21st–23rd July 2006 - Port Eliot, St Germans, Cornwall, PL12 5ND
Port Eliot Lit Fest will be host to an array of creative talent this July. Now in its fourth year, the three-day event has gained a reputation for putting on a very different literary arts festival and features a rich contemporary mix of writers, poets, filmmakers, artists, sculptors and musicians.
Visitors can pitch their tents and enjoy unique performances in hundreds of acres of 18th century landscaped parkland and gardens in the grounds of Port Eliot, an ancient stately home. The Lit Fest is a literary happening with the craic of a festival site and artists are encouraged to bring something more to their performances and readings. There will be four stages this year including a new Ha!Ha! tent in front of the house for theatrical performances.
This year’s festival will see: Hanif Kureshi perform; Arthur Smith’s extraordinary tour of the grounds; Alain de Botton unveiling architectural plans for his Philosopher’s Hut; Kevin Sampson and Helen Walsh on the anniversary of the Toxteth riots; Mick Brown talking about Marvin Gaye and Chris Salewicz showing a visual version of his new Joe Strummer biography; and Fiona Banner painting a male nude word-portrait. Also, number one bestselling author of The Farm, Richard Benson, who will be running a cheese stall and an exhibition of photographs of the Port Eliot House interiors by photographic artist Martin Parr will be on display in the House’s basement.
Barbara Hulanicki of Biba will have her own tent – Biba Ba Lula (She’s My Baby) - and will dress festival-goers in recycled materials and lace from the Port Eliot attics. This will be the first time she has designed clothes since the dying days of Biba. With no Glastonbury Festival to worry about this year, Michael Eavis will be on hand to tell behind-the-scenes tales, and Maria Alvarez and Rowan Pelling will present an homage to gothic women featuring the work of Kate Bush and Alison Goldfrapp.
Artists Gavin Turk and Deborah Curtis will create The House of Fairy Tales, using puppets to explore the beauty, horror and wonder of those timeless stories. Running the full length of the festival, there will be puppet and sculpture workshops for children and adults. Artist Wolfe Lenkiewicz will curate a show entitled The End of Civilization in the house’s big dining room. It will feature artworks by more than 20 artists. Works on show will include new work by Jake and Dinos Chapman.
For the first time at Port Eliot, ‘the ultimate showgirl’ Immodesty Blaize will perform two acts from her wonderful Burlesque repertoire: the Reverse Strip Tease and Miss Blaize ‘n’ Saddles on an eight foot rocking horse. Also, the ICA will present Roots and Shoots, a new-folk night on the Friday curated by Nick Luscombe and featuring live music headlined by Jim Moray. They will also have their own ICA Lounge on site showing film, selling books and offering visitors a chill out space for the whole weekend.
Also confirmed are: Hari Kunzru, Francis Upritchard, Ekow Eshun, Toby Young, Toby Litt, The Giro Playboy, Aisle 16, The Madrigals, William Fiennes, Simon Jamieson, Justine Picardie, James Flint, Will Hodgkinson, Simon Munnery and Graham Rawle (Lost Consonants). Gavin Pretor-Pinny will present the Second Extraordinary Meeting of the Cloud Appreciation Society; Alex Bellos will be returning with an amazing Brazilian ‘forro’ band; Tom Shone will be previewing his first novel with a dramatic presentation on the Ha!Ha! Stage; and Michael Howells, art director extraordinaire, will return to dress the main stage. Louise Carpenter and Harriet Vyner will give an eccentric, weird and wonderful tour of the house.
The film tent, curated by James Flint, will feature work by Pawel Pawlikowski (My Summer of Love), Sally Potter (Orlando), Andrew Kötting, Straight 8 film festival, Shooting People Mobile Cinema and Cornish Film. Louise Carpenter and Aisle 16 will be among several writers running workshops for children and teenagers.
Port Eliot tries to put on what you do not expect to find at a literary festival, in the garden of a stately home. The film tent can seat 250 and there will be a huge variety of good quality food stalls including an open air seafood restaurant, cream teas in the Orangery, a Japanese noodle stall, a burlesque, cabaret café that opens at midnight and three breakfast bars. Two bars will serve everything from real ale to cocktails.
The site will also feature the Blackwell’s Bookshop and a bazaar of stalls selling vintage clothing, ceramics, artworks and local sweets and cheeses. There will be a massage tent and Beauty Parlour in teepees in the Scented Garden. Those less inclined to camp can hire Airstream trailers or teepees. And there will be three times as many showers.
The fourth Port Eliot Lit Fest will be held at Port Eliot, St Germans, Saltash, Cornwall from Friday 21 to Sunday 23 July 2006. For further details please visit www.porteliotlitfest.com.
Gates open at 12pm on Friday and the festival finishes late on Sunday night. Nearest train stations are St Germans (change at Plymouth) or direct to Liskeard and take a taxi (9 miles) to the site. Unlimited free parking will be available in the park.
Ticket Information
Weekend adult camping £80
Weekend child(12-16) camping £30
Family 2 adults +3 kids £200
Friday day ticket £10
Saturday day ticket £22.50
Sunday day ticket £15
Children under 12 free and reduced price day tickets for 12-16s.
There is a handling charge of £3.50 per transaction.
David Jensen Photography:
https://www.davidjensen.co.uk/
