September 2024

After running a repair café in South Woodford for the past two years, Lydia Fraser-Ward is now pleased to help Wanstead residents give their broken items a new lease of life at the inaugural Wanstead Repair Café

Ever lingered over your rubbish bin with a pair of your old favourite jeans, or perhaps a broken toy, and thought twice before throwing them away, wishing they could be revived? Most of us hate to see things we love go to landfill, especially when there’s a chance they can be salvaged and given a new lease of life.

That’s exactly why, for the past two years, I’ve been running a quarterly Repair Café at Woodford Memorial Hall, in partnership with St Mary’s Church Woodford and the South Woodford Society. It’s been incredible to see the local community come together, bringing clothes, electrical items, bikes and even bric-a-brac to be repaired for free.

The South Woodford Repair Café has proven incredibly popular, with residents queuing up to bring an array of gadgets and much-loved household items to be expertly mended. The event provides free refreshments whilst you wait, as well as a number of activities, including creative workshops, information stalls, a seed swap and even a toy swap where people can pick up preloved children’s items for free.

The success of the South Woodford Repair Café has inspired me to expand the idea, and this October, I’m thrilled to be launching a pilot Repair Café in Wanstead. With support from Christ Church, Wanstead Climate Action, the London Borough of Redbridge and the East London Waste Authority, the Wanstead Repair Café will offer electrical, sewing and bike repairs – all completely free. It’ll be held in Christ Church hall on Sunday 13 October from 2pm to 5pm, and I encourage local residents to pop by with any items that need fixing.

To ensure we can help as many people as possible, each family can bring up to two sewing repairs and one electrical repair, but there’s no need to book – just drop in and give it a try!

Of course, none of this would be possible without the incredible volunteers who give their time and expertise. If you have specialist skills in sewing or repair, or if you’d just like to help out with the event in general, I’d love to hear from you!

We’re also offering free table space for local community groups and charities to promote their work, so if your organisation would like to be involved, please reach out. Together, we can keep our beloved items out of landfill and breathe new life into our community.

The Wanstead Repair Café will take place at Christ Church hall from 2pm to 5pm on 13 October. For more information, email lydia.fraser-ward@hotmail.co.uk

Redbridge Council is seeking feedback on its School Streets programme, which it plans to expand to 18 more locations around the borough, including Nightingale Primary School.

There are 21 schools in the existing programme, which restricts non-residential motor vehicles from entering certain roads around schools at the start and end of the school day.

“We encourage all residents to share their views through the consultation to help shape these schemes,” said Councillor Jo Blackman.

Visit wnstd.com/ssp

The Wanstead Fringe is to receive a £3,000 grant from the London City Airport Community Fund.

The money will be invested in the Wanstead Curtain, the hall at Wanstead Methodist Church that has been adapted into a theatre and cinema space.

“The Curtain was one of the busiest venues in this year’s festival, which saw more than 120 events throughout September and record ticket sales. We have no major sources of funding other than our sponsors and members, so this really makes a difference,” said Fringe chair Giles Wilson.

An event at Wanstead Library on 2 October will consider the future of the water industry. It takes place in the run-up to the March for Clean Water in Westminster on 26 October. Paul Kaufman reports

The long list of official March for Clean Water supporters includes the WI, National Trust, RSPB and a host of environmental organisations. The organisers are River Action and Surfers Against Sewage. Feargal Sharkey, former lead singer of The Undertones, now a figurehead for water campaigners, said: “We call on the government to end the environmental devastation being inflicted upon our rivers, lakes and seas. It stops here, it stops today, it stops now. End pollution, end polluting for profit.”

Our own River Roding has the dubious distinction of being a winner on the ‘Top of the Poops’ website. This records that in 2023 alone there were 307 sewage spills lasting 959 hours. 

Local campaigner and environmental lawyer Paul Powlesland discovered in 2021 that a malfunction was sending raw sewage directly into the Alders Brook, a tributary of The Roding. No-one even knew about it. He reported it at the time to both the Environment Agency and Thames Water. Two years later, it had still not been fixed. Paul told the i newspaper: “It had probably been going on for some time, possibly years due to the amount of toilet paper that was embedded in the silt of the brook.” Freedom of Information data shows the regulator failed to visit 90% of reported incidents in 2022, including more than 60% of the most serious incidents.

The English water industry was handed debt-free to private water monopolies, including Thames Water, in 1989. PM Thatcher wiped off £5 billion of debt before the handover. Thames Water now has debts totalling over £15 billion. The argument was that private investment was necessary to fix the crumbling infrastructure. On this measure, the experiment has failed miserably. There has been gross underinvestment. Much of the debt arose to pay dividends to shareholders. Thames Water is now demanding massive price hikes. Consumers are being asked to cough up for their shortcomings.

Speakers at the Wanstead event representing a range of views will examine the issues and the political options.

Water is publicly owned in the vast majority of countries. For the moment, the government is set against re-nationalisation. Its answer is tougher regulation. Campaigners have pointed out that regulation hasn’t worked. Some argue that private monopolies will always put profit before consumers and the environment and, to use the crude but apt expression, more regulation is simply an attempt to ‘polish a turd.’

The future of our water – an event organised by the East London Humanists – will take place at Wanstead Library on 2 October (free entry; doors open at 7pm; event begins at 7.30pm). For more information, visit wnstd.com/water

Campaigners are calling for TfL to reverse the many changes made to local bus routes earlier this month.

“As warned, utter confusion and distress were reported by residents following the changes made to the W12, W13, W14 and 549 bus routes, imposed on us on 7 September,” said Liz Martins, organiser of the Save Bus Routes for Local Residents campaign.

“Now a public meeting needs to be called by our elected representatives to allow residents to state how they are impacted and highlight where the routes need to be amended and extended before the cold weather bites.”

A petition against the changes has been signed by over 5,000 people, with a reduced service for the Nightingale Estate and reduced access to Whipps Cross Hospital seen as critical failings of the new routes.

At a town hall meeting in September, Councillor Jo Blackman said the changes would undermine aspirations to move people away from an over-reliance on cars, but TfL was unable to confirm a timescale for responding to the concerns raised.

Visit wnstd.com/savebuses

An application to build a golf centre on Royston Gardens Open Space (formerly the Kearley and Tonge Sports Ground) has been submitted to Redbridge Council.

The plans for the site – which is adjacent to Wanstead Park – include a nine-hole pitch and putt course, a kids’ crazy golf area, a teaching zone, café, office space and a 45-car parking lot. The application is open for comments until 5 October.

Visit wnstd.com/royston

A small herd of English Longhorn cows – Nina, Mara, Answer and Olive – arrived in Wanstead Park in September to graze over the winter months.

“Grazing is important for Wanstead Park because to mow with machinery would destroy one of the main features of wildlife interest, the Yellow Meadow Ant hills… Please give them plenty of space to do their important work and keep dogs under control,” said a spokesperson for the City of London Corporation.

The cows’ location can be tracked online. Visit wnstd.com/cowlocator

The Wanstead Village Directory and South Woodford Village Gazette have published a new edition of Village Vouchers, a booklet offering savings at shops, salons, cafés, pubs and restaurants across the two areas.

“From free coffee to money off meals, massages and MOTs, there’s something for everyone,” said editor Lee Marquis.

Priced £4 and valid until 31 July 2025, copies can be purchased online and collected from the High Street, with local good causes receiving a donation for each copy sold.

Visit wnstd.com/vouchers

From Paris to Newcastle to Wanstead, Bernie Clarkson now considers herself a local artist, with local scenes like Christ Church Green finding their way into her work

I’m totally passionate about painting and particularly oil painting, and this came about almost by accident. I was incredibly fortunate to live in Paris for four years in my fifties and this is where my life veered off at a totally unexpected tangent.

I’d always loved and made art of sorts, initially training as a fashion designer and then teaching art to lots of different age groups. However, my time in Paris freed me to take up painting, initially for fun, but very quickly it became all-consuming. So, when I returned to England, I was ecstatic to be accepted into Newcastle University’s Fine Art department. Six years later, with a hard-won degree and Master’s completed, I headed to London to be closer to family, not really believing my love affair with painting would continue and flourish. Yet, here I am in my shared studio in Manor Park, living and breathing this amazing subject. 

After a few house moves and renovations, I’m so lucky to now have a home in beautiful Wanstead and I’m more than happy to think of myself as a local artist, taking part in solo and group exhibitions, and thrilled so many lovely people have bought my work.

My daily practice combines painting, stretching canvasses, reading and researching, always looking for inspiration; the north-east coastline is always hovering and influencing my subject and colour choices.

As each painting progresses, it can often change enormously, and when it’s finished, I hope it carries a quiet narrative to the viewer, but also willing a slight tension to make it interesting.

I love the work of the German-American artist Richard Diebenkorn, who was heavily influenced by Matisse, another great love of mine. I had a wonderful mentor at university who helped me so much to explore ideas and dig into history as inspiration, paint and painter, society, breaking rules; there’s always so much to learn.

As a consequence of living through the pandemic and the close proximity of a newly observed nature during the daily rituals of getting fresh air and exercise, I’m finding local and coastal scenes are nudging into most of my work; either as a background to a figure or taking centre stage.

To view more of Bernie’s artwork, visit wnstd.com/bernie

As Wanstead High School marks its 100th anniversary, the PTA are working hard to help improve the school for future generations. Chair of the PTA Dennis Weeks reports their successes so far

We are the Wanstead High School PTA, a group of parents who find a bit of time to help out the local school at a time when they so desperately need it. There are around 30 regular volunteers in our group, and quite a few more occasional ones. We believe this to be an important cause in our community.

We took over in early 2023 after the school invited parents to relaunch the PTA following the closure of the old PTA as a result of Covid. A number of us got together, formed a new committee and began the journey of identifying what was needed and how we could help at the school. 

As you may know, the school is celebrating 100 years of service, and I am sure many of you reading this may well have been a part of that history. Some of the buildings in existence today were part of the original school. Those intervening years have produced some wonderful students and stories that are coming up in the centenary celebrations this month. However, they have also left some tired and distressed areas of the school and a number of limitations for current pupils to endure. It is these types of things we think our PTA can do something about to benefit future generations of students attending our school.

We set ourselves three main objectives. To revamp the school field that is often not in a usable state due to weather effects on the ground. To provide a large canopy shelter in the limited playground area so students can still venture outside of classrooms in inclement weather. To revamp the toilet areas, which would make those featured in escapades on Grange Hill look luxurious. These are our capital project aims and we are very close to delivering the shelter as the first of them. In just over a year, we have raised nearly £65,000 from our events, donations, sponsorships and recycling school uniform via our pre-loved shop. This has been an amazing achievement and a testament to every single volunteer who has helped along the way. We have attracted corporate sponsors to match-fund our efforts and swell our balances thanks to some amazing parents and their companies who provide this charity. One project we are now developing is to obtain and improve the environment at the school by utilising pre-loved equipment and furniture. Just this summer, we asked the community for various items – including a shed, office chairs and filming equipment – and were amazed at the generosity received, with total donations worth up to £100,000.

So much work has already gone into this, so many benefits have already materialised, but there is so much more to do. And we would love to hear from you if you can help us with our aim of making a better Wanstead High.

For more information on the PTA, email dennis.weeks@ptawansteadhigh.co.uk

A reunion will take place at the school on 22 September. Visit wnstd.com/whs100

In the second of two articles, Terry Joyes reflects on his 12-year journey to publishing a book about the history of Wanstead High School, just in time for the school’s 100th anniversary this month

In 2012, I and fellow Wanstead High School alumnus Patrick Renshaw had begun to put the wheels in motion to bring my idea of compiling a history book about Wanstead High School to life. The project was due for completion by 2014 ahead of the school’s 90th anniversary, but we were thwarted by a rigorous Ofsted inspection which caused the anniversary celebrations to be cancelled, and with it, the impetus we had for the project was lost. 

What could revive our lost enthusiasm? Would it be the 95th anniversary in 2019? That proposition died with the advent of Covid. For those of us who lived throughout World War II, it was like facing the aerial weaponry represented by the silent V2 rocket missile; one never knew where and when it would strike. The major social difference was, of course, that segregation turned individuals toward electronic communication; emails did not require social integration. Ironically, in such domestically located circumstances, considerations of the production of a history of the school could be renewed in earnest, with the obvious goal of the 100th anniversary.

Searching through the remnants of the previous book projections, and with the continuing support provided by Patrick Renshaw, I found I had a firm basis on which to fulfil earlier promises. New material was supplied by willing collaborators and it soon became evident that two major themes were emerging: unity and continuity – mostly in positive contexts, but occasionally in the negative, which helped to give the book balance. The rose-tinted views could be questioned and contextualised.

Then, in the summer of 2023, I was deeply shocked and saddened by the sudden death of my prime collaborator and friend, my inspiration, Patrick Renshaw. Entitled The Story of Wanstead High School, the book is dedicated to his memory. It bears his name as co-author and was published over the summer; A4 in size with about 275 well-illustrated pages.

The book is also dedicated to every pupil and member of staff who has passed through the doors and walked the corridors of Wanstead High School since the first individuals – 92 pupils and five staff – gave birth to the original Wanstead County High School, under the leadership and headship of the visionary Arthur Frederick Joseph a century ago on 23 September 1924.

All proceeds from sales of the book will remain with the school; it has been enough for me to enjoy searching through the school’s history and trying to produce a coherent analysis. I wish Patrick were still alive to mark his critical analysis of the book, which, together, we had initially projected 12 years ago.

A reunion will take place at the school on 22 September. For more information and to order a copy of The Story of Wanstead High School by Terry Joyes and Patrick Renshaw, visit wnstd.com/whs100

Daveena Seepaul, Head of Residential Property at local solicitors Edwards Duthie Shamash, takes a look at some of the many pitfalls and problems that can arise from residential purchase transactions 

Having dealt with a range of residential purchase transactions, our team has seen many pitfalls and problems that can arise. Most issues can be resolved; however, some can derail the transaction. Many of these pitfalls can be spotted early on so your solicitor can take appropriate steps to minimise risk.

Building regulations
Missing permissions for planning and building regulation approvals could mean that works already carried out are unauthorised and may even be unsafe. Purchasing a property with missing permissions may also result in a loss of value. You may even have to pay to reverse the works so they are brought to current building regulation standards. An indemnity policy is a possible solution, but it does not confirm the quality of the work that has been done.

Potential developments
When a Local Authority Search is carried out, it is specific to that property. Information is not always provided on neighbouring properties. To some degree, your solicitor will obtain information from the seller’s solicitors regarding any information their client holds regarding neighbouring properties. In addition, you can check with the relevant council departments for information.

Trees and shrubs
Some trees in the UK are legally protected, which means you will need the council’s permission to lop, prune or remove them. The local search results obtained by your solicitor should show if there are any Tree Preservation Orders in place.

Lease term
If you are buying a flat or other leasehold property, the unexpired length of the term of the lease needs to be carefully checked. If the term drops below 80 years, this can cause problems and affect your mortgage offer. Some lenders even require a minimum lease term of 95 years. A shorter term could also cause difficulties in selling the property in the future. 

Service charge demands
If you are buying a flat or maisonette, enquiries need to be raised regarding anticipated service charges that you will be required to pay. There could be major works to the block that could include roof repairs or refurbishments that could run into thousands of pounds. The cost of these works can be on top of your usual annual service charge, especially if there is no sinking fund held by the management company or landlord.

There are a variety of complex issues that can arise in property transactions and the above are only a few examples you may encounter. A skilled property solicitor will navigate you through your transaction.

Edwards Duthie Shamash is located at 149 High Street, Wanstead, E11 2RL. For more information, call 020 8514 9000 or visit edwardsduthieshamash.co.uk

The Forest Philharmonic Orchestra will host the North and East London Young Musician of the Year finals in Aldersbrook this month.

“This new competition, in collaboration with the North London Festival, offers young musicians a chance to develop their performance skills,” said a spokesperson.

Finalists Joseph Reynolds, Mee-Hyun Esther Park and Yixuan Kassia Ren will each perform a concerto movement with the orchestra in a concert at St Gabriel’s Church on 29 September (5pm; tickets: £10).

Visit wnstd.com/fpo

A Yew tree inside the Wanstead Park playground has been fenced off to reduce the risk of poisoning from its toxic seeds and leaves.

“This is a native evergreen with the scientific name Taxus baccata. There are groups of Yew trees in various parts of the park, providing shelter for assorted creatures during winter. However, eating the foliage or seeds can cause sickness or even death,” said local botanist Tricia Moxey.

The leaves are flat, dark-green needles and the green seeds are surrounded by bright-red, fleshy arils. 

Plans have been put forward for the restoration and improvement of two historic landmarks in Wanstead Park.

“Consultants have been appointed to develop options for the preservation of the Grotto, with costs ranging from £350,000 to £912,000. All options involve work to stabilise the structure, without which it could collapse. The future of the Temple is also being considered, with plans to make the building and its surroundings into more of a community hub,” said a Friends of Wanstead Parklands spokesperson.

Redbridge Council has been awarded £3m to transform the walking route between Wanstead Park, Roding Valley and Ilford town centre.

The funding – part of Greater London Authority’s Civic Partnership Programme – will be used to create a riverside path to connect existing footpaths into Roding Valley and open up access to green spaces.

“By improving pedestrian routes, we’re connecting Wanstead, Woodford and Ilford, making sure people from all parts of the borough can access all we have to offer,” said a council spokesperson.

Art Group Wanstead will have a bird-themed display at the Wanstead Festival this month.

“Fly over to the art show on Christ Church Green on 15 September,” said Donna Mizzi. “We will focus on ‘Winged Wonders’, and it will be more than a bird-spotter’s delight, including free workshops and demos to give adults and children a chance to try new art methods. Terrified of trying your hand at art? Make a beeline for Brenda Coyle’s ‘Painting for the Petrified’ mini-sessions.”

Art and crafts will also be on show and for sale.

Visit wnstd.com/art

Cadent has applied to set up a temporary compound on the Redbridge Lane West allotments ahead of work to the adjacent gas site.

“The original planning permission – approved in December 2022 – was for a compound on Wanstead Park Road. This variation effectively means returning to their initial plans to use our allotments as the main site. This has come as a shock and, apart from all the original considerations, likely means some plot holders waiting even longer to return,” said Sally Parker.

Visit wnstd.com/cvar

Nearly half the tickets for next month’s Wanstead Beer Festival have been sold.

“The Wanstead community showed it likes its beer last year when the inaugural event sold out a week in advance. Ticket sales so far this year are already over 40%, so don’t miss out,” said organiser Paul Donovan.

The festival – which will take place in the halls of Christ Church on 12 October – will feature a wide variety of beers and ciders, along with a gin bar.

The £10 admission fee includes a unique Wanstead Beer Festival glass.

Visit wnstd.com/beer

The growth in Wanstead Fringe events, particularly theatre, is spectacular, says director Jon Fentiman, who will be bringing Miss Julie (a play that was once banned in the UK) to a brand new Fringe stage 

September in Wanstead means the arrival of the Wanstead Festival (15 September) and its bigger brother, the Wanstead Fringe, our very own three-week celebration of music, film, books, performance arts, magic, local history, creative workshops, food, drink and even pre-loved treasures! With opportunities to enjoy everything from comedy nights to opera, stargazing to a jumble trail, events are dotted around our cafes, sports clubs, churches and even the local library, showcasing many of the wonderful venues Wanstead has to offer.

The growth in the number of events being organised this year is quite spectacular, with professional theatre productions leading the way and boasting over 50 performances. For Wanstead Fringe 2024, actor and theatre practitioner Marissa Landy has curated 10 different productions from both her own and visiting companies, some fresh from success at the Edinburgh Fringe, whilst Fiona Gordon’s brilliant Wanstead Theatre Co will be bringing six site-specific performances of Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads to City Place Coffee, the perfect venue.

As a director and producer for the East London Theatre Company, I am extremely excited to be bringing a production of the classic play Miss Julie to this year’s Fringe before it transfers to The Courtyard Theatre, Hoxton in October. Written by Strindberg in 1888, performances of Miss Julie were banned in the UK for half a century, only reaching British stages in 1939. For years, Miss Julie was considered just too provocative and inappropriate in its depiction of sexual desire and conflict between classes. Today, it is one of the most regularly performed plays in the UK and across Europe. Set in the servants’ kitchen on the estate of a Swedish aristocrat, the action centres around his errant daughter, Miss Julie, his lordship’s footman, Jean, and the house cook, Katrin. Although set at the end of the 19th century, like any classic play that survives the test of time, its themes – such as how we manage our desire for a better life whilst wrestling with the expectations of society and others – still resonate with a modern audience.

Running for seven nights, you will have the opportunity to enjoy the talents of three brilliant actors: Maria Naterstad (Miss Julie) and Lia Goresh (Katrin), both recent graduates of the internationally renowned East 15 Drama School, along with Chris Agha (Jean), who performs regularly at The Royal Opera House and prestigious off-West End venues. 

Grab a ticket and you’ll not only experience an exciting, intimate performance – staged in the round – but also be amongst the first patrons of The Wanstead Curtain, a new performance space which Wanstead Fringe volunteers have been allowed to create in the hall of Wanstead Methodist Church. Hopefully, see you there!

For more information on Wanstead Fringe events, visit wnstd.com/fringe

Wanstead Theatre Co has been a regular feature at the Fringe and this year, the company returns with Talking Heads. Fiona Gordon explains what to expect and the innovative way it’s being promoted

As a site-specific theatre company, where we perform the play in the place it is set, we are always on the lookout for suitable Wanstead venues. Over the years, Eton Manor (Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson), The Bull (Two) and Our Lady of Lourdes (Bazaar and Rummage) have generously offered us their space and time.

And this year, it is City Place Coffee in the middle of our bustling High Street that has kindly agreed to host our production: the well-loved and universally acclaimed Talking Heads by Alan Bennett.

Filmed originally as a TV series in the late 80s and the early 90s, it was then remade during lockdown for a new housebound audience. It was one of the very few TV shows allowed to be filmed due to social distancing rules, as each episode only has one actor in it. However, the famous episodes featuring Thora Hird in the original series could not be remade due to social contact being restricted with anyone over 70.

Not often performed as a stage show, we are delighted to be bringing it to life in a vibrant high street setting. Three women in a café. Each has a story. What secrets will you overhear?

But that’s not all we’ve been working on. This year we have decided to harness the power of social media to widen our audience at our shows and elevate our profile.

We have made a mini mockumentary about the fictional production team who run Wanstead Theatre Co. Filmed in various Wanstead locations, it is a behind-the-scenes comedy about a theatre company and the current show they are doing, which as far as we know, has never been done before.

We want people to engage with the mockumentary, find it funny, then realise we are a real-life professional theatre company and they can actually come and watch the show featured in the episodes. And who knows? If they are lucky, they may also bump into some of the characters.

Each episode is just two or three minutes long, broken up into mini clips for social media, but the full episodes will be put on YouTube so they can be watched in a more traditional TV format. A selection of the clips can also be seen on the popular Facebook group, Wanstead Community Hub.

We hope this modern way of raising our profile will secure the future of our theatre company. Our mission of bringing the West End to Wanstead still holds true, but hopefully, with the added exposure, we’ll be bringing the audience to Wanstead as well.

For more information on Wanstead Fringe events, visit wnstd.com/fringe

One of the highlights of this year’s Wanstead Fringe is All Rest, an immersive opera set and staged in the graveyard at St Mary’s Church. Here, the opera’s composer Simone Spagnolo explains what to expect

The opera All Rest is an original, immersive opera experience portraying a fictional dreamscape about the people dwelling in St Mary’s graveyard. Six characters and a chorus of ghosts lead the audience on a journey through the grounds, offering a glimpse of past and future stories.

The stories featured include some of Wanstead’s well-known historical characters, including Astronomer Royal James Pound, Admiral Robert Pamplin and Jessie Nutter, one of the sisters who bequeathed much to the people of Wanstead. As ghosts who still inhabit the premises of St Mary’s, these characters narrate precious memories of their lives, eventually reuniting in a final, poignant choral moment to bridge their reminiscences with the audience’s presence. 

The opera features solo voices, a choir, flute, violin, portable speakers and St Mary’s historic organ. It was premiered earlier this year at the St Mary’s Music Festival, which originally commissioned it, but the Fringe has arranged this second opportunity to experience this unique, site-specific work. 

Aside from reflecting on the history of Wanstead and St Mary’s, this performance piece draws inspiration from the aesthetics of promenade and immersive theatre, which enables the spectator to be within the scene and a common location to become a theatrical setting. Serena Braida – who wrote the text – and I shared an aim to join this peculiar format with that of the number opera, so as to allow the magic of the music to further complement the immersive experience. 

Having the possibility to put in action such a stimulating, interdisciplinary exchange certainly prompted our interest and curiosity. Possibly, the most fascinating thing about All Rest is that it gave us the opportunity to create a piece in which reality and representation cross and blur each other in a spectacularly inspiring location. Ghosts, graves, characters from the past, operatic singing, nature walking, portable radios, choral chanting: everything fades into the current moment, subtly offering a spiritual touch. I guess this is what we tried to achieve, a brief spiritual moment in which art and nature meet. 

We hope visitors and audiences will enjoy our work, in its apparent simplicity, and we wholeheartedly thank all those who have contributed to this imaginative performance piece.

For more information on Wanstead Fringe events, visit wnstd.com/fringe

The cultural revolution that has been going on in Wanstead for the past few years is in full flow. And, like all of us, whatever our age, it looks like it is growing up, writes Fringe director Giles Wilson 

The Wanstead Fringe, which started just after the 2012 London Olympics with comedy and open-air cinema, is now in its second decade and has blossomed into a full arts festival with theatre, music recitals, literary events and much more. 

This year’s theme takes a line from Picasso as its inspiration: “Once we grow up,” in which he wrestled with the tension between getting older without losing childlike freshness. That’s something of what we’ve been trying to do.

This year will see a dozen different plays being performed at three sites, including for the first time Shakespeare, with a production of Richard II taking place at the Wanstead Curtain, a new theatre we have created in the hall of the Wanstead Methodist Church on Hermon Hill. Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads will be staged in a High Street cafe and several new works will be performed in the upstairs room at The Bull, including several plays which are coming to us directly after the Edinburgh Fringe.

The Wanstead Curtain will also be the venue for three indoor Kinema screenings, ahead of the traditional favourite open-air Kinema in the grounds of Christ Church. This year’s family film is the hit musical Wonka, featuring the talents of one of the stars of last year’s Fringe, Paterson Joseph.

There will be a range of musical styles being performed, from the Replacement Hipsters through the award-winning Redbridge Brass to top concert instrumentalists and performers. Opera star Lucy Crowe OBE and husband Joe Walters will again be bringing a beguiling mix of musical styles to their eve-of-fringe Charivari in the stunning St Mary’s Church on Overton Drive. And that will also be the venue for two performances of All Rest, an opera written by local composer Simone Spagnolo, which is set in the churchyard featuring some of the former Wanstead residents who are buried there.

There will be 10 literary events during the Wanstead Book Festival, which is part of the Fringe. Among the attractions are fake history-slayer Otto English (in conversation with Lord Victor Adebowale), comedian Paul Sinha, who will be speaking about his autobiography, philosopher Julian Baggini and Daisy Goodwin, author of a heartbreaking history of the life of Maria Callas.

We are lucky in this part of London to have such a range of events in easy reach. But with the Wanstead Fringe, we are trying to build something new and local, and we’re doing it for ourselves.

We look forward to seeing you at events once again this September.

For more information on Wanstead Fringe events, visit wnstd.com/fringe

The Wanstead Fringe will return this month with over 100 events taking place, including 10 different plays.

“The Fringe runs from 7 to 28 September, and this is your chance to help make it the success Wanstead deserves. Take a look through the listings in the Fringe section of this issue and get the dates in your diary so you don’t miss out!” said Fringe director Giles Wilson.

A number of popular Fringe events will return this year, including the open-air Kinema on 14 September and the jumble trail on 21 September.

Visit wnstd.com/fringe