FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Open Air Festival judged successful but noisy 

Autumn 2005

OPEN air entertainment in the upper part of Cannizaro's Italian Garden went ahead for two weeks from 13-29 August in a shorter Cannizaro Park Festival organised by Maximum Exposure and underwritten by Merton Council.

Music dominated the festival in place of theatre following disappointing booking levels for Shakespeare plays in past years. The festival drew audiences averaging half the available 600 seats, with full houses for three shows and low numbers during events affected by wet weather.

Friends Committee member Bob Holmes said: "The festival was more successful than last year and appealed to a broader range of audiences. Merton provided facilities free to the organisers and it is certain to return next year."

Fixed seating was substantially less than that provided in previous years with remaining tickets sold for the use of blankets on the grass. The programme included opera (Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" and Verdi's "La Traviata") as well as a family proms concert, Jongleurs comedy, Queen Tribute Night, Beyond the Barricade,  highlights from "Les Miserables", two rock concerts, Sunday afternoon jazz, and a Circus Big Top with children's workshops.

However not everyone was happy. Noise levels were very high and one local resident said: "Our main issue is that children are trying to sleep and 10.30pm for amplified music is too late in the evening. This cannot happen every night over the summer period. It needs more cultural events with far more non-amplified music. This way the community will continue to support the festival."

Cannizaro’s first open air festival was held in 1990 and it has had several different organisers over the years. The Friends have always worked closely with the operators in the past but there was no specially discounted  evening for members this year.