YOU could be forgiven for thinking that the Chiddingly Festival has something to do with ChidFest, the local music event that has gained popularity in the last few years, but the original Chiddingly Festival is something different entirely.
The Chiddingly Festival has been a beacon of the creative arts in Sussex, featuring top-level comedians, musicians, theatre, film, classical, poetry and more, this year celebrating its 44th Year!
One of the joys of this particular festival is getting to see artists normally found on West End stages, TV, or international stadiums, up close in an intimate venue, in the village of Chiddingly.
The Festival is a charity supported by donations and kind sponsors, which helps keep ticket prices down. It’s a rare treat for those canny enough to nab tickets before they sell out. This year there is a packed schedule of events, running from 19th to 28th September.
Poetry: Hussain Manawar. 19 Sept 2024, 8pm The Six Bells pub, Chiddingly
Kicking off this year’s festival is a chance to see poet sensation Hussain Manawar, (who recently opened for Taylor Swift), performing tales of hope, heart & soul in his own unique voice, from his new book, ‘I Wanted To Quit Too’ which quickly became a Times Bestseller. If you saw his recent Abbey Road session you already know this will be a real treat. Hussain will be signing books after the show.
Lantern Trail: 20 Sept 2024, 5,30pm, Chiddingly Village Hall
A wonderful way for families with children to spend a late summer’s evening in the village. Kids get to make a lantern for the trail which wanders through the churchyard and around the cricket pitch, led by the fire torches of Chiddingly Bonfire Society.
Jazz: Tenderlonious. 20th Sept 8pm, Chiddingly Village Hall
Ed ’Tenderlonius’ Cawthorne is regarded as one of the leading figures in the London jazz and underground music scene. His debut ’Tenderlonius’ live album ’The Shakedown’ is considered to be one of the classic albums of the modern jazz era, gaining rave reviews and receiving over 5 million streams worldwide.
Tenderlonius will entice you with a quartet of some of his favourite musicians and collaborators with a live show including tracks from the recent live album ’You know I care’.
Art & Craft exhibition. 11am – 4pm, Sunday 22nd Sept, Chiddingly Village Hall.
There is always something surprising to see at the weekend art and craft show, as the village hall is transformed into an exhibition space full of vibrant colour and artistic expression. This year you can expect a plethora of talent across many different mediums, including paintings, ceramics, jewellery, sculpture, glass and much more. There will also be workshops suitable for both adults and children where you can get involved and create your own masterpiece. Drink locally produced beers and ales in the bar tent or indulge in homemade refreshments from the cafe while you enjoy the afternoon’s entertainment.
Classical / Jazz concert: Joanna MacGregor & Andy Sheppard. Thurs 26th Sept, 7.30pm, Chiddingly church.
One of the perks of having an Internationally famous concert pianist living in the village is that she sometimes makes time to give a rare and special performance for the locals. Her recent collaboration with ECM saxophonist Andy Sheppard led to their acclaimed best-selling album Deep River. This year’s concert explores this album, where classic spirituals meet Mississippi blues. Deep South Americana is poetically reimagined for the 21st century, including music by Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan.
Before that, a short solo piano set from Joanna: dazzling music by Phillip Glass, as well as the great jazz composer Mary Lou Williams.
Musical Theatre: Fly Me to the Moon, Friday 27th Sept, 7pm, Chiddingly Village Hall.
Another Chiddingly local is West End theatre director Richard Williams. This year he is collaborating with top writer Lucy Hawking (Stephen Hawkin’s daughter), for the space-themed show Fly Me to the Moon.
A witty narrator, a wonderful pianist and a brilliant singer join forces to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the first moon landing in 1969.
Lucy’s entertaining and fast-moving narrative takes us from Pythagoras and The Music of the Spheres to Stephen Hawking and The Brief History of Time, and along the way includes surprising incidents, astonishing dramas and revelations from people involved in the moon landing. Using international contacts, Lucy pinpoints some extraordinary moments in scientific history and brings us up to date with recent space explorations, and events on The International Space Station.
The show incorporates song, film, historic artefacts, some recently revealed secrets from NASA – and depending on conditions at the time might even include a live hook-up with the crew on the ISS!
The mystery and allure of the moon, the stars and planets have, of course, been the subject of much music and countless songs, which will naturally include Fly Me the Moon – made famous by Sinatra – David Bowie’s Space Oddity (aka Major Tom), Blue Moon and Moon River as well as many other lunar and space-related songs.
Film: Back to the Future, The Cine-Supper, Saturday 28th Sep, 7pm, Chiddingly village hall.
Cine-Supper returns to close The Chiddingly Festival for an eclectic evening of dining & dress-up, themed around a special big-screen presentation of legendary time-travel comedy, Back To The Future.
Local film director Corin Hardy (Gangs Of London, The Nun) will rush back from filming his latest movie Whistle, starring Wolverine and Deadpool’s Dafne Keen, to introduce Saturday night’s event.
Corin: “Saturday night will be a fun-filled, immersive occasion with period specific music, decorations, cocktails & movie trailers, as the Village Hall travels back in time to the 1980’s, accompanied by Doc & Marty McFly!”
50’s & 80’s fancy dress is encouraged,. Cinematic prizes kindly donated by The Picture House Uckfield will be awarded to the most ingenious costumes worn to the occasion!
If you’ve been to the excellent Dicker stores cafe, you will already be familiar with ‘Jody’s kitchen. The ‘supper’ part of cine- supper comes from the same chefs, who will be creating a three course dining experience inspired by gourmet Americana cuisine… “Great Scott!” Indeed.
Local film composer Simon Woodgate will be performing some 50’s music at the event and said,
“It’s all too easy to get used to streaming movies at home on the sofa, but it’s just not the same as going on the ride with an audience! You haven’t seen a movie until you’ve seen it at cine-supper!”
If you feel you’ve been spending too much time looking at your
Phone, and haven’t been out for ages, bring a friend head to the Chiddingly festival. Go and see why Picasso himself called it ‘the best village festival in England’.*
Tickets for all the events can be purchased from the Chiddingly Festival website.
*Picasso did visit Chiddingly in 1969, but sources were unable to confirm that he actually said those words.
