Latitude festival - Arts Additions - Deborah Kay Davies, Jay Rayner, Spymonkey, Kate Spicer, Robin Ince, Julian Sands...

14th – 17th July 2011, Henham Park Estate, Southwold, Suffolk.

ARTS ADDITIONS 16th JUNE 2011

- FILM & MUSIC ARENA -
~ BAFTA: Q&A with Ralph Fiennes &
screening of Senna plus Q&A with Asif Kapadia,
and Richard Curtis interviews The Trip’s Steve Coogan & Rob Brydon ~
~ Alabama 3 ~
~ Future Cinema: The Guillemots live score~
~ Arcade Fire’s Scenes From The Suburbs ~
~ Beastie Boys’ Fight For Your Right Revisited ~
~ Jay Rayner ~ Just Do It ~ Powder ~
~ Tiny Furniture ~ Seamonsters ~ Killing Bono ~
~ Chris Shepherd presents Dog Judo, Get Well Soon & Bad Night For The Blues ~
~ Automate ~ Disco ~
~ PJ Harvey short films ~ Tiny Elephants ~ Confessions ~

- LITERARY ARENA -
~ WordTheatre with Very Special Guests ~
~ Deborah Kay Davies ~ Patrick Barkham ~
~ Jay Rayner ~
~ The Humble Quest for Universal Genius Quiz ~
~ Self made hero presents Johnny Cash and Hellraisers ~

- THEATRE ARENA -
~ David Luff and Network Solutions, supported by Old Vic New Voices ~

- CABARET ARENA -
~ Spymonkey ~ Ronnie King ~
~ Diane Spencer ~ Sue Maclaine ~
~ Jacksons Lane presents Slingshot Theatre ~

- LITERARY SALON -
~ Kate Spicer ~

- COMEDY ARENA -
~ Robin Ince ~
~ Joe Bor ~

- POETRY ARENA -
~ Julian Sands ~
~ Wayne Holloway-Smith ~ Mark Grist ~
~ Mab Jones ~ Harry Baker ~ Nikky Norton ~
~ Rob Auton ~ Trio Thaddeus ~

- OUTDOOR THEATRE -
~ Up In Arms ~ Eyebrow Productions ~

- PANDORA’S PLAYGROUND -
~ Circus Space ~
~ Flabbergast ~
~ The Beaux Belles ~

- THE FARAWAY FOREST -
~ The Night Circus ~

- SUNRISE ARENA -
~ Cats Eyes ~ When Saints Go Machine ~

- THE LAKE STAGE -
~ Gary Nock ~ Gabriella Noble ~

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. With an unrivalled line-up taking shape, Latitude 2011 will be another exhilarating, scintillating and inspirational festival of fun.

- FILM & MUSIC ARENA -

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 is pleased to announce the latest additions to BAFTA’s stellar line-up are a Q&A session with Ralph Fiennes, a screening of ‘Senna’, followed by a Q&A with the director Asif Kapadia.

BAFTA and TCM are thrilled to welcome Suffolk-born Ralph Fiennes to Latitude Festival. Fiennes has been a regular face on our screens for 20 years, bringing a unique mix of mystery, warmth and quiet intensity into many memorable performances. Throughout his career, he’s showcased his talent in a diverse range of roles, balancing the villainy of characters such as Nazi war criminal Amon Göth in ‘Schindler's List’ (for which he won the BAFTA), serial killer Francis Dolarhyde in ‘Red Dragon’ and volatile cockney boss Harry in ‘In Bruges’, with softer, romantic leads in films such as ‘The English Patient’, ‘The End of the Affair’ and ‘The Constant Gardener’.

Fiennes can currently be seen in the final instalment of the Harry Potter film series, giving a macabre, show-stopping performance as the evil Lord Voldemort. His next project, a Shakespeare adaptation of ‘Coriolanus’ tells the story of a banished hero of Rome who allies with a sworn enemy to take revenge on the city. The film marks Fiennes directorial debut and will be released later this year. Join us for this rare opportunity to hear the virtuoso actor discuss his career to date, and exciting future projects. This event is sponsored by Turner Classic Movies.

‘Senna’ is a documentary film about the life and death of Brazilian motor-racing champion, Ayrton Senna. The film begins with Senna's arrival in Formula One in the mid-1980’s, and follows his struggles both on track against his rival, French World Champion Alain Prost, and off it, against the internal politics of the sport. It won the World Cinema Audience Award for documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival in January, and was a huge critical success on its release last month. The Guardian’s Steve Rose praised the fact that "with so much recorded footage of Formula One available, it has been possible to fashion Senna's story as a live action drama rather than a posthumous documentary. We're not so much hearing what happened in the past as seeing it happen before our eyes.” Following the screening, we are lucky enough to be joined by the BAFTA-winning director of Senna, Asif Kapadia (‘The Warrior’) for a Q&A.

Latitude and BAFTA are also thrilled to welcome self-proclaimed fan of ‘The Trip’ and BAFTA Fellow Richard Curtis (‘Blackadder’, ‘Four Weddings & A Funeral’), who will interview both Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon, along with one of the series producers, Andrew Eaton. Prepare your “small man trapped in a box” impersonation in anticipation.

Alabama 3 are unique. It's a bold statement, but one that bears out, holds water. Unlike most bands of their era, who, let's face it, are either dead or should be, they have proved themselves a constantly mutating collective, and always deliberately out of step with everybody else. They were the most unlikely act to have come out of the Britpop era, so little wonder, then, that they are proving the most enduring. Their collaborative approach to music, meanwhile - and they have worked, in their time, with everyone from Shane McGowan to Angelica Houston, Tony Benn to Tony Soprano - has kept them preternaturally creative. As a result, their back catalogue hasn't dated, if anything, it still sounds alarmingly fresh and relevant today. An acoustic album followed hot on the heels of last year's splendid ‘Revolver Soul’, as did a little-publicised but sold-out tour. In a career in which they have constantly bucked expectation - not least their own – Alabama 3 continue to weave their own labyrinthine, archly haphazard way, making fantastic music, and then watching as that fantastic music goes out to meet the world head-on. Alabama 3 are about to release a new album, ‘Shoplifting 4 Jesus’ with a pleasing sort of synchronicity, it might just prove their best work as well.

As part of Future Cinema's programme this year (the geniuses behind the wildly successful Secret Cinema projects) The Guillemots, led by Fyfe Dangerfield, will provide a live score to a specially chosen film, to be announced. The film will be brought to life by The Guillemots' sensitive and responsive music.

Director Spike Jonze teams up with Arcade Fire to create a 30 minute short film inspired by their critically acclaimed album, ‘The Suburbs’, and its themes of war and coming of age in suburbia. ‘Scenes From The Suburbs’ is co-written by Jonze & Arcade Fire’s Win Butler & Will Butler, this companion piece to the album follows the narrator, living in a suburban dystopia, trying to piece together fragmented memories from when he was a teenager, and his experiences with his friends as they grow apart.

Adam Yauch wrote and directed the surreal comedic short film ‘Fight For Your Right Revisited’ to celebrate one of the Beastie Boys' most renowned songs. 25 years on, '(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)' remains the most memorable parody of goofball hard rock jock anthems around. This sequel to the events of the original video sees the likes of Seth Rogan, Elijah Wood, Will Ferrell and Jack Black play past and future versions of the band members and includes a bizarre dance off between the old and younger Beastie Boys. Split second cameos from a wide array of actors from Susan Sarandon, Steve Buscemi, Kirsten Dunst, Mary Steenburgen, Chloe Sevigny and the band themselves makes this glorious blast of silliness a snapshot of generations of pop culture.

In search of the key to life: Jay Rayner and his love for jazz piano (unrequited).
Rayner talks about his passion for the piano, and about the “sweetness of failure”. Happier as an amateur than as a professional, he thinks we should talk more about the things that we do for decade after decade, out of love (or passion), even though we’re basically only okay at them. For Rayner, the piano was always special: “there’s something about it that insists on being touched...” Even the realisation that it isn’t a chick-magnet like the guitar or the saxophone (“the piano is a desk for doing double-entry book-keeping on”) couldn’t turn him away from it. As he says, ‘If you know nothing about jazz piano you will think I am superb; if you know something about jazz piano, well, thanks for coming anyway’. A half hour of confession, self-debasement and performance.

Film-maker Emily James spent over a year embedded in activist groups such as Climate Camp and Plane Stupid to document their clandestine activities. With unprecedented access, ‘Just Do It’ is a remarkable film that takes you on an astonishing journey behind the scenes of a community of people who refuse to sit back and allow the destruction of their world. Torpedoing the tired cliches of the environmental movement, ‘Just Do It’ introduces you to a powerful cast of mischievous and inspiring characters who put their bodies in the way; they super-glue themselves to bank trading floors, blockade factories and attack coal power stations en-masse, despite the very real threat of arrest. Their adventures will entertain, illuminate and inspire.

‘Powder’, a new film starring Liam Boyle, Alfie Allen & Ralf Little, will have an exclusive preview screening at Latitude, giving festival-goers a chance to see the film before it hits cinemas August 26th. Capturing all the energy and excitement of a band breaking through, ‘Powder’ follows the story of Liverpool band The Grams on an unflinching journey through the machinations of the music industry. Made by the team behind ‘Awaydays’ and filmed on location in Ibiza, London, Liverpool and live at a festival, ‘Powder’ is an authentic rock 'n' roll story based on the best selling novel by Kevin Sampson.

Lena Dunham writes, directs and stars in her second feature film ‘Tiny Furniture’, the girl who really wants you to know that she is having a very, very hard time. 22 year old Aura returns home to her artist mother's TriBeCa loft with the following: a useless film theory degree, 357 hits on her Youtube page, a boyfriend who's left her to find himself at Burning Man, a dying hamster, and her tail between her legs. Luckily, her train wreck childhood best friend never left home, the restaurant down the block is hiring, and ill-advised romantic possibilities lurk around every corner. Lena's mother, photographer Laurie Simmons, plays the fictional mother of Aura, and Dunham's precocious sister Grace Dunham plays Nadine, Aura's precocious sister.
Based on Martin Sadofski's play 'Outside Of Heaven', ‘Seamonsters’ is directed by first time feature-length award-winner Julian Kerridge and sees two best friends, a traveller girl and a waitress affected by small-town tragedy. Set in a typical dead-end English seaside town, these teenagers fall in and out of love, while struggling to come to terms with life at the edge of the country. A young, talented cast - seen in shows such as ‘Grange Hill’, ‘Waterloo Road’, ‘Married Single Other’ and ‘Skins’ - ensures authentic and hard-hitting portrayals of modern teenage lives.

Neil McCormick’s hilarious and touching memoir ‘Killing Bono’, recently adapted for film, tells the story of the McCormick brothers rivalry with U2 as they carved a disastrous path through the 80s music business. Bad drugs, weird sex, bizarre haircuts: they got through it all in an elusive quest for fame. But sometimes its life’s losrs who have the most interesting tales to tell. Their story of friendship, loyalty, rivalry and ambition has been turned into a major film, with Ben Barnes as Neil and Robert Sheehan as Ivan. Watch the screening of the film in the Film & Music Arena and hear their excruciating tales in the Literary Arena this summer.

Director and producer Chris Shepherd presents three films for Latitude’s Film & Music Arena ‘Dog Judo’, ‘Get Well Soon’ and ‘Bad Night For The Blues’. Chris has directed the multi award-winning film, ‘The Broken Jaw’, for Channel 4 and produced BAFTA nominated ‘The World Of Interiors’. In 2000 he became the co-founder of production company, Slinky Pictures, with producer Maria Manton. Director and writing credits include multi-award winning films such as BIFA winner and BAFTA nominated ‘Dad’s Dead’, ‘Who I Am And What I Want’ (with David Shrigley) and ‘Silence Is Golden’.

‘Dog Judo’ is an animated cartoon strip with a new episode appearing every fortnight on the Dog Judo website. It tells the story of two bickering dogs, Roy and Rexley, who share a house and argue constantly about judo. The series is now up to 50 x 1 minute episodes and features guest stars like Rik Mayall as Roy's Dad, Neil Adams (world famous judo star) as himself, and very soon Joey Pants (Ralph in the Sopranos) as a Mafia inclined Judo Exchange student from New Jersey. The animated strip has a strong following on Facebook where Roy hosts a daily judo master class and forum. It has appeared on Channel 4 and won several awards including the inaugural Babelgum International Online Film Festival where it won best Mini for Meat Sprinkles. Most importantly, it's about proper judo. Ask Roy.

London based BAFTA nominated and award-winning animation company 12foot6’s ‘Get Well Soon’ a gloriously injurious series of eight animated shorts musically stitched together by audio/video remix artists Addictive TV. Based on a series of interviews conducted with regulars at The Clock House in East London we bring you some amazing stories about personal injury – drive-by shootings, impalings, broken banjos, attacks by midgets.

Films by 12Foot6 (‘Dog Judo’, ‘Modern Toss’) Darren Walsh (‘Angry Kid’, ‘Compare Meerkat’), Lucy Izzard (‘Tea Total’), Phoebe Boswell, Bill Elliott, Kim Alexander, Bunch, Matt Oxborrow and Andrew Kelleher.

The individual films for Get Well Soon were directed and animated by…

Darren Walsh – ‘Bob’ Multi-award winning animator and director. Designer of the Aleksandr Orlov meerkat and directs the Comparethemarket.com commercials.

Matt Oxborrow – ‘Beast’ Animated and directed many films for Virgin Media, Paramount Comedy Channel and others. Nominated for a BAFTA in 2007 for children’s series’ The Sensibles’ for Jetix.

Addictive TV – Interstitial edits Audio visual mash up masters creating internet virals for films like ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, play festivals and clubs all over the world.

Lucy Izzard – ‘Graham’ Winner of BBC3’s New Talent Animator Award 2005 for ‘Tea Totel’ followed by ‘One For The Family’ and ‘Come Rain OR Shine’ which were commisioned by BBC in 2007. Recently directed animation for ‘The Delicious Miss Dahl’ for BBC2.

Bill Elliott – ‘Andrew’ Recently directed several spots for Ko Lik films and opening sequence for a new Cartoon Network feature.

Kim Alexander – ‘Zoe’ Graduation film Hungry For Love nominated for several awards. Since worked at 12Foot6 on many projects including Asa Lucander’s ‘Ain’t Got No Body’.

Andrew Kelleher – ‘Gould’ Teamed up with 12Foot6 to direct and animate Dog Almighty for Channel 4. Creator and director of Dog Judo and many commercials with 12Foot6.

Bunch – ‘Mark’ Bunch has an in-house team of specialists to deliver intelligent and innovative cross-platform solutions of communication design. Recent work covers many styles and disciplines, such as BBC, Nike, Diesel, Sony, Sky and Red Bull.

Phoebe Boswell – ‘Andy’ graduation film ‘The Girl with Stories in Her Hair’ was nominated for a number of awards. Her current builds on traditional draughtmanship and digital technology.

‘Bad Night For The Blues’ is a short film all about blues rinses, portraits of the queen and stand up bingo. Chris Shepherd delves into his past and recalls the world of his Aunty Glad and her local Conservative Club. The hues of blue that make up the Tory heartland are more than just a party - they are a state of mind.

‘Automate’ is the story of a woman and a robot. Ann buys herself a robot companion programmed to love her. In her attempt to connect with the doll, she struggles to forget the artifice in her newfound romance. How do you deal with rejection from someone designed to love. Starring Sarah Sweeny as Ann and Sam Pamphilon as Rob (‘Holby City’, ‘The Sunday Night Project’) and directed by Martin Stirling.

‘Disco’ is the follow up to writer/director Luke Snellin’s BAFTA nominated short film ‘Mixtape’. Set in 1997, the film charts the build up to the Year Nine school disco and features music by seminal Brit pop bands Cast and Suede. The film plays before Suede take to the Obelisk Arena this year and explores themes of young love and friendship alongside the British music scene of the nineties. Disco stars Bill Milner (‘Son of Rambow’), Charlie Rowe (‘Neverland’), Izzy Meikle-Small (‘Never Let Me Go’), Lil Woods (‘Nanny McPhee’) and newcomer Louie Byford. The film is produced by James Sorton for 2AM Films.

A series of short films created by Seamus Murphy to accompany each song on PJ Harvey’s ‘Let England Shake’ album will screen at Latitude this year. Award-winning photographer Seamus Murphy travelled 5,000 miles around England to create 12 films inspired by and developed from themes in Harvey’s new album. Each film is a combination of still and moving imagery, made in the manner of classic photographic reportage recording real & spontaneous situations to document England and the English. The films will be played as a complete visual accompaniment to the album for the first time in the UK at Latitude, before touring elsewhere during the summer. PJ Harvey & Seamus Murphy will also travel to Kosovo at the end of July for a special screening of the films at the prestigious Prizren Dokufest Film Festival where they will participate in an audience Q&A regarding their collaboration. PJ Harvey’s critically acclaimed album, ‘Let England Shake’, was released in February this year, entering the UK charts in the Top 10.

Tiny Elephants is a little company which makes animated films in stop-motion. It was formed in 2007 by Linda McCarthy and up to now has made four short films adapted from the cartoon strip Small Birds Singing, by Steven Appleby. ‘Small Birds Singing’ is a country estate, somewhere in England, in which live a dysfunctional family, a masked butler and a herd of tiny elephants who dust under the furniture. The Show at Latitude will consist of all four films, ‘Small Birds Singing’, ‘A Traditional Christmas at Small Birds Singing’, ‘The Grand Easter Egg Hunt’ and ‘Hinterland’.

Japan’s Official Entry for the 2011 Academy Awards ‘Confessions’, a Tetsuya Nakashima film, sees Takako Matsu (‘K-20: Legend Of The Mask’) playing a middle-school teacher whose four-year old daughter is found dead. Shattered, she finally returns to her classroom only to become convinced that two of her students were responsible for her daughter’s murder. No one believes her, and she may very well be wrong, but she decides, nevertheless, that it’s time to take her revenge. What happens next is all-out psychological warfare waged against her students in an attempt to forces them into confessing what she knows in her heart to be true: they are guilty and must be punished. A superb script, excellent performances and a perfectly pitched soundtrack (Radiohead, The xx and acclaimed experimental Japenese rock band Boris) makes ‘Confession’ one of the most original and impressive films of the year.

- LITERARY ARENA -

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.

WordTheatre gives voice to great writing in the three part series ‘Forbidden Fruit: Erotica’; ‘Here Hear’; and ‘Sunday Best: Short Stories from The Sunday Times Magazine’. Contemporary Short Fiction is brought to life by an international cast (subject to change) that includes Julian Sands (‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’), Gemma Arterton (‘Prince of Persia’), Ian Hart (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone’), Harriet Walter (‘Babel’), Olivia Williams (‘An Education’), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (‘Lost’), Juliet Stevenson (‘Truly Madly Deeply’) and Guy Paul (‘Mary Stuart’, ‘Broadway’) plus surprise guests! Produced by Cedering Fox, Kirsty Peart and John Schwab and directed by Cedering Fox.

WordTheatre’s Literary line-up (subject to change) is:

Thursday will feature WordTheatre's ‘Forbidden Fruit: Erotica’, an original theatrical collage of some of the best Erotica in literary history, much of which has been banned in various parts of the world. Selections include the writings of Sappho, nabakov, Anais Nin, DH Lawrence, Henry Miller, Erica Jong and much, much more. Featuring Sarah Mallock on Electric Violin. Script created by Cedering Fox.

On Friday WordTheatre's ‘Here Hear’ features stories by Julie Myerson read by Olivia Williams, Ben Okri performed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Anthony Doerr read by Guy Paul and Helen Simpson read by Gemma Arterton.

WordTheatre presents ‘Sunday Best: Short Stories from The Sunday Times Magazine’ on Saturday. Stories by Hilary Mandel performed by Harriet Walter, Ben Okri read by Julian Sands and Hanif Kureishi read by Ian Hart. Introduced by Cathy Galvin, Deputy Editor of The Sunday Times Magazine.

Deborah Kay Davies is the author of ‘True Things About Me’, a dark and sexually charged novel of survival that reveals simultaneously the strength and vulnerability of one ordinary woman. She was one of BBC2 Culture Show’s Twelve Best New Novelists, and named ‘one to watch’ by the Observer. She also won the 2009 Wales book of the Year Award with her first collection of stories, ‘Grace, Tamar and Laszlo the Beautiful’, and has published a collection of poems, entitled ‘Things You Think I Don't Know’.

Butterflies animate our summers, but the 59 species found in the British Isles can be surprisingly elusive. Guardian writer Patrick Barkham set out on a quest to find each and every one of them in one unforgettable summer. Searching high and low across the country, from the tops of trees in London parks to the bottom of damp bogs in Scotland – he has created a fascinating book; ‘The Butterfly Isles’ in which he charts his journey to find some ephemeral creatures. Wry, attentive, full of infectious delight and curiosity, and written with a beautifully light touch – Barkham’s beguiling story will captive audiences at Latitude this year.

Jay Rayner reads from his work ‘My Dining Hell’: a journey through the worst restaurants in Britain. In the dozen years that Jay Rayner has been restaurant critic for the Observer he has learnt one simple truth above all others. While readers may like reading his reviews what they truly love are stinkers, the kind of write-ups that ruin a chef’s day. In ‘My Dining Hell’ Rayner leads us through some of his worst experiences, reads from the reviews, reflects on the outcomes and tries to explain why we like them so much. In the interests of fair play he will also read us a few of the lousy reviews his own work has received. There will be time for questions.

The Humble Quest for the Universal Genius is the cult comedy panel show where Mark Allen pits two top comedians against each other in a bid to find a modern-day Universal Genius - someone who excels in all areas of human understanding. Unlike normal panel shows, the contestants will have their faculties tested in proper subjects, such as poetry, science, languages, wit, inventing, etiquette and hunting. Yes, hunting. Previous contestants have appeared on TV’s ‘Mock the Week’, ‘Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow’ and ‘Never Mind The Buzzcocks’, so expect to see two more high-profile comedy boffins battling it out to be crowned Latitude’s very own Universal Genius.

SelfMadeHero is the UK's leading, independent graphic novel publisher, for Latitude it presents:

‘Hellraisers’ is the story of four of the greatest boozers of all time: Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Peter O’Toole and Oliver Reed. The author Robert Sellers and artist JAKe deftly weave the four stories seamlessly into one fast-paced adventure of drunken binges, orgies, parties and fun. In this exclusive Latitude Festival preview of the hotly-anticipated graphic novel, Robert Sellers recounts of the juiciest anecdotes in ‘Hellraising’ history while artist JAKe creates four large format portraits of the ‘Hellraisers’ live on stage. ‘Hellraisers: a graphic biography’ will be published by SelfMadeHero in October 2011.

Graphic novelist Reinhard Kleist depicts Johnny Cash’s eventful life from his early sessions with Elvis in 1956 through the Folsom Prison concert, his spectacular comeback in the 1990s, and the final years before his death. A worldwide bestseller, ‘Johnny Cash: I See a Darkness’ vividly portrays the unpredictable, turbulent life of a loner, patriot and outlaw with the drama befitting the man who became a legend in his own lifetime. In this Latitude exclusive, the animated ‘Soundtrack Edition’ of the graphic novel will be projected complete with music to complete the performance.

- THEATRE ARENA -

With the nation’s leading theatre companies all bringing exciting productions to the festival each year, Latitude’s Theatre Arena has developed into a top performing arts festival. Renowned for its breadth and quality of programming Latitude has brought contemporary, physical, musical and classical theatre to brand new audiences, showcasing the very best productions as well as bespoke work made especially for Latitude.

‘Blood test, swab, pee in a cup’. Lekan has a niggle. Caroline has a headache. Brennan has too many nuts. Sarah has a disciplinary warning. Now Lekan has lost the merger. Caroline has lost her knickers. Brennan has lost his hamster. Sarah should probably have lost her job. Obviously, they’ve all lost their dignity. Trapped in a vicious (and uncomfortable) circle, they feel the burn and ask themselves – is it ever really worth playing The Circle Game? David Luff and Network Solutions, in association with OVNV presents ‘The Circle Game’ by Elinor Cook, winner of Time Warner Ignite 3.

- CABARET ARENA -

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 sing-alongs, 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.

Latitude brings you the best of Spymonkey's ‘Love In’, direct from its sell-out Brighton run, and winner of the best comedy award 2011. Turning cabaret on its head, Spymonkey deliver an outrageous hand-picked hit-list - from peace loving nudity to a hilarious Mother Teresa tribute, Spymonkey might not be able to heal your life, but you will be laughing so much it will feel that way. Love In, let us put it in you. Directed by Christopher Green (Tina C, Ida Barr) and including original material created by Cal McCrystal. “Gloriously anarchic, constantly entertaining” The Times

Performing a DJ set for The Razzle’s 1961 club night Ronnie King will be playing a heady mix 60’s glamour pop, Northern Soul and R'N'B. Responsible for kicking off the whole burlesque scene in London with his Lady Luck, his nights embody the 50’s and 60’s sounds with a glam back drop and host of pin up burlesque dancers to keep you entertained. He has worked with such sultry sirens as Dita Von Teese and Paloma Faith to name a few. More recently Ronnie has gone back to his roots with ‘Bear Your Soul’ a night of pure 60's soul touring the uber cool venues of East London. With his band The Hustlers one thing is for sure; when Ronnie is on the decks the dance floor is jumping.

Comic Diane Spencer has been performing since the end of 2006. Finishing her drama studies at Loughborough University, she emigrated to New Zealand where she started her career in comedy. Since then she has returned to the UK, performed her first solo show, and won 2011's Best Newcomer in the Chortle Awards. Her show from 2010, ‘Lost In The Mouth Specific’ garnered her attention on both sides of the world and with her new show ‘All Prevailing Madness’ Diane is a great addition to the line-up.

Sue Maclaine is a playwright and performer and for Latitude she invites you to meet Sid Lester, an old-time vaudevillian and natural raconteur as he takes arms against the threat of time. Sid wants one last shot. He wants to entertain you with a tap-dance here and a ditty there, intertwined with anecdotes from his many years on stage. One thing for certain is that he will hold the stage like a trouper and recreate (if a tad more arthritically) the finale of his unforgettable 1985 Royal Variety performance.

North London theatre company, Jacksons Lane, present young International company Slingshot Theatre with their raucous multi-lingual masked comedy: ‘The Zanniskinheads and the Quest for the Holy Balls’. Created through an international collaboration with ’O Pernacchio & ArscomicA, Commedia dell’Arte gets a 21st century face-lift in this unique production, packed with slapstick, stand-up, storytelling and stupidity, not forgetting an atomic bomb.
Meet Peenut and Ribbòn, two obnoxious and idiotic hooligans, charged by their boss to retrieve the recently stolen Zanniskinhead grail: The Holy Balls (sheathed in the Holy Ball bag). With neither a brain cell nor common language between them, it’s not looking good. Performed in English & French and suitable for 13+.

- LITERARY SALON -

A hub of life-enhancing interactive workshops, discussions, wide-ranging debates and mind expanding sessions, the Literary Salon is the noisy little sister of the Literary Arena that encourages you to get involved. Discover and learn
new skills, air opinions and explore your innermost feelings in this progressive school of thought.

Journalist and author Kate Spicer is best-known for writing lifestyle-themed articles for the daily newspapers The Times and The Daily Mail, among others. As well as publishing books, and presenting on radio and TV, she's currently working on a documentary entitled ‘Mission To Lars’. The premise is that her brother Tom, who suffers from Fragile X Syndrome – the most common form of inherited learning disability - is a massive Metallica fan and wants to meet Lars Ulrich, the band's co-songwriter, drummer and general motor mouth. The documentary follows their trail and, along the way, just how Kate herself deals with her brother's disability. The result is a sensitive portrayal of a sister and brother doing their best for their beloved brother. Kate's experiences as a journalist, writer and, now, documentary film-maker, will provide a fascinating Literary Salon session.

- COMEDY ARENA -

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 line-up.

Robin Ince has had an extensive comic career as a writer on shows including ‘The 11 O Clock Show’, ‘Alistair McGowan's Big Impression’, ‘Very Graham Norton’ and his collaborations with Ricky Gervais. After a brief appearance in ‘The Office’, and supporting Gervais on tour – often the victim of Gervais' sadistic teasing backstage – he began his solo shows and created The Book Club. As a result, this mixture of stand up and hilarious literary criticism won Time Out's Outstanding Achievement in Comedy 2006. More recently he began co-presenting the Radio 4 science series 'The Infinite Monkey Cage' with Professor Brian Cox which won Best Speech Programme at the 2011 Sony Radio Awards. The show is now touring the country along with Simon Singh and Ben Goldacre. With his atheist, scientific and literary interests, his comedy is a sharp, witty and informative ride sure to appeal to anyone and everyone.

Winner of Best Value Show at Leicester Comedy Festival last year, Comedy Store Gong Show and Comedy Café New Act Night, Joe Bor is a hugely likeable observational character comic. Spinning well worked anecdotes about his upbringing, working in a school and failed relationships, his affable style and stage presence make him a hilarious comedy turn. Joe has also written and starred in the sketch shows ‘The Gadabouts’ and 'Oi Over Here' which played at The Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh and currently does TV warm up for The Graham Norton Show. “…With his energetic stage presence and natural comic ability, Bor makes for a solidly entertaining act.” Chortle.

- POETRY ARENA -

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.

WordTheatre move from the Literary Arena for Sunday only to present Julian Sands reading the poetry of Harold Pinter. Personally tutored by Pinter, Julian adds insights and anecdotes - at once frank, funny, poignant and personal - to Pinter's work. Sands became familiar with Pinter’s poetry several years ago when Pinter requested Julian read them on his behalf at a recital as his own voice was temporarily impaired.

Wayne Holloway-Smith's debut collection, ‘Beloved In Case You've Been Wondering’, was published by Donut Press this spring. Whether employing the lyric, dramatic monologue, epistle or tall story forms, he revels in the poem as performance, carefully balancing wit, heart and dizzying imagination, in a riveting, often comic, high wire act. Holloway-Smith's short story, ‘Hyperpsychoreality Syndrome’, was published by the BBC as an audiobook and subsequently reached Number One in the iTunes fiction chart.

Previous Poet Laureate of Peterborough and Edinburgh Fringe Slam Champion Mark Grist has been touring nationally for the past year. During this time, he’s met loads of people, and then forgotten pretty much all of them. Most people can remember names. Or dates. Or the location of their hotel. Most people can remember where they grew up; or the street they lived in. But Mark can’t. Which is odd. Particularly if all those early things people can remember happened on an island with less than a thousand inhabitants; with seals and puffins and bogs and Vikings and the fastest wind speed ever recorded in the UK. Well, enough is enough. In his new one man show, Mark attempts to teach his memory who is boss whilst rediscovering Britain’s most remote island. Come and enjoy his lyrical storytelling...and absurdly big hat.

Award-winning performance poet Mab Jones from Cardiff delivers delightful comic verse that enthrals and entertains. She has won numerous awards and accolades, despite suffering from Selective Mutism and once not speaking for eight years. She has performed in the USA and Japan, headlined events all around the UK, and is a regular at festivals, spoken word nights, comedy clubs and burlesque revues.

Harry Baker is a 19 year old rapper-turned-poet continuing a whirlwind adventure that began with writing a prime number love poem, and has included becoming Edinburgh fringe poetry slam champ, London poetry slam champ and representing the UK in the European poetry cup of slam. Described as 'intelligent, insightful and utterly irresistible,' Harry will be telling tales of sunshine and bumblebees, the moon and manhood, weaving wordplay and wit through his rhymes to make you smile, lol, cry, or just go 'ooohhh'.

Nikky Norton is a bold and soulful spoken word poet and performer. Not afraid to use her body and sound in unconventional ways to express what she feels, she produces emotionally intense performances that enrapt audiences. She has performed alongside South African Poet Laureate, Keorapetse Kgositsile, Lebo Mashile and New York Artist Queen God Is and her debut spoken word solo show ‘Digging Deep: The Adventures of Sky - The Reluctant Hero’ has a debut sharing at Contact Theatre Spring 2011.

Rob Auton has ideas and sees if other people like those ideas by writing them down, standing up on stage, and saying them out loud. In recent years he has began to walk slowly, but with purpose, onto a huge variety of poetry and comedy stages up, down and across the British isles and come July Latitude’s Poetry Arena will be his stage.

Since his first gig, opening for a jazz-punk fusion group in York Cemetery, Trio Thaddeus's career as a poet has been unusual. Despite having been on the scene less than a year, he has already made his mark in venues across London (including Woolfson-Tay and The Camden Eye), and appeared as a featured artist in numerous shows at the Edinburgh Fringe, notably including
‘A Slightly Dangerous Comedy Occasion’ (**** The Scotsman), a stint at The Zoo Theatre, and performances with The Rep Theatre Company at ‘C.’

- OUTDOOR THEATRE -

With the nation’s leading theatre companies all bringing exciting productions to the festival each year, Latitude’s Theatre line-up has developed into a top performing arts festival and you can expect to find theatrical offerings popping up all across the site. In a new location for 2011 the Outdoor Theatre can be found in the magical Faraway Forest.

Up In Arms was formed in 2008 out of a production of David Hare’s 'Fanshen'. With each play they make, they try to turn individual styles over to the larger goal of investigating and realising the world of a play, turning the company into a different vehicle with every production. For Latitude they present ‘At First Sight’ – a short play featuring two young people who relive a New Year in Salzburg, their memories looping back through one another as they try to share a past they can never return to. A beautiful and elegiac look at the distance between people and their histories.

Premiering at Latitude in The Faraway Forest, Eyebrow Productions present ‘Hard Shoulders’ - a new play by award-winning playwright James Graham (The Whisky Taster, Bush Theatre; The Man, Finborough; Tory Boyz, Soho Theatre), written in collaboration with composer Joseph Atkins (BBC4; BBC2; Musical Director of ‘Me and Juliet’ Finborough), creating an exciting theatrical experience with its own musical score. Incorporating live music into the production, ‘Hard Shoulders’ follows Arthur, asphalt salesman, and Jade, cosmetics consultant, as they drive around the country, living their lives in service stations. Arthur has his sights forever trained on the horizon, fantasising about a future than might never be; Jade's eyes are fixed firmly in the rear view mirror, yearning for a past that gets further and further away. When their paths cross, an opportunity for a diversion presents itself. But like the road itself, the journey is never that smooth...Eyebrow Productions is dedicated to new writing as well as ambitious musical theatre endeavours, with an emphasis on providing opportunities to new writers and up-and-coming actors and directors.

- PANDORA’S PLAYGROUND -

A fantasyland of innocent pleasures and unbridled fun lies deep within the festival’s magical woods. A quirky corner of the Latitude site, here, anything goes. Side shows, games, interactive art, dance troupes, workshops and cutting edge theatre will keep you entertained all weekend long. Release your inner child and come play around at Latitude’s Pandora’s Playground.

Circus Space provides the exceptional opportunity to learn all of those awesome circus skills you always thought looked impossible as a kid. Dedicated to preserving the art-form of circus performance, they are the only organisation to ensure world-class training facilities for circus performance and production in the UK. They also provide recreational classes for adults and highly sought-after workshops. Expect some dazzling examples of the skills they are able to provide as well as the chance to have a go at some of them yourself. At the very least, it may give you the inspiration to follow in the footsteps of some incredible performers.

Flabbergast present ‘The Puppet Poker Pit’, a seedy poker den dominated and hosted by your favourite eastern European puppet duo Boris and Sergey, simply the greatest vaudevillian double act ever conceived for the small stage! Expect riotous exploits, malarkey, molestation and mirth hitherto unseen in Southwold. Dripping pipes, bare bulbs, and a sinister presence that lurks just out of sight. Try your hand… how good is your poker face? Flabbergast was set up to make uncompromising and exciting physical theatre drawing on the Bunraku style of puppetry and a belief that all theatre should be engaging and sweaty.

The Beaux Belles are five lasses whose dancing routines and authentic style has been in demand from the V&A to a Friendly Fires photo shoot via Amanda Palmer's choreographed videos. Specialising in a number of different styles such as Parisienne ladies; 50’s Bettie Page jungle women; skirt dancing fin de siecle sirens and plenty more besides, they're fit for any environment where a specific atmosphere is needed. Seeking to entertain and jettison the expectations of traditional showgirls, their Tardis of costumes ensures however they decide to infiltrate Latitude; it will be unexpected and enjoyable.

- THE FARAWAY FOREST -

Latitude’s fairytale Faraway Forest is a secret haven of dark desires, mysterious mayhem and salacious sin-filled pleasure. This clearing under the woodland canopy will host the decadent Winter’s Ball full of all of the delights of Christmas, hands on workshops and mesmerising theatre and musical performances. Come along and lose yourself in the depths of The Faraway Forest.

Enter the mysterious world of The Night Circus at a pop-up literary extravaganza to celebrate the most magical book you’ll read this year... competitions, circus performers, free books and treats, digital gaming, book readings, vox pops, a midnight tweet-up, help to record a live reading of the book, and more in this spell-binding fin-de-siècle fantasia of magic and mischief. The circus is coming ...

- SUNRISE ARENA -

Follow the winding path through the enchanting woodland and you will stumble upon a haven for the best in up-and-coming music. An intimate arena that bears witness to the exciting performances the new crop of talent has to offer - the Sunrise Arena has hosted some incredible, career-defining shows over the past five years that has helped bands springboard to further successes. Be the first to see tomorrow’s stars today deep within the woods at Latitude’s all important Sunrise Arena.
Headlining the Sunrise Arena on the Friday evening will be Faris Rotter’s (of The Horrors) band Cats Eyes compromising of Rotter and Italian-Canadian soprano and multi instrumentalist Rachel Zeffira. Their take on the girl group sounds of the 60’s – drawing on sparse, echoed sounds, strings, loud guitars, organs and Rachel's ethereal voice – really pays homage to the produced sounds of Joe Meek and Phil Spector. These geist-like sounds will be haunting Latitude audiences for months to come. What could be a more fitting setting than under the cool canopy of the Latitude woods.

The off-kilter melancholy of When Saints Go Machine sees cellos, sparkling harp strings, electronic squealings and churnings more typical of their K7 label mates. This Danish quartet won Denmark's prestigious P3 Guld Prize in 2008, and with the release of their incredible new album 'Konkylie' - which is a complicated mix of influences including dance post punk, Aphex Twin-esque experimental electronica and glorious pop - further acclaim and recognition will surely come pouring in.

- THE LAKE STAGE -

Situated near the banks of Latitude’s stunning waterfront is The Lake Stage the place to catch the very first glimpse of the next musical talents. With his finger firmly on the pulse, Huw Stephens gives us his freshest tips curating a programme of diverse and exciting bands who are on the cusp of success. In the past Everything Everything, Bombay Bicycle Club, and Pulled Apart by Horses have all graced the stage and since enjoyed mainstream success making Latitude’s Lake Stage the perfect place to catch rising stars.

Gary Nock began his troubadour journey at the advanced age of 17, learning from songbooks, determined to capture whatever it is a classic songwriter has under their fingertips. Within a couple of years he was playing around the bars in Devon where he'd grown up. A while after his own material began pouring out, Nock moved back to the West Midlands – his birthplace – and started touring. From these humble beginnings he's since played with Ed Harcourt, Newton Faulkner and Katie Walsh. His debut album is being finished now and his acoustic-rooted songs, steeped in his love of everyone from James Taylor and Dylan to Roy Orbison and Tracy Chapman, are yours to discover.

Gabriella Noble is a very talented young woman, whose musical abilities sprung from Kingston Grammar school’s talent contest in April this year. So prodigious was the display that Huw Stephens, while booking The Lake Stage, decided to bring her to Latitude after her music caught his attention. From local success to a festival stage in Suffolk, Gabriella's career has only just begun but is already getting opportunities most artists work years for.


- TICKET INFORMATION -

Weekend tickets £170.00 including VAT, subject to booking fee
Day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun £70.00 including VAT, subject to booking fee
Child ticket (5-12 years) £5.00 including VAT, subject to booking fee
Campervan Permit £30.00
Weekend tickets prices include car parking and camping
Day tickets include car parking only

Credit Card line: 0871 231 0821
Online: www.festivalrepublic.com • www.seetickets.com • www.latitudefestival.co.uk

The full length press release, with details on all acts appearing at Latitude, is available in PDF format to download from:
www.latitudefestival.co.uk/2011/press