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Greenwich news and information

Greenwich Comedy Festival 2011

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The Greenwich Comedy Festival returns to Greenwich later this summer.

The Festival, part of the Greenwich Festivals series, will pitch up its Big Top in the grounds of the historic Old Royal Naval College once more as some of the country’s top comedians entertain the crowds.

Greenwich Comedy Festival takes place from September 5th – September 11th and the confirmed comics include Arthur Smith, Sean Lock, Kevin Eldon, Tim Minchin, Phill Jupitus, Adam Buxton, Micky Flanagan and Seann Walsh.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS OF THE 2012 GREENWICH COMEDY FESTIVAL

Council grants £100,000 to festival organisers

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Greenwich Council has agreed a £100,000 grant to the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival, just days before it’s due to begin.

The funding was signed off by the Leader of the Council, Cllr Chris Roberts, last week.

A report by council officers says that the £100,000 will allow the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival (GDIF) to run a  9 day programme of events.

The grant will be funded from the Olympic Legacy fund for the Cultural Olympiad and from the Arts grants budget.

Conservative councillors on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee  used their powers to “call-in” the decision – a move designed to allow more time for the decision to be considered.

But after meeting with the cabinet member for Culture and the Olympics, Cllr John Fahy, last night, the Conservatives  have agreed that the funding should be provided.

Councillor Nigel Fletcher, who is Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Greenwich Conservatives’ spokesman for Culture, said:

“We support the Festivals, which have been a growing success, but in the current financial climate we need to look very closely at how taxpayers’ money is being spent. Earlier this year we spent night after night hearing from community groups that are losing grant funding, so it was right for us to exercise our powers of oversight when it came to this very large item of spending.

“There must be much greater transparency over next year’s funding arrangements, and ideally we should be helping them attract sponsorship so that Greenwich taxpayers are not bearing such a large share of the burden. I hope the Labour leadership will take those points on board, and if so we will work constructively with them to ensure we get value for money.”

Cllr John Fahy, the Cabinet member for Culture and the Olympics, told Greenwich.co.uk:

“Funding for the Greenwich Festivals is provided by the Council as seed funding for the participating organisations to maximise inward investment. This funding forms part of the Olympic Legacy funding. The Council element is small in comparison to the income achieved. For instance GDIF brings in £800k, the Council contributes £100k. Summer Sessions brings in a similar amount. Their grant is £60k.

“We are working to develop a Cultural Trust which will promote the Greenwich Festivals post 2012 as this particular funding stream will cease to exist.”

Other organisations that provide funding the Greenwich and Docklands International Festival include the Arts Council and Tower Hamlets Council. It’s London’s biggest outdoor performing arts festival, and one of the biggest in Europe. The nine-day programme of events kicks off this Friday.

Greenwich Dances, part of the Greenwich Festivals series

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From 24 June – 3 July Greenwich Dance is presenting a 10-day celebration, Greenwich Dances, as part of The Greenwich Festivals series, with 24 performances and 11 workshops in many unusual locations – from parks to palaces, riverfronts to town centres, museums to street corners

Small Dances

Moving Gallery, Can I dance for you? and Running Dance

Location: around Greenwich Town Centre and the Old Royal Naval College

Date & Time: Throughout the day on Friday 24, Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 June

Three performances that will rove through Greenwich Town Centre and the Old Royal Naval College: Ragnhild Olsen’s Moving Gallery devised with students from Lewisham College; Can I Dance For You? by David Waring and Melodie Gonzales – a set of guerrilla-style solos and duets,  where dancers spring ‘out of the blue’ to perform for passers-by; and Running Dance, a duet that moves and challenges the flow of crowds created by  Thomas Goodwin and Petra Söör.

Moving Gallery and Can I Dance For You? are also part of Greenwich+Docklands International Festival (24 June – 2 July)

Crossroads

by Luca Silvestrini’s Protein

Location: King Charles Courtyard at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

Date and Time: Saturday 25 June 6.45pm    Sunday 26 June 1.50 & 3.35pm

Commissioned by Greenwich Dance and created by resident company Luca Silvestrini’s Protein in partnership with Trinity Laban and in collaboration with composer Andy Pink, Crossroads will delight and surprise with its large cast of local people from toddlers to octogenarians. Inspired by ideas and experiences of travelling, migration and cultural identity, this unique performance of dance and live music will inhabit the elegant King Charles Courtyard at the heart of Trinity Laban on the historic Old Royal Naval College site.

Crossroads is also part of Greenwich+Docklands International Festival

Tea Revives the World

by Alexandra Baybutt and Ben Gwalchmai

Location: Public garden by the Cutty Sark Pub, the shoreline by Crane Street and between these two sites.

Date & Time: Wednesday 29 June – 2 July, 7.00pm.

Tea Revives the World is a site-specific performance experiment, in four parts, inspired in part by the piers of Greenwich and The Cutty Sark, the tea-clipper that traded tea all over the globe. Set against the riverside and the shifting Thames shoreline, the performance involves movement, sculptural costume, and water. The actions of everyday rituals, tea-picking and voyages of the body and trade are woven together to explore the history of Greenwich.

Tea Revives the World is funded by Greenwich Dance’s Leg-up Bursary for emerging dance artists.

For more information about the other activities around the borough, visit the Greenwich Dance website.

Greenwich Summer Sessions 2011

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The Greenwich Summer Sessions return this year with a line up that’s bigger and better than before.

Greenwich legends, Squeeze, will be performing in their hometown and there will also be sets by Status Quo, Neil Hannon from the Divine Comedy, the Pogues, Mark Ronson and Status Quo.

The series of concerts will take place in the stunning surroundings of the Old Royal Naval College.

Greenwich Summer Sessions 2011 Tickets

26th July 2011 – Neil Hannon from the Divine Comedy featuring Jose Gonzales
27th July 2011 – Mark Ronson & The Business Intl + support
28th July 2011 – Status Quo + Nine Below Zero
29th July 2011 – Squeeze + support
30th July 2011 – The Pogues

Old Royal Naval College
The Greenwich Summer Sessions will be staged in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College

Daily Photo: 08/03/2011 – Summer Sessions launch

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Greenwich Summer Sessions

Squeezed Middle: 2012 hopeful Gemma Gibbons poses for photographers between Squeeze’s Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford.

The eagle eyed amongst you may spot a well known local blogger in the melee of photographers.

Local photographer, Warren King, was also there and was kind enough to share these photos…

Take a look at Darryl’s report on the launch at 853, too.