1985 - 20th Anniversary Billingham Festival Souvenir Brochure by BillinghamFestivalVirtualMuseum

HEflH HHffiST'A(B YEARS

BILLINCHAM INTERNATIONAL

FOLKLORE FESTIVAL 1 965-1 985 Ir-

THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS

BILLINGHAM INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL 1965 _ 1984

A History compiled by Philip T Conroy MBE., Festival Director 1965 - present day

INTRODUCTION The festival at Billingham came into being by a coincidence - by a number of people coming together in the Town Centre by chance on a June afternoon in 1964. Their meeting together might never have happened and had it not done so then the festival which has now become world famous, would never have been known.

In 1964 Billingham was an Urban District Council in the County of Durham. It was an unusual Council led by a lively, forward looking dynamic Town Clerk, Fred Dawson.

Philip T. Conroy, Esq., M.B.E.

I-

The Council had already achieved a great deal on behalf of its small 35,000 population. A spacious tasteful, traffic free Town Centre with new shops, children's play area, first class hotel and extensive recreation facilities had been constructed. These centres are now commcinplace but very few have the spacious dignity of Billingham, which remember, was one of the first to be constructed in England except of course, for the new post war purpose built towns such as Harlow and Stevenage.

The Forum, a Recreation Centre with wide sporting facilities, theatre, theatre workshop, ice rink, restaurant, bars and swimming pool was under construction. Completed in 1967 it was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and became a model for the ienires= which have sprung up all over the country.

The Council was a body of members who had flair and ideas. They sought to make life as full and as interesting as possible for all the people of the town' They weri culturally conscious and aimed to provide a fuil and happy life for the family' The impressive sculpture in til-Town Centre is testimony of their inteiest in all ages and all people.

A magnificent Art Gallery was built into.the

new

CounJil Offices, and the best orchestras in Europe performed regularly in the local Technical College Theatre under Council sponsorship. This then was Billingham in 1964; an unusual town with its population iesponding readily to the policy of its le;ders. A community supporting its Council in its efforts to improve the quality of life for all society. It was the sort of place where a special, unique event had a chance of success and where ro-ithit g quite extraordinary for England was about

to take place. The Council had a problem with its new shopping Area - getting p.opi. to use it. Housewives habits die hard arid initiaily people had to be encouraged to buy in the new precinit- One attraction was the children's play irea - the idea of this was that the younger mimbers of the family could am-use ihemielves on swings and roundabouts while mother and father went to the shops. It was not enough so the Council decided to offer entertainment in the Shopping Area on a Saturday afternoon'

series

of performances were organised - band

concerts, gymnastic displays, fashion shows and concerts'bl fok groupi. One Saturday afternoon in May 1964 the St Leonard's Irish Dancers from New

Silksworth Sunderland were booked to give a show' The leader of the group was the headmaster of St Leonard's School and most of the members were his ex-pupils who had been introduced to dance at school and carried on after they had left. They were very experienced having performed at national and inttrnational festivals all over the United Kingdom and Republic of treland as well as France. In June 1964, they were scheduled to perform in Holland for a week and in August were going to France for 15 days

to take part in four festivals.

They performed regularly and their leader Philip Conroy had decided not to accompany them to Billing-ham that particular Saturday. However, when he heird that the Town Clerk, Fred Dawson, and some of the Councillors were going to be present he changed his mind and went with the group to

introduce their Programme. There was a large, impressive crowd present for the performance. They greatly appreciated the presentation of St Leonard's who held the crowd right to the finale of a one hour show. qttizzed Conroy about this group. Conroy told him about their Dutch trip which was taking them to an International Folklore Festival featuring l8 different countries. It was being held in a town named Brunssum which was almost exactly the same size as Billingham. The possibilities of a similar event in Billingham were discussed and a meeting took place to give the matter further consideration during the following week.

At tea, afterwards, Dawson

Thus the idea was born. On Conroy's advice the Council approached the Llangollen Eisteddfod and the local office of the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Neither bore much fruit. In desperation the Couniil turned to Conroy and on 31 December 1964 appointed him Festival Director they asked him to pioar.. a plan and guide the organisation of the first -nitlingham-festival which was arranged for July 1965.

THE BEGINNINGS, 1965 AND

1966

The idea was to make the event the main feature of the Billingham Week seven day period of - a specialwhich competitions and entertainment had been organised by the Council in co-ordination with local organisations for a number of years. Thus, in addition to the festival in 1965, there was, in the same week, the Billingham Games - a major athletics meeting which included Olympic athletes, a Pony Gymkhana in the John Whitehead Park; the Northumberland and Durham Swimming Championships, and in the Town Centre the John Murphy Fun Fair.

Conroy had only six months to prepare the festival. Really the time was insufficient, especially for the first event. His main problem was that he was the only person in the organisation who knew what the end product should be like. A sub-committee of the Council's Finance Committee was the organising body. The Council's administrative staff were to carry out the decisions, aided by the various departments such as Parks, Engineers and so on.

in 1964, the Director had approached two groups with a provisional invitation to come to Billingham if, in fact, the Council did have a festival. One was the Folklore Ensemble 'Czardas' from Godollo in Hungary and the other an Estonian group who were resident in Sweden. Conroy had also earmarked one of the most entertaining and spectacular dance companies in the United Kingdom the ensemble 'Orlyk' from Manchester. This group -which had won first prize at Llangollen was made up of Ukrainians who had come to live in England at the end of the war. their leader and choreographer was Petro Dnistrowyk, who had been Director of the Kiev Opera House. Another famous figure to come to this first festival was Francis McPeake from Belfast, one of the most celebrated folk singers and instrumentalists (He played the uilleann pipes) in During the trips abroad

these islands.

Another grc,up from abroad was recruited via the Llangollen Eisteddfod; they came from Burgenland in Eastern Austria and the line up was completed with local English, Scottish and Irish groups. The performers were to be accommodated in the cleared classrooms of the Stockton and Billingham Technical College. The beds were to be supplied from the military depot in Catterick and the College dining room was the catering centre as it still is today.

The festival was planned for the period, Saturday l0 July until Thursday 15 July and the groups were scheduled to arrive the day before it started. The main venue was to be an open air stage with seats for several thousand in the John Whitehead Park and indoor concerts in the College Theatre. There was to be a special concert for school children in the theatre on the Monday and the groups were hired out to Easington for concerts on the Tuesday. Preparations went fairly well with the exception of the preparation of the dormitories which was delayed when the beds arrived late. The Hungarian group who had reached Billingham first were sitting on their cases in the College Hall while their rooms were prepared not an auspicious start. The ladies - for responsible bedmaking had left the College after a long frustrating wait and in the emergency Fred Dawson called in his Council twenty-four men and - up one woman who made the beds under his direction where else could this have happened?

The opening by the Chairman of the Council, Councillor John Dyson JP, took place in bright sunshine on the Saturday morning. The parade through the town was successful and 1500 people paid for admission to the afternoon Open Air Concert in the Park. It went well until the skies darkened and rain washed out the end of the show, including the much awaited appearance of the Hungarians.

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It rained all the next day and the afternoon parade and concert had to be cancelled because of the weather. The evening indoor show attracted a good audience and by Thursday a spirit of festival had been planted in the town. The final concert in the well of the west precinct, which was held at lunch time, attracted a large audience and the Festival Dance which ended the celebrations also proved popular. The big question was would there be another festival 1966? Fred Dawson was asked this on the last day by a local journalist. "We give the people what they want", he said, "If they want another festival next year then they'll have one,'.

Really the astonishing feature was that the festival survived, its first concert ending in a wash-out and the Sunday open air event being completely destroyed by inclement weather. At the following nineteen festivals there has never been a repeat of this situation where rain has affected both the Saturday and Sunday afternoon concerts!

The Director was given the go ahead to prepare for 1966 and a larger budget was organised. It was decided that the festival could stand on its own feet and that it should be that Friday and Saturday should be devoted to the Billingham Show - a popular well established event. The dates were changed to late Aqgust - the festival was planned from 20 August to 25 and the show on the 26 and 27.

With twelve months to prepare, the Director knew he had a much better opportunity of finding groups which would really appeal and made his plans accordingly.

It is as well to recall for older

readers that this was

the period of the 'swinging Sixties' and to remind younger members of our society that in those days customs, entertainment habits and indeed life in general was considerably different to that of to-day.

First-of-all, the continental holiday was by no means a popular feature. Very few people travelled to other countries for their summer vacation and winter holidays were unheard of. There was, however, a lot of money around and the place to spend it at this time was the Night Club. These had mushroomed all over the area and with different gaming laws in force they had become immensely popular as centres for gambling, eating and entertainment. These plush, luxurious centres were attracting the top singers and comedians of the day who were playing to large audiences and being paid huge fees.

Conroy had struck up an acquaintance with one Sandord Goudie who owned the La Strada Clubs in Sunderland and South Shields. At Goudie,s request he had presented folk dance, song and music ai the clubs with a good degree of success. During one week he had shared the bill with Acker Bilk and his Jazzmen and he asked Goudie if he would be interested in presenting a foreign group. Goudie agreed and the unusual situation evolved whereby Billingham Urban District Council and the La Strada Night Clubs would share a group from the Canary Islands.

Conroy was convinced that the groups from abroad to win an English audience were the light, colourful

extrovert Spanish ensembles and the large well drilled and organised Eastern European companies. Remember there was no rirass exodus to Spain and its islands in those days and the term 'Iron Curtain, was in common use to describe the division between Eastern and Western Europe. It was extremely difficult to go to the Communist Countries and very few English people had been to the Soviet Union,

Hungary etc.

bill' for the 1966 festival to be the group 'Roque Nublo' who came from

The Director's 'Top of the was

Las Palmas. ln 1964 he had travelled around France with them taking part in a number of festivals. Their beautiful costumes, music, songs and 'joie de vivre' had impressed him immensely. Their dancing simple,

but well done was a lesser attraction' These assets girls uJa"a to the handsome men and beautiful audience' English an captivate *oriO, he knew, to The problem was getting them from I as Palmas week just for.one come not lould siiir,igh"*. They a second so wiih Goudie's co-operation he arranged commonplace not was ;.k il the night club. Flying to.obtain a i;;h";; aays itta the group managedCastle Liners Union ttte of one on passage cheap and Palmas Las between ;iid;["d"regularlv tourists Southarnpton. Roque Nublo entertained the fares' get cheap journey to on the sea an The group arrived a day or two early and,created

i--JAi"t'" impression with their smart walking-out Ji"tt blazers, slacks and skirts on the lines of a

"f the OlYmPics. team at

A performance was arranged at the local Trade union Ctub and the sheeiglamour' warmth and .-*p".tit. of the Spaniards produced an audience ;;;; which wis unPrecedented in a club' The following evening the group Ye-"t !9 Newcastle to do a short item orifynJftti Television' The staff booked *"i. ou"t*ttelmed and ihe grot'p was give twenty and visit return a immediately to make minutes.

to Conroy took them into the Town Centre to sing where Stockton at market the to and tf* tt theY caused a sensation' again "pp*s The rest of the 'Line up' for the festival was also very attractive. From Nice in Southern France came 'La u"&t.t group in the same vein as the Spanish in Bystrica Banska From CiamaOa-Nisiarda'. Slovakia came the 'Urpin' ensemble with its cymbalom, orchestra and large dance group' From Iiaifa in Israel came the Students Ensemble with a Liittiun athletic repertoire and a bevy of beautiful young ladies. From the Spanish mainland came the Valencia University and from the "hoir-f.oa.ustrian Tyrol a thigh slapping, light hearted' amusing schuhlPlatter team.

as The vital factor was, however, the weather' It was Nicehad lf tt. t.r, of Las Palmas, Haifa and iiu*ff.a to Billingham with the groups' Theafestival wet opened in brilliant sunshine and apart from temperatures the and clear were skies the Sunday

high all week. The BBC, not to be out-done-by the local ITV the opening day rt"ii"t, sent a unit to Billingham onpresenter Mike personality young *"J tfr6it bright magic the with audience tocal tf,e r:egaling was r.i.riif. evening' titn. Billinghim Festival by Monday The crowds poured in and by Tuesday-you couldn't the theatre ;;; ; ;"ra for anvthing. The demand.for concert additional special great a thit iiclets was so after the dav the night Fridav ttre o-n ;;;-;;;.0 festival was due to end.

The audiences were ecstatic and the reception so warm and tumultuous that the groups gave one hundred and fifty per cent every time they went on'

Performers respond to audiences, and there were have probably r*".t at Billingham that week which theatre in the of ,.u.iU."n .quitl.d in the history

this countrY.

For their performances in the College Theatre' the g-"pt weie marshalled in the College dining room' the group from the Canaries became 5n" .u"t irg"catriel awiy by the- audience's reaction' *-pf.i.iv had to ih;, ;"r; encore after-encore but finally to behind went Director The f.uu. it. stage. coniratulate-them on their performance' He found ;i;i;lr ilihe Dining Room dancing on the tables with- sheer excitement and exhilaration' was a wonderful week. A week when the iiilii"lrru* Festival was born and everybody knew had come to stay.

of the first It is interesting to look at the newspapers journalist and

i*o y"um and-note the reaction of the in. f6"ur people to the foreign visitors and vice versa'

Dancers, children and townspeople in the Farandole which ended the

first Festival.

Photograph Bill Pugh

The Hungarians were asked for their opinion of the and Bowls. four B's - The Beatles, Beatniks, Bingo The Beatles were at the height of their fame at the time; Beatniks were the layabouts, the hippies of the there were not many of them as there was full day employment in 1965; Bingo was a comparatively new it lasted a long time? and craze - hasn't new Ten Pin Bowling Alley was a Billingham's popular recreation centre. The lead singer for the Hungarian group (22 years old), said she liked the Beatles music but not their long hair; she said both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were very popular in Hungary and when a shop got their records they were sold out within minutes. They could not understand us tolerating Beatniks. They had seen them in Trafalgar Square and asked They why we didn't do something about them

looked horrible, they said, sitting around the and doing nothing. Bingo and Ten fountain - dirty Pin Bowling were a mystery as they had never penetrated Hungary.

Referring to the 1966 Festival the Billingham Express front page headline on Friday 26 August was Crowds flock to enjoy "Festival is a Smash Hit They estimated that 8000 visiting music-makers". people had attended the Opening Concert in the Town Square. The report stated, "At one point after

host nation England bringing up the rear of the procession entered, the whole square was a seething mass

of people".

Commenting on the crowds at the theatre, it was reported that on Monday night 500 people had been refused admission at the College, and on Wednesday night the festival scaled a new height. "As 1l p.m. approached the audience was still riveted in their seats shouting for more from the La Ciamada Nissarda dancers from Nice. The 9 strong band let by the big drum walked down into the audience and followed by 20 dancers marched around the hall and up into the balcony. The packed house of 1000 people completely lost its inhibitions stamped, clapped in time to the music and joined in the Farandole - the name for the human chain which curled round and round the hall."

In the same paper the editorial was devoted to the festival, its impact on the local populace and its amazing success. "There is no doubt food for thought", said the editor, "In the fact that the newest and most progressive town in the North East a town which is just starting to build up its -traditions - should be so successful as the venue of a festival of the ancient and traditional arts of other lands. But neither is there doubt that this is a festival which is here to stay, and one of which the town can be proud", and stay it has for 20 years.

THE PATTERN IS SET The main outdoor venue for the 1965 Festival had been in the John Whitehead Park but the most successful outdoor concert had been the final event which was presented in the well.

In 1966, the policy was altered. The 'Well area, was used for outdoor concerts and dancing boards were

placed over the stone. The crowds however, were so large that it became dangerous and a decision was made to move the stage into the larger, more spacious area outside the Council Offices in 1967. A scaffolding firm was engaged to build a stand with just under 1000 seats between the edge of the lawn and the bank. The platform was built on a scaffolding base on the lawn and seats were placed at ground level around the area.

During the week two daily lunch hour concerts were presented. One was in ICI theatre and the other in the open air in the Town Centre. Two groups performed at each. Town Centre shows were free but a collection was taken.

Lord Robens, Chairman of the National Coal Board to open the Festival. Again the weather was brilliant and huge audiences thronged to the concerts to see two major ensembles from Poland and Yugoslavia supported by Italy, Austria and the USA with 'Roque Nublo' from Las Palmas making a return visit to everybody,s delight. was brought from London

The Spinners, who were in the early stages of their professional career, had a successful folk song concert in the Billingham Arms but once again the College Theatre proved inadequate for the large numbers who wished to see the evening shows. The Forum was nearing completion and it was decided at the last moment to stage a concert in the theatre,which had been licensed. It was a successful evening and thus the pattern was set for the next seventeen festivals. Concerts daily in the open and two theatre shows each evening were to be the order of the day from now on.

of 1967 once again went into eulogies about the festival. The Billingham Express estimated a crowd of 10,000 in the Town Centre for The nelvspapers

the opening concert. A major article by John North in the Northern Echo commented on the festive unEnglish atmosphere which pervaded the town when he visited it for a festival concert.

"The behaviour of the locals was more in keeping with Bali than Billingham", he said. ,,The traffic free town centre was ablaze with colour". There was an abundance of smiling faces. Young girls in their mini skirts made the fine day seem finer. About 5,000 people were either sitting in the grandstand overlooking the Council Offices or standing about in laughing, chattering groups. Secretaries leaned out of their office windows and delivery men whistled to the music of the Canary Islanders being played through the loudspeakers. Such a vital heart warming scheme in a brand new town centre was almost unbelievable. While some Councils have found themselves with multi-million pound morgues on their hands, Billingham has clearly created a little Utopia". The Festival was already being organised with the aid of a large body of voluntary workers from the town and surrounding district. Naturally it attracted young people interested in the theatre and performing arts, and going through the 1967 file we came across a letter to one Richard Griffiths of 12 Redbrooke Avenue, Stockton who was working as a guide to the Austrian group.

This same young man is now one of our leading television actors and played the parts of Henry VIII and Volpone in the Royal Shakespeare Company,s

productions in 1984.

The first real national.recognition of the festival

came in 1967 when BBC North presented a very successful musical broadcast from the College

Theatre.

The Japanese Folklore Association

from Tokio at the 1979

Photograph courtesy of Evening Gazette

Festival'

The future looked bright but a shadow appeared in the horizon which many thought would threaten the

Another first was an outside television broadcast from the town centre by BBC Newcastle. It lasted only 20 minutes and was to pave the way for the first major programme in 1969 and a host of others in the

festival's existence.

In 1967 Billingham, as an independent UDC, went out of existence and the region underwent the first major re-organisation of local government which brought into existence the County Borough of Teesside - one Council from I April 1968 was to serve the towns of Billingham, Stockton, Thornaby, Eston, Redcar and Middlesbough. It was a revolutionary change and festival supporters held their breaths wondering if this meant the end, or change, or problems.

seventies.

One feature of the 1968 event was the appearance of the first brass and wind band from Western Germany. A USA military band had been present in 1967 but this German group was really an organisation with a folk history. They came from Meersburg on the shores of Lake Constance and proved a major attraction under the baton of their brilliant conductor Toni Haile.

One of the new departments created by the local authority was one for Arts and Recreation the first in Britain. Alderman J A Tatchell of Billingham, who had been Chairman of the Billingham Council in 1966 became Chairman of this new Department. The festival now came under the wing of this new section and the Billingham Office of Arts and Recreation was the headquarters. Mrs Ann Watson who has been the Festival's Administrative Officer since this time began her duties in 1968 and has held this position until the present day.

A small Committee

was elected

The 1968 Festival was.the first since 1965 that was affected considerably by the weather. The beginning was very wet and it was not until the middle and end of the week that the sun shone. The popularity, however, had not decreased and large crowds came to watch the programmes which were transferred into the theatre when it rained.

system had been devised that tickets could only be booked in advance for the outdoor arena to the capacity of the Forum and College Theatres about 1,500. Thus if it rained the show went inside-and those with tickets were guaranteed a concert. This arrangement was operated for the first time in 1968. There were teething troubles but these were overcome and this guarantee against the weather has been an important factor in encouraging people to travel a long way to the festival.

of personnel from

Billingham who had played leading parts in the development of the festival and certain Officers from the new Arts and Recreation Department. Once again the festival plan was to stage concerts from Saturday to Thursday. Two theatres were now in use daily. The Gala Concert was staged on the Thursday evening and the Friday lunch hour concert was the finale with the groups all attending a Beating of Retreat Ceremony on Friday evening in the Town Centre.

The festival in 1969 was finally recognised as being of considerable importance as a television proposition and the BBC decided to make a major documentary programme. David Bean, a free lance writer from St

Albans, was nominated programme director. Bean

An unusual feature was the appearance of Owen Brannigan, the region's most famous singer of the day, who had an international reputation in the world of opera. His rendering of North East songs of Home, Sea, Love, Work and Social Life was a refreshing interlude.

The festival was blessed with fine, sunny weather and Bean produced a creditable film which caught some of the atmosphere and spirit as well as the intense public interest in the event. His title "What is a Festival like you doing in a place like this" was controversial and some of the shots taken in the poorer area of Middlesbrough did not endear either Bean or the BBC to the newly created local authority.

had become most attracted to the North East of England and had decided to settle here some time previously. He did quite a lot of radio and television work in the area and had become more of a

'Geordie' than the 'Geordies' themselves. He lived in Durham and began his preparations with the Director about six months before the event. The 'line-up' of groups in 1969 was a little different with Romania, Switzerland and Turkey being represented for the first time. In addition, Roque Nublo were returning; there was a band from Denmark and groups from Italy, Poland, Spain and Yugoslavia made up the overseas contingent.

The film is an interesting piece of history now and is still used to illustrate how the festival began and developed in its early years.

Photograph courtesy of Evening Gaiette

Brigham Young Universily Folk Dance Group 1978.

Slovak Stick Dancer enjoying a performance in Billingham Town Centre.

Photograph courtesy of Phototronics

1910

A major step forward was made in

1974, when the annual meeting, now known as the General Assembly, took place in Billingham. We organised the Assembly on the lines of a major international conference in the Forum. Simultaneous Translation Equipment was used for the first time and our Minister for the Arts came from London to speak to

The International Council CIOFF -Festivals -of Folklore and FoIk Art

The initial meeting of CIOFF, a French abbreviation for, Conseil International des Organisations de Festivals de Folklore et d'Arts traditionels, was the most significant event in the whole history of the Billingh-am Festival. Our annual event is so closely linked now to this organisation that it is difficult to imagine how we sustained ourselves without such a

the delegates.

An Executive Committee of seven persons was elected and they met for the first time in Helsinki in 1975. The initial constitution was redrafted and ratified by

body in the early days.

the General Assembly

On September 27 1968, Coursaget wrote to Conroy, giving him some information on groups which had been in Confolens in August. In it he asked if he (Conroy) would take part in the creation of a European Federation of Folklore Festivals-

Growth and development continued with more countries joining and the number of affiliated

1977.

This constitution organised the council on a national basis. Each country was allowed one official delegate who had to be approved by the Minister of the Arts for his/her country. The organisation continued to meet each year with the executive having a half yearly Spring meeting between general assemblies.

festivals increasing. The major benefit for Billingham was a wide increase in the Director's contacts plus the opportunity of working with other European festivals in touring groups from countries in Asia and the Americas. When you look at the area from which groups were

Billingham responded with enthusiasm and offered to stage the initial meeting here in 1969. This suggestion was not accepted and the organisation did not begin officially until 1970, when the first formal conference was held in France at Confolens during the festival.

drawn to this'festival in the early seventies, as compared with the early eighties, you realise how significant the influence of the CIOFF has been.

The purpose was to bring together the festival directors, giving them the opportunity to exchange ideas and information and to work together in organising tours for groups from long distances.

has now become the most important world folklore organisation with 37 countries in membership. The most recent significant development was the setting up in 1984 of an Asian Sector of the CIOFF which has as members, Japan, India, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Saudia Arabia and Hong Kong.

second meeting was held in Confolens in 1971 and a third in Madrid in 1972. Representatives from 13 countries were present at the conference in Spain. Many more attended the fourth meeting in Zakopane, Poland in 1973. For the first time all the countries in Eastern Europe sent delegates, many of whom were senior Civil Servants working in Folklore in their Ministries of Culture.

CIOFF now has revised its constitution once more to enable all folklore organisations within a country to

join. In certain areas CIOFF is the nation's sole

folklore organisation embracing festivals, groups' societies etc.

The Billingham Director had, as stated earlier, attended festivals in other countries before our event began. He had made contacts with directors of similar events in other parts of Europe and with some he corresponded regularly. Each year he exchanged notes on the festival with Henri Coursaget, Director of the Festival of Confolens in South West France.

Each national member must organise a national section and conference. In the United Kingdom we have already well established bodies such as the English Folk Dance and Song Society, the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society etc. CIOFF, United Kingdom, confines its work to the improvement of the organisation of festivals leaving the welfare of folklore generally to the traditional national bodies.

Billingham actually produced one of CIOFF's first publications the Annual Report of 1979, was compiled and- printed here. Now everything published comes in five languages from the language centre in Warsaw.

Billingham Festival Committee and Stockton Council are to be commended for the part they have played in the establishment and development of CIOFF. Their contribution has been of great significance and has been an important factor in enhancing the reputation of the Billingham Festival throughout the world.

In 1984 CIOFF was allocated Status C at Unesco and is already engaged in working on several major projects with this body. Much of the administration and organisation of CIOFF's activities are carried out in the Billingham Festival Office as Mr Conroy, the Festival Director, is also the Secretary General of CIOFF.

Notional Dance Compony of Cairo 1983.

Photograph courtesy of Evening Gazette

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Centre

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in the Billingham The Festival Club was situated ttre direction of Joe Arms Ballro#;;;t;unaer and a team of his Maloney, p"*'#'ii* Chui'tun' of'the local Round colleagues

not increase.the capacity The erection of Stand C did a-much better

;;",h;;;;;but it gave 460 people rhere had nt::',!::n

;i#';f il;

i"iii,uiputro'ni' on the major occaslons lriir"i"""i t""a ,tund seats proved very popular'

;;',hit

dev-eloped from a In the seventies the festival really meeting'-tn-1974 for the European event to the U.S.SR and ";;;ld first time, an ensemble;;;; from in this decade other faraway visitorsio'-Sillirrettu*Puerto Rico' JaPin' ## i;;; Btfivia, Cuba, Lanka' Sri iioi.u, Mexico and

days These were really the halcyon

*ia"-i"f.rition

sometimes covering a Tvne Tees were regular visitors' on the centre it'" rown the Sundav afternoon' JL-" 19tt'oY1l.*-und during evenings

ni,iil;;;*. the

week'

r 1974 The BBC made a one hour Prograrnme in 1976' coverage theh followea this up *ittt tititut give the showings idis. frelne{ -*ii"" If!1'1 o11'--t1' *u' rutio"ur image' BBC Enterprises sold some ;;it"ttttt ;;il programmes ;^w;Gtmany-' Switzerland' of the New iealand' Korea and other

i;;;';;i iffi ;i;

"t-"ip"rtunity'for sociallv

titttt' participants i#;'#"iI*n It was open every after their tneaire pertormances' and was an instant night from s i'-'"^til 2 a'm'

and

fi'"i'

South Africa, countries.

and 1979 The groups which came.ft"*Jit?.1in-1974

success'

""tH-Il:,Ytt, 'iffi#'i* i.1. i"oTV*"1'J:l::':::: ; ::'t"' uo nlY-: Iil;llii#";;i;i to*itt'ourui..u"a l'o"u film archives'

Band' the Caribbeans The famous West Indian Steel suii everybody and *t'i"h-i"t*ta to provided dance for all' uv

were both accompamed by

ffiT#

iffi;A ltt of the groups providing a

il;;tti^ng"dditiorr

u popoiur mix which has folklore ";Jt'; ""b;;;i;;;"a lasted to the Present time'

lrr

1913 Joan

Dance at the

Henderson' a lecturer in in college oi itrvsicat Educatio-n

;;i;;.Iil. film u *o"i'utt"tsful one hour ffiffi;;fi-aut"to this of aim The that vear' ir;#,h;'i;tiivd orpto'ia! a film which could be

days was also a ^" The extension of the festival.to '8 two davs oI another logical a"uttopi""i' !; ri;ry'gl people an which gave more :-

production was to

specialists.

for insrructronaipripor..by dance and sold quite The film was marketei ti"*ti"tally Isles' British J;";ilry ;roughout the

to""ltt The group's time tn opportunitv; t";'ih; &ent' and this was mucn England *ut'i**itd io l1^days abroad'

used

festival

'ititott

ri""

r#"iria".-iiansmitteJon different

Theaimoftheclubwas.toEivefestivalpatronsan and vice t"tti"g the ierformersfestival opportunity *"t^ versa. There "i and relax

more attraciivl-iot

and sustained by 'i'uintuii"a event a the gave which coverage

national Prestige'

*ni'*"t" -;ffi

*"'it

of the-festival'

Tremendous interest'wil

Table.

this prograrnL'e jazz music

d;relopment

from

Italian Flag Wavers, trumpeters and drummers bring a touch of Renaissance pageantry Io the 1981 Festival.

Photograph courtesy of Phototronics

The town's ladies organisations prepare the Community Centre and College for the groups. They

ORGANISATION

turn both of these centres into dormitory living

It was in this decade also that the pattern of organisation was developed. Under Teesside, ie until 1973, the Chairman of the Committee was the Councillor who held the position of Chairman of the Arts and Recreation Committee.

accommodation.

The students serve in the dining rooms of the college at lunch and dinner time. In the Community Centre dining hall the ladies from the centre act as servers and waitresses. In the Town Centre Arena another group of men act

The Administration was carried out by the Director of the Festival who was backed by the staff of the Department of Arts and Recreation. There was a divisional office of the department in the Municipal Buildings and this was, in effect, the festival's

Each morning approximately 300 breakfasts are served in the college dining hall. A different ladies organisation prepares the tables and serves the food each day. One morning it is the turn of the Business and Professional Womens Organisations; the next the Mothers Union, the next the Catholic Women's League and so on.

headquarters.

The Committee was made up of people who had shown great interest in the festival and who made a major effort each year to contribute to its success. Each of these people accepted responsibility for a particular aspect of the event during the festival week. They recruited a team of workers and looked

Scouts, Guides, Cubs, and Brownies all play their part flags and signboards, selling - carrying programryes, running messages, helping with security etc.

after their particular area or activity.

1973 Councillor

There is tremendous community spirit in the town of Billingham which is the envy of the world' Many festivals have expressed amazement at the vast voluntary contribution made by our local citizens and our organisation has been commented upon favourably by directors of similar events in other countries. Our director has written papers on the system of organisation here for several other countries and he has two invitations outstanding at the moment to go to Africa and Asia to advise on

Bates JP was Chairman.

Alderman Tatchell was responsible for stage management at the College Theatre; Councillor L A Watson was in charge of group reception; Mr I R Crowden was Parade Marshal; Mr L Jobson was compdre at the Forum and Town Centre Arena; Mr A W McDonald, Transport Officer, Mr F Moutrey was Front of House Manager at the College; Councillor Mrs Taylor MBE, JP, was in charge of exhibitions and fine art activities; Mr F Simpson was Catering Officer; Mr J Maloney was responsible for the Festival Club and Mrs M P Tatchell was in charge of billeting at the college.

the organisation of new festivals. One of the traditions which has grown up at Billingham has been the presentation of a pennant to one of the festival workers. A souvenir pennant is given to each group leader after their final performance on.the second Saturday afternoon. Some years ago it was decided to give an additional pennant to a person whose voluntary work, over a period of years, was considered outstanding. Personnel who have received these awards are an

Working with them was an army of backroom men and women, boys and girls, their duties ranged from preparing breakfasts to flower arrangements.

In all between 400 and 500 people work voluntarily at the festival each year. Without this free labour the festival could not run. Their duties are legion.

ticket collectors and ushers.

important part of the festival's history.

In 1974 when the whole country underwent major reorganisation, Billingham became part of the Borough of Stockton on Tees. Since that date the Council of this Borough has been responsible for making the main financial contribution to the cost of

This new system has worked admirably and the influence of the Engineering Department can be seen in the most tasteful decorations which appeared in the Town Centre at the 1984 Festival. The Mayor of Stockton is now the Festival President and all Mayors, in recent years, have played a major part in welcoming our visitors from abroad to the

the event.

In addition the Council also provides the service of of its employees who play an important part in helping to organise the festival.

Borough.

some

A number of the old Billingham

elected members

now sit on Stockton Council and Councillor John Dyson, who opened the first festival in 1965, when he was Chairman of Billingham UDC, still plays a part in the festival as Chairman of Stockton's Leisure Committee which, through the Folklore Festival SubCommittee, allocates the Councils funding of the

Since 1983 the Festival Director and Staff have worked in close co-ordination with the Borough Engineer and his department. The Leisure Department of Stockton is under the direction of Mr Jones who is responsible to the Borough Engineer as is the Festival Director.

festival.

{ I

l::iiiillriilel]:

In happy mood, the dancers of the Daloforeningens Folkdanslog of Sweden, 19

1983.

Photogroph courtesy of Evening Gazette

The 'sanginu'from Korea swirls the long ribbon attached to his hat on the Town Centre stage.

Photo graph courtesy

of Phototronics

led to this agreement being drawn up. It marked a new 'high' in relationships between the west and the Soviet Union and there were hopes that it would lead to a lessening of tension and improvement in

BILLINGHAM AND THE USSR

In 1980, Mr Conroy, the festival Director, went to Moscow in April to attend the meeting of the Executive Committee of CIOFF which was being hosted by the Soviet Ministry of Culture.

contacts.

The agreement specifically encouraged the type of cultural contact which we at Billingham were initiating and it was no surprise when Mr Lunkov, the Soviet Ambassador in London, decided to pay a three day visit to the festival.

was a very difficult time as Anglo/Soviet relations were at a very low ebb. The Olympic Games were to be held in Moscow that summer and our government had just asked our athletes not to take part as a

protest at the invasion of Afghanistan.

His visit was a great success and he enjoyed immensely what he saw here. From this time on relationships blossomed and the groups from the USSR have proved to be one of our major festival attractions.

We had also suspended all major cultural exchange with the USSR and this had resulted in the cancellation of a tour by the Red Army Choir to England which had included a one week performance

ln 1977 we marked the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of the Soviet Union by inviting two groups from that country. One came from Leningrad in the north and the other from Voronezh in the south.

in Newcastle. Despite this cold climate Mr Conroy was received cordially in Moscow. Billingham Festival's relationships with the Soviet Union are quite unique and a remarkable tribute to our Local Authority and

On Wednesday, August l7th, in the Forum Thdatre a special 60th Anniversary Concert was presented with the two Soviet groups giving the whole programme. It was a memorable occasion which will not be readily forgotten by those who attended. There have been some wonderful singers at this festival but probably the finest voice heard in the twenty years of our history was that of the young bass singer in the group from Leningrad.

Festival Committee.

During the particular visit referred to in 1980 Mr Conroy attended a lunch for the CIOFF Committee which was given by the Deputy Minister of Culture for the USSR. When Mr Conroy was introduced the yes you're the man Minister said to him - "Ah from Billingham that's the town in England with which we have a -special relationship."

The USSR were first asked to send a group here in 1967 . The request was made annually but did not bear fruit until 1974 when an ensemble from the Ukraine came for the last five days of the festival.

1975 they sent the group 'Rossiya'

There have been other memorable visitors from republics besides Russia. Who can forget the Georgian choir "Impereti" singing in the rain in 1977? Will we ever hear music again to equal that of Vasily Goya's Moldavian Orchestra which graced our stages in 1982 and 1984? Has there ever been a dance as exciting as their gypsy suite?

from

Lyuberetsky a suburb of Moscow. The festival took place that year just after the Helsinki Agreement had been signed. Our Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, had played a major part in the conference which had

of a member oJ " t ip e' e t i " ( u s s R )

Exuberant photograph

,7, Ciili i i-"

si.r o"up'

at Billingham in 1977' Gazette Photograph courtesy of Evening

RELATIONS WITH THE AMERICAS

in Mexico. His dance group from the university in that city brought a new dimension to the festival and there isn't any doubt that the huge folklore heritage of Mexico contains some of the most attractive, interesting and entertaining dance and music in the world.

The festival programme is put together each year in the full knowledge that everybody has different tastes. An audience survey taken on the second Saturday afternoon would reveal that every group is the best in somebody's mind.

Zamarripa was a professional dancer in his youth. He was the lead performer in Ballet Folklorico Mexico, one of the most prestigious national dance companies in existence which has given several successful seasons of performances in London's

We have just been considering the outstanding groups from the U.S.S.R. Let us now look to the west and remember the wonderful artistes who have entertained us from North and South America.

Festival Hall.

The first ensemble from America to make an impact here was the American Folk Dance Group from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. These students, many of whom were preparing for a Dance Degree, brought home to all who saw them the dynamic vitality of American youth and the fact that you still cannot teach Americans anything about stage presentation or 'show business'.

He was not content, however, to spend his life as a dancer and he saved assiduously until he had sufficient money to go to the university to study his real love which was sculpture. Eventually he finished up as a lecturer in the Fine Arts Department of Guadalajara University and he set up a dance group made up of students and taught them the folk tradition of their country in his spare time.

Their 'Cowboy and Indian' act supplemented by dances from America's short history provides wonderful, popular programmes which were especially suitable for our theatres.

The organisation of the University of Guadalajara Folklore Group was of the highest quality. They had a six hour repertoire of dance, music and song with a range of costumes never matched by any other group which came here. Everything about their performances was correct to the smallest detail and the quality of their presentation of the highest standard. Quite a number of our patrons preferred them to Ballet Folklorico Mexico, who in one year, appeared at the Festival Hall in London for a month while Guadalajara were at Billingham.

Their Director, on every occasion they appeared here, was Mary Bee Jenson, lecturer in dance at B.Y.U. and a byword in the world of folk dance. She must have taken the group to every country in Europe as well as China, Korea, Japan, the Phillipines, Israel and many other places.

It is with deep regret that we realise we will never see this group here again under her direction. She has just retired because of age although I'm sure all who remember her will not believe that she has reached the age of 65.

When they made their second visit in 1977 they were awarded the unusual distinction of being given the opportunity to give a special concert prior to the

festival beginning. On Thursday, August

ll,

in that

year they gave a full evening in the Forum Theatre to a full house. Eight days later 4fter a further ten performances they were still presenting new items.

The group will go on and we look forward to seeing them under their new director.

It is groups like this, and directors like

Another outstanding personality who came to us in the seventies was Rafael Zamarripa from Guadalajara

Rafael

Zamarripa who have made this festival what owe a great deal to them. 23

it is; we

.' -i-'rc... -.' ; - lr-=,:f, =;*- ti

d*iB..ffi..*'.-'' Gipsy Dance by members

of the "Miorits" group from Kishinev' Moldavia' USSR' 24

Photograph courtesY of Phototro

The only other Mexican group to come here also came from Guadalajara. We entertained the city group last year and it gave a series of outstanding concerts. The Director, Luis Gallardo, was an ex member of Zamarripa's university group.

The Caribbeans, the most famous West Indian Steel Band in England, have been coming to Billingham to perform, mainly in the club since 1968. They have been the only regular representation from this area of the world with the exception of the Cuban National Dance Company which were at Billingham in 1976, and 'Areyto' the National Folk Ballet Company of Puerto Rico who appeared in 1974 and 1984.

We could not leave the Americans without a mention of the late Arthur Smith, Conductor of the North Vancouver Youth Band which he led here in 1973

and 1975. It was a wonderful musical group which was greatly enjoyed by the festival audiences. Arthur had been taught his music in the Colliery Band at South Moor in County Durham where he worked as

The group under the leadership of Irene Mclean, Puerto Rico's CIOFF representative and Director of the Festival of San Juan (which begins each year on New Year's Day) made a great impression last year. Note that Irene Mclean (an unusual name for a Puerto Rican - her husband was a Scots-American) leads a group, directs a festival and represents her country at CIOFF. This is not uncommon and could well be one of the reasons why the organisation has been so successful. The national delegates to CIOFF are a mixed bag, administrators, civil servants, etc. Nearly all, however, have a practical grounding in folklore being themselves initially dancers or performers in folk groups, then leaders of a group taking part in festivals. The next progression was to become organiser of a festival and then the national delegate to CIOFF. Like Irene Mclean and our

a miner before emigrating to Canada in the thirties. There he became a professional musician and eventually Director of this band.

His sentimental journey back to his home village with his band made a most unusual television story. There has been a very sparse representation from South America itself at Billingham, chiefly because the cost of travel from this part of the world, the difficult economic situation in most countries, and the fact that there is no South American state a member of CIOFF.

The Colombian Ensemble from the University of Cali has made two very succdssful visits under the leadership of Carmen Lopez but all the other groups have been groups of exiles living in Europe.

director, Philip Conroy, many of the prominent personalities of CIOFF are still involved with folklore at the 'grass roots' ie with a group, as well as directing a festival and this can only be a good thing for the organisation.

Nevertheless the music of Bolivia which has been extensively presented here has become very popular and will be heard again in 1985.

Yamasaki made a profound impression on our audiences by his humility. On both of his visits to the festival he made a typical Eastern gesture at the end of his group's final performance. He knelt on the outside stage and bowed low to each section of the audience. Many people felt it was an act of apology for all the atrocities committed by his people during the last war.

BILLINGHAM AND THE FAR EAST The Festival Committee has, each year, to try to bring something new to Billingham, and also tries to present the

folk traditions of the world in our

theatres and Town Centre Arena. A number of outstanding groups have visited us from the Far East. The first came from Japan which was not surprising as Japan has been a member of CIOFF since the

Mr Yamasaki made a generous gift to the festival committee on his first visit, when he presented them with the Samurai Warrior's helmet. This helmet is

early seventies. The delegate to CIOFF was a most unusual person, an old gentleman named Eiji Yamasaki who first came to Billingham in 1974. He was here to attend the CIOFF Conference which was held in the Forum, and to lead the Ensemble of the Japanese Folklore Association which was performing at the festival' Despite his great age - he was over 70 years old - he was one of the group's solo singers.

often used in exhibitions of the festival's art treasures and is a most effective and interesting item.

Yamasaki was Chairman of a Drug Company who used his resources to support folklore which had been his lifetime hobby. It is interesting to read the notes he wrote for our programme brochure 11 years ago. He said that the Second World War took away from the Japanese peoples faith, confidence, conviction and all their tender feelings. The country was left in a state of devastation and despair. Believing sincerely

The ensemble, which was of the highest quality, suffered a serious blow when they were travelling in a plane on a domestic flight which crashed killing eleven members of the group. Mr Yamasaki was not with them but when he was given the news he suffered a heart attack. He is still alive, in full possession of his faculties, and quite well, although he is confined to a wheelchair.

ln 1979 Mr Yamasaki returned to Billingham with his group. They came all the way from Tokio just to perform for 8 days at this festival. As a gesture of appreciation the Committee engaged a local artist who painted Yamasaki's portrait set against the background of the Town Centre Arena.

that folklore springs from the soul, and is nature's gift to the people, Yamasaki, sought to bring back to the Japanese their 'joi de Vivre' by the spread of folk song, music and dance.

Each time the Japanese came here they were accompanied by a television crew which made programmes for their own television. Both videos were given to us and are most interesting. They are the only people who have attempted to cover the Saturday Night Closing Ceremony and they did this most effectively.

Mr Yamasaki went on to write that he believed the

human being is the same whatever the difference in country, civiiisation of appearance. We wish, he said, to understand each other, to become friends and to live together in peace and harmony. He said he was coming to Billingham with his ensemble because he believed that folk song, music and dance, the art form which springs from the people themselves, can make a major contribution to better understanding between people the world over.

There have been other exciting groups from this part of the world the most spectacular being the National Dance Company of Korea which took part in the festival of 1979. The drum dance by the young ladies in this group is probably the most unusual single dance item which has been presented here. 26

We have had two ensembles from India and two from Sri Lanka. Both left lasting memories. The beautiful girls from Ahmedabad who graced our stages in 1984 belonged to the happiest group which

The memories of Sri Lanka are the expert drummers and the fire eater who put himself into a trance before each appearance. He burnt all parts of his body without suffering any apparent pain.

has ever been to Billingham. They spenithe whole of th-eir stay here smiling, saluting and singing to their

Three Chinese companies have attended the festival. Two came from Hong Kong and included in their repertoire the famous Lion Dance . In l9g2 the pekin Ministry of Culture sent us a most interesting group of dancers, singers and musicians who proved tremendously popular with our audiences.

fellow participants. They were wonderful people who gave performances of the highest standard.

w DAZZLING-one of the members of the Ceylon National Dancers from 27

Sri

Lanka.

Photograph courtesy of Evening Gazette

Another national personality who helped Israeli dance to flourish in Haifa and secured the necessary financial backing to send groups to Billingham is Shmuel Bialik. Mr Bialik also played, with Zeev Stenberg, an important part in the development of CIOFF. Mr Bialik has just attained the age of 75 years but is still working in the Municipal Buildings in Haifa and attends the General Assembly of CIOFF

GROUPS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST Israel was represented at our second festival in 1966 by the Haifa Students Folklore Group and this was the beginning of a long and friendly relationship with this country and this city.

each year.

Groups from Haifa, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have visited us here on many occasions and we have been responsible for sending ensembles to the Haifa Festival which is one of the most important events in

Turkey have been represented at our festival on several occasions and their traditions are well known to our regular patrons. The famous Sword and Shield Dance from Bursa has been performed many times on our stages and was featured prominently in David Bean's BBC Film made in 1969.

the CIOFF calendar.

1966 the manager of the Haifa Group was Zeev Sternberg and the Artistic director Jonathan Gabay. They were a most successful combination and the

In recent years we have had Egypt represented twice and in both cases the groups introduced a completely new dimension to the festival.

group attained an international reputation of the highest order under their joint leadership. They made a tremendous impact at Billingham and were received with similar enthusiasm wherever they performed the USA, Japan, South Africa and virtually every country in Western Europe.

The first company to visit us was the Mahmud Reda Group which came from Cairo in 1981. The lead dancer Farida Fahmy, reputed to be the best dancer in the Middle East, dominated their performances which were immensely entertaining.

It was a great pity that the Sternberg/Gabay combinatiorr was broken up when the former became Personnel Manager for the Israel Electricity Corporation in the mid seventies.

In 1983 we received the National Dance Company which was under the direction of a dynamic young man named Mohammed Khalil. The group's repertoire and costume variety was one of the most

lsraeli dance was born in Haifa with the main creator being Shalom Hermon, who recently retired from his post as Chief Inspector of Physical Education for his country's Ministry of Education. Shalom, who was an officer in the British Army during the last war, has a close affinity to this country and has been to our festival.

extensive ever seen and the performances were

outstanding and most entertaining. The musical backing was also of the highest quality and there were several unusual personalities in this interesting section of the group.

Three beoutiful young ladies

from the Egyptiqn National Dance company

19g3.

Photograph courtesy of Phototronics

Spain has probably the richest folklore heritage in Europe, or even the world. The variety and contrast from province to province is remarkable. The difference between groups from say the Canaries or Andalusia and the Asturias in the north is immense. We have seen many groups from Spain on our stages but there are many traditions we have still not

GROUPS FROM WESTERN EUROPE

It is not surprising to find that most of the groups coming to Billingham have been from our near neighbours in Western Europe including, of course, Scandinavia. France, Belgium, West Germany, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Republic of Ireland have all been represented at the Festival. France, Spain and Italy have been frequent visitors.

presented.

Probably the finest male individual dancer seen here was Pepe Moreno who came in 1973 with the Coros y Danzas group from Seville. He was similar, in standard, to Antonio at his best and it is sad that we have not had the opportunity of seeing him again.

The Italians, Spanish and some French have a special appeal to British audiences who are particularly enthusiastic about people who project themselves, as it were, to each individual who is watching the performance.

The Italians, especially the groups from Sicily, have also been very popular. Many will remember Alessandro Lillo from Messina who sang in a mixture of Italian and broken English, then finished his programme with a Tarantella that left even his

Generally audiences the world over are very similar in their likes and dislikes in the field of folklore. Groups which are successful here will, almost certainly, be popular in France or Israel or the USA. The exception are the groups with extrovert singers which are generally well received here but not

audience gasping

necessarily elsewhere.

'La Ciamada Nissarda' from Nice came first in 1966 and made several return visits. Another very popular ensemble from France was Lous Pastous Seignossais who live in the province of Landes in the South West and dance on stilts. Their repertoire almost caused heart failure amongst some of our audience who were surprised that one broken leg was the only serious injury of the week.

"Roque Nublo" from the Canary Islands have made more appearances at Billingham than any other single group. They came first of all in 1966 and in 1984 the group (it included two people who had performed here on the first visit) received wonderful receptions every time they appeared. Yet this same ensemble was in France on a tour in 1964 and made so little impact at the major event that they were never ever asked to make a return visit.

From Northern Europe'Katrilli' who came from Helsinki, made a great impact. Their youthful vigour and interesting programme were very well received and efforts are being made to organise a return visit. Their choreographer is Doris Laine who is Director of the National Ballet Company of Finland and their Leader is Sirka Viitanen who represents Finland at CIOFF.

Earlier in this booklet, it is stated that the Director felt the Spanish groups and their extrovert ensembles would be popular here. His opinion has certainly been proved correct. There have been more appearances here by Spain than any other country.

In his 1969 film, David Bean, comenting on the popularity of "Roque Nublo", said "Perhaps inside each Englishman there is a Canary Islander trying to get out". Maybe he's right because our audiences do love the Tunas from Spain and the romantic singers and vivacious dancers from Southern France and Italy.

Austrian groups have always been well liked and we have had several good bands from Germany, the most popular being the Boys Band of Meersburg under its outstanding Conductor Toni Haile. 30

for breath.

'rl- '-

':'i:::r':'1i

Folklore Ensemble 'Cz.ardas ' from Godollo, Hungary.

Photograph

Bill Pugh

in David Bean's film, is the very personification of masculinity and kills the myth that dancing is only a

ENSEMBLES FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE

ladies pastime.

The major ensembles - the term being used to describe the group which consists of dancers, singers and musicians - from Central and Eastern Europe have been the mainstay of this festival since its first

Equally popular have been the Bulgarian groups who were firsl represented here by'sredetz'

1971. They

and 'Mayakovski' who followed in 1973, introduced a completely new dimension into the festival. Their

successful year 1966. Looking through the p.ogrammi you will find that there has been at least

brilliant standards have been upheld by their successors from Varna, Gabrovo and Sofia

bttJgtorrp from this region every year since 1965'

University.

This is not surprising because the countries in this area of the woild - Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland have a wonJeriul folk tradition that has been nurtured and encouraged especially since the last war' (We are not including the Soviet Union because they have been treated in a seParate chaPter).

Both Czechs and Slovaks have appeared regularly' 'Urpin' from Banska Bystrica in Slovakia made a greit contribution to the success in 1966. We have been privileged to entertain "Kopaniciar" and "Carnica" from the same region while the Czechs have sent us 'Vsacan'; 'Joseph Vycpalek', 'Danaj'; 'Vysocan' and the Brass Orchestra 'Valaska'.

It is our policy to have three groups from this region .r.ry y.ui and through these regular visits-a special

Romania was first represented here by 'Doina' in 1969 and the group and style were very entertaining' The orchestras of the ensembles from this country are a major feature and the brilliant violinists, the Pan Pipes and Cymbalom have become a popular tradition of the Billingham Festival.

relaiionship has been forged between our festival and these countries.

Hungary was the first of these nations to send a g.oup he.e and we remember with pride their wonderful artists which we have been privileged to see on our stages. Many will still recall Katalin Masdarascz, the famous gipsy singer who was here in 1971; the same year that Laszlo Berki' the brilliant violinist led the group's orchestra' Berki had taken time off from his normal duties of leading the orchestra of the state ensemble to come to us on that

Other ensembles from this country whom we have seen here are 'Alunelul', 'semenicul', 'Balada' and

'Doina Trotuslui'. Tito Sever was the Director/Choreographer of 'semenicul' and'Balada' and he made a profound impression on all of us with his brilliant arrangements. One of the most popular dances of our festival comes from this country. It is "Calusul" (The Calus - Little Horse) which is a dynamic, spectacular men's dance where the costumes, the bells and sticks bear a distinct resemblance to our Morris traditions.

occasion. There have been many brilliant dance performances from 'Vasas' "Zalla" and "Bela bartok" who were here under the direction of Timar Sandor in 1978. Mr Sandor is now the Artistic Director of the State Folklore Ensemble.

Our closest reslationship with this region of the world is with Poland a country which, possibly because of our wartime affinity, has a special place in our hearts. What a wonderful tradition of folklore this country has and how well it has been preserved.

Yugoslavia have sent many good groups but none moie popular than 'Tine Rozanc' of Llubljana who .urn. ti.it ln 196'7 and have made three more visits since then. Their 'sopska Oro' featured prominently

.!,,.aqr_El Polish men in the exciting Krakowiack Donce.

Photograph courtesy of Evening Gazette

Much of the credit for the wonderful organisation of folklore in Poland is due to the outstanding man who is the 'Kingpin, at the head of poland;s folklore organisation. His name is Michael Kosinski and he is the controller of folklore in the Ministry of Culture

in Warsaw and also Vice-president of

itofp.

In similar vein were the groups which followed 'Wroclaw' in 1973. ,Opole, in 1975,,Harham, in 1979 and'Lublin' in l9gl.

In 1983 we received a Student,s Ensemble from the Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw and their dancing surpassed anything yet seen for agility and precision. Their youthful vigour and boun-dlejs ele.rqy made their performances reach a quality which provided tremendous entertainment-. We can look forward to another student,s group from the

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influence on this organisation and his contribution to its development and success has been immense. We hi. a great debt for the support he has given to 9y_9 Billingham which he holds in high regard.

The.first group to come from poland was ,Lachy, a traditional ensemble from the Tatra Mountains which performed here in 1967. In 1969 we saw ,Dalmor, from Gdansk and they were followed by the stylised ensemble "Krakowiciacy,, in 197I"

Agricultural University in Lublin in fSS5.

When Billingham Urban District Council organised the first festival in 1965, they stated that the event was to be their contribution to international good will.and friendship through cultural exchange. They could not have realised how extensive these exchanges with Eastern Europe were going to be. There can be no town or city in the United Kingdom which has made a bigger contribution to world peace than the town of Billingham through its annuil festival.

The programme of this group was sensational. Musicians, a small choir, and a brilliant dance section, in the most lavish costumes, gave a non_stop performance which was unprecedented here. There first important presentation in the College Theatre brought a standing ovation. JJ

The club is another example of how Billingham's success has been due to the initiative and hard work of the volunteer groups. The club was started by the Local Round Table who took over the complete organisation and day to day running, under the leadership of Joe Maloney, who is Vice Chairman of the Festival Committee at the present time. Several people who were involved in the initial formation of the club seventeen years ago are still there working hard in it every year.

OTHER FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES

In the early years the festival consisted purely and simply of groups giving concerts in the Town Centre and in the theatre. Now there are a number of related activities which provide spheres of interest for different groups who have special tastes, or who might not find complete satisfaction in a festival, which is only looking for spectators to attend concerts.

Another interesting feature is the Working Craft Fair which is set up for festival week in the Forum each year. Craftsmen and women from all over the region exhibit their skills, and what they produce, at this fair and sell their finished articles to the public.

A Children's Club was set up with Councillor Harry Davies, a local Primary School Headmaster, filling the organiser's and leader's role as Uncle Biff. The Club was allowed to lapse but has now been revived again with great success by Uncle Biff II who is David Moutrey, a young Billingham schoolmaster. David is the grandson of Frank Moutrey, Front of House Manager at the College Theatre since 1965.

Usually 5 or 6 artists or craftsmen from one of the countries taking part in the festival attend and provide a colourful and interesting addition to the fair as they work, dressed in national costume, alongside our local people.

David is a drama teacher who now works at the Abraham Moss Theatre Centre in Manchester" He brings a team of young dramatists to the festival each year and they put on a daily performance in the theatre especially for the 4-12 year olds. They are assisted by one of the festival groups, many of whom produce very interesting performances especially arranged for the youngsters. There is an average daily attendance of 500.

The present Festival Chairman, Councillor Mrs Maureen Taylor MBE, is responsible for the organisation of this feature of the festival which attracts a large attendance every day.

Many festival supporters will not know that every year during the festival week an International Dance Course is held in Billingham under the auspices of Cleveland County Education Committee. Normally 30-40 persons attend. They are dance specialists, usually lecturers or teachers, and they come from all over the British Isles and abroad. One student, Mr

1969 a Festival Club was introduced and proved an immediate success. The aim was to provide a centre where the groups could relax and enjoy themselves after the evening shows, where they could meet each other and the public and where they could

Yukata Harada comes from Tokyo for this course every year.

dance.

Each dance group participating in the festival is programmed to the course for a half day. If you are a male student then you will be partnered by one of the ladies in the group which is giving the tuition. If you are a female then you have a male partner. The actual classes are taken by the group leader, but there is a Course Director who co-ordinates the work, supervises the practice etc.

The Caribbeans, one of the most famous West Indian Steel Band's in England, have played in the Club every year, except one, since 1969. They are very popular. In addition there is ballroom dance, folk dance, and one group gives a cabaret item each night.

For the public there is an International Dance evening when groups perform in a hall and then give tuition to^tllg local people who are attending. fhii and the Ceili which is a feature of the festiial every year are popular with local folk dancers.

and it is pleasing to note that they have been invited to take part in a French festival in ISAS.

The festival gives an opportunity to local persons

interested in foreign languages tb

t.v oui ti"ii ,ilil i, to the ,natives,. Some of the outstanding students act as official interpreters rendering a valuable service to the festival (they don,t receive payment) and getting a unique opportunity of living for 10 days in a ,foreign' c6-murity speaking

recent innovation are district parties when people

of a particular locality get together and entertain one of groups to lunch. TherJ is an opportunity to -the talk and meet the visitors from abroad'as well as study their costume at first hand.

going abroad.

actually

The chief interpreter Marilyn potts, who comes from Crook in County Durham, has woiked at the Festival for many years. Manager of a professionai translating centre in Newcastle ihe takes a week,s holiday every year to work at the festival and is another example of the outstanding voluntary contribution without which we cou-id not function.

There are, in the North East of England, many people who are interested in playin! folk instruments and- singing. Many of these give infirmal performances at the festival each year and they are much appreciated. The Northumbiian pipers who play outside the Forum have become mo'si popular

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The Chairman and Director met him at Teesside Airport. Councillor Tatchell was Chairman of the Festival Committee at the time and also Chairman of Cleveland County Council. They travelled in the official car of the County Council. Lord Donaldson discussed his opening speech and the festival organisation with our Chairman and Director on the journey from the airport to Billingham. He was most impressed with the information given about the large body of voluntary workers and the system whereby the Committee members led the teams of voluntary workers. "It's like everything else" he said, "It all depends on the chaps". What he said and meant was absolutely correct. Any organisation is only as good as the people in charge. The future at Billingham depends on the men and women who are in control of the event. If they are determined enough they will be able to overcome any problem, financial or otherwise. It should not be thought that Billingham Festival has not had its problems. There have been crises in the past which at times brought about critical situations. They were, however, resolved and given a Committee and Administration of similar calibre, they will be overcome in the future.

THE FUTURE There is one thing absolutely certain and that is if you were attempting to start a festival like this at the present time it would be much more difficult than it was in 1965. Local Authorities don't have the money for such ventures these daYs. il

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Financial cutbacks are anticipated in 1986 and 1987. The problem facing the festival organisers then will be how to maintain the standards which have been established with a smaller budget. It will probably be necessary to reduce the number of participants and a way will have to be found to do this, without reducing the quality of presentation.

Efforts will have to be made to increase income from sources other than the bodies which provide the grant aid. It is encouraging to see local industry coming forward with financial support and hopefully this will be maintained so long as the Council have their present day problems. One cannot blame the Local Authority for reducing its grant to the festival. The stringent financial restrictions which are in operation at the present time do in fact make councillors look very hard at anything which is not a necessitY.

The traditions have been set and the high standing of the Billingham Festival in CIOFF and, in fact, in folklore circles all over the world is a tremendous advantage. There is a sound foundation laid over a 2O year period by a large number of dedicated people. There is however, no room for complacency. The organisers are only as good as their last festival and they have had to work hard - very hard for every success which has been obtained. Given a continuation of this dedication, then we can look forward to the festival going into the third

How we fare henceforth will, to a large extent, depend on the attitude of the people who organise and support the festival. If they want it to continue then it will do so.

I, I

In 1978 Lord Donaldson, who was at that time Minister for the Arts, came here to open the Festival,

millenium.

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