A new locally based arts festival is running essay and photographic competitions which will be open only to Enfield residents or students at schools in the borough.
Grave of Charles and Mary Lamb in the churchyard of All Saints EdmontonThe week-long Lamb Festival will be held at All Saints Church in Edmonton starting on 31st May. It will celebrate two of Edmonton's most famous residents - the 18th Century essayist and poet Charles Lamb and his sister Mary, who was also a writer and collaborated with her brother on many publications. They are buried in a shared grave in the churchyard of All Saints, not far from their former home in Church Street.
In 1807 Charles and Mary Lamb published Tales from Shakespeare, a book written for children which has never been out of print since. The photographic competition therefore takes Shakespeare plays as its subject matter - entrants are asked to submit a photograph on one of the themes "As You Like It" or "A Winter's Tale".
The essay competition challenges entrants to write their own essays using the title of one of two Charles Lamb essays - either "A Chapter on Ears" or "Saturday Night". The judges will be looking for an essay which is rich in originality of thought, humour and humanity - precisely the qualities for which Charles Lamb's writing was famous.
There will be three categories for each of the competitions: Open (for adults residing in Enfield), Primary Schools and Secondary Schools.
The prize in each of the three categories of the photographic competition, sponsored by the Aylward Academy, is £100. For the essay competition, sponsored by the Charles Lamb Society, the prizes will be £50 plus a £10 book token.
Both competitions are open to adults living in the London Borough of Enfield and children attending schools in the Borough. The deadline for entry in both cases is 1st May 2014.
Full details of the rules for both competitions are included on the entry forms, which can be downloaded from the links below:
Information about the Festival can be found on the All Saints website and on a special Facebook page. The programme includes a puppet show, an illustrated talk about Charles and Mary, a poetry event, an organ recital, a walk led by tour guide Joe Studman and a concert by the King's Hospital Choristers.
