2010 is the 23rd year of Stockton International Riverside Festival.
From small beginnings - Circus Burlesque’s slightly shambolic big top show was the centre-piece of the first Stockton Riverside Festival in August 1988; the festival has grown into the internationally famous event of today that attracts thousands of spectators.
In 23 years there have been many changes, not only to the landscape of Stockton and its festival but also to national context in which the festival operates.
Highlights for SIRF 2010 include a welcome return of the Spiegel tent, Without Walls companies Akademi, Fuel, Gravity & Levity, Ragroof, Luci Gorell Barnes, Prodigal, Wired Aerial Theatre, Kuljit Bhamra and Pen-Ultimate. The Ping-Pong project delivers exciting French acts Les Apostrophes, Ex Nihilo, Les Ateliers, Marcel Poudre and Cie 1 Watt. Atempro Circ deliver an exciting mix of dance, music and contemporary circus, whilst SIRF favourites Pif-Paf, Orkestra Del Sol and Metro Boulet Do Do make a welcome return. Polish Dance Theatre, StopGAP, Bash Street Theatre, Commandos Percu, Compagnie Aldebo, The Strangelings, Bad Taste Cru, Cirqu’lation and Wet Picnic ensure that the festival is packed with thought provoking and awe-inspiring acts.
Stockton International Riverside Festival has always been at the forefront of the development of the Street Arts sector in the UK and we want to continue to take a leading role at this exciting time when, in the context of the 2012 Olympics, organisers of major events will have every opportunity to call on artists based in this country to deliver iconic, transformational moments.
With all this fantastic activity on offer, it’s easy to see that the Stockton is the place to discover new trends in outdoor arts this summer.
