Hello everyone
Just when do you start an official countdown? I for one think that it's about time we started one. So, as of Tuesday 2 June 2009, I hereby announce that there will be a mere 100 days 'till lift off for Speen Festival 2009. As with any self-respecting countdown, you can feel the excitement in the air. The hills (around the village) are alive with the sound of music, high spirits and much more besides. Mama Mia! - here we go again, gearing up for the challenge of putting on the biggest and best Festival yet.
 
So what's the latest news on the Festival: Well for starters our Creative Writing Workshop (our very first SpeenFest Interactive! event) was a roaring success. "Real insights and good practical advice" and "a chance to engage in something that stretches my mind" were just some of the comments from participants. After an hour with poet and creative-writing teacher, Susan Utting, my eyes were well and truly opened to the emotion and complexity hidden within good poetry. I'm now even musing over several ideas I have to enter the Speen & North Dean News Poetry Competition. This is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to get in touch with their inner poet. Having acquainted myself with mine own, (a rare and mystical experience) I am inspired and confident. However should my confidence be thoroughly misplaced, my shoulders are broad - I can take the opprobrium that will surely follow. For further information on the Poetry Competition, see the next issue of SNDN. There is also the Festival's own non-competitive Creative Writing Expo in September, which is open to everyone whether you attended the workshop or not. To take part, just send a short contribution, (poetry or prose, ideally reflecting the themes of the Festival) to director@speenfestival.org by 1st September 2009.
 
Ticket Office Open
The next big event is the opening of our Festival Ticket Office on Monday 1 June, 2009 - bang on schedule. By this date, you will all have received a copy of the Festival Booking Form delivered courtesy of Speen & North Dean News. As we fully expect this year's events to sell even quicker than Beechdean ice cream (and that's saying something), don't risk missing out. Tickets will be on a first-come-first served basis. If you need any more booking forms for family and friends, additional copies are available in Speen Stores as well as every pub in the area - we know our market! From June you can also download the booking form from this website.
 
Photography Workshop, 2.00-5.00pm, Saturday 6 June, Village Hall
Also in June is the next SpeenFest Interactive! event - our Photography Workshop. Here under the guidance of local photographer, Martin Hart, you can uncover the secret of photo composition and then put what you have learnt into practice by submitting work for Speen Festival's Photography Competition. More details to come. This workshop is free but places are limited, so sign up now at Speen Stores. (Thank you once again Speen Stores.)
 

Best wishes
 

Jem Symondson
Chair
Speen Festival 2009 Committee