Leytonstone in east London is celebrating a free event honouring a local resident, Stuart Freeborn, for his contribution to the Star Wars trilogy. The event will be held on next Saturday (5 December) with an army of Stormtroopers arriving and also a screening of the film- Star Wars: A New Hope, which will be from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. The event will take place outside The Heathcote Arms from 1:15pm onwards. Other costumed characters from the Star Wars trilogy, themed talks and an art exhibition will be hosted at the free event.
Leytonstone-born Stuart Freeborn who grew up in Grove Green Road, did some of his famous work for 2001:A Space Odyssey. Stuart Freeborn, the British make-up artist, is generally regarded as the creator of the character Yoda, after modelling the appearance of the Jedi master with Albert Einstein plus his own features. He died at the age of 98, in February 2013.
Urban artists Wood Street Walls created the specially commissioned Star Wars themed mural that will be publicly revealed for the first time at the free event. Deputy Leader of Waltham Forest Council, Clyde Loakes, said he hoped that this event would be a fitting tribute to the man who played key role in what became one of the biggest film franchises ever. He opined that with the next release in the Star Wars saga almost here, there couldn’t be a better time to celebrate this great life, talent and work.
