Reading Roars!

Reading truly is the festival capital of the South East (London excluded)!

Beginning Friday 14 October, we now have the Reading International Festival 2005. Organised by Reading International Development Forum, whose aims are to boost the profiles of the town’s international connections, the Festival celebrates Reading’s cultural mix through art, dance, food, theatre and music. It is, I guess you could say, an autumnal WOMAD. Except this ‘WOMAD’ consists of roughly 50 events spread over 19 days. Wow!

The Festival’s programme includes Saturday 15 October’s Indian Dussera Festival (would this be a ’subfestival’, I wonder), consisting of food, fireworks and

the ceremonial burning of the effigy of Rawan (the evil King of Lauka)

Sounds good to me. There is also, on the same night, Salsa and Merengue Party Night (a good opportunity to meet chicas?), then the World Famous White Russian Central Band (21 October), Bollywood dancers and capoeira (23 October), and the London Community Gospel Choir (27 October). And, on the last day, Diwali - the Hindu Festival of Lights (1 November).

Not enough for you? Perhaps a talk on the effect of using Uranium 234 weapons on Iraqi people would interest you (22 October). Or sit back and watch a movie - Bombon el Perro, shot in Argentina.

It’s an awesome schedule - I counted 48 events overall - and one that I am looking forward to.

I tell you, Reading has everything!

To download the programme, click here [88Kb]. Please note that it is a PDF file and Adobe Reader is required to open it.