Double Bill: The River Flows and Requiem for a Fading World

The River Flows (Holmfirth Song Cycle) by The Good Earth Collective and Friends: Presented by Screaming Media Productions and created by Good Earth Collective’s songwriter Steve and artist Jan Ansell, The River Flows is a musical journey about Holmfirth and the river that created it. From the Bronze age to the present day The River Flows is an audiovisual experience that explores the landscape, industry, work lives, and the human stories of Holmfirth through its residents and the ongoing relationship with the river that gave the town its name. Steve Sykes commission.

Requiem for a Fading World by Kerrin Tatman: A live music performance that tells a fantastical, post-apocalyptic tale for modern times. The secular, narrative piece blends contemporary classical, choral and folk influences and turns the traditional Requiem structure on its head. Set in a landscape of perpetual winter, where all modern fuel resources have nearly run out, we follow two solo singers – a Mother (alto Jacqui Wicks) and her Daughter (soprano Emily Brown Gibson) – on their separate journeys to navigate this harsh terrain. This ambitious work by award-winning composer Kerrin Tatman, which premiered in 2023 at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music (previously Sage Gateshead) is written for choir, solo singers and a chamber ensemble featuring English lyrics by songwriter Rosie Bristow. This commission by Holmfirth Festival features the Holmfirth Choral Society rehearsed by Geoffrey Lockwood, and a specially assembled orchestra of talented local musicians. Commissioned by Holmfirth Arts Festival

ACCESS & INCLUSION

The Civic Holmfirth, Huddersfield Road, HD9 3AS

Disabled drop off, parking at Crown Bottom, ramped access. Accessible toilet

General:

Holmfirth Arts Festival aims to challenge discrimination and dismantle barriers to participation in the arts by ensuring that all artists, contributors, audiences, and participants can access what they need to take part. We are committed to access and inclusion and have a designated member of staff to help with all your access and inclusion requirements. Holmfirth has some narrow streets, steps and cobbles in places and it can be difficult for people with limited mobility to get around. Most of the venues for outdoor arts events are accessible by wheelchair. We are engaging a British sign language interpreter for the Big Weekend and will have accessible viewing areas in each outdoor venue. Common Ground by Mikron Theatre is also audio described. Free tickets are available for personal assistants to accompany and assist ticket holders with access requirements. A Large Print version and a Word version of the programme are available. Comprehensive access information, including a video of a walk around the town is available on our website: https://www. holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/your-visit.  To discuss your access requirements, please email Jo ahead of the festival at access@holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk

ARRIVAL & PARKING

The Bus Station is central – a 10 minute walk to most town centre venues. It is just off the A635 with regular buses from across the Holme Valley, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Ashton under Lyne, Glossop, Penistone and Barnsley.

Long Stay Parking is at Crown Bottom car park at HD9 3HW, which costs £4a day Monday to Sunday 8am-4pm. Parking is free for Blue Badge holders. Short Stay parking at Town Gate is closed for the Festival on Sunday.