Book Weekend favourites

As the Buxton Festival Book Weekend is now less than two months away(!), the Festival team decided to share which events they are looking forward to this year.

“I’m very much looking forward to the Book Weekend this year with the added bonus of having some opera available to attend too! English Touring Opera will be performing one of my favourite operas, The Return of Ulysses by Monteverdi on the opening day of the Weekend this year.  And then on Saturday afternoon one of my favourite speakers, Matthew Parris will be giving us another one of his entertaining talks. I love listening to Matthew’s programme Great Lives on BBC Radio 4 which he delivers brilliantly and it is always a joy to hear him speak at the Festival. A lovely autumnal weekend of culture in a beautiful spa town – what more could you ask for?!” Lee Barnes Administrator

“As a Derbyshire farmer’s daughter who has many memories of being in and driving Land Rovers I am of course looking forward to Ben Fogle’s talk on Friday evening! The Mary Queen of Scots talk will be the first official event in the newly refurbished Pump Room in The Crescent – a little historic event for Buxton and the Festival!” Liz Mackenzie PR & Press Manager

“I first met Helen Keen in 2008 when I reviewed her show It Is Rocket Science at the Buxton Fringe. In it, she managed the unique trick of being engaging, informative, educational and very funny, as she told the history of manned space travel. The show was a hit, not just in Buxton, but wherever it was performed, leading to it being expanded into a series on BBC Radio 4. I was thrilled to see that Helen had her first book out, using the popularity of TV series Game of Thrones as a jumping off point to look at the scientific and historical questions it throws up in her own unique style. I’ve never watched Game of Thrones myself, but I know that won’t matter – looking back on my review of her Buxton debut I wrote: ‘Helen herself has a highly engaging personality and such an obvious enthusiasm that the audience cannot fail to be captivated.’” Robbie Carnegie Marketing & Web Manager

“As a Tudor fanatic, particularly Elizabeth I, I am really interested to hear David Templeman’s talk on the Queen’s Catholic cousin, Mary Stuart (or Mary Queen of Scots). Mary (like Josephine Wilkinson’s talk on Katherine Howard at the 2016 Festival) is largely a misunderstood character who really had a sad and unfortunate personal life. I am also looking forward to William Sitwell’s talk on Lord Woolton who was Minister for Food during WW2. I’m also a Game of Thrones fan (though I’m still on season 3 – need to hurry and catch up!) so I’m interested to hear Helen Keen on Saturday afternoon.” Lily Bracegirdle Artists & Engagement Manager

“I really like the line-up for the Literary Lunch on Sunday. Matthew Dennison who will be talking about the life of Beatrix Potter (it’s also the 150th anniversary of her birth), which is complemented nicely by Marina Warner’s book about fairy tale and Clare Hartwell’s book which looks at the landscape and history of Derbyshire.” Lucy Durack Development Director

“I’m so excited for the book weekend this November as it encompasses all my favourite things – food, heritage, poetry and Derbyshire! I’m particularly looking forward to seeing The Odditorium on Saturday evening, I’ve been listening to David Bramwell’s podcasts (http://www.drbramwell.com/podcasts/) and I can’t wait for him and the other speakers to introduce their wonderfully eccentric characters from history. I’m also looking forward to buying all my Christmas presents early at the Waterstones pop-up shop!” Claire Barlow Literary & Outreach Manager

 

Welcome to our interns!

Each year, the Festival welcomes seven interns to work behind the scenes, whether that be running the opera surtitles, page-turning, working front of house, managing artists’ riders or doing some social media (because we’re very social media savvy here), each day is varied and different from the last! I was an intern a couple of years ago at the Festival and absolutely loved it – the sheer variety of tasks and fast-paced environment; meeting new people and gaining new experiences. I’m really looking forward to welcoming our interns this year, and thought I’d have a quick catch up with them all to find out what they’re looking forward to at Buxton.

Verena Silcher

Most of all, I’m looking forward to being surrounded by music every day and to be involved in the day to day running of a large and exciting festival. The internship scheme is such a great opportunity to gain hands on experience and I’m really grateful to be able to find out more about how everything works and what challenges I’ll encounter. I’m particularly looking forward to operating the surtitles for Beethoven’s Leonore and since I’ve played the cello from the age of six, I certainly don’t want to miss Lionel Handy’s concert on July 21. Last but not least I’m looking forward to exploring Buxton and of course to meeting my fellow interns.

Olivia O’Connell

I’m eagerly anticipating my return to Buxton Opera House after spending my summers as a teenager performing on its stage. But, I’m equally as excited to work behind the scenes and with the creative and technical staff and hope to gain insight into the ‘other’ side of the glorious Opera House. I’ll be working on a new production of Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi – a variation on Romeo and Juliet – in the year marking 400 years after Shakespeare’s death!

Oliver Gildea

I am very much looking forward to being part of the Buxton opera festival! I look forward to taking charge of the surtitles for Tamerlano and meeting lots of interesting new people whilst at the festival. I am very excited about the prospect of being able to work with and watch some amazingly talented musicians!

Pip Ridgway

I am delighted to be working for the Buxton Festival this year! I am excited to have a great festival experience, and I’m particularly looking forward to the opera productions, especially Tamerlano, and performances from Manchester Chamber Choir.

 

Emily Castles

The Buxton Festival is a brilliant few weeks of literature, music and opera, and I am thrilled to be working at such a prestigious event and cannot wait to get stuck in! As a keen historian I am particularly looking forward to ‘An Evening of Murder with Dr Lucy Worsley’ as well as Josephine Wilkinson’s talk about the fifth wife of Henry Vlll, Katherine Howard. I am also extremely excited to watch David Crystal’s talk on Shakespeare and Claire Harman’s talk on Charlotte Brontë, exploring two of the biggest literary icons on their joint anniversaries through the eyes of the contemporary reader.

Matt Thomas

I’m looking forward to actually watching one of the operas this year. For one reason or another, I didn’t manage it last year except for page-turning at the opera excerpts concerts.

 

 

Lee Moore

I’m looking forward to being back in Buxton having done the internship last year! I’ll be working on the technical side of events, including microphone handling, stage set-up and sound checks. I like in particular the Music in the Cafe line-up this year.

We look forward to welcoming them very soon!

Lily Bracegirdle Executive Assistant