Winchester Hat Fair

When: July 7th - 10th, 1994.

Location

Winchester

Cost

Party Night £5 (£4 concs), Friday Night Live £6 (£5 concs). Buy both and save £1. Tickets available from Theatre Royal, Hat Fair Office, Tourist Information Office.

Street Continental Free, Midsummer Nights Dream Free, but please make a contribution to Festival of Fools.

Other Information:

A Festival of Street Theatre. The major fixture on the street performance calendar, the best place to see the best in the country. It's twice as long as usual because it coincides with the English leg of Le Tour cycle race, to be marked by much unicycle nonsense and a ridiculous amount of street performance. With the kind permission of the owners, Hat Fair will be using 20, the Square, as a base and information point. The organisers can be contacted from here at any time during the event.

Background: Founded in 1974 by Jonathan Kay, Hat Fair is a showcase for the art of street theatre - which includes any type of performance designed for outdoor presentation which begins to work only with the direct and spontaneous participation of passers-by.; Is is called Hat Fair from the pactice of 'Hatting' - That is handing round a hat for money. Some Hat Fair performers still earn their money this way so please - give generously!
Schedules: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
The performers
Workshops: Please join in - all Workshops are free. See the schedules for some (limited) info on what is going on.; High Voltage Trapeze Workshops: places are limited - please sign up at a Hat Fair Info Point on the morning of the workshop.
Camping: The campsite is located by the River Park Leasure Centre, Gordan Road (off North Walls): (0962) 869 525.
B&B: Information on Bed and Breakfast can be obtained from Tourist Information.
Photo Competition: The Fair publicity leaflets and posters are a photo taken by Mr & Mrs G H Parker of Lytham who won last years' competition. They win a presentation Chealsea flower show plate donated by Alan Rickman of The Antique Market.; To enter this years' competition simply send your entry to Hat Fair Photo Competition, The Tower Arts Centre, Romsey Road, Winchester SO22 9PW. Please enclose a SAE if you'd like your photo to be returned after judging.
Volunteers: Anyone can help - either as a Steward on the day, with admin during the year or simply by providing accomodation to a performer.
Street Market: During the Hat Fair, the square will be closed to traffic, with cafe tables, floral decoration, and a whole range of stalls and shows.
Street Decoration Project: The students of Southampton Tech in association with Peter Symonds' College have created a whole array of two and three dimensional works to adorn the city. Masterminded by Tim Kent at WCCS. Thanks to all the shopkeepers for their permission.
Thanks to: All our voluntary Stewards and accommodation providers. Helen Bailey, Leslie Pearman, Mike Lincoln, Kate Twist. Winchester Police, Keith Bamber, The Dean and Chapter of Winchester Cathedral, Sally Edwards, Steve Barrett, Norman Offer for the truck stages. George Fothergill and Chris Pines. Mr Trowel of the Parks Dept. Philip Hill of One Oak Hotel Ltd.; Hat Fair wishes to acknowledge the enormous support of Winchester Council of Community Service.

Further Information Obtainable From: