Shop Front Festival a taste of what's to come in Coventry's City of Culture
The team that will deliver Coventry’s UK City of Culture in 2021 say a festival happening in the city in March is a great taste of what’s to come.
The Shop Front Festival is taking place on Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24, and will bring to life the city centre with a host of events and activities taking place inside shopfronts, out on the streets and in pop-up locations.
The pilot festival, which is being produced by Theatre Absolute, will feature a range of theatre, dance, music and interaction with visitors that will bring a mix of family fun and world-class culture to the city centre in one weekend.
Laura McMillan, Director of Operations and Legacy at the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “One of our aims in 2021 and in the years leading up to it and beyond is to get more people in Coventry – from all areas and all communities – engaging with culture.
“As UK City of Culture, we will have to deliver a very high-quality culture and arts programme that attracts people into the city over the course of the 12 months and beyond.
“But the word culture can sometimes be off-putting and leaves some people asking if it’s relevant to them. We want to change that. Culture is for everybody and the pilot Shop Front Festival is a great way of showcasing what we mean by that.
“Shop Front Festival already has some great artists and performers lined up and is also offering something for all the family too.”
The Empathy Museum, a unique collaboration between acclaimed cultural philosopher Roman Krznaric and award-winning artist Clare Patey will presents A Mile in My Shoes, which will see a shoe shop inviting visitors to walk, literally, a mile in someone else’s shoes.
As they walk the mile wearing a pair of the contributor’s shoes they will listen to the story of the shoes’ original owner. A Mile in My Shoes has already reached over 10,000 and received much critical acclaim.
The Shop Front Festival will also feature hands-on experiences for families including the Actual Reality Arcade by Matthew Harrison, a life-sized interactive game zone for all ages, inspired by classic arcade games.
Families can pilot spaceships, dodge barrels, avoid lasers, build Tetris walls, fire rockets, shoot alien invaders and become Pac-Man over both days of the Festival.
The Shop Front Festival has been supported by the Coventry City of Culture Trust via the Coventry Great Place Project, Coventry City Council, the Heart of England Community Foundation, Coventry Business Improvement District (BID), Backstage Trust and 29th May Trust.
Julia Negus, of Theatre Absolute, said: “This is our pilot festival and we are excited to bringing such a diverse mix of art, culture, performance and fun to shops and locations in Coventry City Centre.
“Winning UK City of Culture 2021 has brought added interest to everything that’s happening in Coventry and we hope people within the city and from outside come along to enjoy what’s on offer over the course of the two days.”
Other attractions will include dance, poetry, theatre, improvisation and even a live soap opera, including professional actors and extras from the Coventry public.
For the full festival programme visit www.theatreabsolute.co.uk/shop-front-festival/ Keep up to date via https://www.facebook.com/theatreabsolute/ and follow @theatreabsolute.