After selling more than 3,000 tickets for over 50 events across 19 venues including a converted Routemaster bus, organisers are thrilled with the response to this year's programme. Maggie Holborow, who ran the festival box office said: "We've had a record number of sellout events and have definitely reached some new audiences".
"It's been a great fortnight," said Festival Coordinator Rebecca Yorke. "We've received some very appreciative feedback from both audiences and performers. Locals and visitors alike enjoyed a range of events from The Hebden Hop to a screening of Nosferatu. The introduction of online booking has been a great success and photographer Sarah Mason has recorded some special Festival moments."
Highlights include Martin Parr speaking about his work to 420 people and the performances of six new plays, 'Hebden Shorts' penned by local writers, and professionally directed, the Shorts casts included award-winning actress Eileen O'Brien and Emmerdale actors Dominic Brunt and Mark Charnock, as well as the members of a local five-a-side football team.
Other highlights were an evening of readings and questions with Tudor writers Alison Weir and Suzannah Dunn, and the festival's Artist in Residence Lucy May Schofield, who ran workshops alongside her project to create a book to celebrate the festival. The Hebden Hop in Mytholmroyd and Kissmet at the Trades Club were both sold out on the opening night. – and on Thursday July 8, the festival achieved a hat-trick of sellouts. The Trades Club and Little Theatre were packed for performances by Eduardo Niebla and Hebden Shorts, while Rich Hall played to a full house at the Picture House.
Rebecca added: "As well as celebrating all that art has to offer and bringing visitors to the area, the festival contributes significantly to the local economy. We have continued to develop our relationships with local businesses and would like to thank Croft Mill, The Book Case, The Willow Garden, Print Bureau, Squeeze, Little Valley Brewery and Hole in t'Wall for their support. We're very grateful to our sponsors Sweet and Maxwell and Kala Gallery, and to funders Hebden Royd Town Council, Arts Council England and Calderdale Council, plus our team of nearly 50 volunteers."