HADCAF comes of age

The Festival celebrates its 18 th year in style with a new-look programme, two new venues, and an exceptional line-up of events from which it would be invidious to extract any example for extra attention. However, it is no exaggeration to say that it includes exceptional concerts, extraordinary theatre, exhilarating shows, excellent workshops, exciting films, exquisite exhibitions and extensive extramural activities involving local expertise. But exclusive it is not - there is something here for everyone - so we hope you will experience, experiment and enjoy!

Beryl Fowler , Chairman

LATEST: Some events are already sold out but it can sometimes be worth turning up in case last minute 'returns' are available - resold on a strictly first-come, first-served basis! Mini events viewer: scroll down for later dates - click the Event Title for more info. Sat 4 July Hungerford in Bloom .... competition ...   Sat 4 July River Dipping with Rob Starr (Town & Manor River Keeper) 9:30am Sat 4 July The Joy of Singing Community Singing Workshop led by Jo McAndrews 10:00am-1:00pm Sat 4 July A Summer Party in aid of Save the Children 10:30am-4:00pm Sat 4 July Beginners Adult Ballet with Tara Burden 2:00-4:00pm Sat 4 July Vivaldi’s Women: Schola Pietatis Antonio Vivaldi As featured in the award-winning BBC TV film, Vivaldi’s Women 7:30pm Sun 5 July Eddington Estate Walk with farm manager Alan Giles 10:00am Sun 5 July Open Air Concert Phoenix Brass 3:00-5:00pm Sun 5 July Are There More Of You? Written & performed by Alison Skilbeck Directed by Jeremy Stockwell (one of the judges in the recent BBC TV series The Speaker) 7:45pm Mon 6 July A Taste of the Wild An introduction to foraging and wild food with James FeaverSold Out 7:00-9:30pm Tue 7 July Senior Citizens' Concert with musical entertainment 1:30-2:30pm Tue 7 July Harvey’s Meadow Walk with Robin Tubb 2:00-3:30pm Tue 7 July Whale Rider Valley Film Society 7:30pm Tue 7 July Concert: Five Students of Birmingham Conservatoire 7:30pm Wed 8 July Paddy Ashdown 7:00pm Wed 8 July Marsh Walk with Rob Starr (Town & Manor River Keeper) 7:00pm Wed 8 July Close-up Magic Workshop for beginners (age 14-adult) with John Winchcombe 7:00-10:00pm Thu 9 July Harvey’s Meadow Walk with Robin Tubb 11:00am-12:30 Thu 9 July Indonesian Satria Arts Workshop led by Malcolm Bray 7:30-9:00pm Fri 10 July Creative Writing Workshop 1 led by Judi Moore 6:00-9:00pm Fri 10 July 'Just' Pete Allen 8:00-11:00pm Sat 11 July Belly Dance Sue Ealding 9:30-11:00am Sat 11 July Coffee Morning in aid of the United Reformed Church 10:00am-12:00 Sat 11 July Creative Writing Workshop 2 led by Judi Moore 1:00-4:00pm Sat 11 July The Tin Forest (puppet show and workshop) Puppetcraft (see separate item for Show) 1:30-3:00pm Sat 11 July The Tin Forest (puppet show and workshop) PuppetCraft (see separate item for Workshop) 3:30-4:15pm Sat 11 July Traviata on The Triangle Kennet Opera 7:00pm Sat 11 July A Taste of Summer Homemade wine tasting with Chris Jennings 7:30pm Sun 12 July FARM-Africa Day A great day out for the family! Theme: 'All from this land' 10:00am-4:00pm Sun 12 July Inkpen Fete 2009 1:00pm Sun 12 July Kausikan Rajeshkumar - Piano 2:30-3:30pm Sun 12 July Second-hand Lions (2003) (PG) Hungerford Film Club 7:30pm Mon 13 July Here Comes Summer Poetry reading by Caroline Franklin 7:30pm Tue 14 July Round the Town Quiz and Chicken & Chips Supper in aid of the United Reformed Church 7:00pm Tue 14 July Wine Quiz Hungerford Twinning Association 7:30pm Wed 15 July Collecting for the Millennium Seed Bank Talk by Dan Leighton 7:30pm Wed 15 July Palladio, Haydn & Hungerford Newbury Symphony Orchestra Players 8:00pm Thu 16 July Shakespeare in Words, Music and Song Watership Cantabile directed by David Holland and Downwind Early Music Consort 8:00pm Fri 17 July Senior Citizens' Concert with musical entertainment 1:30-2:30pm Fri 17 July Public Transport presents a comedy double bill 7:30pm Sat 18 July CARNIVAL Hungerford Round Table   Sat 18 July Art, Craft & Photography Exhibition and display by local schools 10:00am-6:00pm Sat 18 July Flower Festival Theme: My Favourite Poem 10:30am-5:00pm Sat 18 July Blowing and Scraping Family concert 11:00am-12:00 Sat 18 July Ploughman’s Lunches/Tea, Coffee and Homemade Cake 11:00am-4:00pm Sat 18 July Real Ale Festival 2:00pm Sat 18 July Songs of Praise with Hungerford Town Band 7:00-8:00pm Sat 18 July Battle of the Bands 2009 7:00pm Sun 19 July Rock Academy for 10-18 year olds With special guest Irwin Sparkes, lead singer of The Hoosiers 10:00am-1:00pm Sun 19 July Art, Craft & Photography Exhibition and display by local schools 10:00am-4:30pm Sun 19 July Flower Festival Theme: My Favourite Poem 11:30am-5:00pm Sun 19 July Elm Farm Walk led by Bob Winfield 2:00pm Sun 19 July The Irby Newland Ensemble & Friends 7:45pm Mon 20 July The History of Millinery Talk by couture milliner Jane Corbett 7:30pm Mon 20 July Theatre in The Arcade The Community of Hungerford Theatre Company 8:00pm Tue 21 July Russian Ark (2002) Dir. Alexander Sokurov 7:30pm Tue 21 July Theatre in The Arcade The Community of Hungerford Theatre Company 8:00pm Wed 22 July The Cheeky Chappie performed by Dave Sealey 7:30pm Wed 22 July Theatre in The Arcade The Community of Hungerford Theatre Company 8:00pm Thu 23 July Richard Vendome - Organ and Virginals 7:30pm Thu 23 July Theatre in The Arcade The Community of Hungerford Theatre Company 8:00pm Fri 24 July My Darling Clemmie by Hugh Whitemore With grateful acknowledgments to Lady Soames Performed by Rohan McCullough Directed by Gareth Armstrong.Sold Out 7:30pm Fri 24 July Theatre in The Arcade The Community of Hungerford Theatre Company 8:00pm Sat 25 July Tap Dance with Iris Lloyd AISTD 10:00-11:30am Sat 25 July Alessandra Pompili - Piano 2:30-3:30pm Sat 25 July Across the Universe (2007) 7:30pm Sat 25 July Theatre in The Arcade The Community of Hungerford Theatre Company 8:00pm Sun 26 July Make a Cocktail Hat with couture milliner Jane Corbett 10:00am-3:00pm Sun 26 July Festival Concert with Hungerford Town Band 7:00pm Sun 26 July Swingers in Suspenders Jo King and Alexi Harden 7:30pm   Search events

Programmes available from Newbury Building Society (Hungerford), Libraries (Hungerford & Newbury) and shops.

More information about the town of Hungerford. Arts activities in and around Newbury.

Contact the festival organisers at or telephone 01488 684901.

BACKGROUND TO THE FESTIVAL

Hungerford & District Community Arts Festival (popularly known as HADCAF) takes place annually in July and aims to encourage, promote and celebrate the talent, expertise and skills that abound within our community.  In addition to offering a platform to local individuals, societies and organisations, the Festival brings to the community performances of music and theatre that would not otherwise be seen locally.

The Festival seeks to include something for all ages, tastes and interests, and the programme encompasses a wide range of arts- and leisure-related events and attractions:  the performing arts, visual arts, music of all kinds, exhibitions, talks, craft and dance workshops, local history, antiques, horticulture, conservation and wildlife, guided walks, plus gardens and artists' studios to visit.