Take a read of the interview with Celine from Imagine Luton.
Incase people don’t know already….WHO….ARE… YOU?
Hello! I am the Festival Manager for Imagine Luton festival – I look after everything from selecting artists and putting the programme together to all the event planning, scheduling and logistics as well as bits of marketing and community engagement thrown in! A very varied and busy role with an overview of the whole festival, but also a really rewarding one ?
So Imagine Luton 2018….What’s new?
After a spectacular weekend last year we are so excited to do it all over again! This year’s programme is even bigger, with all kinds of exciting interactive theatre, dance, circus and music performances taking place through the town centre streets, as well as our very own festival BigTop appearing on the square 🙂 The big circus focus this year is in honour of Circus250 – a nation-wide celebration of the 250th birthday of circus being invented in UK! The brilliant Mimbre Acrobats are back with a large stunning spectacle show in the BigTop – The Exploded Circus – featuring acrobatics, aerial feats, juggling and beautiful storytelling all around the themes of change, hope and belonging. Mimbre have been doing alot of workshops and outreach in the last few months around Luton with you lovely folk at NGYT as well as local schools and young people, some of whom will be involved in special pop-up performances on the saturday so we’re excited for that! Other highlights include mischievous walkabout characters, dance & acrobatics on lifesize giant jenga blocks, our very own Strong Lady, dancing grannies, a wacky bee colony, a marching rock band, and much more! There is something for everyone, free for all the family, so get involved
Can you tell us a little bit about the artists and participants involved?
The programme showcases worldclass acts alongside the best of homegrown talent with local, national and international artists and all shows are especially created for the outdoors, very visual and interactive. We have some of the UK and Europe’s leading outdoor companies coming to Luton with incredible high quality performances. We are supporting lots of local talent with brand new commissioned shows created especially for the festival by a brilliant range of local companies as well as workshops from Luton’s Little Red Studios, Flamingo Arts and Aerial Arts Luton. We also have participation from NGYT and local schools in the Exploded Circus outreach activity.
What are you personally looking forward to seeing the most?
I’m excited about our BigTop and bringing all the magic of the circus to town! and I can’t wait to see the reaction of audiences and passersby again to stumbling upon colourful, quirky performances. The festival totally transformed the town last year, it came alive with colour and joy and I can’t wait to see that surprise and joy on people’s faces again ?
Sell Imagine Luton to the local town goer passing through? Why should they stop? What can they expect?
Expect the unexpected! Expect to stumble upon acrobats flying through the air, mischievous interactive characters, incredible dance and acrobatics and a whole lot of laughter and joy and surprise!
And lastly what do you think about England’s chances at this year’s World Cup?
Football?! Who has time to think about football! (though I did get South Korea in the sweepstake….so i’m rooting for them!)