PETERSFIELD and its surrounding villages became arts central this week with delighted crowds soaking up literature, poetry and more.
The curtain fell at the weekend on the fourth Petersfield Shakepeare Festival, following a hugely successful 12-night run.
More than 1,600 audience members visited the open air setting at Bedales School to watch offerings from the Bard, including The Tempest, the festival’s centrepiece.
“This received overwhelmingly enthusiastic reactions from extremely attentive audiences,” said producer Clare Glancy.
“The high production values, the quality of the acting and the imaginative use of movement and setting ensured that a great time was had by all.”
Some Shakespeare fans attended all four shows, The Tempest, a fast-paced Hamlet, one-man show Into the Breach, and A?Midsummer Night’s Dream.
The inaugural South Downs Poetry Festival came to a close too, after a week of readings, workshops and special events with top poets at venues including Petersfield Museum and library, Winton House, St Peter’s Hall and One Tree Books.
The weekend centred on the Festival Hall, and there were capacity audiences at Steep Village Hall and The Harrow pub in the week.
A group of cycling poets zig-zagged the South Downs to end up in Petersfield, taking in the pub garden of The White Hart at South Harting en-route. Festival director Tim Dawes was delighted with the response, and wants to make it an annual event now.
“The atmosphere was lovely and we reached a lot of people so we are looking to expand the organising team next year,” he said.
In Buriton, there was the usual good turnout for the annual art trail with a wealth of art being displayed in venues across the village. Artist Jill Martin said:?“It is a real community project. There is so much talent here.”
Visit the Post’s website www.petersfieldpost.co.uk for reviews of The Tempest and the poetry festival.