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.