A CELEBRATION of theatre, dance, music, spoken word and visual arts popped up across the city centre on Saturday.
More than 100 artists and organisations joined together to create a day of free arts events for Worcester shoppers as part of Watch Out Worcester.
A number of city venues played host to various forms of performing arts including the Vamos Theatre’s ‘Midwives on Call’ and Dancefest’s ‘Quiet Revolution’.
Watch Out Worcester took place in the final weekend of Dancefest’s Big Dance Fortnight, which saw 700 people take part in dance events throughout Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Despite the frequent showers, more than 100 dancers, artists, performers and musicians entertained, surprised, moved and delighted their audiences.
Watch Out Worcester saw infuseDANCE’s Bodyguards protecting shoppers and passers-by as they guarded the streets of Worcester.
They were joined by Flexus Dance Company, Emily May Dance Theatre, Encompass Collective and Dancefest’s performance companies.
Vamos Theatre’s Midwives on Call and Dancefest’s Quiet Revolution performances appeared around Angel Place, Crowngate and outside the Guildhall.
At St Swithun’s Church, Worcestershire Resource Exchange created an installation made from thousands of paper feathers, all individually cut and made from reclaimed materials.
They were joined by Worcester-born DJ Ed Steelefox, singer songwriter Shiraz Hempstock, and poets Suz Winspear, Susan Wood, Nina Lewis, Kevin Brooke, Polly Stretton, Kathy Gee-Wordstring and Anne Milton.
At Worcester City Museum and Art Gallery, there was a performance inspired by the gallery’s current Celebrity exhibition, using costumes from Imagineer Productions.
Meanwhile Worcester Arts Workshop showcased four new plays by emerging young writers, commissioned especially for the day and performed as part of Jumpstart.
Rose Beeston, Dancefest’s director, who devised the day: “We hope the day has encouraged people to take part in arts and to look at the city in a different way.
“A huge thank you to all the performers, host venues, volunteers and Dancefest team who made Watch Out Worcester such a success.
“We didn’t let a small thing like unpredictable weather mar what was a fabulous day.”
Watch Out Worcester was produced by Dancefest in collaboration with Jumpstart (part of Worcestershire Arts Partnership), The Hive, Three Choirs Festival, University of Worcester, Churches Conservation Trust, Severn Arts, Vamos Theatre, Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum, Worcester Arts Workshop, and Worcestershire Litfest & Fringe.
Visit www.dancefest.co.uk or call 01905 611199 for more about Dancefest.
