Nailsworth Dramatic Society presents
'Steaming' by Nell Dunn

Set in a dilapidated Turkish Bath somewhere in the east end of London, five women of all conditions come to bare their bodies, souls and fantasies. A warm-hearted, often humorous portrayal of women coming to know the nature of each other’s lives.

£6.50

Tickets will only be available from ‘FESTIVITY’ (the party shop), Fountain Street, Nailsworth.

Festival Saturday Events

Approximate timings:

10.00 Nailsworth Community Choir
10.20 Frantix the Clown with the Liengaard family
11.00 Amazing Wayne
11.20 Jenako – African Dance and drumming
11.40 Richard's Crazy Chinese Pole Act
12.00 Stroud Samba band
12.30 Frantix the Clown
12.50 Amazing Wayne
13.15 Jenako
13.40 Richard's Crazy Chinese Pole Act
14.10 Fiesta Flamenco
14.30 Stroud Samba band
15.00 Procession to Nailstock

The Farmers’ Market will be in the Town Square and the Fire Station has its Open Day from 10am till 2pm. In the Library there will be Badge-making and Colouring for children from 10.00 -12.00.

Crafts in Action

Watch craftsmen demonstrating their crafts in the Nailsworth Mills Estate, including glass bead making, building a dry stone wall, wood carving and wood turning, basket making, quilting, spinning and weaving – and see the test run by 10 year old Ellie Ayres of the “Tot Rod” made for her by her father. Demonstrations also at the Cotswold Craftsmans Gallery Market Street and the Studio works Gallery, Fountain Street, also two mills will be demonstrating traditional textile techniques, Gigg Mill 11am - 1pm and Dunkirk Mill 2pm - 4pm.

Festival Parade

The parade will go through the town via the A46 to the King George V playing field for Nailstock, the parade commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Festival with a silver theme. ‘Butterflies’ will be taken to the field in a silver cocoon, to be ‘released’ there by the children. Come along, wear silver and join in the celebration!

This year, Nailstock will feature live music from 14 bands, plus DJs during the changeovers, on the now infamous Saddlespan Stage. The running order being put together will offer music to satisfy all tastes and ages.

For more information, see the Nailstock web pages.

Mills History Walk

2.00pm: Official unveiling of the new Mills History Board at the fountain in Old Market.

2.30pm: Walkers leave on a guided mills history walk round eight of Nailsworth’s old textile mill sites with the Stroudwater Textile Trust.

Catherine Bott and Friends
CONVIVENCIA - a celebration in music

Until 500 years ago, Spain was a Muslim land. But when Fernando of Aragon married Isabel of Castile, they called themselves “the Catholic Kings” and intensified the process known as the “Reconquista” – the reconquest of Spain for Christianity. But there was resistance, especially in the southern region of Andalucia, where people of different faiths had somehow managed to get along together, in the spirit of convivencia, for quite a while.

Islam and Christianity are still intertwined in 21st century Spain, in the masterpieces of Moorish architecture like the Alhambra, in the food and in the language. The haunting songs and poetry of Andalucia are imbued with this irresistible mix of influences, too. In this passionate and evocative recital, soprano Catherine Bott breathes life into some of the stories of Moors and Christians in their great struggle for Spain. In a time when tolerance and understanding between different faiths becomes daily more vital, this beautiful music from the past offers hope for the future.

how to book

Two Gloucestershire Poets
Peter Wyton & Emily Wills

The results of the Festival poetry competition will also be announced, with readings of the successful poems.

how to book

The Ruskin Mill Festival Talk
Naresh Giangrande: Transition Towns……the Story So Far

Why do we need to transition and to what are we transitioning? What is transition and how is it done? Naresh Giangrande will discuss a wide range of possible futures and describe in detail what the transition process is and how it works. What makes it so unique? What has happened in Totnes and other places around the world in the brief 1½ years the project has been in existence?

how to book

Sacred Sounds of the Sitar

World renowned musician, composer and gold and platinum record producer, Craig Pruess, will be weaving a spell with his sitar and tabla accompaniment, at the Matara Centre, Kingscote. Composer of the music for Bend it Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice, Craig will play music of his own composition, whilst honouring the sacred tradition of sitar playing.

May Day Comedy Extravaganza

Doors open 7pm Bar, food available

A night of comedy headlined by Bob Mills, star of TV and Radio, with two supporting acts and MC Geoff Norcott. Food available to order from the menu from 7pm, or can be ordered in advance by phoning the number below.
A night to remember!

Tickets available direct from Five Valleys Leisure Centre, in person or by phoning Natalie Ward during office hours: 01453 834860

Festival Film
Notes on a Scandal (15)

Academy Award winners Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett give outstanding Oscar-nominated performances – one as a woman consumed by her colleague’s guilty secret, the other, a victim of her own dark obsessions - in this intelligent and stylish thriller.

how to book

The Ian McMillan Orchestra

Yorkshire words and European music: Poet, broadcaster & comedian Ian McMillan dances with composer & accordionist Luke Carver Goss of Szapora ('Truly refreshing' Danny Thompson ) and Orchestra in this sizzling wok of words and music. Powerful, echoing tales of milkmen, mining, heatwaves, dads, voices found, death by shanty, industrial manoeuvres, 9/11 and the late great Ronnie Barker. Improvised and constructed for audiences 7 to 107.

‘a breath of fresh air’ Sue Arnold, The Observer.

‘we were aching with laughter, pricked by small bright truths’ John Harvey, The North.

'Think of the early Wordsworth reading his poems' The Wordsworth Trust.

‘You could call him daft as a brush but he’s as switched on as a power station’ Yorkshire Evening Press.

Poet, comedian & broadcaster Ian McMillan hosts weekly hit radio show The Verb. He’s Yorkshire Planetarium’s Poet in Space, Poet-in-Residence for The Academy of Urbanism and Barnsley FC, Humberside Police’s Beat Poet, Yorkshire TV’s Investigative Poet and a regular on Newsnight Review, The Mark Radcliffe Show, The Today Programme, You & Yours, The Culture Show, Never Mind The Full Stops… and Have I Got News For You? His rip-roaring poetry shows are legendary. Cats make him sneeze. www.ian-mcmillan.co.uk

Luke Carver Goss’s music includes commissions for symphony orchestras, rock bands, musicals, theatres and dance ensembles. He has arranged music for choirs, song-writers, bands and theatres. He works both on his own and in collaboration with composers, writers, dancers, artists and a dazzlingly good band called Szapora. 'You've got to go and hear them play… fabulous' Fiona Talkington, Late Junction BBC R3 www.lukecarvergoss.co.uk

how to book

Ruskin Mill Craft Workshops

See here for details

Festival Walk

Join Mike Brinkworth and David Walton for another interesting and entertaining ramble around Nailsworth's delightful environs. Wear boots or stout shoes for tracks and gentle hills. Allow 2-2½ hours.