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New festival for Skegness is SO exciting!

A new festival is coming to Skegness, SO 2009

With the first ever performance of the fabulous fire show “Full Circle” on a beach, crowds will be entertained by internationally renowned ‘The World Famous’ and Slovenian musicians Terrafolk, before the 2009 illuminations are switched on by radio DJ, Eddie Shaw, a special celebrity guest and the Mayoress of Skegness.

Alongside this premiere performance there will be a  host of  entertainment including: comedians, opera, cabaret and community workshops.

The two day event on 24 and 25 July 2009 is part of ‘Skegness Organises’, a wide-reaching programme of cultural, sporting and community events in the area. This event is funded by Arts Council England as part of their commitment to support fantastic arts events.

Everyone in the district and beyond, young, old and in between, can come along, watch some shows and get involved in the numerous workshops.

The festival launches on Friday 24 July 2009 with a Berlin-style cabaret -‘Kabaret’ -  featuring the return to Skegness of internationally renowned singer Mary Carewe, and a seven piece band from sinfonia ViVA, the celebrated East Midlands based orchestra.

Also on the Friday will be an evening of fantastic comedy, led by Mitch Benn, winner of Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Competition and a BBC radio regular.

He will be supported by three acts: Steve Hall, Alistair Barrie and Ray Peacock.

Saturday 25 July sees a host of community events between10.00am and 3.30pm in Tower Gardens and on the beach with something for all the family.  It’s a chance for young and old to get together and learn some fun new skills from circus juggling to clowning.

Children from seven upwards and their families can take part in various workshops themed around the circus skills and clowning. These will take place in the Big Top in the Tower Gardens and willinclude activities such as juggling, plate spinning, stilt-walking, unicycling and mime. The workshops cater for all visitors so everyone will be welcome. They will finish with a 40 minute performance in the Big Top.

Teenagers are also catered for as East Lindsey’s Funk Bus will be in Tower Gardens on Saturday 25 July between 10.00am and 4.00pm. With equipment such as a Play Station 3, X box 360, Nintendo Wii, Wii Fit Dance Mat, large plasma TVs, computers with internet access, a music juke box and an arts corner, it may be difficult to keep them away! This state of the art, wheelchair friendly mobile centre which tours remote villages, provides plenty to do.

The Saturday evening entertainment  begins with a parade, this year starting at Pier Fields at 6pm and continuing past the Clock Tower onto Tower Esplanade, ending at the beach around 6:45pm. This will involve some of the “old” favourites – the 101 year old Jolly Fisherman enjoying the 2009 season with an even more packed schedule than before.

This is followed at 7pm by a musical adventure of opera and music at the Embassy Theatre.sinfonia ViVA, with special guest Jonathan Ansell, will present an Opera gala, conducted by James Holmes and introduced by Jonathan Kerrigan. Casualty and Heartbeat fans will recognise the Lincoln-born actor, Jonathan Kerrigan. Jonathan Ansell, also a local lad, will be familiar to fans of G4.

For those seeking a comfortable seat indoors, tickets are available from the Theatre Box Office, priced £15 for adults, £14 for concessions and £7.50 for children.

The show will also be relayed to a huge screen on the beach, making it the perfect venue for music lovers to enjoy an atmospheric picnic.

The finale of the evening will be the traditional countdown to the fireworks,  this year on  the beach.

Eddie Shaw’s countdown  will launch the climax of SO 2009 at around 10pm, the ‘Full Circle’.This amazing pyrotechnic  show developed by the internationally renowned The World Famous, are known for their displays at  the Cultural Olympiad show in Dover, with musicians Terrafolk. This promises to be an unforgettable spectacle  telling an exciting story of change through the seasons, through a 45 minute display.

As the crowds make their way from the beach back into the town, they will get their first glimpse of the 2009 illuminations in all their glory. These will remain lit through till dawn, allowing people to enjoy the lights and the nightlife of this vibrant seaside town.

Executive Director, Laura Dyer, Arts Council England, East Midlands says “We are committed to getting great art to everyone, and Skegness is a very special place for many people in the East Midlands and beyond.  With a fantastic variety of entertaining art: from opera to comedy, the spectacular to the small scale, on the beaches and stages of the town, SO 2009 promises to be something really special.  We’re hoping it is so successful that there will be a demand for it to happen again next year’.

Councillor Doreen Stephenson,  Leader of East Lindsey District Council commented: “SO 2009 has been developed as an inspirational taster for a larger and more extravagant SO 2010 which is planned for next summer.

July’s two-day festival promises to be a fantastic event and a new entertainment experience, ignitingeveryone’sambitions.  We are all so excited about the festival flavour for this year and look forward to some excellent feedback from audiences to help us shape next year’s extravanganza.”

Article Published: 06/07/2009

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