It’s a festive food fight! Holloway Arts Festival ends on a high with fun-packed day

Published: 09 July, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

HOLLOWAY Arts Festival ended on a high at the Big Day Out in Whittington Park on Sunday. 

Visitors enjoyed an interactive performance devised especially for the free outdoor event by Bekki Coward and students from the Central School of Speech and Drama.

The audience were invited to step back in time to the 1950s and assist a group of girl guides in gaining their hostess badges. 

After joining in with retro games and preparing for a tea party, young people then got involved in a slapstick food fight that sent iced buns and Madeira cake flying.

Other activities included arts and crafts workshops, the talented “airtist” Danny, the Wild Balloon Tamer and a screening of short films from local and up-and coming film-makers – powered by cyclists. There was also a penalty shoot-out competition from Arsenal, light jazz standards from the Scorch Saxophone  Quartet and music by Peghouse Rise, with singer Amelia Robinson and Tim Gill on viola.

The day was rounded off with “This is Not a Subject for Comedy”, a sketch show from comed­ian Ivor Dembina, where he charts how his views of Israel were challenged by witnes­sing the military occupation of Palestine at first hand.

The eighth Holloway Arts Festival ran from June 24-July 4, with more than 30 events that brought perfor­mers of national and international calibre to the area, as well as giving people a chance to try out a wide range of arts activities. 

These included two new ventures for the festival – the Female Singer Songwriter competition and the Battle of the Bands, both of which provided a platform for local musical talent.

The festival was produced by Rowan Arts in partnership with a range of local organisations.