Lakes Alive

It’s just 8 weeks until we open the 2012 Lakes Alive season, which will be the most exciting yet. The culmination of a four-year Cultural Olympiad programme, 2012 will see our Lake District landscapes transformed in the most extraordinary ways.

We start in spectacular style on 21 June, in Bowness on Windermere. Following the arrival of the Olympic Torch in the town, Les Commandos Percu present the world premiere of On the Night Shift, which marks the official opening of the London 2012 Festival, the UKs largest country-wide cultural celebration. Both inspired by and created in the Lake District, On the Night Shift is an Anglo-French collaboration, which will set the skies and hearts on fire as drumming, dance and pyrotechnics erupt from the stage, pounding into the night’s sky.

Then on August 10 & 11, for the first time (probably) in the history of the Lake District, we will put a show on the lake. Water Fools is the most surreal and fantastical show by French street theatre company, Ilotopie. It will take place on Derwentwater in the beautiful bustling town of Keswick. Both ingenious and magical, Water Fools will transform the surface of the lake into a wonderland in which a man’s humdrum life is turned upside-down. Cars, beds, street lamps and a giant penny-farthing will bring something of the urban to the water, but in the most evocative, imaginative and inspiring ways.

So, whilst we are sure that you know all about our beautiful and dramatic scenery in the Lake District, we are certain that it will find new and extraordinary ways to inspire you this summer… but you will have to come and see for yourself!

For full details of all our events including, Masquepony, the UKs first street arts camping festival; Voala, a magical aerial show performed on Whitehaven Harbour, The Banquets touring to rural communities and Mintfest, Kendal’s International Festival of Street Arts, please visit www.lakesalive.org

 

Post by Jenny Graham, Kendal Arts International