Winchester Hat Fair: Performers

it's an outstanding line-up for 1994, with performers for every letter of the alphabet (except Q). They are:

Angela De Castro

A supreme talent for subtle mime clowning. Absorbing and endearing.

Ark & Mule

present This is not TV - Juggling and slapstick in the New Age mould from this offshoot of Cap'n Bobs excellent team.

Avanti Display Team

Pedalling abroad on a tour of inspection in his ceremonial rickshaw, Sir Percy Gutbucket is a charming relic of colonial splendour. Plus piscean capers from The Crayfish Twins swimming a channel of their very own. And if we're very lucky, we might get Mr Lucky the man with his own private raincloud.

The Avids

Expect fabulous displays of juggling virtuosity from this daring Alresford combo.

Barefaced Emsemble

It's those yellow people again, hurtling round town on a mission only they can understand.

Bill Jonhson's Cycling Rodeo

A yellow jersey to anyone from the audience who can ride Bill's bike for just two seconds. Seems fair,? Well just you try it!

Bob and Bob Jobbins

With a Do ce Do and a Hoop e Do your caller for the Crazy Ceilidh - Fresh from the Clip Joint Comedy Club, MC Jobbins is the man for the job.

The Captains

Sail away with splendid theatrical spectacle for children - The Pirate's Parts.

Circus Fudge

Presenting Aardac Bizar. An indescribable mixture of circus. theatre, music, and domestic appliances. Mr Egduff Sucric occupies a world where the simplest household task can turn into a dizzying adventure. Do not miss this - you've been told.

Circus Pipsqueak Workshops

Workshops galore! Juggle, unicycle, stilt-walk - you name it. Anyone can have a go at the all day circus school on the Cathedrakl Green.

Clive Fish

Tour Guide - Richard Cuming invites you to take L'Autre Tour. Follow that umbrella for the silliest guided tour of all - you didn't expect. See schedules for meeting points.

Des Kay

Cycling in the cause of Recycling is Des Kay with the Save the World Show. A serious message with an ever smiling face. Give that man a trophy.

Eezy Trapezy

The very well balanced Happy Monsters featuring trapeze unicycles, stiltwalking octopuses and some very slick slackwire work.

Elephant Sandwich

Come along on Saturday night to the Mad Hatter's Tea Party - wear your maddest hat and dance the night away to some wicked dance grooves.

Expanding Suitcase

The Flim Flam Men. As well as bringing us sparkling jugglery with cheeky charm, out of the suitcase come a whole host of characters to mingle with the crowds.

Far & Wide Puppets

Introducing The Four Abdullas and their magical cat, a tale of Eastern generosity. An enthralling combination of storytelling, puppetry, and theatre.

Festival of Fools

Is it possible for eighteen people to mingle in the crowd - you're bound to notice them. Plus on Sunday an unforgettable version of Midsummer Night's Dream in the Abbey Gardens which promises to be a highlight of the festival. Bring a picnic and be at the centre of the action.

First Draft Theatre Co.

A fun packed rendition of Aesop's Fables. Plus Parabalia - a show devised by the youth theatre group. Commisioned by Portsmouth City Council for Fun in the Parks.

George Egg

Wince with delight as he staples a fiver to his head. Cringe with admiration as he sticks a mail up his nose. George Egg - rivetting in every part.

Grand Theatre of Lemmings

Totally Street Theatre - Crazy Characters galore and some of the oldest gags in the world. The Cannon Show will fire the dullest imagination. Should go with a bang etc....

Haggis

A juggler with style and grace and a special way with hats. Watch out for the amazing Surfboard Chin Balance of Death one slip and (with a mouth like his) he could swallow it!

High Voltage Trapeze

A unique and heart stopping static trapeze act not to be missed. If you think you could do it then sign up for workshops 11.30 on the Cathedral Green (places limited).

The Iceman

Ancient and hearty jokes, frozen in time are released to an unsuspecting public as the Iceman steadily hacks, blowtorches and chisels his way through his dripping block of ice.

Impromptu Theatre

If you see a man in a locked embrace with a deckchair, don't rush in to rescue him - it's Michael Harvey and the deckchair loves him really.

The Jelly Rollers

Enough to put the OOMpah into any procession, watch them bounce when they hit those blue notes.

The Juggling Fiends

Four of Hampshires finest bring you a keen display of anti-gravitational object manipulation.

Knock on Effect

A wicked funky jazz combo to get you wiggling and weaving out of control. See them at the Friday Night Live cabaret at the Guildhall.

John Lee

A consummate performer with the most competant incompetant slackwire skills ever seen and a wonderful way with children - he juggles them!

Lewes Youth Cricus

Performers of every kind trying out their budding skills on an unsuspecting public.

Los Hombres Ingles

World-encompassing band from Portsmouth will have you dancing all the way round the Globe. Guaranteed.

Charlie Mawer

Winner of the UK 'Young Writer of the Year', he held Edinburgh audiences rivetted with rougish diffidence and laconic humour in the Liverpool poets tradition.

The Merry Go Round

A beautiful Hand-Turned Edwardian roundabout the kids will love.

Mervin Stutter

Whooping up the cabaret with more up to the minute irreverance is Winchester's most vicious satarist and republican.

Noel Britten

For the first time at Hat Fair it's the man who comes armed with a sack, not for escapology - it's to hold all the awards he's won.

Ophaboom

Shakespeare meets Commedia Dell'Arte in a slapstick rendition of Richard III. Is it 'My kingdom for a hobby horse'? Or just Ham in a codpiece?

Palaver Puppets

Uproarious traditional and hillarious invention - a puppet show featuring your favorite characters and an ending of your choice.

Palfi

Blockbuster clown and Hat Fair regular never fails to impress with the clowning skills of three generations - all his own.

Patti Bee and Ross Foley

You've seen Lady Christobel and her Butler, now marvel at Fairy Floriblunda & Norbert the Gnome. Wonderful whimsy, delight, and drollery.

Pip

Pop along to see Pip - a fabulous clown who's bound to grow on you! Geddit!

Rough & Tumble

Or is it just Rough? Sawdust and Dreams is poignant clowning in the tramp traddition.

Skate Naked

Guaranteed the biggest crowds of all, these daring young men pile on the stunts as they take off their clothes. As seen on Viva Cabaret.

Spoof and Hoodwink

Watch carefully - you'll need to have sharp eyes to spot the trick with these nimble fingered masters of illusion.

Squirty Smutts Inc.

Featuring the inimitable Prince Boohoo. Huge, eccentric and eminently danceable - joy just thrums from every bottlestop corkness of it all. Look forward to it.

Stickleback Platicus

The Bath. The only show on the street with hot and cold running water - a bathroom drama on the road, a 30 minute frenzy of aquatic mayhem, a glimse into the bathroom of the soul. What more can I say?

Stompy

A clasic clown in modern guise. Watch out - The 'E' Man is heading in your direction. A man who does for cardboard boxes what Maggie did to the miners.

Street Credibility

Can you beleive this? Big Films Inc. are making a movie on the street and YOU could be the star. Seeing is believing.

Sylvesta the Singing Jester

A strolling player in full motley with a mandola, a jolly jingle and a Hey Nonny No for every occaision.

Tai Chi

A deomstration of calm and composure in the midst of all the madness. The Tower Centre Tai Chi Group, whatever the weather.

Tin Drum

Theatre on Wheels. Excellent childrens entertainment featuring Rod - a vintage Double Decker playbus with a playroom downstairs and room to play upstairs.

Tony Anthony

Sometime he talks, sometimes he juggles. Sometimes both at the same time - weather permitting.

Turnaround Arts

Back by popular demand the Castle Maze and the Sonic Sound Structure providing hours of fun in that giant creche we call the Cathedral Green. Grown-ups love them too.

Unicycles

See under A, C, E, J, L, & S!

Venus

Hat Fair's own cover girl - The doyenne of the diabalo is back with some of the most advanced tricks in the trade. A faultless performance.

The Wildern School Expressive Arts Group

Hampshire's most outgoing drama department demonstrate a variety of mask based performance of their own devising. Friday 8th.

Xtended Play

It's the Box that Rocks, The Tent with Intent, The Booth with the Groove, YES IT's.... Rave on the Pave Yeah! Yippee! Wicked!

Yorubas/Zuriya Theatre Co.

They'll come dancing up a storm with energy packed music and dance in the Yoruba tradition.

That's all folks. Any acts beginning with Q please get in touch with the organisers!