Volunteers needed for next year's Coastival event (From Gazette & Herald)

Volunteers needed for next year's Coastival event

7:10am Thursday 7th March 2013 in News

HOT on the heels of the latest Coastival arts event in Scarborough, plans have already 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.

The event will include live theatre, music and action involving the local community as active participants across two days in February next year.

The performance will form a spectacular opening for Coastival 2014 and is hoped will attract thousands of visitors to Scarborough.

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.

Wendy Holroyd, Create’s director, 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. For details email animatedobjects@mac.com or phone 01723 378906.