Friday 29 May 2007

FULL AND VARIED PROGRAMME REVEALED TO CELEBRATE JOHNSMAS

 

The Johnsmas Foy organising committee has revealed a full and varied programme to celebrate this year’s event with activities as wide ranging as historic films and presentations, sailing trips and ocean races, mini foys and barbecues to storytelling sessions of sea monsters and mermaids and the first visit to Shetland by a major orchestra for 15 years. 

 

From 15 to 24 June everyone will be encouraged to celebrate Shetland’s fishing heritage and a number of events have been devised to do exactly that. 

 

Committee member Alastair Hamilton said: “I hope we have something for everyone.  In Skeld, a ‘Festival of the Sea’ will be held during the Foy’s opening weekend to recognise the area’s historical fishing links with Faroe and Scandinavia.  Activities include yoal races, a parade of sail, storytelling, exhibitions and the opportunity to visit the restored Fifie Swan.

 

“The new Shetland Museum and Archives, which is a wonderful venue, will be open.  It will host a number of events including a historic film that follows the lives of herring fishermen.  There will also be a presentation by a guest from the village of Mollosund, Bohuslän, on the south west coast of Sweden, to explain the historical significance of the Shetland-Bohuslän link.  Especially for children, there will be tales of sea monsters and mermaids as well as a sea monsters workshop.

 

“We are also expecting a number of fishing vessels to call into Lerwick Harbour including the Togo, a former side-winder that has been converted for cruises.  Another historic visitor will be the Lotos SCH445, a former Dutch herring lugger which used to visit Shetland almost 100 years ago and is now a sail training vessel, which will offer trips during the Foy.  We’ll also be welcoming the participants of the VisitShetland Bergen Races and the 1000-mile Double Handed Race.  The Flavour of Shetland event will swing into action at the same time, offering music, food and crafts; there’ll be a great deal of bustle and colour on Victoria Pier. 

 

“We’re also delighted to see the revival of the play ‘It wis hard wark but…’, which was originally devised by Shetland Youth Theatre in 1987 under the direction of John Haswell.  The play, which focuses on the stories of three women who worked at the herring during the season of 1938, will be shown over four days at the Garrison Theatre.

 

“Moving away from the fishing heritage theme, on the first weekend, there’s a great treat for music lovers: the Scottish Chamber Orchestra will be playing three concerts in the Clickimin Centre.  On the Friday evening, their string section will be playing two Mozart divertimenti, Benjamin Britten’s Frank Bridge Variations and pieces by Sibelius and Grieg.  The main work in Friday night’s full orchestra concert will be Beethoven’s first symphony, but the programme also offers more by Britten, his Folk Songs of the British Isles.  Mendelssohn’s Hebrides overture and Beamish’s The Day Dawn complete the programme.  On the Sunday night, there’s a wind concert featuring a wide range of musical periods and styles; works by Stravinsky, Françaix, Hummel, Rossini and Raff are included.

 

“As a grand finale to the celebrations, Northmavine is organising the area’s very own mini foy for the closing weekend.  A variety of interesting activities has been organised around the ‘fishing heritage’ theme including a trip to Fethaland to see a living history demonstration of how lines and equipment were used by the Haaf fishermen.  There’ll be storytelling, exhibitions and displays, too.  These will be complemented by traditional music and a traditional Shetland supper dance on Saturday.

 

“Sunday’s events in Northmavine begin with a very exciting challenge – the opportunity to try hauling your boat across Mavis Grind to mimic how fishermen, in times past, using this narrow strip of land as a short cut between fishing grounds.  You’ll be rewarded for your efforts afterwards with a barbecue and live local music.  There will also be the chance to browse around a photo exhibition and see an anchor-making display.

 

“We’re delighted with the quality of events which have come forward for this year’s festival.  An event guide will be available as an insert in next week’s Shetland Times so folk can start planning their celebrations and work out how to fit it all in.”

 

Further information from:
Alastair Hamilton, Shetland Islands Council, tel 01595 744924, email
Or, Louise Rosie, Shaw Marketing and Design Ltd, tel 01595 692465 or email