The Fresh Air Festival of Outdoor Arts is making a welcome return to Brightlingsea on Sunday September 10th.
After a hugely successful launch last year, when 1500 people attended the Promenade Way event, FAF is back with an even bigger programme featuring world class acrobatics, slapstick silliness – and two enormous seagulls.
FAF Director and Brightlingsea resident Cassie Catchpole said: “This year we’ve got a whole host of new and exciting street theatre for all generations to enjoy. I can’t wait to see them and I can’t wait for everyone else to see them too!”
Brightlingsea councillor and Tendring Council portfolio holder for leisure & public realm Mick Barry added: “FAF makes a welcome return to Brightlingsea after a fantastically successful event last year. It showcases performing arts with skill, imagination and humour providing spectacular entertainment for all. Do not miss it!“
The project is made possible by grants from Arts Council England, The Essex County Council Arts & Culture Fund, Essex Path to Prosperity, Brightlingsea Winterfest & Hervey Benham Charitable Trust.
Among the acts this year will be:
Farm Yard Circus – a nine-piece acrobatics group juggling with hay bales, wheelbarrows, a tractor tyre, and even an old scarecrow;
Do What Yah Mother Told Ya by Just More Productions – a joyous journey of plate spinning, food juggling and fire blazing;
The Maniax by MarkMark Productions -based on an amazing Houdini-style escape, the show is packed with stunts, illusions and great comic routines.
The Whale – Circo Rum Ba Ba invites you to squeeze into a 50ft inflatable sperm whale to encounter a shipwrecked pirate and a real live mermaid.
There’ll also be walkabout acts including a mechanical dragon, human-sized seagulls, slapstick firemen and shanties from Brightlingsea’s Motley Crew.
Craft activities will be organised by local makers and in the lead up to the festival, mosaic artist Anne Schwegmann-Fielding will work with the local community to create an ornamental mosaic dinghy to be placed in Springmead Gardens.
If you’d like to get involved there are lots of opportunities. FAF is looking for volunteers to help deliver the event on the ground. Interested parties can contact [email protected]
For more information visit the website at www.freshairfestival.co.uk or follow the festival on Facebook and Instagram.
