2007 - 43rd Billingham Festival Programme

• ARGENTINA • BULGARIA • FRANCE • ITALY • JORDAN • MEXICO • SOUTH KOREA • SPAIN

43RD BILLINGHAM INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL 28th July 4th August 2007

www.billinghamfestival.co.uk

CELEBRATING BRITISH TRADITIONS

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OR 42 years Billingham has played host to over 500 International dance and music groups from every corner of the World, however, due to the costs involved, we have always felt that British traditional Heritage have not played the role it deserves at our Festival, and the audience survey in 2006 has confirmed that over 60% of our audience would like to see British traditions represented.

Thanks to the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, we at the 2007 Festival will not only be able to present British traditional folklore on stage, but also create major interest and awareness within our audiences by holding dance and music workshops for children, youth and adults at various locations throughout Tees Valley area, in order to encourage communities to identify, look after and celebrate their Heritage and to celebrate British Heritage, increase opportunities for learning about their Heritage.

To Celebrate the British Heritage we invited the following groups to take part at the festival this year: Representing Irish Heritage: “Absolutely Legless” Irish Dancers and Scoil Rince I Muir Youth Irish Dancers Representing Scottish Heritage: Newton Aycliffe Pipes & Drums

Representing Welsh Heritage: Cardiff Welsh Folk Dance Company Representing English Heritage: “Hexham Morris” Dancers and BILLINDA (Billingham International Youth Dancers)

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Welcome to the 43rd Festival we expect in Billingham.

You will also see that we constantly try to improve. Watch out for the “Celebrating British Traditions”, featuring Scottish, Irish, Welsh and English dancing (including our own Billingham BILLINDA).

I know you will be pleased that the central core of the Festival will not change – the warmth and friendship among Nations which remains an integral part of the Billingham Festival and which is so very important in these troubled days.

Again, welcome and enjoy the 43rd

It is Festival time again and I am delighted to welcome all our loyal and faithful supporters to the 43rd Billingham International Folklore Festival. You all make a vital contribution to the success of the Festival whether you come to Billingham as outstanding performers, or as generous sponsors or funders, or as committed volunteers under the direction of Joe and Olga Maloney to “put the show on the road”, or as our most important audiences. Thank you and the warmest welcome to you all.

Despite some of the problems encountered and some changes to the originally published programme, I’m sure you will agree that we are presenting a first-class line-up of groups which lives up to the highest standards which

Billingham International Folklore Festival.

Maureen Taylor MBE Festival Chairperson

A message from Bede College Bede Sixth Form College has long supported Billingham International Folklore Festival and the college is proud host to all the participants. Not only is the festival an outstanding cultural event in the region but it also has the potential to interface with education and business and to raise the aspirations of young people.

Miriam Stanton Principal

Throughout Europe and the rest of the world, Folklore Festivals draw communities together in celebration. The name of Billingham is known far beyond its boundaries because of this unique event. I am delighted to be part of the festival and to wish it success in the future.

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BILLINGHAM FESTIVAL

CHILDREN'S CLUB Children’s Club hosted by BILLINDA will be running daily from Monday, 30th July to Friday, 3rd August 2007 from 10 a.m. till 12:30 p.m. at Bede College, Billingham.

Each session will feature different International Dance Groups, Craft Workshops and presentations.

Festival Comperes

Clair Longbottom

Barry Keane

Membership for the whole week: £6.00 including the badge and the "Passport to the World".

One day attendance - £2.50

Edmond Beaumont 4

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH DANCE WORKSHOP at BEDE COLLEGE for dance students age from 7 to 15 INTERMEDIATE CLASS: and BEGINNERS CLASS HOSTED BY BILLINDA (Billingham International Youth Dancers): Monday, 30th July (2 p.m. till 5 p.m.) with MEXICO, SPAIN and JORDAN Tuesday, 31st July (2 p.m. till 5 p.m.) with ARGENTINA, KOREA and FRANCE

Wednesday, 1st August (2 p.m. till 4 p.m.) with BULGARIA & ITALY

Prices : One day: £7; Three days package: £ 16

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The organisers would like to thank the following for their support:

DEVEREUX 6

Adult Dance Course 2007 From Sunday, 29th July to Friday, 3rd August Unique opportunity to all those interested in dance to have first hand experience of being taught dances from all over the world.

SUNDAY, MONDAY,

29th July 30th July

France Bulgaria

9:00-11:00 9:00-11:00

TUESDAY,

31st July

South Korea

9:00-11:00

WEDNESDAY, 1st August

Argentina (tango)

9:00-11:00

THURSDAY,

2nd August

Spain

9:00-11:00

FRIDAY,

3rd August

Mexico

9:00-11:00

Italy

14:00-16:00

Jordan

14:00-16:00

Costs: 8 sessions package - £96.00 One 2-hour session - £20.00 For further details please ring Festival Office on (01642)553220

FESTIVAL OFFICE

Billingham International Folklore Festival Ltd. Stockton Business Centre, 70 Brunswick Street, Stockton on Tees TS18 1DW Telephone (01642) 553220 Fax (01642) 602839 E.mail: info@billinghamfestival.co.uk www.billinghamfestival.co.uk Registered Charity No. 1077067 Festival Director – J.W.E. Maloney Artistic Director – O. Maloney Festival Chairperson – Alderman M. Taylor, M.B.E. 7

ARGENTINA Instituto y Ballet “EL CIMARRON”, Labordeboy The Country of Argentina stretches from the thick subtropical forests of the North through the immense grass plains of the pampas to the plateaux of Patagonia in the South.

The ensemble comes from the province of Santa Fe and was founded in 1985 by the current directors, husband and wife team Catalina Murphy and Omar Fiordelmondo.

Several of the members of this group are teachers of dance

committed to preserving their National Customs through Song and Dance to the younger generation. The members of this group all have a wide experience in performing at Festivals and Competitions throughout the World especially in South and North America, however they are extremely popular on the Continent after touring most of the CIOFF Festivals in Europe.

The Company’s repertoire covers traditions and customs from all over Argentina, with their Dances and Music reflecting the strong influences of the Spanish and Native American rhythms including the outstanding Tango.

We have waited 11 years to be able to bring back to Billingham this outstanding group who last appeared here in 1996.

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BULGARIA Folk Dance Club “DOBRUDJA”, Dobrich

“Dobrudja” from Dobtich was founded in 1989, to discover preserve and promote Bulgarian Folklore.

The ensemble is divided into 4 age groups with children as young as six and upto 25yrs all eager to promote their traditions.

This group is well traveled collecting many awards and prizes along the way. “Dobrudja” was chosen by CIOFF Bulgaria from many other ensembles to represent their country at our prestigious event. The repertoire of this group is reviewed each year and includes dances and song from all ethnic regions of Bulgaria. The beautiful women’s dance and song and the male skilful performances will keep us fascinated throughout our Festival, I’m sure.

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FRANCE “EMPI & RIAME”, Romans-sur-Isere “Empi E Riaume” was formed in 1934 and is part of the Regional Folklore Society Dauphine and Vivarais in France. Activities take place on both the left and right side of the Rhone, which has led to the versatile programme of this group which consists of dances and song from the Alps, the Rhone Valley and the mountains of Cevennes.

Empi e Riaume has a vast repertoire to entertain us and can perform for approx 2hrs without repeating a single number, with a great variety of regional song and dance. The dances consist of ritual, sacrificial and exorcism to wedding, Festival, Harvest and Seasonal dances and songs. It is this groups 2nd appearance at Billingham their last visit being 1998.

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I TA LY ( S a r d i n i a ) Cultural & Folklore Association “SU MASU” The association was founded in 1975 reaching certification in 1986, with an aim to protect, emphasize and spread the cultural harmony of the Sardinian Folk Traditions.

In the early years, constant research was carried out on the old traditional costumes with the group devoting their time to study song, music and dance of their ancestors, covering the whole of Sardinia.

The results of the research were later translated into a repertoire of dances and the group was formed as we see it today.

In the early part of the 1980’s a choir was added to this ensemble.

At present this group can perform non stop for at least 2 hours, accompanied by some diverse musical instruments such as the ancient “launeddas” the mouth organ and “sa trunfa”.

This group also, to their credit, organize each summer a Folklore Festival of their own in their home town of Elmas.

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JORDAN Folklore Trope “Al – Ramtha” This group was established in 1988, and consists mainly of teachers and students of Universities and Colleges all determined to promote and preserve the rich Jordanian Folklore, which has never graced our Billingham stage before. The group has a whole and very rich repertoire consisting of Jordanian Wedding Ceremonies, Harvesting, Joy and Everyday Life.

This group are well travelled throughout the Middle East, Europe and the Kingdom of Jordan, performing at Wedding Parties and Festivals, but they put great importance and feel very honoured when they receive invitations from abroad.

They come highly recommended from CIOFF France, where they appeared last year.

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MEXICO Ballet Folklorico Universidad de COLIMA Founded in 1981 by Sculptor, Dancer, Choreographer and great Festival friend, Sr Rafael Zamarripa, who brought our first ever Mexican group “Folkloric Guadalajara Ballet�.

Colima performed the first performance in July 1983, since then this company has continued to perform and travel all over the world and has appeared at EXPO Sevilla 92, Atlanta Olympics and in front of 30,000 in the Plaza of St Peter in Vatican City for Pope John Pau II. This group has also been awarded group of excellence in 1995 by UNECSO. The company performs an average of 138 shows per year and can dance for 30 or more hours without duplicating a number. The power, emotion, technique, discipline, freshness and talented performances of this young group will leave us all breathless and shouting for more.

They are accompanied by a 21 strong Mariachi band with Singers, who are as you all know a Festival in themselves.

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SOUTH KOREA Koreana Traditional Art Company This Company was founded in 1980 in Seoul City, South Korea, by Prof Dr. Kim Hyoung Kum, who formally trained and danced with the Korean National Dance Company.

Since their formation, this Professional Dance Company has delighted audiences all over the world, obtaining many awards and distinctions.

They are all trained Ballet Dancers, who have 8 changes of costume, to compliment their performances of all our old favourites like the “Fan Dance” and the “So go chum”, where a solo dancer performs with a long white ribbon attached to their hat. This group also perform many other dances that we have never seen before “The Flower Crown Dance” and “Sung mu” which is a traditional dance influenced by Buddhism, which is not recorded in Korean History, but is told and taught through legend and ancestors.

The Dancers also perform with a wide

variety of musical instruments including the “Puk”, which is a traditional Korean percussion instrument which symbolizes victory, new beginnings and advancement. This dance expresses the Korean peoples renewed determination to overcome problems and discard evil with a clean mind and body enabling them achieve a brighter future hopefully for everyone.

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SPAIN Coros y Danzas de Ronda, Association ABUL-BEKA, Ronda, Malaga Situated in Andalusia, Ronda lies between Malaga and Seville. This group was founded in 1950 by 20 people committed to preserve their ancestor’s customs. They toured the Region to research dances that were in great danger of extinction. The group since has gone from strength to strength growing and developing to what we will see today.

Considered to be one of the best Flamenco groups Spain has to offer.

The years and years of Flamenco Dance Training as well as Classical and Spanish Ballet, as you will see, reflects in this groups foot perfect performances. We have been trying for a number of years to get this group to Billingham, but finally we are able to host this fantastic Flamenco group.

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PROGRAMME SATURDAY - JULY 28th PARADE OF NATIONS – 1.45pm From Telstar (corner of Low Grange Avenue and Marsh House Avenue) to Billingham Town Centre Arena

TOWN CENTRE ARENA - 2.30pm Opening Ceremony and Concert.

Cardiff Welsh Folk Dance Company, Scoil Rince I Muir Youth Irish Dancers, BILLINDA and all international groups.

FORUM THEATRE - 7.30pm INTERNATIONAL CAROUSEL SHOW Argentina, Jordan and South Korea Bulgaria, Italy & Mexico

All seats - £8.00 Sponsored by

Adults - £5.00 Child, Students/OAP - £3.00 Sponsored by

SUNDAY - JULY 29th TOWN CENTRE ARENA - 2.00pm

FORUM THEATRE - 7.30pm

FAMILY CONCERT Spain, South Korea, France, Wales, BILLINDA, Scoil Rince I Muir Youth Irish Dancers.

France, Italy, Spain, South Korea

All seats - £2.00 Accompanied children under 12 FREE*

Sponsored by

All Seats - £4.00

Sponsored by

MONDAY - JULY 30th TOWN CENTRE ARENA - 2.00pm

FORUM THEATRE - 7.30pm

France, Argentina, Italy & South Korea

Bulgaria, Spain, Jordan & Mexico

All seats: £3.00 Accompanied children under 12 FREE*

All Seats - £4.00

Sponsored by

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TUESDAY - JULY 31st TOWN CENTRE ARENA - 2.00pm Spain, Jordan, Bulgaria, Italy & Mexico

Adults - £4.00, Young people, Students & OAP - £2.50 Accompanied children under 12 FREE*

FORUM THEATRE - 7.30pm INTERNATIONAL CAROUSEL SHOW France, Italy & Bulgaria Argentina, Spain & Mexico

All seats: £8.00 Sponsored by

WEDNESDAY - AUGUST 1st TOWN CENTRE ARENA - 2.00pm

FORUM THEATRE - 7.30pm

France, Mexico, Jordan & Argentina

France, Argentina, Italy & Bulgaria

Adults - £4.00, Young people, Students & OAP - £2.50 Accompanied children under 12 FREE*

All seats: £7.00 Sponsored by

THURSDAY - AUGUST 2nd TOWN CENTRE ARENA - 2.00pm

FORUM THEATRE - 7.30pm

South Korea, Mexico, Bulgaria & Jordan

Mexico, South Korrea, Spain & Argentina.

All seats £2.50 Accompanied children under 12 FREE*

All seats: £7.00

DEVEREUX

Sponsored by

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PROGRAMME FRIDAY - AUGUST 3rd TOWN CENTRE ARENA - 2.00pm

FORUM THEATRE - 7.30pm

Italy, Bulgaria, Spain & Argentina

GALA CONCERT. All Groups

Adults - £4.00, Young people, Students & OAP - £2.50 Accompanied children under 12 FREE*

All seats: £16.00

SATURDAY - AUGUST 4th PARADE OF NATIONS - 1.45pm

CLOSING CEREMONY - 9.00pm With BILLINDA, Billingham Silver Band & Newton Aycliffe Pipes & Drums.

All seats £3.00

from Billingham Community Centre to Billingham Town Centre Arena

TOWN CENTRE ARENA - 2.00pm FAREWELL GALA. All Groups Presentation of pennants, International Farandole Adults - £6.00, Child, Students & OAP - £3.00

*NOTE: All the ‘FREE’ admissions require a ticket, as the number of seats in the Festival Arena is limited.

Maximum number of children under 12 allowed ‘FREE’ per adult is two.

Sponsored by TOWN CENTRE ARENA - 7.30pm CONCERT “CELEBRATING BRITISH TRADITIONS” with ‘Absolutely Legless” Irish Dancers, Newton Aycliffe Pipe and Drums and Hexham Morris Dancers.

Programme of Events – In the event of unforeseen circumstances the Festival organising Committee reserves the right to make alteration to the published programme of events and appearing groups.

TORCHLIGHT PROCESSION - 8.45pm From Billingham Community Centre to the Festival Arena.

INCLEMENT WEATHER ARRANGEMENTS – In case of inclement weather the afternoon and Closing Concerts in the Town Centre Arena will be transferred into the Forum Theatre before the start of a concert.

Once a concert has started and has to be abandoned due to the weather or any other cause beyond the control of the Organising Committee there will be no refunds.

It will be open from Wednesday,

CRAFT FAIR 2007

1st August to Saturday, 4th July 2007 from

The International Craft Fair will take

10 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. and will feature both

place in the Billingham Art Gallery

domestic and international crafts.

Organised by Stockton Borough Council.

The admission to the Craft Fair is FREE. 18

UNITED KINGDOM Cardiff Welsh Folk Dance Company This group comes to us from Cardiff the Capital City of Wales and was formed in 1968, with the main ambition to entertain and educate people in Welsh Music and Dance.

Over the years, this company has traveled far and wide to the United States, Japan, Russia and most countries in the EU. The traditional costumes used by the group are based on the patterns of clothes worn in Wales in the late eighteenth century. They were produced with co-operation of the Museum of Welsh life. They also have a unique collection of Welsh Shawls which can be seen in the dance Meillinen.

As well as performing at conferences and Festivals, this group has been extremely successful in competitions, collecting many awards and prizes. It is with great pleasure, we are able to play host to this group from Wales, as this part of the UK has never been represented at our Festival before.

“Absolutely Legless” – Irish Dancers Absolutely Legless, was formed in 1997, by experienced dancers and musicians from Edinburgh.

They got their inspiration by the Irish hard and soft shoe traditions. While performing original dances in a relaxed and informal way, their performance remains faithful to the powerful Irish roots. The dances combine the grace and agility of the soft shoe with the rhythmic precision of the hard shoe combined to give an unforgettable performance.

Alongside these talented dancers is a unique line up of fiddlers, flautists, and guitarists. Combined with the energetic dancing and Celtic rhythms of the band, we are in for a truly unforgettable experience.

Absolutely Legless has performed at numerous Festivals throughout Europe and beyond representing the UK. 19

UNITED KINGDOM HEXHAM MORRIS DANCERS Morris Dancing is England’s oldest surviving dance tradition. For approximately six hundred years, it has been performed to celebrate mid summer and mid winter changing of seasons. Some dances were still performed in Hexham up until the 19th Century, but as many of our English traditions and rural customs they fell into decline. In 1976 it was decided to revive these traditions in Hexham by a few dancers, who practiced at a local Hotel, as numbers and interest grew, it was decided to form the Hexham Morris Dancers, into what we see today.

In 1992-93 the women decided to develop their own team of dancers and became the Hexhamshire Lasses, travelling to Hexham’s twin town’s of Noyon in France and Metzingen in Germany celebrating and performing English Folklore and Heritage. In 2000 they represented the UK at the World renowned Folkloriada organised by COIFF (Council of International Folklore Festivals) in Tokyo, and since continue to travel worldwide to Festivals, while still finding the time to perform within the Tynedale Area fund raising for local charities and attending most UK competitions and Morris conventions.

Billingham Arts Gallery Exhibition of International Artifacts and Dolls in traditional costumes Memories are made of this…

Please come along and have a look at this unique display of Festival History which includes memoribilia of dolls and artifacts given to the Festival over the years.

PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION

“Images of the Festival 1967 - 2007” by Alex Wilson Starting from July 28, 2007 both exhibitions will run for five weeks 20

UNITED KINGDOM BILLINDA (Billingham International Youth Dancers) BILLINDA (Billingham International Youth Dancers) Group was created in Autumn 2003 with the aim to stage a special programme of dances to celebrate 40th Billingham International Folklore Festival 2004 and give young children a unique opportunity and experience of performing at such a prestigious event, alongside the International Groups from all over the World.

Since then BILLINDA performed not only at 3 consecutive festivals, but also at Billingham Carnival, Middlesbrough WorldFest at Middlesbrough Town Hall in March 2006 and worked alongside the Hungarian Presenters at the European Express England to Hungary in May-June 2006.

The Group is going to perform on the Family Concert of the Festival, on Sunday, 29th July 2007 and at the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, on Saturday 28th July and Saturday, 4th August 2007. They will also host the Children's Club in Bede College throughout the Festival week and the beginners’ International Youth Dance Workshop at Bede College.

Choreography by Olga Maloney – Costumes by Maureen Bowler

Scoil Rince I Muir Youth Irish Dancers Scoil Rince í Muir is a traditional Irish dance school based in Thornaby, Stockton-On-Tees. Dancers aged from 5-14 years of age perform a combination of both traditional and original pieces. A mixture of soft and hard shoe dances are performed to lively reels and jigs, which are both fun and very entertaining to watch.

The school was started just over two years ago by Veronica Muir, a very experienced Irish Dancer herself for the young people of Thornaby. With no previous experience of Irish dancing, many of the young dancers are now involved in the competitive side of Irish dancing collecting many accolades for their achievements. As well as group performances and training this school enjoys participating in local events and fundraisers, this outstanding young group has also danced at the Middlesbrough Little Theatre and the Thornaby Show. They also enjoy taking part and organizing local Irish Ceilidhs. Costumes are also a mixture of traditional and more contemporary styles seen in Irish dancing today.

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UNITED KINGDOM BILLINGHAM SILVER BAND The band started it's life back in 1941 as part of the Stockton Home Guard, it's first conductor being Dick Mallaby. In 1943 Dick Freeland took over as Musical Director and in 1945 the band became known as the Malleable Works & Institute Band after the Home Guard Unit was disbanded.

1966 saw the band become known as the Billingham New Silver Band, the word 'New' being dropped in 1970. Dick Freeland retired as Musical Director after 30yrs loyal service in 1972. It was then that the present Director of Music, Vaughan Evans, was asked to come off the cornet bench as Principal Cornet and take over the baton. He has been conducting the band ever since.

NEWTON AYCLIFFE PIPES & DRUMS The Newton Aycliffe Pipes and Drums was established on the 26th November 1979, numbering only four people – three pipers and one drum major.

The call was put out for pipers and drummers wishing to join and within a year the band, which you see this day, numbering in strength 12 pipers, 5 side drummers, 2 tenor drummers, 1 bass drummer, Drum Major, Standard Bearer, 4 Highland Dancers, 12 students learning pipes and drums was formed.

The number one uniform is that of full highland dress which dates back as far as the 16-17th century. The Tartan adopted by the band is that of Gordon Highlanders. The full highland uniform is the main dress. the number two dress is that of the ‘tartan trouse’.

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THE ORGANISERS WOULD LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE FOLLOWING PATRONS FOR THEIR SUPPORT: PLATINUM PATRONS

SILVER PATRONS

● Peter Elsdon, Middlesbrough ● Leslie Martin Laing, Chester-le-Street ● David Otter, Billingham ● Jennie Brant, Cornwall

● Kaye Lewis Poole, Heddon-on-the-Wall BRONZE PATRONS

● Sonia Constance Claire Dobbie, Hartlepool ● And One Anonymous Patron

We would also like to thank those people who wish to remain anonymous for their kindness in donating money and those who held events to raise money and those who gave in kind support. Thank you most sincerely.

T H E N E XT F E ST I VA L 2 0 0 8 The dates of the 43rd Billingham International Folklore Festival will be 26th July to 2nd August, 2008.

For further details or to join our mailing list please contact the Festival office.

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FESTIVAL PRESIDENT AND TRUSTEES

Ald. Maureen Taylor, M.B.E. Festival Chairperson

Mr Joe Maloney Festival Director Secretary General CIOFF UK

Mr David Otter Festival Treasurer

Mrs Olga Maloney Artistic Director President of CIOFF Northern European Sector

Mr. Edmond Beaumont BIFF Ltd. Director

The Worshipful The Mayor of the Borough of Stockton on Tees Councillor William Noble Festival President

Miss Elizabeth Croot BIFF Ltd Director

Mr. Ian Russell BIFF Ltd Director 24

The Festival of Fun and Friendship Over 150 volunteers help organize and run the Festival each year, without whom the Festival would cease to exist. We work, some throughout the year, to make sure the Festival is the unique event that it is. Ask anybody who is involved with the Festival and they would say that the lasting friendships formed amongst International Groups and the helpers are the main reason that they return year after year to help, taking Annual Holidays from work and travelling from as far as Essex and London without a second thought.

Friendships not only last during the Festival, they carry on throughout the year, with regular “get-togethers” at BBQ’s, Boat Trips on the Tees, Night’s Out fund raising for the Festival wherever we go. As you can see from the photographs a lot of fun can be experienced not only between International Friends but amongst the helpers too, mixing and talking together at the “World of Friendship Nights” completely ignoring the language barriers, is an experience in itself. Some friendships formed have lasted decades, at this point we would like to mention the very welcome return of Rafael Zamarripa, who has been a friend of this Festival for 30 years. Why not become a volunteer and join us, we are always looking for new friends. You are not a stranger just a friend we haven’t met yet.

(Middle left): Presentation to the proud parents of the 1st festival baby, born during the Festival in 40 years.

(Middle right): Smoking the pipe of peace (Bottom left): The international delegates at the Final AGM of the APL (Anti Potato League) founded in 2006.

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‘WORLD OF FRIENDSHIP’ SOCIAL NIGHTS AT BEDE COLLEGE Saturday, 28th July - Thursday, 2nd August 9 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Open to Members of "Friends of the Festival", Members of Billingham International Folklore Festival Ltd and all the Festival Volunteers.

Admission only by Membership Cards and Volunteer Festival Badges.

To join "Friends of the Festival" please call (01642) 553220 for your application form.

PATRONS & FRIENDS OF THE FESTIVAL Hundreds of festival goers have already become either “Friends of the Festival” or Members of our Charity “Billingham International Folklore Festival Ltd.”

What are the benefits?

As a “Friend of the Festival” you receive 10% discount on most of the tickets purchased. As a Charity Member you receive 15%.

You can book any number of seats for any performance before the Box Office officially opens in the end of May. Each “Friend” or “Member” will receive a Festival Leaflet – Programme summary around March/April and a free copy of the Festival Programme.

All “Friends” and “Members” will be invited to “World of Friendship” Social Nights during the Festival week.

How much does it cost?

For “Friends of the Festival” there are 3 categories: Individual – £10.00 per year Adult Couple – £16.00 per year per couple Child – £6.00 per year Charity Membership is £15.00 each per year.

Application Forms are available from the festival office:

BIFF Ltd., Stockton Business Centre, 70 Brunswick Street, Stockton on Tees TS18 1DW Tel: (01642) 553220. e-mail: info@billinghamfestival.co.uk www.billinghamfestival.co.uk 26

We would like to introduce our new Festival Marketing Consultant – Sir Ben Bojangles

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