Latitude Festival has unveiled a host of new names across the music and arts stages, joining headliners George Ezra, Snow Patrol, Lana Del Rey, Jason Manford, and Michelle Wolf. The 14th edition of the festival takes place in the stunning grounds of Henham Park, Suffolk, across 18th-21st July 2019. Weekend and day tickets on sale here.
Comedy legend Frank Skinner becomes Latitude’s third comedy headliner, joining Michelle Wolf, and Jason Manford. Since launching his career in 1987 Frank has toured extensively, hosted shows like The Frank Skinner Show and Room 101, and even co-written the iconic football anthem ‘Three Lions’. Frank’s award-winning Absolute Radio show attracts over one million listeners each week and saw him inducted into the Radio Academy’s Hall of Fame.
Frank Skinner said; “The last time I did Latitude, I saw Grace Jones live, hugged trees at 1.30 in the morning and had breakfast with Sir Peter Blake. The bar’s pretty high.”
Also joining the phenomenal comedy bill is Latitude regular and star of Live at the Apollo, and Have I Got News for You, Marcus Brigstocke and Mock the Week regular and star of People Just Do Nothing Tiff Stevenson. There’s also new talent galore in the shape of Police Cops, Phoebe Walsh, Tom Parry and many more.
With the involvement of the country’s theatre and dance companies, Latitude has established itself as one of the leading and most innovative performing arts festivals. This year’s exciting programme profiles the complexity of modern society,from gender identityto mental health, environmental activism to reclaiming history; on offer is a diverse range of programming to evoke surprise, joy and debate. Expect the unexpected!
Celebrating their 25th Birthday, Frantic Assembly kick off festivities by headlining the Theatre Arena with new show Sometimes Thinking - a celebration of the hours invested in daydreaming - written by Phil Porter especially for Latitude. The show that rocked Edinburgh and started a thousand conversations also comes to Latitude; DaughterpresentedbyQuiptake, The Theatre Centre,and Pandemic Theatre,faces toxic masculinity head on, distilling it into the figure of one very funny, very engaging, very troubled man. Another theatre highlight is Historic Royal Palace’s riotous Long Live Queen James - a show which explores the extraordinary life of King James I: this historical tale of gender, identity, and sexuality is brought to life with a mix of storytelling, audience interaction and contemporary queer performances. Continuing the theme of reframing old narratives, Figs in Wigs present a work-in-progress performance of their apocalyptic feminist adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic, in Little Wimmin. Theatre Re return to the festival with Birth, a poignant and uplifting visual theatre piece exploring the bond between three generations of women and their shared loss.
Latitude is renowned for breaking new ground and has long nurtured pioneering gig-theatre companies. This year is no exception with some phenomenal shows, showcasing the very best of the genre as it takes over The Town Hall. Get your rave on as Nabokov make an explosive return with Suitman Jungle performed by percussionist Marc Pell (Mount Kimbie, Micachu & The Shapes).The show combines live drum ‘n’ bass, jungle beats and spoken word to tell the story of one man caught between the daily grind and his real passion – music. Roll up, Roll Up and Rock out as award-winning Not Too Tame also make a spectacular Latitude return, inviting the audience to experience their immersive work See How they Run, a helter-skelter piece inspired by characters from the songs of The Beatles. Hull’s most exciting theatre company Middle Child also return with their epic new show, The Canary and The Crow, a lyrical, semi-autobiographical piece from writer and performer Daniel Ward.
Latitude’s stunning Waterfront Stage is globally renowned for showcasing the best talent in dance productions and companies. This year the stage plays host to some stunning productions. Northern Ballet present celebrated choreographer Morgann Runacre-Temple’sfirst work for the company, an intimate and moving portrait of Nannerl Mozart, the talented yet overshadowed sister of Wolfgang Mozart, in The Kingdom of Back. Sadler’s Wells return to the Waterfront Stage for a twelfth year to present Jesús Carmona, a pioneer in flamenco’s evolution, Rambert, one of the world’s leading contemporary dance companies that’ll return to Latitude with a brand-new work by French choreographer Marion Motin, and BBC Young Dancer finalists. Dance Umbrella present contemporary trailblazer Oona Doherty who performs Hope Hunt; an explosive andviscerally intense piece which dramatically unpicks male identity. Another highlight is Boy Blue who return with REBEL, an exhilarating new dance and film production that captures the voices of young people with challenging questions around cultural identity.
On the weekend of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landings, Latitude celebrates the science behind our relationship with space. In the Music & Film Arena, The Cosmic Shambles Network are proud to present a rare event with Helen Sharman OBE, the first British person in space and the first British astronaut, icw. Robin Ince. Visit The Space Shed in The Faraway Forest for a weekend of programming inspired by humanity, the Moon and the climate crisis, including theatre, talks and workshops.
Elsewhere Ben Folds & A Piano will play a unique Waterfront Stage performance, pulling at the heartstrings of festivalgoers with tracks such as ‘The Luckiest’, ‘Landed’, and ‘Still Fighting It’. And in the Music & Film Arena there’ll be a rare live appearance from psychedelic pop group Whyte Horses with special guests, a moving performance from Penguin Cafe in aide of Greenpeace’s Support The Arctic Campaign, Rising R&B star Joel Culpepper (think Leon Bridges meets Childish Gambino), and many more. The fun doesn’t stop there: Late Night at The Comedy Arena will see the return of Guilty Pleasures, Buttoned Down Disco, The Massaoke Band, and Rave Karaoke.
More information and tickets here.
