Hounslow Chamber of Commerce

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CoC kicks off events schedule with .

It�s that time of the year again when Wandsworth as part of the Wandsworth Arts Festival 2004.

Organised by Wandsworth Council�s arts office, the festival promises three weeks of celebrations taking place at venues across the borough starting on Friday, October 15. Activities take place during the daytime and evening and many are free.

The Arts Festival will kick off with a special launch event, which takes place on Friday, October 8 at 6.30pm in the Civic Suite. Visitors to the launch can pick up a Festival brochure, which lists full details of the line up of events and activities. The brochure also features details of events taking place as part of Black History Month.

At the launch, visitors will also get a taste of what is on offer over the three weeks, meet representatives from local arts groups and enjoy a sneak preview of events during a special showcase performance. Tickets for the launch event are priced at £2 and can be purchased on the door.

Film buffs of all ages are in for a treat as part of the festival. �Kids Paradiso� is a selection of half term movies for children, and for adults there is a special screening of Graham Greene�s End of the Affair starring Ralph Fiennes, at CineWorld, Wandsworth. There are also screenings of films shot on location in the borough including 101 Dalmations and a retrospective of the best short films made by local film makers including Breaking Out � the recent entry in the Cannes Festival Critics Week.

An intoxicating display of passion and romance is on offer at the National Opera Studios, with performances of popular classics from Mozart, Donizetti and Verdi by students in an evening recital. Visiting theatre companies are set to present Voices in the Light, an exploration of the work of Black classical composers, La Voix Humaine, the emotional journey of separating lovers, and the double bill, The Night Bell / Prince Orlofsky�s Party - a dazzling display of comic and virtuoso singing. This short season is complimented by a Mediterranean Journey, an evocative mix of guitar playing and singing from the shores of the Greek isles.

Wandsworth Young Performer of the Year is an open competition for the most talented performers who sing, dance, rap and entertain. With major prizes to be won this annual contest highlights the talents of local young people. Auditions for the competition will be taking place shortly and anyone wishing to take part should contact the Arts Office on 020 8871-7380 for entry details.

December 10, 2004