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As a prequel to the theatre's open-air production of 'Around The World In 80 Days' in Williamson Park, Lancaster's The Duke's Theatre held a food festival within their building and grounds.
Tickets were free but entry was timed so as not to have too many people at any one time since the passages and access to the stalls were sometimes quite narrow or limited. A total of 15 stalls were positioned in the theatre's yard, main theatre, studio theatre, and the bar area, and just 5 different countries were represented.
Outside as we entered the festival were Greek Gyros and an Italian pizza fast food vans, and, almost missed, in a wee corner, an ice-cream seller blowing bubbles across the yard.
In the first room once inside we found three stalls selling local artisan produce. Namely fruit and vegetables, delicious looking cakes, and varieties of cheese. Further in on the main stage, we found a stall selling hot Caribbean food such a Jerk Chicken and Rice And Peas; Nami-Sushi, a specialist stall selling hand-made Japanese sushi and sashimi; and Filberts, a local made-with-pride bakery. In the studio theatre was local booze! A wine merchant and a gin and limoncello stand, both offering free samples could easily have made one a little woozy! A local jewelry maker also had a stall here displaying food-based earrings etc. It was also in this space where a member of staff was on hand eager to sell tickets for their open-air show this summer.
Back in the bar, and a local toy company was displaying toys which could be associated with the Jules Verne classic, and Lancaster House Hotel, one of the theatre's major sponsors, was on hand with a stall all about their specialist wedding venue.
With the emphasis clearly on high quality artisan products from the local area, visitors were able to sample and buy high quality Lancaster produce, and get a flavour for (see what I did there...!) the theatre's next production, 'Around The World In 80 Days'.
Reportage - Matthew Dougall
on - 2.6.23
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