“The Orpheus Centre’s annual music and arts festival that celebrates inclusivity, creativity, and community is back!” says event fundraiser Megan Robson. “Orphest is all about creating a warm, welcoming and vibrant space — a calmer, more engaging alternative to traditional summer festivals, where everyone can enjoy live music, the arts, and the very best local food and drink.”
Now in its fourth year, the Orpheus Centre’s annual community festival will be taking place on Saturday, 21 June in the beautiful grounds of the college in Godstone.
“The stages will feature a variety of local bands and musicians, including some talented Orpheus staff and students, but the music won’t be crazy loud,” Megan continues. “It’s a very relaxed day: you can get up and dance if you want to, or you can just sit on a haybale with a drink in the sunshine and enjoy everything that’s going on around you.”
Orphest will have two main stages, including the college’s own accessible stage. Victoria Maidment, the college’s events and outreach assistant, says that there will be one extra-special performance this year.
“Some of our students took part in an event at Alexandra Palace in March, where they presented a really empowering piece called ‘I Am Who I Am’. They will be developing that further for Orphest, and it will be joyous for them to bring it to a new audience.”
“We have a fully accessible stage in the barn, so any student who wants to do some kind of act, can,” continues Megan. “This particular showstopper piece features a subtitled video in the background, so students who would rather not stand up in front of an audience can still be part of the performance.”
The barn will also be the site of the Student Takeover, where they are completely in charge of the output during that time.
“This is the students’ festival – we want them to be as involved as possible. During breaks on the main stage their in-college radio station Rocket Radio will be playing, and our television channel OTV will be involved too.”
“We’ve asked our students to provide refreshments on the day as well,” says Victoria, “which ties in nicely with the enterprise work they do in the college’s Creative Arts Cafe.”
In addition, Orphest will feature workshops, including ones run by Monkey Music, Autism All Stars and Basketball for All, plus a variety of stalls selling artisan crafts and food.
“There is also a Kids’ Zone with lots of creative and imaginative activities for little ones, a collective art piece for everyone to be part of, face painting, a tarot reader and a chill-out sensory area,” adds Victoria, “And Whoop Dance Fitness will be on hand to keep the energy levels up!”
When: Saturday, 21 June 2025 (13:00 – 20:00)
Where: The Orpheus Centre, North Park Lane, Godstone, RH9 8ND
Tickets: £15 per person. Concessions £10, with one carer ticket free. Under-12s free. A group ticket for four adults is £45.
Visit orpheus.org.uk/event/orphest-2025 to book your tickets.
If you are interested in running a stall at Orphest 2025, please contact Megan Robson on Meganrobson@orpheus.org.uk.
Competition time!
Orphest 2025 is giving four free festival tickets to one lucky Tandridge Independent reader! To enter the competition, simply email competition@tandridgeindependent.com with your name and phone number or follow our Instagram page and like and comment on our Orphest post.
