Corporate entertaining hits the high notes at the Henley Festival 2009
February 2009
The Henley Festival is a fail-safe way to entertain clients, create sales incentives or offer the team a well-earned reward. One Festival night can provide a whole summer's worth of glamour and excitement with stellar performers like Katherine Jenkins taking to the Floating Stage. The Festival takes place the week after the Regatta, between 8th and 12th July, and is now one of the biggest, best-established and best-loved Arts Festivals in the country. Visitors to the 'party of the year' can expect the best in classical music, jazz, opera, comedy, dance, street theatre, rock and firework spectaculars, all accompanied by quality wining and dining in a breathtaking setting on the banks of the River Thames.
This year's fantastic Floating Stage line-up includes the wonderful Katherine Jenkins, a Movie night with Sir Michael Parkinson, John Barrowman and others, a quartet of international opera stars in a Puccini evening presented by James Naughtie, Sunday night party night with The Bootleg Beatles, and a UK first, Broadway magic from the rave-reviewed Three Mo' Tenors. Then there's music in the smaller venues to include: writer and broadcaster John Suchet, the rock world's favourite maestro Ray Gelato, Spanish guitarist Eduardo Niebla, the Radio String Quartet of Vienna, singer/songwriter Rebecca Poole, dance music from Sheelanagig, and jazz from Michael Mwenso and Mishka Adams, plus Kamerunga, an extraordinary Australian band that fuses everything from jazz to rap and rock. Comedy comes in the form of impressionist Jan Ravens, 'the compère beyond compare', Arthur Smith, burlesque with Miss Polly Rae and The Hurly Burly Girlys, sophisticated musical comedy from Tim Fitzhigham and Fascinating Aida, and Rich Hall brings his alter-ego Otis Lee Crenshaw and band to the Riverside Cabaret. Also, unforgettably, there's an affectionate tribute to Dudley Moore led by pianist James Pearson, Director of London's legendary Ronnie Scott's.
And a big part of the 'Henley Experience' is the hospitality - with a magnificent dinner being offered in Roux's La Scala and Riverside Restaurants and more informal dining on offer in the Champagne Terrace and the Italian Piazza. A corporate hospitality package in La Scala includes Grandstand A tickets (which sell out early) and drinks throughout the evening. Clients can enjoy a delicious mix of great sounds, breathtaking scenery and fabulous food. Variety is the order of the night, with a kaleidoscope of performances, each lasting up to 75 minutes. A perfect party night out whatever your taste in entertainment and, as this is a Black Tie event, a chance to be truly glamorous.
And the entertainment doesn't stop at timetabled entertainment and hospitality -creating an atmosphere second to none is the Festival's company of "Roving Eccentrica" - street entertainers providing a quirky surprise at every turn. Added to this is a whole lawn-full of art and sculpture in its unusual setting beside the river and huge firework spectaculars and Australian fire dancers and you have a truly unforgettable corporate experience.
The 2008 Henley Festival runs from 8th-12th July. For booking La Scala, contact Henley Festival Hospitality on 0845 6028987 (email: greg.neame@keithprowse.co.uk).
For reservations in Roux at The Riverside, The Champagne Terrace or early sitting at the Italian Piazza, call 01242 541599 once your Festival tickets are confirmed. For online programme information visit www.henley-festival.co.uk.
The Box Office can be reached on 01491 843404.
Generous sponsors of this year's Festival include: Invesco Perpetual, Westcoast, Laurent-Perrier champagne, Lavazza, Hotel du Vin, Southern Electric.
