Following a highly successful five-year series of festivals themed around The Legacy of War, the 2016 Waterloo Festival will be focusing on “transformation” – in particular, the transformation of local industry and commerce in the area over the past 200 years, most notably within the hat-making industry.  Did you know, for example, that Hatfields and the surrounding area is steeped in the history of hat-making, with the bowler hat being invented by Thomas and William Bowler in Nelson Square in 1850?  In recognition, this year’s Festival will include an exhibition of hats, an illustrated talk by Royal hatmaker, Rachel Trevor Morgan, an exciting Fascinator-making workshop by a local milliner, and a free Mad Hatter’s Tea Party open to the whole community!  There will also be other events focusing on the local area, including guided walks with Stephen Humphrey, a local historian, and a special Quiz Night set and compered by Matt Brown, Editor at Large of Londonist.

Music is always a highlight of the Waterloo Festival. This year, along with a Gala Concert from the internationally renowned Southbank Sinfonia, with the Bach Magnificat as its centrepiece for which the orchestra will be joined by distinguished choir Vox Musica, there will also be a late night performance of John Coltrane’s modern jazz classic A Love Supreme by the Gary Crosby Quartet as part of a mixed arts evening including choral and instrumental performances, poetry and drama.  Another highlight will be an exclusive London performance by Palestinian dance group Baqoun, based in Beit Sahour, a small town close to Bethlehem, and touring the UK for the first time.

Add in some special events for young people, and you can see that this year’s Waterloo Festival promises to be even better than ever!  I hope that everyone will find something to enjoy, and hope to see you at our events this June.

Jeffrey Risbridger

Chair of the Waterloo Festival Committee