Saint Hill International Arts Festival 2017 Made a Big Impression

Saint Hill Arts Festival Opening Ceremony on 30th July 2017- l to r: Chris Dresser, Saint Hill Arts Festival President, Rhoda Zeffertt, East Grinstead dep. Town Mayor Cllr Rex Whittaker, Liz Ostermann from the L. Ron Hubbard Public Affairs Office

East Grinstead - Now in its 26th year, the Saint Hill International Arts Festival took place from Sunday 30th July to Sunday 6th August 2017 at Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead.

This year, the Festival was hosted by Hollywood actor, comedian and master impressionist Jim Meskimen; his actress wife Tamra Meskimen; producer, writer, director, Cass Warner (granddaughter of Harry Warner, President and Founder of the Warner Bros. Studios), and a team of local artists.

The Festival was officially opened by East Grinstead dep. Town Mayor Cllr Rex Whittaker. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was immediately followed by a wonderful performance of Beethoven’s “Septet for Wind and Strings” and of Carl Nielsen’s “Serenata In Vano” by bassoonist Tom Hardy and The Blaze Ensemble.

Saint Hill Arts Festival Opening Classical Concert on 30th July 2017 - In the Great Hall, Saint Hill Manor

The Blaze Ensemble performing at the Saint Hill Arts Festival Opening Classical Concert on 30th July 2017 - In the Great Hall, Saint Hill Manor

On Monday night, Cass Warner introduced the UK premiere of her fascinating film, “The Brothers Warner” which she wrote, directed and produced. It is an intimate portrait of the four film pioneers who founded and ran Warner Brothers Studios for over 50 years. Cass also held an open forum the following morning where attendees met with her to ask her about her life in Hollywood. 

Throughout the week, Jim and Tamra Meskimen delivered a daily series of acting workshops, based on the techniques of The Acting Center, the renowned Los Angeles acting school which Tamra founded. The Acting Center school’s techniques have provided invaluable grounding for numerous actors now rising through the ranks of the movie industry. The classes were split each day between Acting and Improvisational Acting.

The Festival also included an art exhibition in the Great Hall Gallery; workshops on creativity, poetry and the spoken word, singing, selling your art, stage manners and drawing; the very popular Saint Hill Arts Festival Arts Quiz; and the grand finale concert in front of a very enthusiastic audience on Saturday 5th August, directed by Jo Stephens, which included performances by all the Festival attendees, giving them a chance to apply, for real, what they had learnt throughout the week, plus hilarious celebrity impressions by Jim Meskimen, an outstanding rendition of "Purple Rain" by X Factor USA and Celebrity Big Brother contestant Stacy Francis, local guitarist extraordinaire Dave Press, songs by singer songwriters Lemon & Paice, Shakespeare monologues by actor Tom Clark, and some hip-hop by Irish rapper Kristian Shortt.

The winning team of the Saint Hill Arts Festival Arts Quiz on 3rd August 2017 - In the Lower Hall, Saint Hill Manor l to r: Jim Meskimen, Tamra Meskimen, Gary Byrne, Chris Dresser (team captain), Saint Hill Arts Festival President. Team included John Wood and Gemma Harris (not pictured)

All participants of the Saint Hill Arts Festival Arts Quiz on 3rd August 2017 - In the Lower Hall, Saint Hill Manor

During the concert, Chris Dresser, Saint Hill Arts Festival President, presented Jim and Tamra Meskimen with a Lifetime of Creativity Award for their enormous contribution to the arts throughout their careers. Previous winners include artist Carl-W. Röhrig and bassoonist Tom Hardy.

Sheila Gaiman said about this year's Festival: "We're extremely lucky to have such talented artists attend our Festival from all over the world every year, artists who understand the importance of art and who are so willing to help others with their art. We are very grateful to international artists Jim Meskimen, Tamra Meskimen and Cass Warner and local artists Gill Bustamante, Mira Reichl, Jane Moore, Kevin Tyson, Evelyne Herbin and Brian King who are all so generously donating their time at this year's Festival. I would also especially like to thank the Festival Co-ordinators, Neil and Angie Lemon for all their hard work in making the week such a great success."

Jim Meskimen performing at the Grand Finale Concert of the Saint Hill Arts Festival on 5th August 2017 - In the Great Hall, Saint Hill Manor

Stacy Francis performing at the Grand Finale Concert of the Saint Hill Arts Festival on 5th August 2017 - In the Great Hall, Saint Hill Manor

Jim and Tamra Meskimen receiving the Lifetime of Creativity Award from Chris Dresser, Saint Hill Arts Festival President on 5th August 2017 - l to r: Chris Dresser, Jim Meskimen, Tamra Meskimen

The Festival closed with the extremely popular Summertime Swing 2017 in aid of The Not Forgotten Association, hosted by the world’s favourite swing band, East Grinstead’s very own The Jive Aces, in the grounds of Saint Hill Manor.

The Saint Hill International Arts Festival was inspired by Scientology's founder, L. Ron Hubbard, who strongly encouraged cultural revitalization through the arts.

About Saint Hill Manor
Saint Hill Manor, the former home of L. Ron Hubbard and host of the annual Saint Hill International Arts Festival, located just outside East Grinstead, is a fine 18th-century sandstone building. Concerts, plays, conferences and other events regularly take place here and it is also one of the few historical attractions to remain open to the public throughout the year. Saint Hill Manor is also the headquarters of the Church of Scientology in the UK. Saint Hill Manor, Saint Hill Green, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 4JY www.arts-festival.org

For more information, please contact John Wood on +44 (0)7771 520001 or jw@worldwidepr.net