01 June 2009

Cumbria comes alive with a spectacular series of shows across the county

Thousands of people enjoyed a series of spectacular, free outdoor performances across the Lake District and other parts of Cumbria during the May half-term holidays. 

Around 40,000 turned out for at least one of the six shows that launched Lakes Alive, a four year programme of inspirational outdoor events across the county to help celebrate the Olympics coming to the UK that are being organised by Kendal Arts International (KAI).

Julie Tait, the director of KAI, says: “We’ve been delighted by the number of people who turned out for the events and the fantastic responses of the audiences.  We couldn’t have wished for a better start for Lakes Alive.”

The events got underway in Bowness on Saturday 30th May where Argentinean performers Voala wowed the crowds with an amazing display of aerial acrobatics.  The following evening Transe Express from France drummed their way into the air in the centre of Carlisle. 

Then on Bank Holiday Monday over 100 human castle builders from Catalonia impressed crowds in a hot and sunny Penrith with their human castle building skills.  Each event also included entertainment from some of the country’s best street artists.

The Guardian theatre critic Lyn Gardner was at all three events and wrote in the paper last Tuesday: ‘Think of the Lake District and you think of landscapes and poetry, particularly Wordsworth. But there's a different kind of poetry-in-motion all over Cumbria this week, with the launch of Lakes Alive’.  She added that ‘Reach for the Sky inspires and aspires’.

Last Friday the action moved on to Maryport harbour where Ramon Kelvink Jr and Jade Kindar-Martin undertook a death-defying walk more than 60 feet above the audience as part of an exciting evening of free top quality street theatre and circus. 

The following day Barrow’s 2-day circus festival brought the crowds out into Barrow Park where there were around 20 different acts including acrobats, jugglers, comedians and daredevil stunts.  It is estimated that nearly 10,000 came out to enjoy the event over the course of the weekend.

On Saturday evening about 10,000 people watched a breathtaking and beautiful aerial show by Belgian performers Theater Tol at Whitehaven harbour. 

Lakes Alive is one of the three Annual Legacy Programmes commissioned by the Legacy Trust UK for WE PLAY, the Northwest cultural legacy programme for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.  It is being sponsored by the NWDA and has also received funding from Arts Council England, the Northern Rock Foundation and all the councils in Cumbria.

Sheldon Phillips, Head of Regional Major Events at the NWDA, went to Maryport harbour and described the rope walk as ‘amazing’. He added:

"Lakes Alive has brought some truly show-stopping spectacles to Cumbria this weekend. It is excellent to see how many people went to watch and to hear all of the positive things they have had to say.

"The association with London 2012 and the Cultural Olympiad shows just how highly regarded Lakes Alive is and the important contribution it will make in delivering a 2012 legacy for the Northwest.  I am delighted we can support a programme which supports the local economy and which demonstrates the inspiring culture and countryside on offer in Cumbria."

Research by Lakes Alive shows that more than 75% of people at the shows were there especially to see the events and the response of the audiences was overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

Lakes Alive has attracted a number of comments on social networking sites.  One person who went to the event in Bowness commented on Twitter that ‘Voala were excellent’ and another said ‘amazing event wasn’t it!’  

Someone in the audience at Carlisle said ‘Lakes Alive was superb!!! Imagine seeing a troupe of drummers suspended from a crane like a mobile.  Unbelievable!’ Another person said on facebook that it was ‘The most amazing thing to happen in Carlisle - ever!! We seriously loved it! The drummers were totally awesome and we were completely blown away by the whole thing!’

One of the people at Maryport commented on facebook that ‘Lakes Alive was brilliant at Maryport yesterday, the high wire act was fantastic’ and another said on Twitter that they had had a ‘lovely evening with the family’ where they had seen an ‘amazing high wire show and fireworks’.  

A Barrow tweeter said ‘Everyone involved in bringing the Lakes Alive event to Barrow should be congratulated.  Well done!’   Another person said on facebook that ‘You brought Barrow Park to life today - well done all involved’.

Local catering and accommodation businesses have reported doing a brisk trade in the run up to and during the events.  Lakes Alive used a number of local contractors to help put on the events and Cumbrian performers such as the Fairly Famous Family and the Bread and Butter Company also took part in the shows.

Julie Tait says: “Putting on six large scale events in nine days has been a huge logistical exercise but everything has gone incredibly smoothly thanks to the support we’ve had from all our funders, Manchester International Arts, the volunteers and the team at Kendal Arts International.  We’re now looking forward to welcoming audiences back for our summer season in July and August.”

The Lakes Alive summer season will include events from Egremont and Workington in the west of the county to Penrith in the east and from Carlisle in the north to Kendal and Ulverston in the south.  Further details will be available shortly.  People can see some of the highlights of the events over May half term and keep up to date with future events by logging on to www.lakesalive.org or joining the Lakes Alive facebook group.

Ends

For media information please contact Paul Gardner or Jon Perkins on 01524-782086.

Images of some of the performers are attached.  Other images are available on request. 

Notes to Editors

1. Lakes Alive is a major new programme created and directed by Kendal Arts International with Manchester International Arts.
2. It is one of the three Annual Legacy Programmes commissioned by the Legacy Trust UK for WE PLAY, the Northwest cultural legacy programme for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.  It will represent a diverse range of projects and events, across culture, education and sport, appealing to people from all walks of life.

The term WE PLAY implies community, competition, participation, creativity, debate, connections and involvement.  WE PLAY is led by a new regional partnership group commissioned by the Legacy Trust UK and led by the Arts Council Northwest.

3. Lakes Alive is sponsored by the Northwest Regional Development Agency. 

4. Lakes Alive has also received funding from Arts Council England and the Northern Rock Foundation.

5. KAI will be working in partnership with every local authority in Cumbria, the Lake District National Park Authority, Cumbria Tourism, the University of Cumbria and key arts organisations to deliver the programme.