Dronfield Eye issue 211 July 2023

EYE on summer entertainment
Traditional dance in the Manor Gardens
Welcome to our Arts Festival
The Dronfield Arts Festival is the fifth to be
organised in the town. This year’s event has
moved to the summer to take full advantage of
its numerous outdoor performance spots. It
promises entertainment and fun for all ages
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Dronfield Baptist Ukulele Group
RONFIELD Arts Festival is back between 7th and 9th
July with dozens of performers, exhibitions and
The Larks Quartet
activities, as well as food and drink.
Organisers have announced a packed programme across the
weekend in Dronfield Hall Barn, Manor Gardens and Civic Centre.
Much of the entertainment is free with people encouraged to
drop in, however there are also ticketed events.
Kicking off the festival on the Friday night is Music Night at the
Barn. The show features Barnsdale Hood, a three-piece band
playing traditional instrumental music, together with
acoustic/electric folk-rock duo Cellar Thieves and McShane and
Shaw, who perform music and
comedy featuring tight
harmonies, witty ad-libs and
virtuoso musicianship.
Also on stage is Phil Doleman
whose big voice, stomping foot,
and driving rhythms on both
ukuleles and banjos take you
back to the juke joints of the
20s.
On Saturday, 8th July, circus
creative Rae Rae is to present
an introduction to the
challenges and skills of hooping.
Anyone can do it, but you need
the correct hoop. Rae Rae will
show participants – both kids and
adults - the best techniques, and get you hooping in no-time!
Saturday showcases young performers from Rhythmix Dance
Studio, Miniver Academy and DanceDaze and features Dronfield
Baptist Ukulele Group, Banned Blues, a two-hand blues band,
and local band Sons of Rodger.
Completing the daytime line-up is The Larks Quartet - female
acapella singers.
That evening, Greentop Circus is coming to town for an
extravaganza of circus and cabaret to blow your socks off!
Greentop Circus - Cabaret Night features Zoot (Tim Byrom) - a
highly skilled circus performer with an energetic and entertaining
show that’s packed with preposterous and precarious tricks.
Also on the bill is comedy juggler Matt Tiffany famous for his
vast repertoire of tricks, his act displaying a curated compendium
of the greatest feats from the last 200 years of juggling.
Meanwhile, Lee Partridge is an actor and circus artist from the
Midlands, who performs cyr wheel, a relatively new art form in
circus. Lee uses a huge spinning metal hoop to manipulate space
Open Arts at Dronfield Hall Barn
and perform daring feats of acrobatics and balance.
The line-up is completed by Emily Rose and Nikki Taggart,
aerial hoop duo, hula-hoop, fire dancing, stilts and circus theatre
specialists.
Sunday 9th July’s offering is equally busy, beginning with a
Belarobics demonstration and workshop. Belarobics combines
the fitness moves of belly dance with inspiring choreography and
uplifting music.
Children of Dance Dronfield will demonstrate how traditional
English folk dancing is done before giving audiences a chance to
join in.
There is also an opportunity to try your hand at circus skills
courtesy of Circus Avago. Try tightrope, juggling, unicycling, rolabola,
diabolo, clowning, tumbling and loads more in this actionpacked
event for all ages.
Musical entertainment is from the following: Ava Bateman – a
young singer-songwriter who fuses together genres of Latin, pop,
acoustic and alternative to create a unique modern sound;
Sheffield U3A Ukulele Group; The Abbey Session Folk Group;
The Two Guitar Guys; and two
young local bands The Magenta
Apricots Band and Ben and the
Kickbacks.
Other attractions on Sunday are
Okami Jiu Jitsu, who will be
demonstrating traditional
Japanese jiu jitsu and selfdefence
techniques and A&C’s
Panorama Players who present
a short but sweet tale from their
‘crankie’ theatre.
Closing the Festival this year will
be Dronfield choir Ladies Voices
who stage a spectacular show at
Dronfield Civic Hall on Sunday
and introduce the new Young
Ladies Voices group, plus Dronfield Parish Young Voices.
Throughout the festival weekend, Sheffield Print Makers will be
in the Courtyard room at the Barn.
And after last year’s success, Dronfield Arts Festival is delighted
to be hosting the Open Arts Exhibition once again.
More than 30 experienced artists from Dronfield and district
have submitted their original artwork for selection and exhibition
over the festival weekend.
The exhibition will take place in the Barn Gallery and all artists’
work will be for sale. Artists and stewards will be on hand to meet
visitors and answer any questions throughout the show.
Entries for the Barn’s Children’s Art Exhibition will also be on
display over the weekend.
Donations to help with the cost of staging the festival are
appreciated. The Barn would also be pleased to hear from
anyone who would like to volunteer over the weekend.
For full information about the festival and for details of the
ticketed events, go to: dronfieldartsfestival.co.uk