Wise Words: Once Upon A Meadow

Feeling utterly relaxed after a wonderful time in the Garden Tent, I went for a wander into the meadow.  It was quiet, peaceful and full of insects and butterflies.  There was a bit more than that though.  This patch of wild garden had been transformed into every young child's nursery ryhme dream

Following the signs, you were greeted by book birds, dangling from the branches of an ancient everygreen yew tree, it's poisonous crimson berries looking beguiling tempting.  Each book was a literary classic, a tale that everyone should have heard of, and should try to read at least once in their lifetime!  The pages were folded beautifully, creating accordians from words.

Over the river little origami boats floated, ready to set sail on a voyage of discovery as old and young alike learned how to make them in a master class on the banks, brows furrowed in concentration with each complex fold and turn.

Venturing past and into the meadow proper was like entering a world of whimsy and wonder.  Wise Words have always been experts at attention to detail, with lampshades hanging off trees, glass tea parties amongst a trees roots and signs encouraging you to think and debate and laugh, but even knowing this and what to expect, they still manage to take me aback every time.  It is just beautiful - like our own private Wonderland.

Artwork by Jack Cant was displayed in a little woodman's hut and also scattered under the shade of the trees. 

By now you may be thinking that this all looks very nice, but what on earth the point of it all was?  Well now.  This was the setting for an adventure.  At 10am and 3pm every day at the weekend (and that includes this weekend coming, the 20th and 21st September) children could see their favourite nursery rhymes come to life.

With the aid of a song, dance and frolic from the nursery rhyme characters themselves!

This crew of young actors draw children into a world where the sheep have disappeared because Little Boy Blue lies fast asleep and Little Bo Peep needs help to find them.

A dreamland where Mary Mary Quite Contrary collects dreams and helps them grow. A world where Humpty Dumpty and three little dicky birds sit on the wall watching three ships go by. But beware, they warn the children,  don’t go too close to the edge or they may just have a great fall!

If all this sounds far too exhausting then Pretty Polly has a cups of tea on standby and the Queen of Hearts has scrumptious tarts – as long as the Knave hasn't stolen them!

So if you are at a loose end this Saturday or Sunday, and are wondering what to do with the little ones, come down to the Meadow and let Little Bo Peep and her friends invite you into their world. 

There will be things to see, people and animals to meet and lots of activities all day, including family art and craft workshops

All performances are free but spaces are limited so do turn up early and pop your name on the list at the door.  You can reach the Meadow by going to the Greyfriars Gardens, opposite the entrance to the Old Brewery Tavern and by the Abode Hotel in Canterbury.  Family art and craft workshops, like the origami boat making, are £4 per child to cover the cost of the materials used.

It's a wonderful way to get your child's imagination fired up and exploring new and exciting worlds.

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Wise Words: Music At Midday

It's back...

If I thought that Wise Words was big last April, at the half, now that we are back into the early stages of Autumn it is huge.  This is partly due to a successful kickstarter campaign over the summer by the Wise Words team to raise an additional £1500 for the festival to really turn this festival into one the likes of which Canterbury has not yet seen.

The result is a festival that is jam packed with activities from the 12th - 21st September including well respected poets like John Siddique in a twitter takeover and morning coffee sessions and Carol Ann Duffy to launch the festival.  Coco and The Butterfields are headlining the Festival on the Tuesday evening in the Garden Tent in a tiny, intimate gig which looks to be a fantastic experience.  There is pedal powered Slam poetry throughout the highstreet and visual performances by a number of different artists, including Emily Hennessy (I'm really looking forward to Firebird on Saturday 20th) and Xanthe Gresham-Knight.  There are Stories on the Stour, linking the riverboat tours with story telling traditions, and there are Scratch Clubs and Open Mic Nights for young, budding poets to test their skills out.

There is also a series of Music at Midday events, and it was at one of these on Saturday that I had my first Wise Words experience of the autumn.

Unlike last Spring, there is a new addition to the Festival. Out in the walled garden, where the Yurt was before (which has moved to the other side of the meadow near the Franciscan Chapel), there now stands a Garden Tent.  A large marquee with moroccan drapings, thick arabic carpets and jewel hued footstools nestling at the foot of a stage where performers can entertain enraptured crowds. 

Inside it all feels a bit otherwordly as the sunlight that streams through the thin marquee walls is transformed by the wall hangings and casts a pinkish red hue over everything inside.  The light does strange things to people's skin as well!

Music at Midday is exactly as it sounds.  Starting at midday, and sometimes with two performers back to back, the Garden Tent becomes a place for you to bring a sandwich, grab a cup of tea from the refreshment stand at the back (suggested donation of £1) and settle down comfortable to enjoy some lunchtime music.  Everyday features a different musician, each with their own unique style and they are all free to attend (although donations to the artists are welcome in the hat!). 

I was there to see Anne James, a local singer-songwriter who performed a range of covers and her own material.  She noted that she normally performs with a band and this was the first time in a while she had performed a solo gig, so it was a bit more daunting for her than normal.  

There were quite a few children in the audience right at the front, and whilst a bit fidgety, they bobbed along to the songs that they recognised by Adele and Beyonce.  There are a large range of events and activities at the Festival that are perfect to bring the smalls along to; check back later this week for one in particular....!

Anne James' voice has a soaring, hauting quality to it.  It is quite folksy in its sound and was incredibly relaxing to sit back and listen to.  She has quite an unassuming air when she performs, seeming genuinely surprised when the audience applauded her after ever song.  It's quite an endearing quality. ]

The Music at Midday series is running all throughout the Festival and if you can slip away to the Greyfriars Garden on your lunchbreak this week, or pop down there at the weekend, I don't think you will be disappointed. 

If you like (or hate!) what you have read, please do let me know in the comments below or slap me with a cheeky follow, or say Hi to me on my Facebook group or Twitter or Instagram!