SEPTEMBER | BIGGER PICTURE
Best Bestival?
What: Bestival
Where: Lulworth Estate
When: 2 – 5 August 2018
Picture: @Bestival2018
Shortly before Bestival founder Rob Da Bank declared the
2018 edition of the event (2-5 August) the best yet, Access
talked to creative production manager Joe Elkins about
the event’s ascent
What was new this year?
We have a gigantic circus rig, lots of performers, and
we’ve worked hard on House of Vans, which House of
Bestival, our production company has been working on
taking from Waterloo to Dorset.
How did the site and crew bounce back from the weather
turmoil on the last day of Camp Bestival?
It was a super tough day, and when you work all year
on a show, have amazing weather in the run up and then
have it come in so heavily on one day, that’s disappointing
but there’s nothing you can do. We pour our hearts
into those shows, and to have to close on the Sunday is
something we’ve never had to do in 15 years. Coming out
the back of that experience, with people coming on site for
Bestival, it feels like a totally different festival.
How are Bestival and Camp Bestival similar and different
from a brand perspective?
Our ship (The Port) is a big set that’s in for both shows.
For Camp Bestival it’s lighter and there’s a stage. It’s more
personable. We do a lot more illustrative work for Camp
Bestival. Coming into Bestival, however, those characters
are taken off and it becomes a big dance station. There’s a
host of totally unique content across both events and it’s
amazing to see the changes over the few days in-between
the events.
How is the Lulworth site working for Bestival?
You think you know a site having worked here for so
long. I’ve been at all 11 Camp Bestivals, which are held here
at Lulworth, whereas Bestival only made the transition
last year. There were definitely traffic issues during last
year’s Bestival build period, but this year we’ve added new
entrances and improved the accessibility. There so much
texture, hills and woodland here, and our aesthetic slots
in really well.
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