Battle Festival 2016

Battle Festival offers literary and visual delights

The third annual Battle Festival is officially underway this week after launching last weekend with the world premiere of brand new opera, PUSH, in collaboration with Glyndebourne Opera. “PUSH was a thrilling way to launch the festival”, says Sally Lampitt, Festival Director, “paving the way for a month of exciting international arts in Battle, with something for everyone.”

Usifu Jalloh

Literary lovers will find top storytellers at Battle Memorial Hall, starting on Saturday 8 October at 2pm with the inspirational Usifu Jalloh, who weaves drumming and singing into magical tales from Sierra Leone in a captivating and joyful free performance for young and old.

Writer and producer Simon Brett OBE, gives a humorous and enlightening insight into writing for radio comedy in a talk about his life, career and writing on Thursday 20 October at 7.30pm. As a radio producer, Brett’s credits include I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, Just a Minute, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and cult comedy series The Burkiss Way. Brett has also written four series of detective novels.

On Sunday 23 October at 7pm, historical novelist Lindsey Davis brings to life her Falco series of crime stories set in ancient Rome, in a talk packed with humorous insights and followed by a Q and A.

There are free exhibitions running throughout October, including Kerry Bennett’s ‘Nature’s World’ (Battle Books), capturing her ongoing enchantment with the essence of her natural surroundings, from her childhood home in subtropical Brazil, via California to her ancestral home in the UK.

‘Brothers in Art’ at British Design, British Made, exhibits work by brothers Paul and John Nash who emerged out of the trauma of two World Wars and their mother’s mental illness, as landscape painters, wood engravers, illustrators and official War Artists. Paul went on to experiment with abstraction and surrealism, becoming a major figure in twentieth century British art, while John continued to focus on botanical and landscape painting. Join writer and lecturer James Russell for his illustrated, down-to-earth presentation about the brothers on 18 October.

The Saffron Gallery presents MasterPiece 2016, with award winning international artist, Guy Portelli (Battle Festival’s Artist in Residence), two of Scotland’s most collectable painters Margeretann Bennett and Catriona Millar, world leading sculptor Louise Giblin, two-time New York Observer front page artist Carne Griffiths and multi award winning painter, Helen Masacz.

Paintings, prints, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and drawings by local and regional artists are showcased at Alter Ego Gallery’s celebration of country artists, ‘1066 & All That’.

Image by Carne Griffiths

Get involved with International artist, Carne Griffiths as he works on his mural ‘Magical Garden’ at the entrance to the Crafty Norman on Abbey Green, using herbal teas, calligraphy inks and a little booze. Bring along objects of curiosity to appear in the work – the more bizarre the better!

And if you have space for more art, you’ll find pottery, needlefelt, lino printing and stained glass at The Crafty Norman and a host of new works for sale at the PURE Autumn Art Fair at Powdermill Hotel from the 22 – 30 October.

Throughout the festival, you can take part in free workshops and demonstrations at The Crafty Norman and the Battle Memorial Hall, including The Art of Stained Glass, Pen and Ink Drawing, Lino Printing, Astronomy and Space, Painting on Silk, Pottery, Halloween Face Painting and Needlefelt.

Supported by the Arts Council England, Rother District Council and East Sussex County Council, Battle Festival’s programme also includes theatre, dance, music, opera and history.

For more information, click Battle Festival 2016 

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Also in: Community Arts