SIRF is back - and it's time to party in the park!
The Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) returns this summer, and for the first time will be wowing the crowds in the wonderful setting of Stockton's new Waterfront park alongside the town centre and riverside!
The world-renowned outdoor arts and street theatre festival will once again dazzle and delight both young and old with a thrilling programme from Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August.
SIRF 26 brings together some of the finest street theatre, dance, music and arts from across the globe, with 100 performances taking place over the weekend for all ages, performed by 42 companies.
Artists performing at the 39th edition of the festival hail from as far and wide as the Tees Valley, France, Catalonia, Netherlands, Korea, Australia and across the UK.
And this year SIRF will shine a spotlight on audiences with 11 shows that have participation and casts from local communities.
The ever-popular Community Carnival also returns on Sunday 2 August, bigger and better than ever, bringing a lively parade of music, costumes and creativity to the riverside, Waterfront park and High Street.
But SIRF 26 kicks off on the Friday night with a big musical party in the park! Prepare to make some noise for UK festival favourites Cable Street Collective, a London-based band renowned for their dynamic live performances blending African-inspired rhythms, soulful vocals, powerful horn lines and sharp pop melodies. Expect big tunes and plenty of opportunity to dance as this acclaimed live band gets the weekend underway in style.
Audiences can also enjoy performances on the amphitheatre stage from Teesside's very own up-and-coming rock 'n rollers Marketplace Band and The Turbans, another London-based international musical collective who have built a reputation for their electrifying live performances at festivals and venues across the UK and beyond. Drawing on musical traditions from the Balkans, the Middle East, and North Africa while creating something entirely their own, The Turbans are guaranteed to get audiences moving from the first note to the last.
Friday will also see French act Cie Moso create their striking outdoor installation Morphosis on the Oval lawn, where it will stay for the duration of SIRF, a spectacular, ever-changing structure built from hundreds of bamboo poles. Part performance, part hands-on experience, Morphosis invites you to help build, explore and climb this living piece of architecture.
Our much-loved festival village SIRF Green is once again the space to go for tasty eats and garden seats. Open daily in Finkle Square from 12pm to 10pm on Friday, 11am to 10.30pm Saturday and 11am to 9.45pm Sunday, SIRF Green is the perfect place to sit and chat with family and friends and grab some affordable food and drink from our street traders. Enjoy some marvellous performances throughout the day, celebrating the very best of local and regional musical talent, from atmospheric indie folk and acoustic favourites to soaring vocals, infectious beats and interactive musical experiences with DJ Marco, Izzy Neish, Annie Lince and Cue Music.
The SIRF Community Carnival remains a highlight on Sunday afternoon at 2pm. This year the always colourful carnival has the theme Our Place - Where the River Carries Us, A living story of Stockton-on-Tees — past, present, and future flowing together. More than 800 local participants will showcase their marvellous creations as they parade down the riverside, through the urban park and up Stockton High Street in a flood of sound and colour.
Then visitors and carnival-goers can stick around and party, enjoying more family fun, including workshops, live music, dance and live shows before the amazing SIRF finale Euforia at 9.45pm, when Catalonian company Sacuda perform their thrilling aerial dance show high above the ground on a suspended platform. Dancers soar, spin and dive through the air, combining acrobatics, music and movement in one breath-taking performance.
Cllr Nigel Cooke, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture, said: "After the resounding success of Armed Forces Day we are very excited to see our flagship event SIRF make its debut in the Waterfront park.
"SIRF will transform Stockton's urban park and wider town centre into a theatrical feast of fun and wonder with 100 colourful and captivating performances - offering residents and visitors alike plenty of opportunity to celebrate and bringing communities together.
"And this year 11 shows at the festival will enjoy mass participation of the audience - entertainment for the people, by the people!
"SIRF 26 has a number of accessible shows, including ElevateHer by Daughters of the Wire, an all-female collective of high-wire walkers. Balancing high above the ground, their work celebrates strength, community and empowerment, redefining what high-wire performance can be.
"This is one of the UK's largest international street theatre festivals, delivering an unmissable, magical experience for all, transforming Stockton town centre into a vibrant stage. Our advice is simple: catch the headline acts, discover the hidden gems, arrive early, and stay late!
"And after enjoying three days of family entertainment make sure not to miss Sunday's spectacular finale show Euforia at 9.45pm, by Catalonian company Sacuda, an uplifting, feel-good spectacle that invites you to let go, join the moment and feel the rush. In true SIRF style the finale will then finish with a bang with a flurry of fireworks!
"As always all of the SIRF programme is completely free for audiences to experience.
"SIRF 26 promises to be a truly memorable festival and another opportunity to showcase the fantastic Waterfront park, so keep your diary free from July 31 to August 2!"
