News

Rose Elinor Dougall, O Children and Jamie Lidell Added To Latitude Line Up

• 11th Jun 2010

Latitude Festival returns for an incredible 5th Edition on 15-18th July 2010 set in the beautiful countryside of Henham Park Estate on Suffolk’s Sunrise Coast.

Latitude is dedicated to giving you only the best and most eclectic ensemble of music, theatre, comedy, literature, film, poetry, dance, art, fashion and cabaret for three spectacular days and as ever, this focus has delivered a line-up like no one else.

Spread throughout the site, just waiting to be discovered, expect the highest calibre of art. Building on its reputation as one of the most respected and highly anticipated events of the season, 2010 promises to be an inspirational and entertaining, sophisticated and scintillating weekend; another spectacular slice of unadulterated cultural fun and adventure.

The full length press release, with details on all acts appearing at Latitude so far, is available to download from:

www.latitudefestival.co.uk/press

~ FILM & MUSIC ARENA~

A heady mixture of aural and visual pleasure, the Film & Music Arena is home to some of the festival's most mesmerising work. Alternative and mainstream cinema collides and is bolstered by award-winning documentaries, shorts and memorable Q&A sessions with directors and actors. Just confirmed to be shown are:

Providing a beautiful yet chilling score to an all-time classic silent film, Portishead's Adrian Utley and Goldfrapp's Will Gregory have created a cinematic masterpiece with the 1928 film The Passion of Joan of Arc (La Passion de Jeanne d'Arc). Essentially a passion play which sees the trial, imprisonment, torture and execution of the martyr and Catholic saint, it's renowned for its lingering camera work on the actors' facial expressions and dramatic close-up. Utley and Gregory’s score – which includes an ensemble of electric guitars, voices, synthesisers, brass, harp and percussion – amplifies the horrific details of the film and enhances the viewer’s experience of the film’s menace and cinematic triumphs. Don’t miss this amazing and dramatic performance in the Film and Music Arena.

Headlining the Film & Music Arena for the fourth year running, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts brings a storming line-up of screen talent to Latitude 2010. Paul Greengrass, Chris Morris and the cast and crew of E4’s The Inbetweeners will join BAFTA for a fantastic series of events at the festival. These events form part of BAFTA’s year-round, UK-wide Learning & Events programme, giving the public access to the cream of creative talent in the film and TV industries.

On Friday, BAFTA is delighted to welcome controversial comedy genius Chris Morris to the festival. Following a screening of his hit film, ‘Four Lions’, the audience will be given a very rare opportunity to pose their questions to the four-time BAFTA-nominated writer/director, as well as seeing clips and hearing him talk about his massive cult hit shows Brass Eye, The Day Today, Nathan Barley and Jam. On Saturday, BAFTA is honoured to welcome multi-award-winning writer/director Paul Greengrass to the Latitude stage. From BAFTA-winning television work with Omagh and The Murder of Stephen Lawrence to major film credits including ‘Bourne Ultimatum’ and ‘Bourne Supremacy’, ‘United 93’ and ‘Green Zone’, Greengrass is one of the most dynamic and inspiring filmmakers working in the industry today. On Sunday, BAFTA goes back to school with writer Damon Beesley and selected cast members from E4’s BAFTA-nominated hit series The Inbetweeners. Fresh from filming the third series, Beesley, who has also written Flight of the Conchords, and the boys will reveal some of their favourite moments as well as revealing exactly how autobiographical the show is.

Amanda Berry, Chief Executive of BAFTA said: “It is a joy partnering with Latitude and bringing the best UK film and television talent to such a receptive audience. Our Awards aside, last year approximately 30,000 people took advantage of our year-round, UK-wide events programme, which aims to share the knowledge of Britain’s most talented industry creatives with as wide an audience as possible. We will also be filming the BAFTA events at Latitude for our website, and add them to our growing library of webcasts making industry expertise available to anyone with an internet connection.”

Future Cinema, the creators of Secret Cinema, bring you the most dangerous combination since nitro and glycerin – ‘Blues Brothers’, the live film experience, featuring very special guests Kitty, Daisy and Lewis. Come down to the Palais Hotel Ballroom in the Film & Music Arena, where you’ll be welcomed by representatives of Illinois’s Law Enforcement Community, for an all-singing, all-dancing celebration of John Landis’ 80’s classic. With live music from real-life Blues Brothers and Sisters Kitty, Daisy and Lewis, DJs and very special guests, come see the world of the film brought to life. Expect massive singalong performances that will electrify in this one chance to see this classic music movie as a multi-dimensional extravaganza.

Scottish artist Martin Creed is to present us with one of his conceptual pieces of work in concert at Latitude. He won the notorious Turner Prize in 2001 for his minimal, self explanatory work entitled ‘Work No. 227, the lights going on and off’. With such straightforward titling, Creed is likely to continue his hallmark tendency to subvert the ordinary by making it art. As with his Turner Prize winning piece, this will be a talking point for the entire weekend.
Julien Temple’s ‘Oil City Confidential’ is the last film in his trilogy on British music of the 1970’s, a prequel to his landmark films about punk figureheads the Sex Pistols in ‘The Filth & The Fury’ and Joe Strummer in ‘The Future Is Unwritten’. Using the music as a prism to examine the social and cultural conditions of the times with his characteristic cinematic language – an irreverent and anarchic, archive and fictive montage – Temples focus is on Dr. Feelgood, who played a vital role in creating the conditions for that cultural explosion and is a story as yet untold.
Following successful showings at both the Sundance and the Santa Barbara Film Festivals, the Johnny Depp narrated archival documentary film ‘The Doors – When You're Strange‘ is to be screened at Latitude. The Tom Dicillo directed feature uses previously unseen footage of the band stretching from their 1965 formation to the death of frontman Jim Morrison in 1971. Depp said: “What an honour to have been involved. I am as proud of this as anything I have ever done.”

The Film & Music Arena will also play host to Mark Lamarr's God's Jukebox, Adam Buxton: BUG, classical music pianist James Rhodes and the awesome Tacqwacore: The Birth of Punk Islam.

~ WATERFRONT STAGE ~

Latitude’s stunning floating platform will once again stage some staggering dance productions over the weekend. Joining Derevo’s Wolves’ Tango, an excerpt from Hair the Musical, and Daniel Kitson and Gavin Osborn’s Stories for the Starlit Sky are:

Sadler’s Wells presenting Matthew Bourne’s celebrated production of Swan Lake Act II is a modern-day classic that has delighted audiences worldwide for 15 years. Without a tutu or pointe in sight, this Swan Lake, with its legendary menacing male swans and Lez Brotherston’s iconic costumes is a Swan Lake for the 21st century. The duet between The Swan and The Prince in Act II brilliantly renders the emotional intensity of their relationship and perfectly captures the conflict between the freedom of The Swan and the desperate yearning of The Prince to escape his passionless life. Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake has amassed more than 30 international theatre awards, including three Tonys. This short extract is just a taste of a production that blends humour, pathos and spectacle.

Ballet Black is a modern ballet company, dedicated to diversifying classical ballet. The company is made up of six international dancers of black and Asian descent and recently won the Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Company. The company’s entirely original repertoire covers a broad spectrum of ballet, from classical work to highly contemporary pieces. Since 2001, it has built a varied repertoire from some of the country’s leading choreographers including Liam Scarlett, Christopher Hampson, Martin Lawrance, Will Tuckett and Richard Alston. Ballet Black are very excited to be appearing at Latitude and will be performing a selection of their favourite repertoire, including the most recent ballet, the critically acclaimed ‘Da Gamba’ by Henri Oguike and ‘Indigo Children’ by rising Royal Ballet star, Liam Scarlett.

The DryWrite theatre company has struck upon a novel idea. In order to prevent sterility in the work of accomplished playwrights, they present their innovative works anonymously; a list of writers will exist, but no names are attributed to a single piece. This way the writers are able to avoid sticking to the same groove to please an audience. Dance:Radio collaborates with internationally-acclaimed choreographer Ann Yee to form radio plays based on her dances. Listen and watch as the inspiration is juxtaposed with the creative results.

~ THEATRE AT LATITUDE ~

The theatre programme at Latitude is renowned for its high volume of quality, a consistent endeavour which has resulted in this year's stellar line-up. Spread across the bill are a huge variety of disciplines from opera to soliloquy. Joining those already announced are:

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) camps out at the Latitude Festival in Henham Park with a darkly comic event performed late into the night on the Thursday and Saturday in the Theatre Arena. Specially commissioned for the festival, ‘The Thirteen Midnight Challenges of Angelus Diablo’ is written by playwright Carl Grose, well known for his work with internationally acclaimed Kneehigh Theatre and directed by Lu Kemp. Grose will reveal no more information on the new script, other than “it’s got a pig in a dress in it”, the rest you will have to see for yourself. What Grose will say however, is how he is enjoying the challenge of staging a performance at night, in a tent, at a festival, to over 1000 “ quite jolly” revellers to create a theatre event which is as alive as it can be – chaotic, engaging, entertaining, and dangerous. The RSC has developed a reputation for bringing the unexpected to Latitude and this new show follows the success of ‘The Big Lie’ by RSC Literary Associate Anthony Neilson in 2008 and Phil Porter’s chilling ‘Here Lies Mary Spindler’ in 2009. RSC Literary Manager Pippa Hill said: “We put new work on all our stages, but the Latitude Festival is unique – it gives us a great opportunity to commission a new piece of work and pull together a show in a few weeks. This is our chance to create a flashmob ensemble, pack a van and put it on in a field in Suffolk. We can have some mischief, unleash our actors and create a show for two performances only…”

For the first time the RSC will also present a number of workshops at the festival that offer an insight into the core work of the company. These will provide an opportunity for younger festival goers to learn more about theatre craft through creating and writing scenes for the stage. On the Friday and Sunday in the Outdoor Theatre, RSC actors and practitioners will lead practical workshops in how a scene gets put together through learning insults in Shakespeare’s language and creating some basic stage fights (suitable for ages 10+). On Friday there is also the opportunity to join the RSC writing team to explore ghost scenes and create a new piece of work using the language and dramatic techniques of Shakespeare (suitable for ages 8+). These free workshops have a limited capacity, allocated on a first come, first served basis. Further details can be found on the Latitude website.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre presents The Decypher Collective’s ‘8SIXTEEN32’. Fusing word, comedy and a tailor-made score of beats, rhythms and melodies this is a breath-taking, tongue-twisting tale of life and lyrics where four MC’s clash with their biggest competitor yet. Created by The Decypher Collective (Evoke, LCB, Professor D & RTkal) with the cream of UK spoken word, poetry and music talent, this is pioneering Grime Theatre not to be missed.

Pick of the Pleasance is, as the name suggests, the choice selections of the Edinburgh based Pleasance Theatre Trust. With two theatre locations in their hometown and one in Islington in London, each venue plays host to resident theatre companies as well as bringing comic heroes such as Frank Skinner, Al Murray, Eddie Izzard and Paul Merton to a wider audience. Established in 1985 as a venue for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the arts collective and theatres have grown into a highly respected organisation with a glowing programme of events every year. Hence, we are glad to have them bringing their favourite performances to Latitude’s Cabaret Arena in 2010. Amongst the performances are:

The Suitcase Royale, a rag n’ bone band from Melbourne, will be performing their latest “tin pan alley opera”, ‘The Ballad of Backbone Joe’. Utilising lighting, physical theatre, film, their “junkyard aesthetic” and music, this Australian trio tell a story of the murder of a town's abattoir owner and boxing emporium set in pre-war Australia. This musical carnival will be a rickshaw ride through The Suitcase Royale's imagination. Comic duo Mackenzie and McGuire will be bringing their latest show ‘Radio Hoohah’ to the Cabaret Arena courtesy of the Pleasance. With a host of radio personalities and shows – from Leonara Velvety Constable-Wheeler's pugs and Shakespeare spiel to What's New and its coverage of the latest literature, film and political discourse – there is bound to be satirical and silly laughs aplenty.

A hen party spiralling out of control; a funeral riddled with tension and in-fighting. Perennial Theatre Company presents the culmination of its 18-month training and rehearsal period with a show that asks what happens when celebration and grief clash by night. Perennial Theatre Company is a growing ensemble of theatre artists committed to functioning as a permanent theatre company. Premiering at Latitude 2010, ‘The Show of the Night’ brings to the stage life in all its inherent theatricality. Expect a frenzy of costume malfunctions, missed cues, staging disasters and cat fights.

Eyebrow Productions are performing their new piece ‘In An Instant’ for our sunny Outdoor Theatre. He should have walked away. She should have stayed indoors. A chance encounter. A sudden impact. A moment when everything changed. Come and witness these life-changing experiences… Because nothing stays the same forever. Eyebrow Productions brings you an hour of captivating short plays by writers including Jack Thorne, James Graham and Matthew Dunster, brought together for Latitude. Accompanied by live music from Dave Tither specially commissioned for the festival, ‘In An Instant’ captures those sudden, unexpected moments that leave you floored.

The theatre programme already includes The Opera Group, Lyric performing A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Island and the Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse in association with Paines Plough with plenty more to keep everyone entertained.

~ COMEDY AT LATITUDE ~

Latitude has earned a fierce reputation for presenting the searingly sharp edge of comedy and this year Latitude will not disappoint with an incredible wealth of talent throughout the bill. One of the festival’s most prestigious fixtures, the Comedy Arena, sees a huge and varied bill of comic splendour. Joining previous announcements are:

Acoustic guitar toting Andrew Lawrence has long been at odds with taste. His first hour long comedy show at Edinburgh Fringe in 2006 was entitled ‘How To Butcher Your Loved Ones’. The following year was ‘Social Leprosy For Beginners & Improvers’. Both were nominated for if.comedy awards. Prior to this he won the BBC New Act of the Year competition (2004). Not keen on towing the line, his intensity and divisive subject matter only makes for a brutally memorable performance. Offensive, graphic and unmissable.

Having begun his comedy career with two newcomer awards – Channel 4's So You Think You're Funny and Leicester Festival – and picking up a Perrier award two years later, Miles Jupp has made a name for himself over the past decade. Originally casting himself as an upper-class pastiche, his erudite yet expletive-ridden rants breaks that illusion succinctly. He's recently appeared in political satire comedy The Thick Of It All as well as hosting various BBC radio shows and even starring as a character in children's TV programme Balamory. Nevertheless, his routine is a world away from child's play.

Simon Evans, who is currently the warm upon act for Lee Mack's UK tour, is going to be punishing our ribcages with his attempts to reduce us to convulsive laughter. With his aloof, “educated” delivery and self deprecation he makes mountains out of relative molehills. He has written for TV shows like The Big Breakfast and 8 Out Of 10 Cats and Evans’ radio works include seven series of spoof news programme The Way It Is and performing on The Mighty Boosh. Guffaws are assured.

Kicking off his career a mere two years ago, Josh Widdicombe has already been awarded the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Award earlier this year. After just a few gigs he had reached the finals of the 2008 So You Think You're Funny competition at the Edinburgh Fringe. He has written for 8 Out of 10 Cats and Mock the Week and has consistently wowed audiences across the country with his lively, refreshing set lined with charm and personable manner. Undeniably one of the fastest rising stars on the UK comedy circuit.

Scottish young'un Daniel Sloss began performing on the comedy circuit at 16. Last October he became the youngest comic ever to perform a solo season in the West End. He was once under Frankie Boyle's wing and collaborated on writing for Boyle's Mock the Week appearances. After numerous televised performances as well as a huge gigging calendar, he has recently worked on a BBC 3 show pilot and looks set to capitalise on his continuous hard work, which includes this anticipated set for the Comedy Arena.

Deadcat Bounce, the award-winning (Time Out Jury Prize at Sydney Comedy Festival 2010), exuberant Irish comedy rock supergroup make their first appearance at Latitude. Expect smoke machines, screaming guitar solos and everything from hip-hop slow jams to 80’s stadium anthems. Brace yourself for an unrelenting hour unlike anything else you'll see at the festival.

Midnight Beast is a group of three London boys living and exposing the lifestyle of today’s youth. Writing songs with a slick sense of humour, members Stefan Abingdon, Dru Wakely and Ashley Horne are making waves with their unique sound and “take the p**s outta pop culture” routine. With their videos notching up millions of views, their recent street gig at Brighton beach caused something of a riot. Expect to see the trio busting their trademark moves whilst reciting the rhymes which have every teen in the country glued to their screen. Look out for the crowds in the Cabaret Arena; the Midnight Beast will have arrived!

Last year's Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Fergus Craig is performing his successful solo stand up after several years in his double act with Colin Hoult. With his theatrical take on accents, delivery and mannerisms as well as a healthy taste for self-deprecation, his set is bound to ensnare and enrapture those lucky enough to be in the vicinity.

Bilingual Welsh comedian Elis James brings his comic personality, honed on Rhod Gilbert's BBC Radio Wales show, to the Cabaret Arena. Following stints on Radio 1 and hosting 2008's Comedy Zone, Elis came to wider attention with his 2009 Edinburgh Fringe show The Most Cautious Boy In Wales, which was also his debut solo stand-up performance. Gathering word-of-mouth plaudits for his modest approach and brilliant observations as a shy boy making his way in the world, no doubt he'll continue to bring even more kudos to the ever-growing and wealthy state of Welsh comedy with his Latitude set.

Funny Women Finalist 2006 Rosie Wilby has presented three solo shows at Edinburgh Fringe and comedy festivals across the UK – including the Fringe Report Award winning ‘The Science Of Sex’. She has worked as an MC on the Leftfield Stage at Glastonbury Festival and in the prestigious Comedy Tent at Edinburgh Fringe Sunday. Rosie regularly performs around the UK and headlined a sold out female comedy night in March 2009 as part of Sydney Mardi Gras. She has appeared on numerous radio shows and also presents on Resonance FM.

~ LITERARY ARENA ~

The best literary event of the summer, Latitude’s Literary Arena celebrates the written word in all its fabulous glory. For both book worms and casual readers, the best authors and special guests will all congregate under the canopy of the arena and take you on a journey to the far reaches of your imagination. Just added are:

WordTheatre is a non-profit organisation dedicated to keeping the love of language and literature alive through the ancient tradition of oral storytelling. Since its inception in 2003, WordTheatre has been creating, producing and recording live events featuring literary works performed by world-class authors and actors at their salons in Los Angeles, New York and London. For Latitude, WordTheatre presents 'Tales of Love, Sex and All the Rest' in the Literary Arena featuring Short Stories from the Sunday Times Magazine, The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small presses and More. Performed by a star-studded International cast and directed by Cedering Fox.

Thursday – 'Love' features Chris McDonald (Thelma and Louise, Requiem for a Dream) performing Ron Carlson (Pushcart Prize, Ploughshares Cohen Prize), Nicole Ansari (Tom Stoppards Rock n Roll) performing Rachel Seiffert (PEN David T.K. Wong Award), Graham Hamilton (currently Hamlet at Washington DCs Folger Shakespeare Theatre) performing Etgar Keret (Israeli Oscar Award winning screenwriter), Ian Hart (Harry Potter's Professor Quirinus Quirrell)performing Aimee Bender (Pushcart Prize, Los Angeles Times Pick of the Year), John Schwab (The Complete Works of William Shakespeare) performing Dan Chaon (Pushcart Prize, O. Henry Prize), Brian Cox (The Escapist, The Bourne Identity) performing John Edgar Wideman (Macarthur Genius Grant) and Sally Hawkins (Happy Go Lucky, It’s A Wonderful Afterlife) performing Ali Smith (Whitbread Award).

Friday – 'Sex' features Pushcart Prize winning stories with Belinda Stewart-Wilson (Primeval, Inbetweeners) performing Marilyn Chin, Brian Cox (The Escapist, The Bourne Identity) performing Marvin Cohen, Juliet Stevenson (Truly, Madly, Deeply) performing Janice Eudis, Ian Hart (Harry Potter's Professor Quirinus Quirrell) performing David St. John and David Soul (Starsky and Hutch) performing Umberto Eco.

Saturday – All the Rest' will be introduced by Cathy Galvin, The Sunday Times Magazine Deputy Editor and founder of the biggest prize for a short story in the world: The Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award. A star-studded international cast will perform Paul Therouxs 14 part story, “Voices of Love”, (a Sunday Times Short Story selection) including Amber Tamblyn (The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, Joan of Arcadia), Ben Miller (Armstrong and Miller), Belinda Stewart-Wilson (Primeval, Inbetweeners) Brian Cox (The Escapist, The Bourne Identity), Chris McDonald (Thelma and Louise, Requiem for a Dream), David Cross (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Year One), David Soul (Starsky & Hutch, Jerry Springer the Opera)), the Twilight sagas Edi Gathegi, Ian Hart (Harry Potter's Professor Quirinus Quirrell), John Schwab (The Complete Works of William Shakespeare), Nicole Ansari (Tom Stoppards Rock n Roll). In addition, Amber Tamblyn will also perform a story by Sara Lenzen (Sunday Times Magazine Short Story selection), David Cross will perform a short story by David Galef (Henfield Foundation grant) and the Twilight sagas Edi Gathegi will perform John Edgar Wideman (MacArthur Genius Grant).

In the Poetry Arena, WordTheatre presents, on Saturday afternoon, American actress and poet Amber Tamblyn from The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants reading from her highly acclaimed book of poetry 'Bang Ditto'. Later on Saturday, David Soul (Starsky and Hutch, Jerry Springer the Opera) will be reading Pablo Neruda accompanied by classical guitarist Hugh Burns. Produced by Kirsty Peart and Cedering Fox and please note all acts are subject to change.

Jackie Kay is known and loved for her fiction consisting of a novel, and short stories as well as for her poetry and her plays. In this revelatory and redemptive book, ‘Red Dust Road’, with characteristic generosity and humour, she tells the most inspirational of stories: her own. ‘What makes us who we are? My adoption is a story that has happened to me. I couldn’t make it up.’ From the moment when, as a little girl, she realizes that her skin is a different colour from that of her beloved mum and dad, to the tracing and finding of her birth parents, her Highland mother and her Nigerian father, the journey that Jackie Kay undertakes in Red Dust Road is full of unexpected twists, turns and deep emotions. In a book shining with warmth, humour and compassion, she discovers that inheritance is much more than genes: that we are shaped by songs as much as by cells, and that our internal landscapes are as important as those through which we move. Taking the reader from Glasgow to Lagos and beyond, ‘Red Dust Road’ is revelatory, redemptive and courageous, unique in its voice and universal in its reach. It is a heart-stopping story of parents and siblings, friends and strangers, belonging and beliefs, biology and destiny, and love. Kay is a poet, playwright, novelist and writer of short stories and has enjoyed great acclaim for her work for both adults and children. Her novel ‘Trumpet’ won the Guardian Fiction Prize and she has published two collections of stories with Picador, ‘Why Don’t You Stop Talking?’ and ‘Wish I Was Here’.

Regular Times columnist and past winner of the Orwell prize for political journalism, David Aaronovitch will be joining Latitude's Literary Arena. As well as his journalistic and broadcasting background, Aaronovitch has also written two factual books, 'Paddling to Jerusalem: An Aquatic Tour of Our Small Country' (2000) and last year's 'Voodoo Histories: the role of Conspiracy Theory in Modern History'. Strongly opinionated and occasionally controversial, Aaronovitch is an exciting addition to the Literary Arena's already bulging line-up.

5×15 brings together five outstanding individuals to enlighten, entertain and inspire, as they tell the story behind their personal histories, most innovative ideas, grandest achievements and deepest obsessions – all in just 15 minutes. This is non-fiction story telling at its best – completely unscripted and PowerPoint free. 5×15 launched this year in London to packed out audiences and their merry band at Latitude features some of the highlights from the 5×15 programme so far. Joining Zoe Margolis and Tristram Stuart:

The legendary Private Eye satirist Craig Brown, most well known for his mock-celebrity diary entries in the popular satirical magazine, has also written comedy TV shows and radio shows, as well as contributing to publications from The Spectator to the Guardian; Brown will treat us to his Literary Festival in 15 minutes; Gavin Pretor-Pinney famous for wave watching, takes us to seventh heaven for some cloud spotting. We're also thrilled to announce a first timer to 5×15, the foreign correspondent and author Michela Wrong ‘It's Our Turn to Eat’ tells us a story of corruption and a Kenyan whistleblower. Come and join the Literary Arena for some mind-expanding entertainment that gets you thinking about far ranging topics from unusual perspectives.

Named as one of the Top 20 Best Young Writers by The Independent back in 2001, Scarlett Thomas has definitely fulfilled that promise. Having delivered the heady scientific and spiritual rush of ‘The End Of Mr Y’ four years ago, Thomas is due a return with her new novel ‘Our Tragic Universe’. Expect more of the sublime narrative, flawed personalities and head-scratching plots which she excels in.

China Miéville lives and works in London. He is the only person to have been awarded the Arthur C Clarke Award three times, most recently for ‘The City & The City’. It also won this year’s BSFA award for best novel and has been shortlisted for the Nebula and a Hugo. China’s latest novel, ‘Kraken’, begins deep in the research wing of the Natural History Museum, with the impossible disappearance of a perfectly preserved, giant squid. It's the start of a headlong pitch into a London of warring cults, surreal magic and assassins.

Novelist and biographer D. J. Taylor is probably best known for his impressive biography of George Orwell ‘Orwell: The Life’ which garnered him the Whitbread Biography Award in 2003. Taylor’s works on the histories of individuals are highly respected but not to the detriment of the praise for his traditional Victorian-Edwardian style novels, such as last year's ‘Ask Alice’.

Welsh author Rachel Trezise has in the past been described as 'the new face of literature' by Harpers & Queen magazine only a year after her debut novel 'In and Out of the Goldfish Bowl'. More recently, she also won the Dylan Thomas Prize for a book of short stories entitled 'Fresh Apples' which dealt with life in mining communities in South Wales. She has also compiled a selection of work inspired by the New York noise band Sonic Youth as well as writing about her own experiences in rock band Midasuno. Her next novel, ‘Sixteen Shades of Crazy’, is naturally highly anticipated and we hope to hear snippets of this soon-to-be-published work when she arrives at Henham Park.

Already confirmed for the Literary Arena are the every popular Robin Ince and his Book Club, Bret Easton Ellis, Sebastian Faulks, and New Order's Peter Hook interviewed by Keith Allen.

~ PANDORA'S PLAYGROUND ~

Pandora’s Playground is where anything and everything can happen. A mini festival of its own, this quirky corner of the Latitude site features side shows, games, interactive art, dance troupes, theatre and an all-night disco shed. This is the place for pure, unadulterated playtime. Included in these revels now are:

Lurking deep within the forest hidden under a canopy of lush green woodland and a canvas of darkness, unsuspecting festival goers will enter an enchanted Faery Cruising area. A world of flattery and fancy, the faeries will be sprinkling their faery dust on un-witting participants who enter the zone. Using owl hoots and bird calls the faeries will communicate and locate the prey who they might ‘fancy’ and then close in, en masse, with licentious surreptitiousness, before engaging in an intimate liaison of shameless empowerment! Twit-ing and twoo-ing, they will smother their prey with compliments about their good looks, how amazing they are, how ‘they hope they’re not lost’, how ‘they hope they’re having a great time’ or ‘are they okay?’ Whispered, flattering, flirtatious comments take place before the group passionately engage in a group hug of encouragement and warm empathy. Showering their prey in golden confetti, lovely sweets and words of affirmation, the deviants will then disappear once again in to the darkness of the woods to find another unsuspecting passer-by, leaving the innocent party, pleasantly panting and beautifully bewildered.

Nathan Evans, writer, director, performer and filmmaker amongst other such talents, will be at Latitude for a blitz on comic and musical art and an undoubtedly colourful performance with his ‘Art Tour’. Having kept himself busy with puppetry (Wow!, Punch and Jude, Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide), musicals (Alienathan) and cultural commentary and subversion (Rather Be Dead Than Gay), his enormous work rate-to-hit ratio will ensure another triumph and excellent addition to our amazing line-up.

~ POETRY ARENA ~

The Wildman of Wivenhoe AKA Martin Newell is a musician and poet who has packed a lot into his life. From cassette only albums to jazz vocal records, to TV shows and writing, his talents and independent spirit are renowned. He contributes poems to The Sunday Times every week as well as writing a weekly column for the East Anglian Daily Times, has released recordings of his own poetry readings and often guest presents on the BBC. His last novel ‘A Prospect of Wivenhoe: Snapshots of an English Town’ was an inspired anecdotal history of his hometown.

Rhian Edwards returns to Latitude with more of her inspired, passionate poetry. In recent years Edward’s has been commissioned to write poems for BBC Radio 3 and a one-woman poetry show for Battersea Arts Centre. Her first pamphlet of poems from 2008 ‘Parade the Fib’ was made Poetry Society Book of Choice in that year. Having racked up 200 plus performances in her six years of providing poetry for willing audiences, Edward’s experience will make for another memorable performance.

Described as both “energetic and smart” by The Economist, Sabrina Mahfouz is a rising talent in poetry and playwriting. She has debuted work on Radio 1/1 Xtra, has been nominated for Poet of the Year by the Erotic Awards and her latest short play has been shortlisted for Soho Theatre Westminster Prize.

Rising star Heather Phillipson is an acclaimed poet whose poems have appeared widely in magazines and anthologies, across the BBC. She has won several awards, including an Eric Gregory Award in 2008 and a Faber New Poets Award in 2009. Her pamphlet is published by Faber & Faber. Alongside her poetry, Heather Phillipson is also an internationally exhibiting artist. She has received awards, commissions and residencies for her short films, with recent screenings and shows in London, Paris and New York.

Surrey based wordsmith, Alex Gwyther’s hip-hop influenced poetical prose is “reminiscent of Braintax and The Streets with a wit that recalls that of Arctic Monkey’s Alex Turner, which would be more of a compliment to Turner”. Weaving extraordinary tales of modern life in Britain, Gwyther has become a regular on London’s spoken word scene, whose highlights include the only poet to perform in London’s Week of Peace in front of 4,000 people.

Winner of last year's UK Slam Farrago Championships, Hollie McNish's adrenaline-pumped performances have wowed her audiences. Having performed with street/break/traditional dancer Sarah Baker, she's a thoroughly modern poet with themes ranging from love and politics to pure comic asides.

Michelle Madsen is the founder and host of Hammer and Tongue London, a key component of the UK's poetry slam circuit. Her own style embraces everything from satire to her hometown landscapes and she continues to play an important part in bringing poetry to life in the capital and now to a field in Suffolk!

Anna Freeman, who refers to herself as the Ginger Poet on her Myspace, is as singular a talent as that nickname suggests. She's consistently wowed audiences, whether at shows or on YouTube judging from new converts and their comments, and her fast-paced, irreverent style will continue to garner her new fans.

American born Will Averill is a multi-talented poet currently calling Norwich home. He has co-founded theatre companies in both the US and the UK, written and performed in his own works as well as conjuring poetry and performing his mix of comedy and wordplay around the country.

Simon Mole is an emcee and spoken word artist whose writing and performance foregrounds the unseen and the unheard, the forgotten and the yet to occur. He makes passionate and honest music exploring concepts and ideas from outside the standard spectrum of hip-hop content, and his poems are shared with listeners in a way that pushes them to make their own meanings and connections. Mole has recently been commissioned by the poetry magazine Apples and Snakes to write a spoken word theatre show, which he performed for the first time at The Albany in March.

Described on her own website as “surreal, sensual and decidedly left-field”, Rosy Carrick is also currently the host of Hammer and Tongue Brighton. Quite apart from her own excellent performances and work, she also encourages newcomers as a UK approved youth slam coach as well as talent spotting for the annual UK Schools Slam Poetry Championships.

Sam Riviere began to write poems while at the Norwich School of Art and Design. His work has appeared in various publications and competitions; he co-edits the anthology series ‘Stop Sharpening Your Knives’, and was a recipient of a 2009 Eric Gregory Award. Faber & Faber published his pamphlet this year as part of their New Poets scheme.

~ THE FARAWAY FOREST ~

In its 5th Edition, Latitude unveils The Faraway Forest; a sumptuous home for the festival’s rich and decadent side. At sundown this secret place will transform into a den of magical intrigue. Indulge your darkest desires and set free any inhibitions as you lose yourself in the depths of The Faraway Forest.

In conjunction with the premiere of their brand new macabre musical ‘The Vaudevillains’; award-winning theatre company Les Enfants Terribles bring their unique darkness, theatricality and twisted wit to an exclusive masked ball deep within the woods. The doors of the Empire music hall will open as the band play on into the night. Mingle with the acts from the show; from sexy Siamese striplets to nervy knife-throwers to psychotic ventriloquists as well as a few other special guests. Dress to impress and join us deep in the dark forest if you dare for a night you’ll never forget.

For those with a heavy hangover or a heavy heart alike, London-based duo Harp For Hangovers is the answer to your ills, arranging current and classic rock, pop and indie anthems on a 29-string harp with female vocals. Mark and Jenny have chilled out audiences across the UK with their harped-up versions of everything from Michael Jackson to Metallica. So whether you're having a coffee and a bacon sandwich or your ninth beer of the day, treat yourself to the soothing pleasures of Harp For Hangovers in the shade of the atmospheric Faraway Forest .

~ THE WORD ARENA ~

Inside the deceptively large canopy that comprises The Word Arena will be an amazing set of alternative artists crossing genre boundaries seamlessly. You’ll discover a host of fresh and exciting acts from across the spectrum.

The one man soul band Jamie Lidell has just delivered a fresh batch of sparse, gospel-influenced and percussive songs, ‘Compass’, with the highly-prized collaborative talents of Beck. Layering vocal lines and beatbox textures with real drums, brass, effects and backing vocals, Jamie has often been praised for his incredible, high-energy live shows. Unafraid to experiment with sound and to break away from tradition, this Warp artist is an exceptional, unique talent which led to his 2008 album ‘JIM’ winning Best Pop/Rock Album at the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards. A wonderful addition to The Word Arena.

~ SUNRISE ARENA ~

A deliciously unexpected treat waits within the fragrant woods on the other side of the lake. The Sunrise Arena, situated along the nature trail spattered with flourishes of art and decadent spirit, is host to a splendid foray of new acts. Some of them will have been on the hushed lips of dedicated gem hunters for a while and others will be on the rise already, about to break for all to enjoy.

Warp's latest exploration into the dark pop world away from their roots has led to the discovery of LoneLady. Hailing from Manchester, Julie Campbell represents its early eighties heyday where gloom and insecurity resulted in spacious, resonant and dark sounds. Her debut album ‘Nerve Up’ has been critically lauded for its doom-laden, scratchy pop and is already being talked up as the spearhead for a real Mancurian resurgence.

Leeds 7-piece Submotion Orchestra incorporate dubstep textures into a flowing, brooding vibe. Utilising live percussion and trumpet as well as vocals and electronics, their icy but rippling sound is meshed from each individual's sparse contribution. Perfectly suited to the shady woodland area of the Sunrise Arena, this laid back, machismo-free live experience will be luxurious.

Essex lads Morning Parade, who've just finished supporting the mighty Feeder in venues across the continent, create massive, reverb-ridden tunes that are arena-and festival-ready. A seductive blend of electronics, keys and guitars with anthemic choruses, this band's ambitions are clear. Sliding melody lines, huge rushes of distortion and plenty of room for unforgettable vocal refrains; it won't be long before these lads are headlining stages across the country.

O Children's bold, stark, bone-shaking music is driven with theatrical pomp and Tobi O'Kandi's quaking baritone. Touring relentlessly since their inception a little under two years ago, they're primed to bring their sombre, but inspired goth-rock to a wider audience on Latitude's Sunrise Arena. Not for the faint hearted perhaps, but under the shady canopy their rubble-strewn rumble will entice the dark side of the audience from its hiding place.

~ THE LAKE STAGE ~

A stones throw from the crystal waters of Latitude’s central landscape feature, The Lake Stage provides tantalisingly early glimpses of Huw Stephens’ freshest tips. Latitude audiences are treated to a full parade of diverse and exhilarating bands about to be splashed across magazines up and down the country. Take the opportunity to absorb the sounds of next year in the surrounds of Latitude’s exquisite Lake Stage.

The Pipettes alumnus Rose Elinor Dougall split from the doo-wop girl trio in 2008 and has since been chasing her own path. With her debut solo album ‘Without Why’ due later in the year, her hazier, more exquisite pop arrangements are bound to seduce those looking for more than instant thrills. The ever-influential Pitchfork said recently: “Elegant melodies and shimmering keyboard tones announce Dougall as a talent in her own right.” Being enticed with such praise is likely to be the start of something much bigger.

Elsewhere throughout the weekend, over Latitude’s four dedicated music arenas festival goers can enjoy Florence + the Machine, Belle and Sebastian and Vampire Weekend headlining the Obelisk Arena, as well as performances by Empire of the Sun, The National, The xx, Grizzly Bear, The Maccabees, Rodrigo y Gabriela, James, Richard Hawley, The Horrors and Jónsi. The Sunrise Arena will showcase a wealth of musical talent from both emerging and established bands such as Archie Bronson Outfit and Darwin Deez with many more acts still to be announced, Latitude will provide the perfect soundtrack to the summer.

A place like no other; Latitude Festival is an intimate world away from reality that encourages you to be all that you’ve ever wanted to be whilst indulging in the spirit of exploration and discovery.