Councillor Dale Heenan (Covingham & Nythe) and Justin Tomlinson MP at the Big Arts Day, Lydiard Park
Justin Tomlinson MP was part of the official opening ceremony on The Big Arts Day, alongside the Mayor Councillor Rex Barnett.
The Big Arts Day saw thousands of people flock to Lydiard Park to celebrate and participate in the arts.
Dance, singing, musical instrument workshops, theatre, opera and musical theatre, street arts, circus workshops, visual art, photography, film and video workshops, a huge digital art finale, arts & crafts, poetry and writing workshops, live music, comedy and well so much more…
From the Beatbullyz playing on the Main Stage, opposite Lydiard House, to local bands performing on the Sugarhill Stage, SALOS bringing Beauty and the Beast to the day, Tanwood, Empire Theatre Company, Judith Hockaday, Janice Thompson, Stage Coach, Music Alive, all putting on performances on the Showcase theatre stage.
Swindon Dance, Cadley Dancers, Hotsteppers, The Friday Night Project, Allsorts, Masters of Dance, Dorcan School and more bringing a whole flavour of dance moves, steps and stunning choreography as well as workshops to get involved in.
Over 20 youth and local bands took to the various stages across the site, including the Alfonz, Matt Kilford, the Beatbullyz and a 15 piece Jazz/Swing band. With a string orchestra, stage combat, Swindon Samba, Dorcan Steel Band and more performing around the park, at every turn there will be something happening. Sponsored by Commonweal School, the Music Service and Sugarhill Festival.
Street theatre from Sixth Sense Theatre for Young People and Stars Under the Stairs – Youth Service Drama Group accompanied a whole host of activities that literally jumped out at you.
Anyone For Tennis? The interactive comedy tennis game, stilt Footballers, Sparky The Robot, the big bad Wolf hiding in the forest, the half man, half goat Satyrs, The acrobatic Bubble Story, Circus Workshop & Stiltbikes and Swerve Dance Company performing when you least expected them to.
With art everywhere, trails in the forest, poetry and storytelling in the Walled Garden and Drum Workshops, The Create Studios Mobile, the Boom Box, Sangita Arts Workshops, theatre workshops by Empire Theatre Company, Rock & Roll Music workshops, Dr Joel musical linguistic workshops, Debutots workshops for young children and spray paint demonstrations in conjunction with Inkspot got you involved in some way.
With a performance of Beauty and the Beast with the full Disney costumes, the first time is has appeared outside of the West End, in front of the House starting off the evening performances, there was something for every member of the family.
Suju nightclub brought a full on Dance Music session in the Dance tent, with sound supplied by LFO, the Comedy tent sponsored by Braydon Forest Theatre with two, 2 hour comedy slots, with Mark Oliver, Ivo Graham, Andrew O’Neill, Ian Stone, David Morgan, Beth Black, Tom Deacon and Tony Law.
Comedy hit the main stage with Mitch Benn in the evening as we all got ready for Time and Tide, a digital spectacular ending the day as Lydiard house literally came alive with images dancing and moving as the house is part of a specially commissioned arts project that you will never have seen before and wont see again.
Justin Tomlinson MP, "Wow, what a fantastic day! With glorious sunshine, the event was a huge success with thousands of people enjoying the huge variety of events, performance, displays and opportunities to get stuck in. All the volunteers who had worked tirelessly to organise event can be exceptionally proud of their efforts - a proud day for Swindon!"
The Big Arts Day Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home !/event.php?eid=129150500456471&ref=ts