Midsummer Madness
“Lord, what fools these mortals be!”
(A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 3, Scene 2)
This is certainly what everyone must have thought when the Go
Folkestone Community Arts Committee decided to proceed with its planned
inaugural summer event, “Midsummer Madness” at the Amphitheatre on 23rd June. As
the rain continued to torrent downward, the optimistic Committee Chair, Michelle
Kellett, assured the doubtful committee members that “the Met Office promises
the rain will clear by 3:00pm”. And clear it did…
Despite the daylong deluge, people turned out in impressive numbers to attend
the family event celebrating music, arts and the beginning of summer. Leading up
to the event several schools in Folkestone participated in mask-making workshops
to take part in the masked parade and competition. On the day, families and
individuals alike enjoyed performances by: the Black Robin Drummers; Paul
Brisley & Friends; salsa band Bloco Fogo; Fair Isle, and the ever-popular band
Intensified. In addition, there was a magician and a storyteller, drumming and
mask-making workshops as well as circus skills and performers and a masked
parade led by Bloco Fogo. The entertainers all gave an outstanding performance
and the face painter, Gill, who was swamped for the entire festivities, endured
with impressive stamina!! The day was spectacularly brought to a close with an
impressive display of fireworks, generously donated by the Roger de Haan
Charitable Trust.
Michelle Kellett said of the event “It was fun to see the initial ideas for the
event turn into a reality. Things were pretty much as we imagined and there was
a definite sense of ‘madness’ and fun on the day. I have had some fantastic
feedback from the schools and many other people. We stayed bang on budget which
is a small miracle considering all of the different things we paid out for here
and there. Hopefully this type of event can now be run annually for Go
Folkestone and become part of the summer for the town.”
The Go Folkestone Community Arts Committee would like to thank its sponsors, the
KCC, Awards for All and Shepway 1 Cluster Fund, Livvy and Roger de Haan for
taking time out of their busy schedule to judge the mask competition, the
Folkestone Mayor Peter Gane for opening the event, and once again to the Roger
de Haan Charitable Trust for the fireworks finale, as well as all of you in
Folkestone who were able to attend and contribute to such a successful and
enjoyable day.
Wendy van Halderen-Moss
Article from Go Folkestone Newsletter September 2007
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