Chesterfield Market Festival

25 September 2008

Quality drama and comedy will take centre stage during the forthcoming Chesterfield Market Festival - with thought-provoking, yet entertaining subjects ranging from religion to warfare under the spotlight.

One of the main attractions at the Festival - which will be held from Thursday October 30 to Saturday November 1 - is sure to be The Reduced Shakespeare Company's irreverent roller coaster ride from fig leaves to the Final Judgment in The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged).

The reductive romp through religion with high speed humour, which aims to amuse people of all faiths and beliefs, will be performed at the Pomegranate Theatre on November 1. Key theological questions will include: ‘Did Adam and Eve have navels?' and ‘Did Moses really look like Charlton Heston?'.

On a more serious note, Standing in Line will deliver a powerful and moving message about the futility of war in songs, readings and images presented by Lester Simpson, Piet Chielens and Nigel Corbett at the Crooked Spire Church on October 30.
October will mark the 90th anniversary of the death of Lester's great uncle, Albert Scrimshaw, in the third battle of Ypres - better known as the battle of Passchendaele, and Standing in Line tells his story.

On the same evening, Elizabeth Gaskell's varied fictitious characters will come to life in The Ladies of Cranford, an adaptation of her well-known book performed in modern dress at the Pomegranate Theatre.

After following the adventures of Matty Jenkyns and her many friends - from burglars and bankruptcy to marriage and magic - ticket holders will have the bonus of free follow-on admission to The Dizzy Club, a vibrant musical treat, at the same venue.

Audiences can also enjoy the ‘feel good factor' during a Spotlight Comedy Club Special at the Winding Wheel on October 30, when compere Anthony J. Brown will introduce Richard Herring, Tom Price and Freaks Outing.

Richard has scored success on both television and radio, including ‘Fist of Fun' and ‘This Morning with Richard not Judy', Tom Price has appeared on Channel 5's ‘Swinging', while Freaks Outing is an established Yorkshire cult hero.

Programmes giving full details of all events and tickets are now available from Chesterfield Tourist Information Centre, Rykneld Square, 01246 345777/8, e-mail tourism@chesterfield.gov.uk.

Main sponsor for this year's Chesterfield Market Festival is local company Printability.