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Camden News - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 9 April 2009

Festival trustees chairman Toby Spannier, Councillor Flick Rea and Mayor Nurul Islam

Festival crunched! Music programme forced to shrink

THE recession has hit this year’s plans for the Hampstead and Highgate Festiv.
The annual music and literature event, which takes place for a week at the beginning of May, has seen its programme cut due to a downturn in sponsorship. It has also been hit by the loss of one of its key venues with Keats House closed because of building work.
Speaking at the programme launch at the Freemason’s Arms in Downshire Hill, Hampstead, on Monday, festival director George Vass said that although they had pulled together a quality line-up, the more fringe-like events had had to be be scrapped.
He said: “We have been affected by the current financial climate so we have had to cut down the programme significantly.”
Mr Vass added that the popular children’s events, which include a young composers competition, will be rescheduled for the autumn.
Organisers will be using the newly renovated St Stephen’s church in Pond Street for some on the main concerts. Other venues include St John’s parish church in Hampstead, The Magdala pub in South Hill Park, and the Highgate Scientific and Literary Institute in Pond Square.
Among the featured events is the rarely performed Benjamin Britten piece Curlew River, based on Japanese Noh Theatre.
Festival trustee chairman Toby Spannier added: “We have chosen broad performances which provide some high-quality events.”
He added that although the sponsorship has dropped off, ticket sales had actually gone up.
The literary side of the festival includes Margaret Drabble discussing her new book about jigsaws and her family, and a poetry night with London as the theme. Readers will include writer Diana Bishop and actor Valerie Sarruf.

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