Named after the late Arabella Churchill, who was instrumental in the original festival and created the Theatre and Circus areas in the late 80’s, Bella’s Field embraces comedy, the eccentric and the maverick spirit.
THE CABARET TENT
Serving up the finest blend of comedians, musicians and dancers, the Cabaret Tent caters for all those with a taste for things beyond taste – nutritious, delicious and bursting with flavour.
Highlights in the Cabaret Tent include Early Edition, a one hour special with Marcus Brigstocke, Andre Vincent, Phill Jupitus and Carrie Quinlan who question assumptions, ridicules naysayers, unravel the spin and pooh-pooh the pomposity of headline print. There’s also Spymonkey, the reigning monarchs of physical comedy who display brilliant bad taste, in a carefully crafted brand of lunacy, Four Poofs and a Piano, the self-explanatory ensemble, who have been cited as having ‘enough panache to fill an entire jewellery box’, Arthur Smith, the grump extraordinaire, Jeremy Hardy, Mark Thomas, the activist and writer, fast tongued Irish comedian Ed Bryne and Robert Llewellyn, the man behind the rubber mask of Red Dwarf’s Kryten, in the guise of Professor Vivien Alice (Oral Studies, Oxford).
SENSATION SEEKERS STAGE
Powered completely by cutting edge solar technology courtesy of Firefly Solar, The Sensation Seekers Stage offers the best in the hottest avant-garde entertainment with minimum impact on the environment. Quirky and diverse, the stage offers a seriously eclectic selection of outrageous entertainment, ranging from cult Bingo, to frilly-knickered knife throwers, men in giant balloons and the world’s strongest lady. Featured over the weekend will be Bruce Airhead, the metamorphosis of a man and a six-foot balloon. Jon Hicks who executes outsized artworks executed live, with speed, dexterity and attitude, there’s plate spinning from Trevor Organ’s Cracking Crockery, blistering folk, jazz and world music from Sheelanagig and musical comedy from Streetlights. You’ll also find Zimbabwe’s Siyaya’s rousing music and tightly choreographed dance plus the strongest lady alive, Betty Brawn, who will attempt ‘The Human Carousel’ and The Herbie Treehead Disaster Band, led by half man half fruit cake.
POETRY AND WORDS
Glastonbury’s small but perfectly formed poetry venue returns for a second year in Bella’s Field. A gob-smacking variety of top international performance poets including the hilarious John Hegley, Porky The Poet aka Phill Jupitus, Attila the Stockbroker, Aisle16, award winning novelist and spoken word artist Joolz Denby and the ‘million pound poet’ Murray Lachlan Young along with the Sunday afternoon slam session (from 16.00) hosted by Dreadlockalien and Andy Craven Griffiths, where up and coming poets can strut their stuff, entertain the crowd and win a spot on next year’s bill.
MAVERICKS
At 8pm – the Poetry And Words tent will transform into Mavericks, the Theatre and Circus Fields’ newest venture. With a feel of the jaded, faded Wild West, the venue is situated in a beautiful garden and will be hosting some of the best-loved variety performers including sand dancers, the strong lady, magic, illusion and music, all served to you in a popcorn bag of loveliness. Each night a tempting array of entertainment will be available – check the boards nightly for our Surprise Special Guests.
MORE STAGES
Also in Bella’s field are two small outside stages, A Little More Sensation and And Yet More, both of which will be running shows throughout the day – make sure you check the boards for details. Among others you can see Trevor Organ’s Cracking Crockery, The Splotts, Streetlights, Betty Brawn, Glam Stan and his One Man Band, The Lady and the Tramp, Bartholomew Rakehell Ne’er Do Well, Cockney Awkestra, Bang On, Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, Capoiera Angola and the Biker Urban Morris Side.
GROUND SHOWS IN BELLA’S FIELD
Around the field you’ll see Fairly Famous playing tennis, Carpet Board and Confessional, Daemon or Doppleganger, craft yourself in clay, the stunning Chinese Lion, festival artist in residence Rose Popay, Malcolm Jephcott’s traditional flea circus and marionettes and you’ll also see Cheese On A Stick’s boxing ring, Intents Theatre and the 100% wind-powered spirals of lights Firewinders and take a tasty trip back in time with Not for All the Tea In China as well as enjoying succulent snippets of Shakespeare from 1623 Theatre Company and hang your art in our outside gallery.