Hubbub Plan To Share the Love At Derby Festé 2018
Derby-based Hubbub Theatre Company has clinched support to create a new promenade street theatre show that will be seen for the first time at this September’s Derby Festé.
Hubbub is an integrated ensemble of performers with and without moderate learning disabilities.
They have been awarded the annual Derby Festé commission and are currently developing their innovative show entitled ‘The (not so) Quiet Revolution of Kindness’ which they will perform in the Cathedral Quarter on Saturday September 29 – the final day of the festival.
The show is inspired by the Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) and Pay It Forward movements which are both taking the world by storm via social media – promoting kindness, compassion and love with simple acts and good deeds.
Hubbub’s performers will begin the revolution at the Cathedral and then march into the Market Place on Saturday afternoon performing a show on the Waterfall Stage that combines movement, non-verbal physical theatre, acro-balance and circus - accompanied by original, live music.
Crowds gathering to watch and following the promenade will be presented with sunflower seeds which are the emblem of the day - signifying warmth, positivity and kindness.
Hubbub are also reaching out to the local community for RAKtivists to help Derby become awash with Sunflowers on the lead up to Derby Festé, requesting help from local schools, community and craft groups to make, knit, bake and decorate sunflowers that can adorn shops and the streets, along the route and surrounding area, spreading the revolution of kindness.
Hubbub’s Artistic Director Jen Sumner said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the Derby Festé Commission which has given us the opportunity to develop this unique street theatre show.
“The show will be very visually striking with vibrant costumes designed by Maria Terry worn by our actors as they perform the show, which combines physical theatre, acro-balance and circus skills, accompanied by live music along a route adorned with stunning sunflowers.
“Our message through this show is that a simple act of kindness can not only change someone’s day, but their outlook on life, which has wider social impacts on the community as a whole.
“Handing out sunflower seeds on cards will demonstrate this very simply and the recipients’ task will then be to grow the sunflowers and give them to somebody who does not expect it.
“The skill, agility and expressive talents of Hubbub Theatre Company will also illustrate just what individuals can achieve, regardless of the challenges they face.
“We want to leave the Derby Festé crowds uplifted and hopefully inspired to follow their dreams and make a positive different to their own lives and those around them.
“Anyone who wants to join our team of RAKtivists and make sunflowers to decorate the route and spread the revolution of kindness message can join our Crafivist team by contacting the Hubbub office on: 01332 742 587 or by emailing info@hubbubtheatre.org .”
Hubbub is working with a wide range of renowned artists to create the show including Circo Media alumni Cat Boot who specialises in devising work that combines circus and physical theatre, local costume and prop designer Maria Terry, composer and musician Matt Marks, and circus artists Rosy Roberts and Matt Wood.
Stephen Munn is Derby Festé Artistic Lead and Artistic Director of Déda in Derby which is a nationally-renowned centre for dance, contemporary circus and outdoor performance.
He said: “Hubbub is an incredible theatre company and we were keen to support their fantastic plans which will bring something new and innovative to the street entertainment on the final day of Derby Festé.
“Their show incorporates circus which is our theme this year and celebrates the 250 years of this popular genre of entertainment from dance and music to thrilling acrobatics and sideshows.”
The show ‘The (not so) Quiet Revolution of Kindness’ will be just one of the many highlights at Derby Festé which has been extended to three days for the first time this year on Thursday 27, Friday 28 and Saturday 29 September.
Derby Festé is inspired by the nationwide 250 years of Circus – marking the milestone anniversary of the first circus performance near London’s Waterloo in 1768 by showman Philip Astley.
The festival kicks off on Thursday night at Bass’ Recreation Ground with the first of three performances of an exciting and exhilarating circus by French company, Circa Tsuica.
Presented by Crying Out Loud, ‘Now or Never’ will run on Thursday, Friday and Saturday early evenings and is billed as a reinvention of circus traditions for the 21st century. Tickets are limited for each show and are priced at just £10 each.
Friday night will see the opening of the Jon Marshall’s traditional 1950’s Side Shows on the Market Place alongside the virtual reality piece, ‘VR Playground’ by Thrill Laboratory.
The live performance will be courtesy of French company Cie Dyptik who will thrill the crowds with their energetic hip-hop dance performance ‘D Construction’ staged around metal scaffolding.
On Saturday, the streets will burst to life from 11am with a circus procession through St Peters Quarter and the Cathedral Quarter - trumpeting the start of street entertainment performance across the city centre including live music, circus performances, dance, and some incredible characters.
The Saturday evening starts with a mesmerising parade ‘FierS á Cheval’ which is a company of beautiful larger than life glowing white horses winding through the Cathedral Quarter.
The parade will finish in the Market Place where visitors can then enjoy light projections dancing on the buildings in a finale to celebrate 10 years of QUAD.
Meanwhile, the city's popular Bustler Market will bring street food and drinks from around the world at Riverlights and the Market Place on Friday evening, and all day on Saturday.
Derby Festé is produced and presented by Déda, Derby LIVE, QUAD and Derby Theatre in association with the Without Walls Associate Touring Network. Without Walls is the UK’s largest commissioner of outdoor arts shows, taking inspiring new work to audiences all over the country and beyond.
Festé is funded by Arts Council England and Derby City Council, with sponsorship from the University of Derby, Smith Partnership, Cathedral Quarter and Intu Derby.
For more information about Derby Festé please head to www.derbyfeste.com and tickets are available now for ‘Now or Never’ by Circus Tscuia at www.deda.uk.com/whats-on/circa-tsuica-now-or-never.