FEAST OF CULTURE LINED UP FOR TOWN
by JAMES JOHNSTON

Evening Gazette
August 5, 2005, Friday

Organisers of the 41st Billingham International Folklore Festival
today promised the most culturally diverse show yet.

The week-long event, which starts tomorrow , is the largest festival
of its kind in the UK and features groups from around the world.

But festival director Joe Maloney says that this year organisers have
gone all out to attract performers from every continent.

An expert panel sat though hundreds of audition tapes to find the
best performers.

Groups from Armenia, Belarus, Cyprus, Ecuador, India, Indonesia,
Russia and Venezuela will all feature at this year’s festival.

He said: “I’m excited by the Venezuelan and Ecuadorian groups, which
are new to us.

“We’ve also got a group from Armenia for the first time in a long
time. It’s going to take four days for them to drive here.”

The 650-capacity outdoor centre arena will hold concerts by all 265
performers taking part in the event. It will also hold the closing
ceremony, which will include a firework display and torchlight
procession on August 13.

The Forum Theatre will be the venue for the International Carousel
Show and a free craft fair organised by Stockton Council, which will
feature domestic and international crafts and run throughout the week.

The Billingham Arms Hotel will host the International Line Dancing
Evening, supported by entertainment from Venezuela, and Bede College
a children’s club and dance classes.

“We hope we’ve picked a set of groups that are exciting and that
people will enjoy,” said Mr Maloney.

* For more information, see our What’sOn supplement tonight or visit
www. billinghamfestival. co.uk