Waddesdon Manor Blog » MAD about Waddesdon

MAD about Waddesdon – latest news.

kimh — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:04:26 +0000

With under 24 hours to go until the start of the 2010 MAD festival and 6 hours before the gates open for the Bjorn Again concert, Waddesdon is a hive of activity.

With over 3000 performers taking part this year, showcasing some of the best of the talent, creativity and energy at work in our schools and community we are delighted that again this year we can offer a large programme of other activities for you and your family to take part in during your visit to Waddesdon. We have free workshops in the Workshop Warehouse from Bhangra and Bollywood dancing to Dhol Drumming and for the cheerleaders amongst you Sunday is your opportunity to have a go with poms! Please visit www.madaboutwaddesdon.com for more details.

To satisfy your inner artist, make sure you pay a visit to the ‘Children’s Zone’ for lots of things to make and take home or go and create a figurine inspired by the designs for the “Ballets de Nuit” (on view in the House) with artist and sculptor, Ann Carrington.

If you want to get away from the mayhem of the North Front, why not visit the Art Space@ The Stables, featuring local acoustic groups and performers throughout the weekend and visit Glass Experiences in the Coach House and don’t forget the House is open as normal. Tickets available from the ticket office.

Finally on Sunday having listened to the feedback from our performers and at the same time wanting to protect the nature of the festival and the respect to all the performers, we have taken the decision to screen the match in it’s entirety on a big screen on the North Front . This would mean at 3pm we would break with the scheduled programme for all to enjoy the game then resume at it’s conclusion, hopefully a jubilant nation!

Please tell your friends to come along, the bars and catering and BBQ will be open and the sun will be shining. Enjoy the weekend.

MAD 2010

kimh — Tue, 18 May 2010 14:58:23 +0000

Back at Waddesdon for its 5th year in Summer 2010, MAD is a showcase for the best local talent with what promises to be an inspiring mix of music, art dance and drama..
Expect the unexpected with a host of artists, circus performers and workshops taking place over the weekend. Inspired by bringing a sense of spirit, community and fun to Waddesdon, Lord Rothschild was the instigator of this fantastic festival which sees groups and individuals performing over the two days. Now in its 5th year the team behind MAD are hoping it creates a lasting impression of positivity across the Vale and beyond. It is the opportunity to give a huge number of artists a stage, paint brush and patch of grass on which to perform and connect with the community and each other. To inspire people before, during and after the event, so they can realise their goals and take part in something fantastic.
This wonderful weekend attracts allsorts young and old, family and friends. It is a wonderful open air party in the beautiful English countryside so make sure your get your tickets now (last year over 14000 people came!).
So far confirmed performers include… Urban Strides, Waterside Theatre Panto Workshop, NGage multicultural music and dance and much more. Keep checking website and media for further updates.

MAD about Waddesdon 2009 Event Feedback

MikeR — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:23:40 +0000

Thank you to all of those that participated in MAD about Waddesdon 2009. We’re already planning for next years event and will be visiting schools shortly. In the meantime, please find below some feedback from this year. If you would like to add your own feedback, why not use our comments section below?

“Just a quick message to say thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to perform at MAD at the weekend. The children, and their parents, all felt that it was an amazing occasion and has been a real highlight of the year fro them. Thanks again.”

Chris Armstead, North Marston School

“I just wanted to thank you for the weekend. A lot of hard work must have gone into it and it showed. Well done!”.

Alison Mulford, Company Manager, Urban Strides Ltd

“Hi Marie, It was really nice to meet you and Marc on Sunday. I would just like to say thank you for your tremendous efforts in re-arranging the schedule to accommodate Westendkids. The Kids were thrilled to have the chance to perform on the main stage, they tell me that’s where they feel most at home. The whole festival was so well organised and attended please send our thanks and congratulations to your team. Once again many thanks to you and Marc and we will be only too pleased to perform at the festival next year should you wish to invite us.”

Paul Adams, Westendkids

“I hope you are beginning to recover from the weekend. I was hugely impressed by the whole event and think that you did an absolutely amazing job! I am very glad we were able to take part. Well done on a brilliant weekend.”

Miria, Juviler, Tring Park School for the Performing Arts

“Many thanks for the tickets Marie but oh what a night! Such a shame after all your hardwork in getting the event organised. The MAD festival event during the day was excellent! Best regards,”

Kathy Tyler, PA to Oliver Laird, Head of Financial Planning & Analysis, HBOS

“It was a good weekend event for Aylesbury College and there was a lot of interest in the course that we offer. For us it was a lovely, well organised event in lovely grounds and thank you for all your help. Many thanks,”

Sarah, Aylesbury College

“Just wanted to say a huge well done – MAD was fantastic! My students and their parents thoroughly enjoyed the day. I was incredibly proud of their performance so thank you for making it such a great day and for letting us take part! Congratulations on a brilliant festival! Kindest regards,”

Jenna and all at Stagecoach, Bicester

“I’ve not caught up with Sue, but I would like to personally pass on my congratulations for another huge success. I attended on Sunday and thought it was wonderful – there seemed to be more people than last year? My niece performed in the afternoon and she thoroughly enjoyed herself saying it was much better than last year! So thanks for another great event and I look forward to next year’s!”

Fáinne Smith, PA to Sue Imbriano, Strategic Director Children and Young People’s Services and Marion Clayton, Cabinet Member Achievement and Learning Buckinghamshire County Council, County Hall, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UA

“I just wanted to drop you a line to thank you and the team for organising such a great weekend of performing arts. It was good to see so many young people coming together to perform. You even managed to sort out a sunny weekend! Thanks from everyone at Stagecoach.”

Louise Judge

“Thank you very much for letting Theatretrain and Energy School of Dance take part last Sunday, everyone really enjoyed it and we can’t wait until next year!”

Tiffany Marsh

“It seems like a while ago now, but I just wanted to say thank you very much for another wonderful MAD weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed it as did my children from Bedgrove Infants and Turnfurlong. For such young children to perform at such a great event in a beautiful setting is an amazing experience. Many thanks,”

David Mitchener

“As last year, MAD will be a high point for the entire year for Cuddington Youth Drama. I relaxed more this year, and was able to watch more of the other groups. In all of them, I saw the extraordinariness of the experience of being on such a big stage, with the incredible support of lighting and sound and audience. To be taken so seriously, to be part of something that is so fabulous in it’s entirety, breaks an unseen barrier for all of them, and has to make them feel proud. Thank you so much, thank Lord Rothschild so much, for bettering all these artists confidence in themselves! This year’s best quote from one child aged 7, the night before MAD, “Tomorrow is the most important day of my life!”. And it was. Thank you. “

Elaine English, Cuddington Youth and Drama and their appreciative parents!

Details about MAD (Music, Art, Drama & Dance)

Waddesdon Team — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:03:38 +0000

We’ve been asked about more information about when the event is happening, what’s going on and and how to get here, so hopefully the details below will help to answer some of those questions.

There’s also a lot more information on the MAD about Waddesdon website which gives details of the performances on the three stages at the event on the weekend of 27th and 28th June.

So what is going on?
The Saturday programme begins at 10.30am with the gardens opening as normal at 10.00am – you can find a run of the current Saturday programme here

Likewise the Sunday programme runs again from 10.00 in the morning through until 5pm and there is a full overview of what’s happening on Sunday here.

In addition there are workshops (singing and dancing for the kids and adults alike) and lots of other fun things to do which are outlined here.

Finally there is a wonderful Fundraising Concert which is run alongside the MAD about Waddesdon event featuring “A Night with the King and Queen”, two wonderful tribute acts of Elvis and Queen. This a separately charged event and full details can be found here.

Admission and Directions (Full Details here)

During the MAD weekend (27th / 28th June) the normal House and Gardens admission prices apply which are:

Gardens only
Adults: £7.00, Child (5-16inc): £3.50, Family (2ad & 2ch): £17.50, NT members: FREE, Under 5’s: FREE

House & Garden
Adults: £15.00, Child (5-16inc): £11.00, NT Members: FREE

If you want to book in advance please call 01296 653226, Monday to Friday, 10.00-4.00.

Full Directions can be found here

Much more at MAD this year

Waddesdon Team — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:50:05 +0000

We are delighted that this year there is a large programme of other activities for you and your family to take part in during your visit to Waddesdon, over and above all the acts on the three stages.

We have workshops from specialised Musical Theatre with Craig Revel-Horwood to Urban Strides and an interactive Circus Skills Workshop with Circus Whiz, just to name a few!

For the creative ones amongst you, make sure you pay a visit to the ‘Children’s Zone’ for lots of things to make and take home or go and create some giant Umbul Umbul flags with local artist Stu McLellan and help to make these amazing flags for display at Waddesdon. If you want to get away from the mayhem of the North Front, why not visit the Art Zone in the Power House or the Angus Fairhurst Exhibition in the new art gallery at the Stables and don’t forget the House is open as normal. Tickets available from the ticket office.

Why not stay on for the concert on the evening of Saturday 27th? “Music at the Manor – A night with The King and Queen” features tribute acts for Elvis Presley and Queen, for a royally entertaining evening. Tickets still available from the Ticket Office on the North Front.

All is all, there’s a huge amount to do and see so come along and find out just how much fun it is!

Helping to spread the word!

Waddesdon Team — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:43:17 +0000

MAD about Waddesdon might be a not for profit event, but we still work to ensure that we get as many people attending as possible and to come along and enjoy all of the incredible work that is put in by the groups to prepare for their performances on the day.

We are also always happy for people to help support this in whatever way that they can and, if you run a website, forum or other online site, you can also help to spread the word by adding a small logo and link back to the MAD about Waddesdon pages to let your readers know about the event.

To make this as easy as possible, you can find a series of logos and code on the Logos page – just paste the code onto your site if you would like to help spread the word about the event!

Thanks in advance!

MAD about Waddesdon

Waddesdon Team — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:56:03 +0000

: MAD 2007 stage

MAD About Waddesdon is a celebration of the visual and performing arts in Buckinghamshire. An opportunity to experience the talent, energy and creativity at the heart of our schools and community. The weekend is a spectacle of music, dance, drama, poetry, story telling, film, photography and much more, performed and presented at every level throughout the gardens at Waddesdon. Everyone is invited to enjoy, watch, listen, participate, and celebrate what will truly be Art in Action in our community. There are performances and workshops over the two days with plenty for all the family to enjoy.

MAD was conceived in 2005, out of our ambition to create a closer working relationship with our local, multicultural, community and to identify ways that Waddesdon could be used more effectively as a resource for them. We had already begun to transform the Stables at the Manor to provide a lively performance and education based space designed around families and children and this was very much the next step. In many ways, MAD was ahead of its time as it closely mirrors the values and objectives set out in the Government’s “Find your Talent” and “Creative Partnerships” schemes, and the schools festival “Shine”. These initiatives championed by DCMS and DCSF give young people the chance to experience high quality arts and culture, creating opportunities for schools to work with creative professionals such as artists, writers and actors.

Our discussions with schools, education officers and our local council back in 2005 and the three subsequent MAD festivals in 2006, 2007 & 2008 have proved how much energy there is out there for arts and performance projects and the importance of sharing these across the community. Waddesdon has provided a perfect platform to bring these projects together for a wider audience. Last year 15,000 people came to watch more than 3,000 children take part in performances, workshops, projects and a myriad of other activities over the weekend.

This is a not for profit event. Waddesdon provides the site, and the management and operations team for free and has to find the money from ticket sales, fundraising events and sponsorship to cover the £100,000 cost of staging the event. Partnerships, therefore, have been key to the success of the festival, and we have been immensely grateful for the support of The English National Ballet, Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Art, BCUC and many other societies, groups and individuals who have run workshops and activities making it an unforgettable experience for those who take part. African and Japanese drumming, samba workshops, photography competitions, collaborative art projects, conducting workshops, urban dance, ballet, digital art and musical and drama performances of all kinds – there is something for all ages and interests.