Church Stretton and South Shropshire Arts Festival

Good news for families! This year we have three events that will appeal to both parents and children. Firstly, the free morning Coffee Concert in St. Laurence’s Parish Church on July 2oth. will feature the delightful Babar the Elephant, who leaves the Jungle and learns about “city life” to civilise the Jungle on his return when he is made king. The story will be told with words and music.

Next is the evening event on July 29th., entitled “The Thousand-Petalled Lotus Flower Story”, told by a narrator, Cassandra Wye, who is one of the most renowned and expert story tellers, who has performed all over the world. She will tell us about:- a mouse who went in search of a husband – but only if he passes a crucial test, the holy cat who went on a pilgrimage and came back changed – or did he?, those following a stairway to heaven – who get more than they bargain for, and, of course, this most unusual flower with a tale to tell. All the stories are accompanied by two outstanding musicians weaving the melodies of Indian classical music into the story-telling. Indian snacks will be on sale during the interval.

Then on the following afternoon we look forward to welcoming families to “The Mowgli Stories”, from Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Books, describing the adventures of this human baby found and reared by a family of wolves, his life with them and the problems he faces on re-entering the human world. This performance will feature masks, puppets and song and will be a lot more exciting than the Disney film. In addition, there will be competitions, involving many of the town’s traders, who have been extremely helpful, finding jungle animals in shop windows, making masks and so on, with prizes. Children’s tickets for these two events are only £2.50. More details can be found on our website ( www.strettonfestival.org.uk)

We should say that all these events will, like all good children’s stories and music, be appealing for adults as well. Do bring your children, or come along as adults and enjoy it at your level.

The Mowgli Shop Window Competition.
 
There will be a small animal in many of the shop windows in Church Stretton from Monday 13 July.  These shops will display a Mowgli poster in their window.  You should collect a form from Mynd Art and Toys and say what jungle animal you have seen and what shop it was in.    When you have finished return the form to Mynd Art and Toys before mid-day on Tuesday 28 July.  The winners will be announced at the interval of the Mowgli Show on Thursday 30 July.
 
The Mowgli Mask Competition.
 
If you go to Scrappies and show your Mowgli tickets they will give you (free!) a mask and some materials which you can use to decorate it to represent one of the animals in the Jungle Book.  When you come to the show you can wear your mask and at the interval winners will be chosen by one of the actors.  Note that Scrappies opens  11-7 on Wednesdays and 10-2 on Saturdays.
 
The Lotus Flower Competition.
 
The Lotus Flower is a sort of water lily.  It is thought to have mysterious magical powers as it closes and sinks in the night only to open out floating on the water and beautiful in the day.  The petals are associated with stories of and myths of the Indian Continent and Egypt, some of which will be narrated at the concert.  
 
Draw or paint a lotus flower with mysterious vivid colours.  Put you name and address and age on the back.  Hand it in as you come to the “Story of the Thousand Petalled Lotus Flower” on Wednesday 29 July.  We shall announce the winners at the end.
 
Babar the Elephant Competition.
 
Draw or paint a picture of any elephant.  Use exciting colours.   Hand in with your details and age on the back at the coffee concert on Monday 20 July where his music will be played .  At the end of the concert the winners will be announced.

Joan Arnfield, the Art and Crafts Exhibition organiser was given a sneak preview of the student work which will become part of the Exhibition in July.  She was visiting the year 11 Art Students to present the Arts Festival Prizes to members of the class.  In the picture below are the prize winners with Joan:

From left to right: Archie Bolton – Highly Commended, Alex Brogan – Highly Commended, Emma Russell – First Prize, Joan Arnfield – Art Exhibition Organiser, Dan Gore – Second Prize, Emma Cooley – Third Prize, and Katie Brisbourne – Highly Commended.

Joan said “The student work is one of the highlights of the show and we are always delighted to include it as it is really stunning! I hope the students will come to the show and bring their friends and family too!”