Standon Calling reveals more about Murder On The Standon Express theme

More details have been announced for this summer's 'Murder on the Standon Express' themed Standon Calling.

This year the festival presents 'Murder On The Standon Express' turning the whole festival site in to a real life set for this year's Murder Mystery production with murder mysteries, whodunits and classic crime taking place throughout the country manor locale.

Heralding a festival first, Standon Calling plans to build a network of timber framed cobbled streets around its central hub of crime Baker Street which will lead into winding alleys of house and shops that will form the habitat of a host of characters with the Interactive Theatre pioneers, The Heritage Arts Company.

Sweeney Todd will have set up shop offering wet shaves, Lord Bingham's own personal tailor is on hand to glitz up festival goers, the Lexi on the Run cinema will be screening a selection of classic crime while The Alibhai Gallery will be exhibiting art at the festival and unveiling of Lord Bingham's private collection. Dr Sketchy's crew will be offering burlesque life drawing of the crime themed male & female burlesque performances, alongside cabaret, burlesque, poetry and a few tipples. The Baker Street Bakery will be offering breakfast, bread baking and food workshops led by 2005 Masterchef Winner Thomasina Miers.

At the end of Baker Street will be the Baker Street Train Station circa 1900 housing the Twisted Licks stage complete with platforms and archways and Standon's very own Victorian Boozer.

Mat Burt from Heritage Arts Company said, "We're really excited to be returning for our third year. It's going to be a unique experience for festival goers; there's no other event with the kind of living, narrative community we've got planned. There's a role for everyone - it's perfect for the imaginative and creative crowd that find themselves flocking to Standon Calling."

Other themed areas on site at the festival include Camp Alcatraz the on site nightclub with 6am license. The Crooked House Stage will be a series of yurts mixing decor inspired by Cluedo and Agatha Christie, complete with secret passages. Returning to Standon will be the Book Club Boutique who will be running their very own 'Speakeasy' area with resident poet Salena Godden's Book Club Boutique, all themed around crime fiction.

Artist Willian Hunt will be bringing his Polygraph installation to Standon, inspired by a Bob Dylan quote from 1966; "I don't believe you, you're a liar" he is planning to enlist bands to play music during a lie detector test investigating the authentic nature of their songs.

Spoken Ink will present a cosy story telling yurt with sheep skin rugs, cookies and often a harpist playing in between chapters from tales of murder most horrid – some for the young, some only for the grown ups. The Great Brain Robbery, Trepan Records' regular showcase event, will offer bands, DJs & burlesque.

The acts previously confirmed include Etienne de Crecy,The Magic Numbers, Orquestra Buena Vista Social Club, Liars, Efterklang, The Phenomenal Handclap Band, The Phantom Band, Clock Opera, Sound of Rum, Delirium Tremens, Yearner Babies, Gilles Peterson, Casiokids, Filthy Dukes, These New Puritans, Fucked Up, Esben and the Witch, Gold Panda, Egyptian Hip Hop, A Hawk And A Hacksaw, Joe Gideon & The Shark, Anna Calvi, The Ruby Suns, Eddy Temple Morris, Dave Haslam, and more. For the line-up details as available please click here.

The entertainment at Standon Calling consists of more than just the music. Think Bugsy Malone glamour & pie slinging hilarity. With burlesque and cabaret, world class foods and vintage fairs. Cue trench coats and trilbies, swag bags and hidden treasure, film noir and pistols at dawn.

The backdrop for this 10th Anniversary celebration taking place from Friday 6th until Sunday 8th August, 2010 is the 16th century manor house and grounds of Standon, in Hertfordshire. Complete with swimming pool which houses an underwater disco, a host of late night surprises, secret stages and unexpected performances and market-style street food stalls, Standon Calling will this year also launch its very own local produce boxes in its ongoing support of local agricultural industries, which will accompany the fully stocked festival bars featuring local beers and ales.

An adult weekend ticket with camping is priced at £95, a teen (13-17) ticket is priced at £75, children aged 12 and under can go free.

To buy tickets click here.

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