A Small Quiet English Town
© Sid Vale Association
Synopsis
It all started in 1955, when 100 English folk dancers responded to a simple newsprint advert announcing a 'seaside holiday with dancing'. Little did this small gathering know that this was the genesis of the 'longest running folk festival in Europe', growing into one of the most important events in the English folk calendar, boasting up to 55,000 attendees across a full week of music, international dancers and song from all over the world.
This documentary takes audiences back in time, remembering how Sidmouth Folk Festival began and why it grew exponentially at times, how Prince Phillip and Princess Elizabeth helped the explosion of interest in English folk dance and also eventually folk song, alongside exploring English folk traditions and their place in England and the UK today. Featuring Ralph McTell, Martin and Eliza Carthy, India Electric Co., and using unseen film and photographic archive, live performance and interviews with original attendees from 1955 and recent years audiences are invited to relive the highs and lows of this jewel in the English folk crown.
Details
- Year
- 2023
- Type of film
- Features
- Running Time
- 70 min
- Format
- S8mm, S16mm, HD Video.
- Director
- Andy Baybutt
- Producer
- Paul Tully, Alison Tully
- Co-Producer
- Justin Hankinson
- Executive Producer
- John Braithwaite, Chris Burhop
- Editor
- Paul Tully, Tim McGill
- Screenwriter
- Paul Tully
- Director of Photography
- Justin Hankinson
- Sound
- Justin Hankinson, Wounded Buffalo, Bristol
- Principal Cast
- Martin Carthy, Eliza Carthy, Ralph McTell, Steve Knightley
Genre
Production status
Complete
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Last updated 13th September 2023
