THIS year?s tenth Hatherleigh Festival has been given a boost thanks to the bold Hatherleigh Walruses, who take a bracing dip in the river each New Year?s Day. The Walruses have promised the festival £1,750 towards the event from the New Year?s Dip, adding to the £350 already donated by the Ruby Country Initiative. The popular event ?which offers a diverse programme of music, dance, art and street theatre ? has also teamed up with the North Devon Festival, which should raise the festival?s profile and help bring it to the attention of a wider audience. The festival is also being supported by Artsculture, based at Beaford Arts Centre. Work is already well underway on this year?s festival and organisers promise the tenth event will have the biggest and best programme yet. The top attraction at this year?s event is top comedian Andy Parsons, who is no stranger to television and radio audiences, and is among the most-established names on the comedy circuit. He will be joined by Scots stand-up Dougie Dunlop, a regular feature at the Edinburgh Festival who has worked with top impressionist and satirist Rory Bremner. Also tickling funnybones will be Geoff Whiting, who has worked at the Comedy Store and Jongleurs. The musical highlight is likely to be the visit of the internationally-feted Black Umfolosi, an a-cappella group from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, who have performed on Later with Jools Holland. Festival co-ordinator Claire Gladstone said: ?It is our tenth anniversary this year ? the big one ? and it will be the best one yet.? Claire said the Miracle Theatre would be offering something a bit different with a detective play to be performed outside at night. There will also be a tango workshop and dancing, and a sculpture workshop where adults and children can come and make a portrait in a day, and much more besides. The festival runs from July 7 to 11, in various venues around the market town. The full programme will be made available from the beginning of June.
