11

12 St Margaret s Church G To London Civic Centre, Strood Strood Station 12 Rochester Castle & Gardens 3 Entertainment areas The Crown Guildhall Museum and forecourt Boley Hill/Castle Moat The Corn Exchange St Mary s Meadow Visitor Information Centre La Providence Blue Boar Lane performance area 4 5 Rochester Cathedral Restoration House Crow Lane Rochester Community Hub Oliver s Wine Bar Rochester Castle Gardens Baby changing and feeding 10am to 5pm Rochester Castle Gardens Medway National Childbirth Trust (NCT) will provide nappy changing and feeding facilities throughout the festival. Information on local groups, classes and general advice in Medway can be obtained from the NCT marquee. Toilets Car parking Coach parking Coach dropoff/pick-up point First Aid point Disabled parking 11 Park and ride drop-off/pick-up point Travel information Train - Rochester station is only a five minute walk from Rochester High Street and has excellent links between London and the coast. For more information visit: Park and ride (Saturday and Sunday only) - Operating from Dockside Outlet multi-storey car park. Buses start at 9am, last bus leaves Rochester at 6pm. Car and coach parking - Limited car parking is available near the centre of Rochester. Public car parks are indicated on the festival map. Car parking is also available at the former Civic Centre site in Strood, throughout the festival. Coaches may use the drop-off and pick-up point, also shown on the map. We look forward to seeing you at the Rochester Dickensian Christmas Festival, 5-6 December 2015