We continue our series of Q&As with the people behind Glastonbury’s venues and stages with Poetry&Words organiser Helen Gregory. Once you’ve finished reading, do click here to check out the tent’s terrific 2011 line-up (you’ll find them in Theatre & Circus).

1. How would you describe your area of the Festival to someone who hasn’t visited it before?
Poetry&Words is part of what makes Glastonbury special – more than just another music festival. We have poets to make you laugh, cry and ponder the meaning of life. Most importantly though, we show that poetry can be entertaining, consistently pulling in audiences from the bigger, more well known stages.  Many’s the time we’ve heard festival goers around the tent saying ‘Wow.  I didn’t think I liked poetry, but that was *fantastic!*’

2. Have you made any changes/additions for this year?
Our basic format will be the same (if it ain’t broke …), but we change the line-up round each year. This year we have the marvellous Matt Harvey, Spliff Richard, Anna Freeman and Alfred Lord Telecom (amongst others) all performing for us for the first time. Oh, and we’ve introduced a pre-show with the very talented musician Benita Johnson, to warm up the audience for our poetry spectacular.

3. Which of your acts are you most excited about in 2011? 
Ooh, that’s not fair! I couldn’t possibly choose! All of the artists above are fantastic, plus we have John Hegley, Sound of Rum, Poeticat, John Osborne …

4. Do you have any good food recommendations in and around your area?
The Goan Fish Curry stall is fantastic. This year I may even manage to take time out to sample their kedgeree for breakfast.

5. How/when did you first get involved with the Festival? 
I first worked with Poetry&Words in 2004, when it was under the stewardship of Pat VT West. I’ve been involved in it ever since, and took over running the stage after her sad death in 2008.

6. What’s the best thing about running an area at Glastonbury?
It really is just being able to work together with – and enjoy the company of – a team of very lovely people.

7. And what’s the worst? 
The sheer volume of work!  I start working on the stage in January and continue until September every year – herding poets for all that time is no mean feat.

8. Is there anything outside your area at this year’s Festival that you’re particularly looking forward to?
Wandering around the festival and seeing all the weird and wonderful installations and street acts on offer.  It’s the unexpected pieces of spontaneous art that really make the festival for me.

9. What’s the best performance you’ve ever seen at Glastonbury?
It’s a toss up between Leonard Cohen singing Hallelujah and Richard and Teddy Thompson singing Persuasion.

10. Finally, what’s your top Glastonbury tip for people coming to the Festival for the first time?
Bring biodegradable wet wipes, sun tan lotion and ear plugs; and don’t forget there’s a lot more to Glastonbury than music!

Click here to read more In A Field Of Their Own Q&As

For the second in our new series of Q&As with the organisers of Glastonbury’s fields, stages and venues, we hear from the Acoustic Stage‘s Area Organiser, Stuart Witcombe.

1. How would you describe your area of the Festival to someone who hasn’t visited it before?
The Acoustic field is dominated by our fantastic Kayam tent. It’s a stunning affair with six huge spires reaching over 50 feet into the air. The field has a sort of village green atmosphere, with lots of beautiful flags, and plenty of places to sit down. Quality food can be enjoyed at, probably, the most impressive cafe on site, a two story timber built construction, brought down to Glastonbury every year, called Common Ground. It’s very impressive, and wouldn’t look at all out of place in the Swiss Alps. We even have a cinema tent, it’s a proper cinema too, with an amazing sound system, showing bang up to date movies, some of which are even in 3D. Last, but by no means least, you’re never more that a few steps from a decent pint.

2. Have you made any changes/additions for this year?
We’ve really pushed the boat out on the decor in the main venue this year. It’s always a bit of a challenge because it’s so big, but thanks to the enthusiasm of my decor and lighting people, I think it’s going to look amazing.

3. Which of your acts are you most excited about in 2011?
I’ve always been a big Floyd fan, so top of my list has to be Brit Floyd on Friday night, they’re a really tight band. If anybody wants a glimpse of how good they are, check out this video of their gig in Liverpool on YouTube.

I never listen to gospel music at home, but I wouldn’t miss The London Community Gospel Choir on Sunday. Their musical vibrancy and power is enough to uplift anybody. If you’ve not listened to gospel music live before, they are the best introduction you could possibly get.

Also, Acoustic has always been a launch platform for new bands. It’s worth coming down earlier in the day to get a glimpse of future big names. For example, Newton Faulkner, who is playing on Friday, played at Acoustic before he made it really big. Now he has a huge following.

4. Do you have any good food recommendations in and around your area?
As I mentioned before. You can’t miss Common Ground. It’s a proper building selling good quality wholesome food.

5. How/when did you first get involved with the Festival?
A friend of mine’s father used to run The Acoustic Stage. Back in 1989 I came down on a guest ticket. The day after I arrived I volunteered to help as a gate steward for the stage, and I’ve never missed a year since.

6. What’s the best thing about running an area at Glastonbury?
The crew! They are brilliant. There are a lot of them, and they’re such a mixed bunch, with a massive and diverse skill set. It’s kinda like a random bunch of people, from merchant bankers to farmers, have all run away to the circus. But only for a week or two.

Glastonbury is such a unique event to be involved in. A one off, forged together by years of dedication from everybody who has worked there. And it doesn’t matter what you do there, you can still feel proud that you’re part of what makes it work.

7. And what’s the worst?
There is an incredible amount of red tape to deal with in the months leading up to the Festival. It’s all very necessary to make sure things run smoothly, and everybody is safe. But it really doesn’t feel like ‘Rock n Roll’

8. Is there anything outside your area at this year’s Festival that you’re particularly looking forward to?
You’re joking aren’t you? I barley leave the compound! Having said that, I do sneak next door, to Kidz Field, on the odd occasion. I enjoy a few snatched moments regressing, whist watching some of the wonderful shows for younger festival goers. Don’t tell my crew though, or they’ll know where to find me!

9. What’s the best performance you’ve ever seen at Glastonbury?
Back in 1995 Portishead played at Acoustic. They’d just hit the big time and it was, and still is, the biggest crowd ever seen at The Acoustic Stage. In fact the audience spread out of our 8,000 capacity tent, across the Festival, and out of sight. There were tens of thousands, you couldn’t move for people. It was actually quite scary for a while, and then they started to play Glory Box. 20,000+ people, and you could have heard a pin drop, every single person frozen mesmerised, listening to the music. Nothing else mattered apart from the music. That’s really what The Acoustic Stage is all about, The Music..

10. Finally, what’s your top Glastonbury tip for people coming to the Festival for the first time?
Leave your preconceptions at home. There is no way to describe the Glastonbury Festival experience. When I arrived in ’89 it changed my whole philosophy. People are different, they leave the trappings of modern existence at the gate, and come alive.

It may also be worth doing some sit ups, and facial exercises before you arrive. Hours of belly laughing can really take its toll on otherwise under used muscles.

Click here to read more In A Field Of Their Own Q&As

For the first in our new series of Q&As with the organisers of Glastonbury’s fields, stages and venues, we caught up with Shangri-La‘s Creative Director, Debs Armstrong.

1. How would you describe your area of the Festival to someone who hasn’t visited it before?
Glastonbury’s after-hours pleasure citadel, a warren of Blade-runner style twisting alleys and digital futuristic mayhem hosting over 30 venues. You will get lost and you may not remember much but you will have a good time.

2. Have you made any changes/additions for this year?
The narrative, artists and set evolves every year, we always aim to keep it fresh but last year we ran out of space so we had to go up – welcome to The Skywalk…

3. Which of your acts are you most excited about in 2011?
Can’t tell you. It’s bad enough having 150,000 people headed your way without telling them who to expect when!

4. Do you have any good food recommendations in and around your area?
We call it Picnic Alley, serving those most crucial and oft hard-to-find aspects of night-time festivaling… quality food and a place to sit!

5. How/when did you first get involved with the Festival?
2002 Lost Vagueness, no wait, it was before that, in a surreal little no-name venue in backstage Jazz…

6. What’s the best thing about running an area at Glastonbury?
Coming up with crazy ideas with fun people, then watching all the different parts materialise and become inhabited. Then, bizarrely, hiding from it in order to spend good time with the endlessly fascinating people that create it.

7. And what’s the worst?
That’s the sort of question that makes me sigh. Erm, can I say not being allowed to stay home and watch it on telly? (Ooh, the horror, the delight!)

8. Is there anything outside your area at this year’s Festival that you’re particularly looking forward to?
I’m particularly blinkered I’m afraid and rarely make it outside of the naughty corner, so much to see, so many lovely peeps, too much action for my own good quite frankly.

9. What’s the best performance you’ve ever seen at Glastonbury?
Florence and the Machine, 2006, in the morning in the Guardian Lounge the year before she made it big. So intimate, made me cry.  

10. Finally, what’s your top Glastonbury tip for people coming to the Festival for the first time?
Lose your friends, lose your phone, be sensitive to and follow your gut instinct.

Click here to head over to Shangr-La’s area of the website