THOUSANDS are expected to head to Kirkleatham near Redcar for one of the region’s biggest FREE summer family festivals.
This year Between the Tides will be held at Kirkleatham Museum grounds and Walled Garden on Saturday 23 August and Sunday 24 August and a packed programme of events is planned.
There will be street theatre, puppetry, circus, dance, storytelling, live music, workshops, street food pick and mix market and walkabouts. The hugely popular festival has been created with children and young people from Redcar and Cleveland.
Highlights include:
- Luminarium - a magical labyrinth of light-saturated tunnels and domes in a huge inflatable by renowned creators Architects of Air (small charge for this, available from 21st – 24th August).
- Babylon Gamelan – an incredible 4-metre-high mechanical sound sculpture that invites you to pull, push, strum and drum. Forget ‘Don’t Touch’ – this is all about making as much noise as you can!
- Raggle Taggle Art’s celebration of Northern working-class culture Betty Brownbags - a spectacular interactive show featuring live music, clog dancing, singing and even some sword fighting!
- The Rainbow Butterfly by Elsa Mesma - a beautiful display of aerial circus and graceful contortion combined with dynamic contemporary and Hip Hop dance.
- The Giants Picnic. Tuck in (under the covers) of a super-sized sandwich. Roll with a sausage and jump through doughnuts.
- A premiere performance of Now I Become D/deaf by Tit for Tat. A visual spectacle that celebrates silence, immerse yourself in a world where the loudest actions are lost in translation.
- HandMade Theatre’s Puppet Farm. Come and meet a wonderful collection of loveable animals from the cheeky goat to the giant highland cow.
- Step inside Talking Bird’s mysterious silver OakMobile to meet the Storyteller, whose friend The Robin needs your help to get the world back in balance!
- Get ready to buzz with excitement with No Plan Bee - a brand new vibrant, interactive outdoor show by Society of Strays for families, blending dance, opera, and beatboxing to spark conversations about sustainability.
- Tape That – who combine colourful tape and acrobats to construct a mind-blowing array of objects from DJ decks to a spyglass.
- Lempen Puppet Theatre’s delightful one person puppet shows. Don a diver’s helmet for Riverbed Dive or experience the time travelling box of Darwin’s Workshop.
- Join the party animals forest take over – with a silent woodland disco, costumes to wear and a fabulously themed musical sensory experience.
- Dive into The Big Bubble Bash – a colourful foam party with remixed children’s TV themes from the last 50 years. Discover new versions of old favourites, including beat box Bill & Ben and Afrobeats Andy Pandy. Listen out for your favourite TV show and join the fun!
This year the fun starts early with the first ever Fringe Festival which starts in the run up to the big weekend from Monday 18 August with activities right across the borough.
Free Fringe Festival Activities will include the chance to:
- Join a family dance class with TeesDance at Skelton Family Hub
- Meet Lady Lemon Top for some seaside storytelling and crafts at Loftus Library
- Enjoy some fantastic storytelling with Tees Valley Artist of the Year Umar Butt at Dormanstown Family Hub
- Watch a magical puppet show by Lempen Puppet Theatre Company at Redcar Beach Base and Redcar Library.
- Enjoy creative play with The Giant Picnic by Theatre Hullabaloo at South Bank Family Hub.
Bookings are also being taken this year for a free week-long fun course called Make a Show in a Week with the brilliant Raggle Taggle Arts group at Skinningrove Village Hall. It will take place from Monday 18 August to Friday 22 August from10am to 4pm each day and covers everything from songwriting to making costumes. Email events@redcar-cleveland.co.uk to book your free place.
Cllr Carrie Richardson, Cabinet Member for Climate and Culture, said: “This is a truly joyous festival that’s all about fun. We’ve had families coming and asking about it coming back all year. There’s an educational side too with a lovely message about loving our wildlife and environment. It’s no wonder it attracts people from right across our region. And it’s free too. Grab the kids and head over!”
The festival has been funded by the Arts Council with support from Without Walls and programmed by the Events Team at Redcar & Cleveland Council.
For more details on the programme please visit www.redcarcleveland.co.uk/enjoy/between-the-tides-festival
Parking will be free on Kirkleatham Showfield. Please note, Kirkleatham Walled Garden parking will be for blue badge holders only and Kirkleatham Museum parking closed.