Vibrant Derby Comes Alive With Festé Festival Fun
Visitors to Derby city centre on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th September will be treated to a packed programme of contemporary and unique music, dance, street theatre and large-scale installations.
Derby Festé has a national reputation for vibrant, family-friendly outdoor entertainment -designed to bring the city centre streets to life with a Covent Garden style vibe.
The family-friendly festival has been a key feature in the Derby cultural calendar for many years – previously attracting more than 30,000 visitors over the weekend pre-Covid.
This year’s Derby Festé programme features world-acclaimed and exciting up and coming artists with most performances free and some ticketed events.
Highlights of the two-day arts festival including a giant floating heart, a 13-foot Sea Giant puppet and Titan the Robin, as seen on television’s ‘Britain’s Got Talent’.
Derby Festé is produced and presented by Déda, Derby LIVE, QUAD, Derby Theatre and Derby City Council and supported by Derby Cathedral, Derby Museums, Derby Cathedral Quarter, Visit Derby, The Old Bell Hotel and Jury’s Inn. It is funded by Arts Council England and Derby City Council.
Steve Slater is the Artistic Lead of Derby Festé and Director of Déda in Derby which is the city’s nationally-renowned centre for dance, movement and creativity.
He said: “Since 2007, Derby Festé has brought surprise, enlightenment, entertainment and amusement to local communities and visitors alike and last year’s welcome return post-Covid was really well received.
“This year, more than ever, our focus is to bring people back together to enjoy some of the best outdoor street entertainment that has been delighting audiences this summer across the UK and further afield.
“Festé creates a wonderful Covent Garden style atmosphere in the city and is a unique opportunity to watch and wonder, look on and laugh, sit and smile and mingle and make memories.
“I think there will be a real appetite amongst people of all ages and communities to enjoy this cultural celebration and we look forward to the feedback from audiences both in person and across social media platforms.”
There are several ticketed shows with proceeds reinvested back into the local arts organisations.
These are:
The Wing Scuffle Spectacular, Markeaton Park, Friday September 23: 8pm to 9pm and Saturday September 24: 2pm and 8pm
This is a rare chance to enjoy the mastery of Revel Puck Circus - one of the UK’s most exhilarating and leading circus companies - as well as fabulous performances by local companies.
The Wing Scuffle Spectacular is a joyous, high impact circus show including the Cyr wheel, juggling, acrobatics, trapeze, straps, teeterboard, hair hanging, tight wire, clowning and hoop diving.
Performances are BSL Interpreted.
Tickets cost £10 (£5 for those aged under 26) with proceeds supporting local arts organisations
and are available from https://www.derbytheatre.co.uk/theatre/pages/book/535822
Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers, Market Place Marquee, Friday September 23, 9pm to 10.15pm:
Experience the power of heart-pounding rhythms on huge taiko drums, sharp synchronisation and high energy, in a spellbinding performance from Mugenkyo’s tribe of performers from across the globe.
Mugenkyo are Europe’s longest-established taiko group, with ground-breaking cross-genre collaborations, TV, film and recording projects, and thousands of thrilling live performances, captivating audiences worldwide.
Tickets are cost £6 and £5 in bookings of groups of four more people. They are available from https://deda.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873637838
The Drum, Markeaton Park, Saturday 24 September, 12 noon and 3.45pm
An outdoor, fun-filled event performance incorporating drumming, dancing, bunting making and physical theatre.
Derby-based inclusive theatre company, Hubbub, take you on a colourful journey of one boy whose heart’s desire is to have a drum and the adventure he goes on to find one. Booking is essential at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-drum-tickets-395935613077 and Hubbub invites audience members to pay what they can from £5.
Earth Agency: The Turbans supported by the Hoverla Ukranian Dancers, Market Place Marquee, Saturday September 24: 6.30pm to 9.15pm
Supported by the Hoverla Ukrainian Dancers, International legends The Turbans bind together music from ‘many where’ with their interstellar live show which ignites the crowd. Sonically huge and visually arresting, they are a powerhouse of talent, bringing their vibrant and unique sound to audiences who can do nothing more than smile, dance and shout for joy. Tickets cost £6 or £5 for groups of four or more https://deda.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873637839
Displace Studio: Facades, Artcore Saturday 11am to 7:30pm
Inspired by iconic moments from film, Faces is a virtual reality dance experience that uses the architectural features of windows, mirrors and doors as metaphors for duality, reflection and portals.
This surreal ‘VR noir’ presents hauntingly beautiful choreography from unique perspectives, inviting the viewer to step into the frame, move beyond the veneer and take a closer look.
This event is free but please book https://deda.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873638259 for 30 minute slots
Visitors can then look forward to a diverse free programme across the Cathedral Quarter and St Peters Quarter:
Friday September 23
‘Gaia’, Derby Cathedral: 9am to 9pm
Open to the public from 22nd September Friday will] be the first opportunity for Festé fans to visit ‘Gaia’ at Derby Cathedral – a giant artwork created by acclaimed artist Luke Jerram. Measuring seven metres in diameter and created from 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface, ‘Gaia’ provides the opportunity to see the planet in its entirety as it slowly revolves above the nave in Derby Cathedral accompanied by a surround-sound composition by BAFTA award winning composer Dan Jones.
Gaia is programmed in association with Derby Festé and is kindly sponsored by the University of Derby and Cosy Direct.
Free event. Suggested donation £3 per person. Donations go towards the care and work of Derby Cathedral.
Raijin Storm by On Board Arts, St Peter’s Cross to East Street: 5.30pm – 6.15pm
This unique performance incorporates live original music and movement influenced by the Japanese cultural tradition of Taiko. The performance is dynamic, interactive and sometimes comic, moving from St Peter’s Cross, they will then move in and around St Peters Street and East Street. Follow them as they bring rhythm to the streets.
Drumming in the Hall of the Mountain, various city centre locations: 6.15pm to 7.15pm
This performance, created by Stefan Joavanović, merges choreography, live music and installation arts. It invites the audience to consider what together can be when we occupy space and time physically, fictionally and fantastically with creatures and stories from other times and other places.
Dream Engine: Love Art, Cathedral Green: 7.30pm to 8pm
From ancient times to the self-taking digital age, there is one symbol that is recognisable around the globe – the heart.
The performance features a 12.5m high air-filled structure that frames an elegant aerial performer. Fluctuations in pressure cause the heart to slowly pulse. For a sneak preview, visit https://www.thedreamengine.co.uk/our-shows/loveart/#arco-videos-1
The fun continues on Saturday September 24 with a host of free family-friendly entertainment (in time order to help you plan your day):
Make, Unwind Repeat, Cathedral Green: 11am to 5pm
A selection of Derbyshire creatives, hand picked by Furthest from the Sea, will bring activities for families to join in with or sit back and watch including willow weaving, tap dancing, yoga and a creative zone.
Altered Streets’ Street Party, Chapel Street: 11.30am to 5pm
Chapel Street in the Cathedral Quarter will be transformed into a street party full of entertainment for the whole family from Bhangra and Cossack dance workshops to Flowga and belly dancing sessions. There will also be a ‘Something to Talk About’ drop in sessions to have a conversation with someone new.
Autin Dance Theatre: Out of the Deep Blue, walkabout to Riverlights: 11.30am, 2pm, 4.30pm. FREE
The city streets will be taken over by a 13-foot Sea Giant Puppet and a contemporary dancer, inspired by the themes of the climate emergency and the biodiversity crisis. Great for all ages. Catch them as they process through the streets to Riverlights.
For a sneak preview, watch this video: https://youtu.be/x5Lr_i5pypE
Titan the Robot, Cathedral Green: 11.45am, 1.45pm, 3.45pm
This unique blend of comedy, street and music is funny, fast-paced and full of surprises which first captivated audiences on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ https://youtu.be/-2OkptOPVts
Godzillatown, Cathedral Green: 12 noon and 3pm
Monstrous fun for all the family. Collect your Godzilla mask and then enter the 100 square metre city maze.
Quite Unfit For Females, Chapel Street: 12pm and 3.30pm; Déda: 1.30pm and 2.30pm
This new performance celebrates the incredible achievements of the pioneering Lancashire women, The Dick Kerr Ladies, and how they went on to defy a ban on women’s football in 1921, when the FA delivered the bitter blow that football was yes, ‘Quite Unfit for Females’.
2Faced Dance Company: Power, Cathedral Green, 12.45pm and 2.45pm
A fearless dance production explores our relationship with authority and control.
Black Victorians, Riverlights: 12.45 and 3.30pm
This powerful and moving dance performance by Jeanefer Jean Charles is inspired by nineteen century studio photographs of black men, women and children.
Go Girl Workshops, Waterfall, Market Place: 1pm, 2pm and 3pm; St Peter’s Cross: 1,30pm 2.30pm and 3.30pm
Open workshops invite the audience, and especially women and girls, to learn moves from Belly Dance to Flowga as part of the This Girl Can project where free tickets for Déda will also be available.
The Album (Skool Edition), St Peter’s Cross, 1pm and 3pm
Join dance company SAY to celebrate the joy and innocence of making up dances to new music in this outdoor dance show for families which will inspire you to get creative with movement too.
ThrashFesté, Bass’ Rec Skate Park: 1pm to 5pm
TrashFesté, organised by Hooked and Rollersnakes, is an annual skate competition with more than 30 skateboarders showing off their skills and tricks and competing for top prizes. Anyone is welcome to come along and watch or participate.
Family Workshops, QUAD, 1pm to 3pm
Join this family fun workshop as part of QUAD’s #SeasonofPlay programme and work with artist Bruce Asbestos to do personalised screen printing, play games and more.
Trinity Warriors Street Dance Workshop, Déda, Chapel Street: 1.30pm to 3pm
Trinity Warriors Dance Academy invites anyone over the age of six to learn tips and tricks on how to dance.
Our City of Making, Chapel Street: 2pm
Following a 30 minute Bhangra workshop at 1.15pm and followed by a Cossack workshop at 2.45pm enjoy this high energy dance performance by Surtal Arts and Hoverla which brings together two of Derby’s oldest communities – Indian and Ukrainian, powered by fusion choreography and live music.
For more information about all the acts, please visit https://www.derbyfeste.com/ and follow on social media channels #Festé22
