THE UK's leading street arts festival is back and 2007 is its 20th birthday.
Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) is widely recognised as helping to raise the profile of street theatre and outdoor performance across the country.
SIRF 2006 was, this year, crowned best cultural event in the North East at the inaugural Journal Culture Awards. SIRF was also named best event in Tees Valley with the Fringe Festival runner-up!
This year SIRF will take over the streets of Stockton Town Centre from Wednesday, 1 August to Sunday, 5 August.
The five-day summer programme will again profile the finest outdoor theatre, street entertainment, circus and dance by performers from across the globe - including plenty of homegrown British talent.
SIRF will be complemented by the Fringe Festival and this year the Riverside will play host to headliners The Ordinary Boys, Badly Drawn Boy and Echo and the Bunnymen, as well as a great line up of local bands.
SIRF kicks off on Wednesday, 1 August with Irish aerial company Fidget Feet and their performance Wired and Free on Stockton High Street.
Nutkhut's Bollywood Steps takes centre stage on Stockton High Street from Thursday through to Sunday. You will be transported to the world of Bollywood with a team of exquisite dancers dressed in dazzling array of costumes.
Bollywood Steps tells the tale of boy meets girl, courtship and marriage using spectacular water and lighting effects and pyrotechnics.
Parish Gardens will once again present a number of relaxed, family friendly pieces throughout the weekend, including performances from British companies Aswarm and Dodgy Clutch.
The hugely popular Carnival will be the biggest ever this year with 1,000 participants taking part. The theme is All Aboard - Don't Miss the Train!
Each carriage will take you on a journey of Stockton through its industrial past.
The Carnival starts at noon on Saturday, 4 August and will make its way along the High Street to Trinity Gardens.
SIRF 2007 will end in spectacular style as the world's leading fireworks company provides the pyrotechnics for the finale on Sunday, 5 August.
Aerial Theatre company Grupo Puja will make their first visit to Stockton for the finale. Enjoy an intense physical performance from the Spanish and Argentine performers. The finale starts at 10pm on Stockton High Street.
France's Group F will then transform the High Street with flame projectors, moving flame machines, pyrotechnic stilt performers and of course something in the air for a fitting end to SIRF 2007!
Councillor Mary Womphrey, Stockton Council's Cabinet Member for Arts, Leisure and Culture, said: "SIRF really puts Stockton on the map and it is a wonderful testament that the Festival is celebrating its 20th year and is stronger than ever."
Frank Wilson, SIRF's Artistic Director, said: "It has been a long journey since the Festival started 20 years ago and SIRF has played its part in raising the profile of street arts and outdoor theatre in the UK.
"SIRF has always been a fantastic vehicle for promoting international work and this year we will welcome performers from France, Germany, Belgium and Argentina and Spain. We will also be showcasing some of the UK's leading street arts companies." For full SIRF details including a day-to-day listing of events log on to the website at www.sirf.co.uk
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