That’s a wrap Port Eliot! A gigantic whole-hearted thank you to all those who came and braved some thoroughly British weather with us (both rain and shine). Our festival highlights gallery is up for nostalgic browsing, or you can view all of this year’s images here.
And, a very important date for your diary: we’re delighted to confirm Port Eliot Festival 2018 will take place on 26th - 29th July. Earlybird tickets will go on sale in October.
This year’s festival saw some 500 artists, musicians, writers, wits, chefs, poets, performers, gardeners and other assorted interesting people taking to 18 stages to entertain and involve the sell-out audience.
On the Park Stage, Emily Maitlis chatted to John Lloyd, musing over Donald Trump’s sticky hair and the ways of his now-departed ‘Mooch’; Zandra Rhodes stepped from her ‘apartment’ and into the Art School to pose for drawing classes; Michael C. Hall sang an impromptu and exquisite version of Bowie’s ‘Where Are We Now?’ by request of an audience member who found his high hopes exceeded; The Orielles had the Caught By The River audience ever-so-slightly astounded with their post-punk jingle-jangle; and one victorious entrant to the Flower & Fodder Show is now having her ‘Four Berry Festival Jam’ made and sold by Fortnum & Mason.
Stanley Tucci overcame a ‘lost in Cornwall’ morning to pack the Park with tales of Shrek for an adoring audience; Heathcote Williams was celebrated in exhibition, stage design and rooftop rendition of his masterpiece, Whale Nation; Thomasina Miers overcame an exploding mixer to create a fabulously hot and addictive bonnet-tomato jam; the voice of Agatha Christie was the signal for mixed reality headgear adventures in an unseen bedroom in the House. And this is just a tiny selection.