Earls Court Community Festival 2008
Feature by Jack Foley
FOR the past eight years Earls Court has celebrated its unique make up by holding an annual festival.
The Earl’s Court Community Festival overflows with creative talent, and with the support of sponsors Chelsea Football Club, Bloomberg and Earl’s Court Exhibitions, the festival will once again light up the streets, venues and garden squares of Earl’s Court from July 6 to 20, 2008.
The festival reflects the wide diversity of the area, which means that an ongoing theme of the event is inclusion. Earl’s Court is a ward of about 15,000 residents with 90 languages spoken.
It is officially the most densely populated low-rise area in Europe. Despite all the challenges, however, the festival team, along with its sponsors, volunteers and a lot of elbow grease, feel that the 2008 festival is an event for the whole community to enjoy.
2008 Festival event calendar with booking information
June 30 – July 19: Festival Rush Hour Jam
Music and an art gallery at Earl’s Court Underground station. Every day during the rush hour, between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, the Earl’s Court station will be transformed into an exciting and unusual festival venue.
Sunday, July 6 – The Earl’s Court Street Fair
Hogarth and Kenway Roads will be closed for this year’s street fair, featuring over 60 stalls selling everything from art, jewellery and clothing to delicious food from around the world. From noon – 6pm. Admission free
Monday, July 7 – From Russia with Love (Concert of Russian classical music)
St Cuthbert’s Church, Philbeach Gardens
Rising young Russian stars Elena Nalimova (piano) and Pavlos Carvlahos (cello) will play an all Russian programme of much loved sonatas. The three cello pieces, all from the first half of the 20th Century, evoke the romanticism of tsarist Russia to the tortuous climate in Soviet times under Stalin’s regime. Sonata in G minor – Rachmaninov, Sonata in C major – Prokoviev, Sonata in D minor – Shostakovich.
Doors open 7pm. Performance starts at 7.30pm.
Tickets: £10 (£7concessions)
Complimentary wine and refreshments during interval.
Wednesday, July 9 to Saturday, August 2 – Hangover Square
The Finborough Theatre
Directed by Gemma Fairlie
Set in darkest Earls Court just before the outbreak of the Second World War and written by local author Patrick Hamilton, who lived for several years in Earl’s Court Square. Hangover Square at last is performed in its natural home at Earls Court’s Finborough Theatre. Find out more
Performances: Tuesday – Saturday 7.30pm. Matinees Saturday and Sunday 3pm,
Previews: July 9 and 10
Tickets: £9 – £13 from Finborough Theatre box office.
Wednesday, July 9 – The Troubadour sessions
The Troubadour Cafe & Gallery, 263 – 267 Old Brompton Road, London SW5 9JA.
Popular local bands showcase their talents in aid of the St Cuthbert’s Centre in Earl’s Court. Featured bands include Phildel
Tickets: £6/Doors 8pm
From Troubadour box office
Friday, July 11 at Mary Smith Court – Chips n’ Tunes
Lunch, afternoon tea and entertainment for older residents
Lunch: 1pm/Admission: £2
Friday, July 11 – Open-air screening of Ealling Studios classic Kind Hearts and Coronets
Nevern Square, Film on the square
Bring your own picnic, rugs and chairs (plastic glasses only please!) and enjoy the evening in one of Earl’s Court’s beautiful garden squares. Wine and soft drinks also available from cash bar.
Garden open from 8pm/Film starts at 9.20pm
Film duration: 106 mins
Tickets: £4 (accompanied children under 12 free). Available from Festival box office and at the gate
July 12 & 19 – St Cuthbert with St Matthias Primary School – Sports
Solidarity Sports will be running a multi-sports community activity club
at St Cuthbert with St Matthias Primary School. Skills, drills and fun and games for children aged 7-11. All abilities welcome. Advance booking is essential, as places are limited.
Free healthy lunch for every child.
Starts: 11am – 4pm/Price: £10 per child
Contact Sean Mendez on: 07958 599 922
Website
Sunday, July 13 – Festival Service at St Philip’s Church
St Philip’s Church, Earls Court Road opens its doors to the Earl’s Court Community Festival. Its main Sunday service of Holy Communion on Sunday, July 13 will be led by and for members of the local community and will feature participants in the Festival. All are welcome.
Service starts at 10.30am
Monday, July 14 – Garden Party
Earl’s Court Square
Entrance price includes a traditional cream tea with strawberries and (for adults) a glass of Pimms, and live entertainment in this award-winning garden.
Tickets: £3 (accompanied children 4 years and under free)
Garden open between 2pm and 5pm. Available from festival box office and at the gate
Tuesday, July 15 – Earl’s Court Baroque: A Venetian entertainment in London
St Cuthbert’s Church
This exciting ensemble, which on occasion expands into a full-size Baroque orchestra and regularly works with singers and other guest artists, consists of some of the best young musicians from the professional London early music circle. The ensemble is led by Žak Ozmo, specialist on early plucked instruments, and is joined on this occasion by international soprano Esther Levin.
Doors open: 7pm/Starts: 7.30pm.
Complimentary refreshments during interval.
Tickets: £10 (£6 concessions)
Wednesday, July 16 – Imagine Earl’s Court
The Troubadour Gallery
Collection of work by six local artists. Exhibition open from 12 noon – 5pm. Open to public. Private view by invitation only (6pm – 9.30pm) on July 15 & 16.
Free admission
Wednesday, July 16 – Live music at the Troubadour
Music by the Aneesa Chaudhry & The Eastern Flavours Band. Plus other invited artists
Tickets: £6/Doors open 8pm
From Troubadour box office
Wednesday, July 16 – Classical Concert
Leighton House, 12 Holland Park Road, W14
Concert in support of The Friends of St Mary Abbots with Armida: Anne Curry, soprano, Martha Kingdon Ward and Linda Shockey, clarinets and David Miller, piano, with music by Mozart and composers of his time. This concert is part of the 32nd Mozart Summer Festival.
Concert starts at 7.30pm/Tickets: £15 (concs £12) to include a wine reception after the concert.
(Please make cheques payable to: ‘The Friends of St Mary Abbots’).
Email: davidgriffiths.events@hotmail.co.uk
Tickets also available from Festival box office.
Thursday, July 17 – Open-air Jazz concert
Courtfield Gardens (east)
Samara is a six-piece Jazz/Brazilian Band led by the 606 Club’s Steve Rubie on sax and flute. Along with the band’s main vocalist Rachel Calladine, Samara’s special guest will be one of Europe’s finest singers, double BBC Jazz Award-winning vocalist Liane Carroll. Bring your own picnic, rugs and chairs (plastic glasses only please!)
Gardens open: 6.15pm/Performance begins at: 7pm
Wine and soft drinks also available from cash bar. Tickets: £5 (accompanied children under 12 free). Available from festival box office and at the gate
Sunday, July 20 – Brompton Cemetery Open Day
In this beautiful treasureland of history, a wide range of tours and entertainments, including recitals in the Chapel, children’s activities, refreshments and stalls. An outing for all the family. Opens 11am
Arranged by The Friends of Brompton Cemetery
Sunday, July 20 – Festival Choral Evensong
St Philip’s Church, Earls Court Road, London W8
Special Earl’s Court Community Festival Choral Evensong with the Choir of The Royal Parish Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Director of Music: Nicholas Danks.
All faiths welcome to enjoy this glorious music.
Starts: 5pm
There will be a social gathering with drinks in the church after the service.
Admission £3
BOOKING INFORMATION:
Festival box office: Tel: 020 7370 0015
Email: info@earlscourtfestival.org.uk
Website
Finborough Theatre box office:
24 hour box office 0844 847 1652
Website
Troubadour box office:
Tel: 020 7341 6321
Website