On Tuesday 15th July the Boating Lake in Newton Aycliffe’s West Park was a hive of colour, music, dance and visuals for 2014’s “Cutting Loose” spectacular.
More than 500 young people and members of the community have been working hard since April, designing, making, dancing and performing to prepare for the event which built on the success of 2012’s carnival celebration.
The community project was inspired by the fairies and boggles who live in Aycliffe, they aren’t known to everyone but the King of the Boggles was very grumpy, so Greenfield Arts and Unfolding Theatre (a theatre production company based in Newcastle) proposed Cutting Loose as a way to cheer him up.
Primary school children worked with artists to design large flags, visualising the places in the town and surrounding areas that make them smile. They also recorded their stories of favourite places for a living archive, put together by sound artist Nick Williams. The large flags and living archive formed part of the performance – the gifts to the King to make him smile!
Secondary school performers provided dance, drama and musical support for the event; alongside professional musicians and German brass band Beat N Blow as part of Brass: Durham International Festival.
Greenfield Community College’s STEM group worked with a puppet designer to bring the King of the Boggles to life, whilst a year 9 textile group created flags for members of the public to share their favourite places. A group of primary school technology enthusiasts created the designs for the costume t-shirts for the performers (and some for them too!).
A group of male volunteers spent their Mondays each week working with production company Bravura to create the finale of the event – a giant Faberge acorn as a gift from the Boggle King!
It has been a true community production, which was colourful, spectacular and full of energy. Katy Milne, Director of Arts and Creativity at Greenfield Arts said: “The young people really made the event so wonderful, their energy, enthusiasm and smiles made it a fantastic evening.”
Greenfield Arts would like to thank all the groups, schools and members of the community for their support of the project. With thanks to Great Aycliffe and Middridge Area Action Partnership, Great Aycliffe Town Council, Livin, East Durham Trust and Greenfield Arts for funding this fantastic community project.
