Hull's 2016 Freedom Festival programme revealed
More than 100,000 people are expected to attend the three-day event in the city in September.
Details of Hull's 2016 Freedom Festival have been revealed.
September's three-day arts and culture event will feature over 200 acts and attractions - and for the first time will see a wired aerial theatre show taking to the citys' skies.
It's expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors to the city - setting the stage ahead of Hull 2017.
Mikey Martins, chief executive and artistic director, Freedom Festival Arts Trust said:
“We’ve brought together a vastly eclectic programme, which is very family-friendly while pushing boundaries in exploring and expressing freedom as a concept. It aims to get audiences talking and challenging and celebrating, and there truly is something in the programme for everyone.
“We hope that families - indeed all visitors - will come and enjoy the daytime attractions and stay for the varied, surprising evening programme, including the night time spectaculars, to really experience the action from beginning to end.
“We’re massively excited to share details of this year’s festival and give a flavour of what can be expected, and there are still many more highlights to be revealed.”
Martin Green, Director and CEO of Hull UK City of Culture 2017, commented:
"The festival goes from strength to strength, reinforcing Hull's reputation as a great city for culture."
Graham Chesters, chair of Freedom Festival Arts Trust’s Board of Trustees said:
“We’re very proud of this year’s hugely varied programme, which brings together artists from across the world, and supports new work by emerging artists too, to celebrate and help take forward Wilberforce’s legacy. It promises to be an unmissable weekend in our city, as exciting as ever but with some exciting new twists.”
A selection of 2016 programme highlights includes:
AS THE WORLD TIPPED BY WIRED AERIAL: Combining dramatic film and visuals with breath-taking aerial performance, As the World Tipped confronts the issue of ecological disaster with spectacle, black humour and emotion. The show will be held in Hull’s Albion Street car park on the Saturday evening of the festival, drawing crowds of thousands.
BRITISH SEA POWER: Labelled ‘the best band in Britain’ by Sunday Times, Q magazine and numerous other media, BSP bring their astonishing live set of ‘stadium-sized melodies and exquisite song writing’ to Freedom Festival.
DANBOR TALKA (CLASH OF DRUMS): this dramatic spectacular signifies a clash of cultures between French ‘pyro musicians’ Les Commandos Percu and Basque company Deabru Beltzak. Sparks will fly; expect collision, friction and percussion on Freedom Festival’s opening night before the two come together in music and a whirlwind of colour. Fifteen local drummers will perform in the show alongside the two international companies.
ELIZA CARTHY AND THE WAYWARD BAND: Renowned folk star Eliza has created an all-star band, featuring some of the finest folk musicians of recent times, to present new traditional material alongside contemporary songs - for a sound unlike anything else.
HOT BROWN HONEY: With set, lighting, music and costume to rival Beyoncé at Madison Square Garden, this stellar female posse - brought together by Samoan dancer and choreographer Lisa Fa'alafi - smash gender stereotypes in a daring celebration of similarities and differences.
MOTIONHOUSE PRESENTS UNDERGROUND: Leading UK dance company Motionhouse creates 4D spectacles, mixing elements of circus and acrobatics with contact choreography. Performed by four dancers within a rocking tubular structure, Underground uses dance, poignant imagery and surprising aerial encounters.
PLUNGE BOOM PRESENTS THE ALLOTMENT AND THE VEGETABLE NANNY MAKE & TAKE WORKSHOP: Created by Ben Faulks (CBeebies’ Mr Bloom), Plunge Bloom presents a quirky, interactive installation and workshop, inviting festivalgoers of all ages to get kitted out with gloves and trowels for some unusual ‘childcare’ duties.
SILENCE BY TEATR BIURO PODRÓŻY: a hard-hitting, beautiful theatre show staged in Hull’s Zebedee’s Yard, featuring stilts, fire, water and powerful imagery. Silence depicts the continuing story of refugees and migrants caught up in war. A new co-commission between Freedom Festival, Hull 2017 and Greenwich+Docklands International Festival.
THE PEOPLE’S TOWER BY OLIVIER GROSSETÊTE: Assembled with only human power and cardboard boxes galore, The People’s Tower will bring festivalgoers together in Queens Gardens on the Sunday of the festival to create an enormous structure based on a yet-to-be-revealed Hull landmark. Everyone is invited to create something extraordinary, and join in the celebration of knocking the tower down again.
WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT BY NASSIM SOLEIMANPOUR: Imagine being 29 and forbidden to leave your country; Iranian writer Nassim Soleimanpour dissects the experience of a generation in this internationally-acclaimed production. WRRR is performed by a different actor each time, with no rehearsal and no director; previous performers have included Whoopi Goldberg, Alan Cumming and Cynthia Nixon.