With an unrivalled line-up taking shape, Latitude 2011 will be another exhilarating, scintillating and inspirational festival of fun.
On 14th – 17th July in the sumptuous surrounds of the Suffolk countryside, the welcoming daisy-adorned gates will open for the 6th edition of the magical and fantastical Latitude Festival.
Since its inception in 2006, Latitude has changed the face of festivals forever, with a passion only matched by its ambition. Encompassing all aspects of the art and music worlds Latitude is the only place that brings together the best in music, literature, comedy, poetry, film, theatre, cabaret, art, dance, opera and fashion for one spectacular weekend.
Latitude is proud to welcome back the fabulous Opera Group to the Theatre Arena. This award-winning, nationally and internationally renowned opera company specialises in commissioning and producing brand new operas – merging the best of contemporary theatre and music. Last year The Opera Group brought a spellbinding co-production performance of ‘Into The Little Hill’ with the phenomenal London Sinfonietta.
One of the most diverse and cutting edge elements to Latitude’s repertoire, the Film & Music Arena offers audiences mesmerising displays, performances and viewings of fantastic cinema and music. Sonically and visually rich, the worlds of alternative film and music collide with a full programme of award- winning screenings, documentaries, shorts, Q&A discussions and musical treats.
Latitude celebrates the written word in all its glorious facets with its very own renowned library of literary excellence. Bringing together today’s most illustrious wordsmiths; the Literary Arena is a hub of storytelling, book discussions, lively debates and in-depth interviews. Top authors and special guests bring books to life and take audiences on fun-filled journeys to the far reaches of their imaginations.
Author and columnist Julie Myerson has been writing dark and almost supernatural novels since 1994, her 2003 book ‘Something Might Happen’ about a murder in Suffolk was shorlisted for both the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and the WH Smith Literary Award. She sparked a nationwide debate over her non-fiction book ‘The Lost Child’ (2009) which detailed her son’s addiction to smoking cannabis.
Over the past five years, Latitude’s Comedy Arena has become a comedy festival in its own right. Bursting at the seams with the best comic talent in the land, crowds gather all weekend to witness a variety of hilarious turns from an unrivalled bill. With Alan Carr, Omid Djalili, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Jason Byrne and Phill Jupitus to name just a few confirmed already.
A veritable feast of vaudeville fun and mischief, Latitude’s Cabaret Arena is a carnival of top comedy and theatre. With a heady mix of sketch shows, freak, burlesque and drag acts alongside puppetry, illusionists and hearty singalongs, the Cabaret Arena encourages you to ditch your woes at the door and be seduced by the frivolities inside for a not-so-innocent ol’fashioned knees up.
Satirical slams, poetic prose and comic verse are all celebrated at Latitude’s famous Poetry Arena. Found on the bank of the lake and larger than ever, a welcoming blanket of bean bags and cushions makes this an inviting place to while away the day; entertained by a wealth of leading poets (including past and present poet laureates) spoken word artists, comics, rappers and raconteurs alike.
THEATRE AT LATITUDE -
National Theatre of Scotland/The Opera Group/1927/Curious Directive/Stargazing Workshops/Black Roses/John Tiffany
FILM & MUSIC ARENA -
Tate Britain and Shunt/Alexander/The Cats Meet Show
LITERARY ARENA -
Julie Myerson/Diana Athill/Robin Ince presents Double Science/Arianne Cohen/Miles Irving
COMEDY AT LATITUDE –
Adam Buxton/Lucy Porter/Simon Munnery/Steve Hughes/Nathan Caton/Carl Donnelly/Shaun Keaveny/Carly Smallman/Toby/Rob Beckett/Tom Deacon/Isy Suttie/Elis James/SPANK!
CABARET ARENA -
Duckie/The Razzle/Tina C/Ida Barr/Rubberbandits/Showstopper: The Improvised Musical/Ovid’s Metamorphoses/The Big Bingo Show
POETRY ARENA -
Serafina Streer/Simon Barraclough/Alex Gwyther/Tom Warner/Thick Richard/Hollie McNish/Caroline Bird/Ventriloquist
THE FARAWAY FOREST -
Les Enfants Terribles/Rachel Rose Reid & The Roundhouse Experimental Choir/Native Faces/City Shanty Band
PANDORA’S PLAYGROUND –
Made In China/String Theatre
LITERARY SALON -
Joel Stickley’s How To Write Badly Well
Published on 22 April 2011 by Wayne Feltham
