Bulletin from Antwerp

We’re counting the days, no, the hours until everyone arrives in Antwerp. The final information you all need concerns traffic; Kelvin, our intrepid traffic coordinator, and Stage Manager Bob are spending Sunday driving around Antwerp, going in and out by every approach road, noting down traffic signs and road works and short cuts, and they will reveal all via a bulletin on this Web site.

If you are driving to Antwerp next week, please consult the website one final time before you leave – but, as the locals know only too well, a clear road today is a diversion tomorrow, and no one seems to know where the roadmen are going to appear next. We can only do our best to advise you, but please don’t blame us if it has changed by the time you get here!

The programme for the four days of FEATS is ready. We have some excellent Fringe entries, and the Fringe will take place in the upper foyer/bar area of the theatre on Saturday, Sunday and Monday afternoons, starting at 2pm. There will be the usual Forum meeting on Monday morning at 12.30pm, probably in the same area. (For those who haven’t been to FEATS before, the Forum is where you can face the members of the Steering Committee and representatives from the Organising Committee, put your questions, suggestions and grievances, and hopefully receive all the answers you require. Many of the good ideas which have been incorporated into FEATS Festivals in recent years have come from discussions at the Forum.)

Check all details, however, concerning exact timings and venues at the Hospitality Desk which will be run by Inge and David and various helpers in the downstairs foyer, just as you come through the front entrance doors of the theatre. (The doors to the theatre will be open as from 11am every day except Friday, when it will be 3pm.) The Hospitality Desk is also the place for leaving and collecting messages, finding out information on what to do in Antwerp, and during the earlier part of the day you can also buy your programme and drinks tickets here. Throughout the evening Ruth and her assistants will be walking around the theatre selling both programmes and drinks tickets – you’ll know them by their royal blue polo shirts (and if you want a FEATS shirt to take home as a souvenir, they will be on sale at the Hospitality Desk).

Again at the Hospitality Desk, you can write yourself in for the City Walk which will leave from the front of the theatre at 11 o’clock sharp on Sunday morning. This is a 2-hour tour of the old centre of Antwerp, and leading it will be Rita, one of the official Antwerp City guides; she will be assisted by Christian, who in addition to studying to be a City guide is also a good BAT member. Cost is 5 euros per person, to be paid at the Hospitality Desk before the start of the Walk. Not to be missed!

Finally, for those of you who have not yet booked your Saturday Night Supper tickets, please do so before Monday 24 May, as this is the day when we have to tell the caterers how many we expect. You can Ruth, fax her on +32 14 51 43 29, or telephone Alice Cameron on +32 3 281 78 93 or +32 477 760 129. One innovation we have introduced this year: all those performing or involved in next day’s performances will receive red supper tickets which will entitle them to go to the head of the queue at the buffet or be served first at the bar. Live music will be provided during supper and afterwards by a group called Tamboerijn, playing European folk dances on the mandolin, flute, recorder, guitar, keyboard and accordion.

We say finally, because of course you’ve already booked your theatre tickets, haven’t you? All theatre and supper tickets should be collected from Ruth, Morna and Dik in the Box Office, where they will be from 6pm each evening.

See you in Antwerp on the 28th!

The FEATS 2004 Organising Committee