Fringe 2019
BlakeFest Fringe 2019 Events
Our Fringe events this year are diverse and delightful. Music, talks, walks, amazing arts, with something for all ages and tastes.
Please click on the titles for more details.
Sunday 22 September 13.00 - 16.00
'Unpacking Blake' An afternoon understanding of Felpham’s most famous resident
Seeing is believing; the incredible interactive art-exhibition from Sussex Mikey Georgeson is the back-drop for a Panel Discussion as Simon Mouatt is joined by Blake experts looking at the work Blake has created and the impact he has had on how we see the mind, society and the Arts. The highly engaging 'Aesthetic Machines' art exhibition conveys the original free spirit and performative nature of Blake's work. John Higgs is a passionate and engaging speaker who believes Blake is more relevant today than the 1960s. Please don't miss this unique one-off FREE event, hosted by Felpham Village Conservation Society that starts off BlakeFest 2019.
Wednesday 25 September - 7.30pm
Blake's Open Mic Salon with Owain at the Hothampton Arms, London Road, Bognor Regis
A free-flowing mix of Music and Poetry with guest poet Stephen Micalef.
Friday 27 September - 7.00pm
Grandad's Charity Gig - more details
Saturday 28 September 10.00am (link to information and tickets)
Walking in the Steps of Blake - a meditative walk with Street Wisdom
Meet at Bognor railway station forecourt at 10.00am. Free, but please book a ticket on the link above
Saturday 28 September 11.00am - 2.00pm
Can you follow the Tyger Trail?
In support of this year’s BlakeFest celebrations, Bognor Regis Business Improvement District will be hosting a Tyger Trail between 11am and 2pm this Saturday, 28th September.
Sixteen businesses will be displaying lines from Blake’s famous poem “The Tyger” in their windows, creating a trail to follow in and around Bognor Regis Town Centre.
You can collect trail entry forms from The Regis Centre from 11am and from most of the participating businesses.
Free face-painting is available for all children who complete the Tyger Trail successfully and hand their forms in at The Regis Centre before 2pm. One lucky winner will be drawn from all correctly completed trail sheets for a special prize.
Have fun and we look forward to seeing you there!
Saturday 28 September between 10.00am - 3.00pm
Transformational Body Art at Reynolds Furniture
Alongside all the exciting events for BlakeFest this year, be sure to witness Lead Artist of Imagine Face & Body Art, Elissa Barrett, transforming a live model into a tiger!
Elissa will create a live installation where you can watch the progress throughout the day take place!
Elissa will showcase her interpretation of William Blake’s poem “The Tyger” with a focus on Imagination. Be sure to visit Reynolds Furniture’s display window – where the Tyger magic will happen.
Saturday 28 September 11.00am - 12.30
Blake's Beasties - Drama workshop for 5 - 8 year-olds
Professional actor and storyteller Paul Makinson will be leading an exciting 90-minute workshop for five to eight year-olds based on William Blake's amazing animal poetry. Be transported into the world of Blake's wonderful creatures and explore their behaviour through the use of movement, mime and music.
The Regis Centre. Free entry
Sunday 29 September 12.00 - 1.30pm.
A Walk in Felpham with Niall McDevitt
Free, but a donation would be gratefully received
Meet at the Boat House Cafe, Blake's Road, Felpham
Niall McDevitt - William Bake and the Heads of the Poets. Walk and talk around Blake’s Felpham and Bognor with poet and psychogeographer Niall McDevitt. This has proved incredibly popular and has become a regular feature of BlakeFest.
Irish poet Niall McDevitt leads a wandering lecture through Felpham village following the trail of its legendary resident the poet and painter William Blake.
The focus will be on one of Blake's many unique achievements in Sussex, the series of portraits he was commissioned to do for his patron William Hayley's library. 'Heads of the Poets' features typically idiosyncratic busts of world poets from Homer to Dante to Shakespeare. McDevitt will also highlight tensions in the relationship between Blake and the patron he regularly lambasted in verse.
"When Hayley finds out what you cannot do
That is the very thing he'll set you to."
