Moonraking 25
Behind the scenes
It takes a whole village to raise up the moon!
Moonraking is made possible by the energy and hard work of volunteers and freelance creatives and all of the families and individuals who make lanterns.
A selection of the many images from behind the scenes here.
Lantern Workshops
Thankyou so much to everyone who took part in workshops on the lead up to the festival. Lots of imagination, willow, tape, tissue, glue and cake involved!
Thanks to workshop leaders Sky Burton-Smith, Euan Burton-Smith, Andy Burton, Sheila Woodhead and Frances Noon.
A big shout out to workshop volunteers Lyla Burton-Smith, Rachel Ellis, Frances Noon, Bill Best, David Brammah, Becky Sohotha, Tim Parker, Natalie Hinchliffe, Jessica Burnand, Jane Houghton, Louisa Parry, Kevin Sill, Gemma Sills, Jane Emery, Roz Brown, Lisa Mew, Nicola Sill, Sally Scott and Katie Cox.
Thanks also to the volunteer cake makers who made lots of tasty treats that kept Moonrakers going all week. Thankyou Caroline Brammah who organised the Moonraker Cafe. Milk was kindly donated by M&M Sykes Dairymen and Dark Woods Coffee also donated supplies.
Thanks to Dave Young for designing and building the moon frame and to Bill Best for building the willow and tissue design for the 40th Anniversary moon.
Floating Moon by 6 Million Plus
Members of refugee charity 6 Million Plus came together to make a moon to float on the canal on the lead up to events and lanterns for members to take on the procession. Many thanks to Adam and Kim Strickson for organising and for all of the families and individuals who joined in.
Thanks also to Canal and River Trust and Gordon McMinn who helped to float the Moon on the canal, and who also organised a chance for Moonrakers to have a go at canoeing!
Clowning rehearsals
A lot of rehearsal and effort involved to bring the comedy characters to life!
With Natalie Speake and Gil Burns from Kerfuffle Street Theatre.
Dance rehearsals
Dancers learning their steps from Keisha Hamilton and learning to move in their large crinoline skirts!
Costume making
Huge thanks to volunteer costume-maker Annie Dearman who spent many hours making and designing the comedy police and smuggler costumes, ably assisted by Karen Flood.
The crinoline costumes were made by a team including Lindsay Adamson, Caroline Brammah, Jackie Byrne and Kath Shackleton.
Thanks also to Keisha Hamilton, Karen Flood, Jean Margetts, Kathy Bugg and Annie Outram for their assistance.
Barrel making
Frances Noon and Sky Burton Smith made willow frames for the smugglers’ barrels. Pupils from Nields Primary School, Two Gates Primary School, Wilberlee Primary School, Wellhouse Primary School, Clough Head Primary School, Colne Valley High School and children’s art groups at Globe Arts and Waves centre for adults with additional needs.
Moonraking Workshops at Slaithwaite Library
Workshop at Slaithwaite Library with festival chair Susanna Meese and producer Kath Shackleton plus poetry workshops with Louise Fazakerley from Write Out Loud. Thankyou to Amanda Trickett and all of the team at Slaithwaite Library for their support with this.
Stewards
Thankyou to all of the wonderful stewards who volunteered their time to keep the public safe at the event.
To our professional support from TG Events, Tim Garbutt and Daisy Lee and sound from 3D Productions.
Thanks to Richard Izzard for co-ordinating volunteers and to Slaithwaite Scouts who were out in force as part of the stewarding team.
Thankyou to Nathan, Rhys, Rebekah, Bradley, Cat. Kathleen, Conan, Tom, Jason, Jack, Emma, Matthew, Harry, Matt, Paul, Eliose, Rhianon, Wilf, Emma, Tilly, Ian, Eliot, Sam, Seth, David, Ross, Lee, Sam, Elizabeth, Oliver, Darren, Sophie, Daisy, Roz, Louise, Evie, Georgina, Emily, Tomas, Louise, Charlotte, Lucy, Becky, Caitlyn, Karen, Katie, Jean, Ernest, Dylan and Angie!
Alec Hudson, also came on work experience from Manchester College and was a fabulous runner and sound assistant for the week.
Pre-festival and fundraising events
Thankyou to all the Slaithwaite Businesses who held fundraising events to help the festival
To Slaithwaite Civic and the Moonraker Band for the Ceilidh to launch the week, and all the business contributing raffle prizes.
To Belinda O’Hooley, The Midges, Zapato Brewery and the Red Deer Club for organising a concert with a portion of bar profits to help Moonraking.
To Artwood Interiors, who held a festive raffle to raise funds.
To Far Cry Acapella who did a special Christmas fundraiser for Moonraking.
To Yorkshire Education Service, Ruddi’s Retreat and The Clay Mill who ran workshops over the Festival week. The Clay Mill also ran a fundraising Pot Sale to raise money for the Festival.
To Waves Centre for adults with additional needs who ran fundraising afternoon teas during Festival week.
To Otso, who made a 40th Anniversary Festival T-Shirt with a donation to Moonraking.
To Jane Horton, who designed a fundraising card to raise money for the festival.
Thanks so much A New Leaf Bookshop who stayed open late, bought in new Moon themed book stock and held a book swap and a children’s book club event in aid of the Festival.
To Globe Arts for running window decorating workshops.
To Wine Slawit who booked a jazz vocalist to entertain Moonrakers. To Northern Sole cafe and to The Star Inn who held special festival activities.
To Anello Pizza, who made a Moonraker dessert and donated the proceeds to the Festival.
To Arty Explorers and Experience Community for getting into the spirit of the festival with their events.
To everyone who donated to the Lunar Levy over the year to help with fundraising.
Window Lanterns
Thankyou so much to Festival stalwart David Brook for working with the shops to keep the Moonshine tradition going this year!
Thanks to the Moonraking Committee!
Thankyou to Susanna Meese, Kath Shackleton, Sky Burton-Smith, Roz Brown, Louise Briggs, Jane Horton, David Brook, Richard Izzard and Richard Byrne for all of their hard work in bringing the Festival back! And to National Lottery Heritage fund and all of our generous sponsors and volunteers!
Sponsored by:
Thanks to University of Manchester, Kirklees Third Sector Leaders, Arts Council Digital Culture Network, TG Events, Daisy Lee, Dave Young, A New Leaf Bookshop, Making Waves, Globe Arts, Anello Pizza, Ruddi’s Cafe, Arty Explorers, Acorn & Pip, Green Valley Grocers, The Civic Slaithwaite, The Clay Mill, Otso, Slubbing Billy’s, Far Cry Acapella, George Shaw and Sons, Kirklees Local TV, Fishing 4 Compliments, The Happy Fish, We Are Stems, Fineline Audio, Nadia Amini, Olivia Hyde Music, Canal and River Trust, Otso, Impossible Arts, Green Valley Grocers, Annie Dearman, Slaithwaite Scouts, Slaithwaite Fire Station, Resource Print Solutions, Globe Mill, YES Education, Experience Community, Slaithwaite Library, Kerfuffle Theatre, Keisha Hamilton, Lee Corner, 6 Million +, Jonah Simpson, Adam and Kim Strickson and all of our volunteers for their support in kind. Thanks to Artwood Interiors and to Frances Cole for their donations and to all who have given to The Lunar Levy to bring back the festival this year!
Brochure illustrations by Jane Horton @artyjaneh