Coastival unveils early plans for 2014 Record attempt to form centrepiece

Hot on the heels of the latest Coastival arts event in Scarborough, huge plans have been unveiled for next year’s event. Organisers have revealed that a world-record attempt will be part of a spectacular seafront performance for the opening of Coastival 2014. And they are appealing to the people of Scarborough to play their part in that record bid.

Orpheus the Mariner will be a huge arts performance, at numerous Scarborough locations, featuring giant puppets and including a record attempt for the largest puppet in the world.

A public meeting will be held at 7pm on Thursday February 28th in the Spa Ocean Room to tell people more about the project. (Please RSVP to [email protected] or 01723 378906 if you can come along.) Orpheus the Mariner will include live theatre, music and action involving the local community as active participants across two days in February 2014.

The performance will form a spectacular opening for Coastival 2014 and is hoped will attract thousands of visitors to our town. It is being put together by Lee Threadgold and Dawn Dyson-Threadgold of Animated Objects Theatre Company.

They want to involve as many local people as possible as makers, performers and volunteers and plan to hold workshops in Scarborough during the year up to the performance. Coastival organisers, Scarborough-based arts development agency Create, are thrilled at the prospect of such a massive event to start Coastival 2014.

Create’s Director, Wendy Holroyd, said: “Hot on the heels of the success of Coastival – A Different View, it is really exciting to be talking about such a spectacular performance to begin next year’s festival.

“Orpheus the Mariner will be something the town has never witnessed before and on a scale that will be breath-taking and will attract people from all over this country and beyond.

“The most exciting part of it is the opportunity for local people to get involved and we really hope that they will and play a part in something truly memorable for Scarborough.”

Organisers are looking for people to help make puppets, creatures, scenery and costumes; performers, technical teams, singers, musicians, builders, carpenters and engineers, designers, costume makers and a small army of volunteers to bring the project to life.

There will also be the opportunity for local businesses to sponsor workshop sessions or offer sponsorship in kind via materials, space and transport.

People who cannot get along to the public meeting can find out more by contacting [email protected]photobucket or 01723 378906.

● The most recent Coastival event – Coastival – A Different View, attracted hundreds of visitors to a total of 60 events, 54 of them free. They included Boy George, playing a DJ set at the Spa, video projections on the Spa and a variety of other music, entertainment, art exhibitions, installations and activities for children and young people.