You don’t need direct experience of aerial work but you do need to have a real passion for spectacle and curiosity about what you can do! An experience of dance, circus, theatre or sports could be useful, but is not essential.

This is your chance to be part of Prometheus Awakes – a new outdoor spectacle which will be the main performance of the launch event for Stockton International Riverside Festival 2012 (SIRF) – and the UK’s first ever large-scale outdoor spectacle led by and featuring disabled performers.

Created by Graeae,  the boldly inventive disabled-led theatre company, in collaboration with Catalan masters of visual magnificence, La Fura dels Baus, Prometheus Awakes will be performed initially at the Greenwich +Docklands International Festival in June before the spectacular performance at SIRF in Stockton on 2 August.

We’re looking for people who would be comfortable performing from structures suspended from a crane in a full body harness – this means that you will be fully supported and safe as you fly above the crowds. If you don’t have a head for heights we also need a team of strong people to help animate the giant puppet.

Whether you’re disabled or able-bodied, so long as you’re over 18, you’re more than welcome to apply.

For full details on the role and the event, how to apply, auditioning and rehearsals please contact Helen Averley, at Let’s Circus on 0191 2462836 or Brooke Brown-Adams at TIN Arts on 0191 384 0728. (TIN Arts have been asked to lead on supporting disabled volunteer performers so if you have a disability or specific support needs, please contact TIN Arts directly.)

An opportunity to have-a-go at being suspended in the air at a height will take place on Friday, 25 May at Circus Central, Newcastle and Saturday, 26 May at ARC in Stockton-on-Tees.  Rehearsals will be mid afternoon/evenings on 30 and 31 July and 1 August. The performance itself will take place on Thursday, 2 August in the evening. You need to be available for these dates to apply.

This is an exciting opportunity to become part of the SIRF team. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals with a genuine interest in the festival and in providing excellent customer service. As one of the team, you will have a crucial role in ensuring that everyone who visits the festival has an unforgettable and enjoyable experience.

As an ambassador, you will be the first point of contact for artists and the general public. We are therefore looking for individuals with a natural flair for dealing with people, excellent communication skills and a willingness to respond to visitor queries in a polite and efficient manner. You will have initiative and will be required to think on your feet. As an ambassador you will have a fulfilling and varied role which will involve making lots of people smile!

Stockton Council ensures that all customers, both internal and external receive a consistently high quality level of service.

This vacancy closes at noon on Monday, 21 May 2012.

Salary: £ 7.57 – £7.57 Hourly

Benefits & Grade
Grade C

Contract Details
Casual

Contract Hours
To work as and when required – Wednesday 1 August to Sunday 5 August 2012
Shifts cover mornings, afternoons and evenings between 11 am and 11 pm

Interview Date
30/05/2012

More information is available about this role in the person specification document. If you would like to apply for this post, you can now do so via our Online Application Form, or download an Application Form.

Completed forms can be e-mailed to recruitment@xentrall.org.uk

or posted to:
Xentrall Recruitment Services
5th Floor
Bayheath House
PO Box 891
Stockton on Tees
TS19 1JT

Marking the envelope in the top left hand corner with the post reference number.

Check out our photos from the 2011 Stockton International Riverside Festival and the 2011 Stockton Community Carnival! You can also view this year’s photos.

Pictures from SIRF 2011

Pictures from Stockton Community Carnival 2011

You’ll be able to view or download the print version of the SIRF 2012 Programme Guide shortly.

Watch out for our daily live service during the festival for the latest happenings.

Taking part in carnival is a fantastic opportunity to try something creative, work together as a group with like-minded people and make an important contribution to one of Stockton’s most popular events.  Join the carnival and help us meet our target of 1500 participants – it’s not often that we get the chance to celebrate as a community, so help us make Stockton proud!  There is no age limit to taking part – everyone is welcome.

How can you get involved?

There are lots of ways to take part in carnival – we offer participating groups free workshops in costume-making to create weird and wonderful costumes for the parade.  If costumes aren’t your thing, we offer samba drumming or carnival dance workshops with our local team of musicians and choreographers.  If you are a sports group, we can provide an artist to work with you to create flags or banners for your group to carry in the carnival, or a choreographer to help shape your usual sports activity into a routine that you can use in the carnival parade.  Taking part in carnival doesn’t require any previous experience and is a great way for a group to work together, whatever their age or ability. 

If you are an individual/family who would like to take part, you can join our family costume groups (check back for dates and times) or you can volunteer to help make costumes with our team of artists. Volunteering is also a great way for students or those interested in costume and design to get more experience – it will look great on your CV!

Carnival Finale Performance

We are looking for performance groups to develop short pieces for our finale performance which will take place at the end of the parade in Trinity Green – so if you are a dance, theatre, music, circus group or gymnastics club who could create a piece to perform on stage, then please get in touch.

New for this year – Community Showcase

This year we are extending the carnival celebrations to include a full afternoon of activity on Trinity Green.  This will continue on from the Carnival Finale performance and will be a packed event including workshops, demonstrations and performances by local groups, live music and more.  If you are local group able to offer a performance or workshop, then please get in touch.

What’s in it for you?

Taking part has loads of benefits:

• The opportunity for your groups or families to work together on a creative activity
• FREE workshops in costume-making, dance, drumming. All artist fees and materials covered by Stockton Council
• The opportunity to work with a professional artist(s)
• The chance to learn new skills and develop your creativity in a relaxed and informal environment
• The opportunity to be part of Stockton’s largest community celebration
• Most importantly – it’s great fun!

Participation

If you are a group or individual who would like to take part in carnival, please contact Lyndsey Stephenson on 01642 527696 or email lyndsey.stephenson@stockton.gov.uk.

Volunteering

If you would like to volunteer on this year’s carnival, contact Rachel Willis on 01642 526466 or email rachel.willis@stockton.gov.uk.

The carnival parade will be split into six Olympic-inspired sections: Ancient Olympics, London 2012, In the Stadium, On the Water, In the Park and Global Olympics.

If you are interested in taking part, or are trying to decide which section to sign up to, have a look at the fantastic costume designs by our carnival artists to help inspire you!

Ancient Olympics

London 2012

In the Stadium

On the Water

In the Park

Global Olympics

Want to relive your favourite bits from last year?

Check out our Stockton Community Carnival gallery highlights showcasing the best of last year’s event when the carnival theme was ‘Dare to dream’ then join us for the 2012 event on Saturday, 5 August 2012 as we unleash an Olympic-themed event that promises to be our best yet!