Henham Park Estate, Beccles, Suffolk, NR34 8AN Thu 12th to Sun 15th July 2012 Tickets on sale HERE

Latitude is delighted to announce that Sadler’s Wells will present an excerpt from the hugely popular Sadler’s Wells Production, The Most Incredible Thing on The Waterfront Stage, adding to a diverse and exciting dance line-up. A collaboration between pop legends Pet Shop Boys and choreographer/director Javier De Frutos, The Most Incredible Thing won the Evening Standard’s inaugural Beyond Theatre Award after its premiere in 2011, and recently enjoyed a return run at the theatre this Spring. “Britain’s favourite choreographer” Matthew Bourne returns to his roots in a programme of early hit pieces that launched the career of and saw the birth of the style, wit and sheer entertainment that have become hallmarks of the New Adventures company today. Spitfire – An advertisement divertissement (1988) was Bourne’s first hit and something of a signature piece and will be performed at Latitude on Sunday. On Saturday night The Waterfront Stage will also play host to the premiere of spectacular new dance production Flash Mob before it goes on a nationwide tour in 2013. The show features your favourite dancers from a variety of shows including Got To Dance, So You Think You Can Dance and Move It Like Michael Jackson.

In the Film and Music Arena Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller and co-director Nick Abraham present their new film The Bruce Lacey Experience. Three years in the making, the film examines Lacey’s remarkable legacy as a painter and sculptor, an avant-garde filmmaker and an all-round cultural chameleon. The screening will be followed by an intimate Q&A with Jeremy Deller. The Royal Albert Hall arrives at Latitude presenting the innovative and avant-pop classical violinist Hahn-Bin in the Film & Music Arena, an excellent addition to the increasingly diverse musical programme on offer at the festival. One of the world’s most exciting and original classical musicians, Hahn-Bin is not only a prodigious talent but a style visionary who recently graced the cover of fashion bible i-D Magazine. Born in Seoul, Korea in 1987, Hahn-Bin began playing violin age five and made his international debut at the Grammy Awards age 12, before studying at the prestigious Juilliard School with Itzhak Perlman. Following his New York debut at Carnegie Hall in October 2009, The New York Times called him "inspired, bracing and innovative" and his performance at Latitude is set to be one of the standout events of the summer. Hahn-Bin launched The Renaissance of Classical Music in March 2010, a project which aims to bring the quarantined musical genre into mainstream culture.

Other new confirmed artists set to perform in this arena will be Birds Eye View Springs 2012 who will present Mary Pickford’s Sparrows with live accompaniment by Aristazabal Hawkes (of The Guillemots fame) and her band. Blending comedy, melodrama, action and horror this superb Pickford Production is based around a squalid baby farm in the heart of a hideous swap. Third Angel will be bringing their Cape Wrath production to Latitude, the company is known for making entertaining and original contemporary performance that speak directly, honestly and engagingly to the audience. With Third Angel’s productions encompassing performance, theatre, live art, installation, film, video art, documentary, photography and design, Latitude’s Film & Music Arena is an ideal place to watch this.

WordTheatre’s fifth year headlining the Literary Arena at Latitude will feature sexy, funny, moving, embarrassing and poignant contemporary short stories penned by the masters of short fiction in America and the UK and brought to life by a spectacular line up of renowned actors including; Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens, Bond Girl Gemma Arterton, Diana Vickers fresh from the West End, Game of Thrones actorGethin Anthony, The Awakening’s Lucy Cohu and Emma Rigby from Brit soap Hollyoaks.

Elsewhere in the Literary Arena, Deborah Moggach author of the The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which has recently been released as a film with Judi Dench and Bill Nighie, will read from her new novel In The Dark. The German English Girl author Jake Simons will read an exclusive extract from his next book which he is still writing so be sure to get a sneak preview this summer. Fast Show comedian Simon Day will read from his comic memoirs, while Ian Marchant will talk about what people get up to at night with extracts from his new book Something of the Night. Ben Johncock will read from his debut novel The Long Delirious Burning Blue while graphic novelists Simone Lia & Karrie Fransmanwill lead a graphic novel sketch workshop for all those aspiring graphic designers. David Prudhomme presents his graphic novel Rebetiko for Latitude’s literary audience, named by Lire as the “best graphic novel of 2010” there will also be a live performance of the story which celebrates the lives and culture of the persecuted Rebetiko. Graphic novel illustrator I.N.J. Culbard, whose work includes illustrating a modern version of H.P. Lovecraft’s At The Mountains Of Madness, will form part of the line-up alongside animator, filmmaker, graphic novelist and the host of the H.P. Lovecraft literary podcasts Chris Lackey.

On Sunday in the Literary Arena Tom Watson, Labour MP and anti-Murdoch campaigner, Rosamund Urwin, Evening Standard columnist and feminist and Ian Birrell, Daily Mail columnist and General Election speech writer for PM David Cameron, will come together to take part in a live debate “What’s the Big Idea” organised by Instigate Debate. The topic for the debate will be chosen by Latitude festival goers. In the lead up to the Sunday night debate, Instigate Debate will interview as many of the 40,000 Latitude festival goers as possible and ask them for unique idea to change for the better. Four ideas will be chosen and debated by the panel. A truly one off lively event not to be missed!

The Literary Arena will be hosted by a variety of comperes across the weekend – Matt Ford, Laura Carr, Joe Wells, Suzi Ruffell, Ivo Graham and Joel Dommet will all take their turn to keep you thoroughly entertained between acts.

Joining Jack Dee, Brian Cox, Tim Minchin and others in the Comedy Arena will be stand up sensation and Never Mind the Buzzcocks team captain Phill Jupitus. Multi award-winning, five star, fringe sell-out, mind reader who can’t read minds, Chris Cox will be wowing crowds with his new show Fatal Distraction and  revered Canadian stand-up Tony Law will be regaling audiences with his time travelling exploits in the company of his infamous sausage dog.

In Pandora’s Playground, the Pacitti Company presents a durational performance of Flags Flying to accompany the screening of the film: On Landguard Point – A film about home, at Latitude. Over 2 days, a live public ceremony will take place, where hundreds of flags will be raised displaying the 205 symbols of A People’s Peculiar, accompanied by readings. Collected across 2 years through a mass public research into notions of home, peoples’ contributions from across the East will be heard at Latitude and sent skywards, to signal out to the East and beyond. Lucy Edge will get everyone into yoga as part of the Dance East dance workshops with readings from Yoga School Dropout, followed by teacher Jeff Phenix who will be on hand to stretch camped-out muscles, plus many more workshops including line dancing, lindy hop and Gaga v Beyoncé! To get ready for the Latitude Hoedown at the festival visit the Duckie pop-up Rosette and Gingham workshop where Tim Spooner will help personalise your very own US of A rosette with charms from the wild west whilst wrapping your head in his interpretation of a girly gingham headband.

Over in the Cabaret Arena Duckie has announced that it will be joined at Latitude by some of alternative cabaret’s hottest talent. Actress, socialite, showgirl and Rotherham’s finest export since Paul Shane, Myra Dubios, will be casting a mordant eye over Latitude’s revels, while legendary performance artist Scottee will amuse and confuse the audience in equal measure. UpAndOverIt!, the collaboration between Riverdance alumni, Suzanne Cleary and Peter Harding, and video artist Jonny Reed, will be there to push the art of Irish dancing beyond its limits. And the incredible Hula Boy, Craig Reid, and contemporary dancer turned performance artist H Plewis will also join Duckie. Also joining the full-to-bursting line-up of anarchic entertainers and performers in the Cabaret Arena are The Segue Sisters. A highly praised singing trio inspired by the Andrews Sisters, they bring a cheeky comic twist to a repertoire that takes in everything from ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B’ to Nirvana.

In the Theatre Arena Waifs + Strays in association with the Lyric Hammersmith present an extract from CHAVS: The Demonization of the Working Class, which explores class stigma within Owen Jones’ study on modern Britain featuring a well known cast including Natalie Cassidy, Helena Lymbery and Joseph Thompson. Birmingham Repertory Theatre Company and Stan's Café present The Just Price of Flowers, a play about the 2008 financial collapse, set in 17th Century Netherlands, looking like a Rembrandt, featuring origami and paying homage to the great theatre maker Bertolt Brecht.

Meanwhile in the Poetry Arena polish performance poet Bohdan Piasecki, will join Latitude regular and spoken word artist Mab Jones, performance poet Sophie Robinson as well as the inimitable Mik Artisitc described by the BBC as “Mixing punk, funk and a whole host of familiar songs, Mik's lyrical dexterity and sense of fun makes any gig add up to a manic collision between John Shuttleworth, John Cooper Clarke and Johnny Vegas.” New Voices added to the line-up include Sophie Robinson, Lizzy Dening, Amy Acre, Charlie Dupré, Andrew McMillan, Nic Aubury, Jess Green and Anna McCrory.

The Faraway Forest will play host to the Ebury Library with talks and workshops from Lisa Comfort, Tom Wrighton, Adele Nozedar, Jules Evans, Mark Thomas, Dave Gorman, Suzannah Lipscomb & Matt Sewell and Welsh Theatre group The Undeb Theatre will bring their stunning new production The Welsh Atlantis to Latitude. Home Live Art presents a small but perfectly formed sample of its signature Alternative Village Fete project: a growing collection of performers, artists, craft makers and food producers brought together by Home Live Art to create one-off experiences - each a gloriously anarchic sideways slant on the great British tradition. Embracing all that is a fete...tea, cakes, craft, games, country dancing...but with a serious twist! The Bunting Factory returns to The Faraway Forest in 2012 to give you an opportunity to create a piece of bunting and dedicate it to someone or something that you love; the sound of the sea, the Best Band in the World, your mum, or quite simply a good cup of tea. We will add your triangle to the constantly evolving bunting chain, adorning the forest with your dedications.Microchunk artists Overlap have a reputation for staging beautifully hypnotic audiovisual installations and shows. Re-mixing fragments of history, playing with memory and imagination, fantasy and place whilst reaching audiences through a new form is what they love to do.  Deepfield Echo - Flashing lights and panoramic sound music, faint female voices and phosphorescent glows introduce a midnight teleportation in The Faraway Forest….

New music acts joining the line-up are eccentric songstress Catherine AD, one of the UK's most intriguing artists and a ‘name to watch’ following a series of self-released EP’s via her own Outsiderhood label. Backed by music press across the board, this set is undoubtedly one to categorise as a must see of the 2012 festival season. Next up are Sheffield duo Slow Club, already known for their sweet harmonies and twee-folk, their recent sophomore album Paradise sees them take a somewhat darker direction, with charming results. The guitar licks and upbeat indie-pop of “glam-folk” musician King Charles is sure to please the crowds, as will UK duo and childhood friends Smoke Fairies, their artfully intertwined angelic vocals have intoxicated everyone from Richard Hawley to Jack White. Icelandic sextet Of Monsters And Men, who released their full-length debut My Head Is an Animal recently, promise a set full of boisterously catchy hook-filled indie-pop.
 
And that’s not all! A pioneer of the country’s best new music and a man with impeccable taste, BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens has once again been invited to curate The Lake Stage at Latitude and has done an almighty job in selecting some of the planet’s most exciting new acts. Headline slots go to sonically challenging electro-indie group Clock Opera, whose debut album Ways To Forget was released in April on Moshi Moshi; seven-piece Welsh indie-rockers Los Campesinos!, whose highly praised fourth studio album Hello Sadness is currently doing the rounds; and Swedish anti-folk legends and John Peel favourites Herman Düne will bring the stage to a perfect close with a set full of melodic, romantic songs from their decade spanning career and latest album Strange Moosic.

Other bands hand-picked by Huw to play The Lake Stage across the weekend include Leeds ‘folk-step’ trio Alt-J; ex-Joe Lean & The Jing Jang Jong members and recent Heavenly signing Toy; much hyped nu-folk Warwickshire lass Lucy Rose; the colourful electronic beats and pure pop sensibility of Seye; Richard Hawley-backed Sheffield band The  Crookes; psychedelic freak-folk group Vadoinmmessico; R'n'B-tinted pop from UK producer and recent Warp Record’s signing Kwes; the Spector–influenced hooky guitars of East London trio Weird Dreams; widely-hyped Minneapolis band POLIÇA, who can count Jay-Z as a fan ; Brighton based math-rock trio Tall Ships; NYC based electro-pop outfit Hooray for Earth; Battersea boy and self-described ‘Karaoke Pop’ king Tim Ten Yen; calypso-tinged ethereal  indie from Theme Park; the solid, driving rhythms and anthemic sound of Dublin boys The Cast of Cheers; quirky Welsh songstress Cate Le Bon; “Wales’ answer to Bon Iver”, folk singer Sam Airey and brilliant dark, melodic indie from Birmingham quartet Peace. As announced last week, Latitude is also pleased to confirm that the three local bands chosen by BBC Introducing in Suffolk to open The Lake Stage will be The Soft (Friday), Dingus Khan (Saturday) and Benjamin Bloom (Sunday).  Each band will have the honour of opening The Lake Stage over the three days of Latitude.

DJ’s across the festival weekend include The Lake Stage DJ’s – DJ Felson who continues to make waves as one of Wales' premier DJ’s, BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens, Moshi Moshi DJs who, with years of experience putting out quality independent music on their label and with highly accomplished ears for a good tune or two, will have you guaranteed to get into the festival spirit; plus Rich Thane Editor-in-Chief of The Line of Best Fit, a UK-based independent online music magazine covering the best in new and alternative sounds, there is guaranteed be a song that gets everyone in the mood. In The Woods legendary veteran DJ Norman Jay, arguably one of the finest and most respected DJ’s in the world will bring his Good Times to Latitude to create a perfect alfresco party atmosphere in the Latitude woods this July.