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On Saturday 25th September, The Henry Brown Centre will transform into a hub of creative performance and participation as Arts by the Sea and Without Walls brings the main festival to the West Howe community. Families and children alike can watch performances by the Tall Tails Theatre Co, bop along at the silent disco with DJ Simon Kilmister, be inspired in creative workshops, and join Dance For All in a party and fashion parade finale.

The South Coast’s all-inclusive arts and culture festival, Arts by the Sea, has unveiled another round of programming for the 2021 event as part of its community outreach programme in association with Without Walls. Taking place in Bournemouth’s West Howe suburb, The Charge of the Light Parade takes place on Saturday 25th September and will see The Henry Brown Centre transform into a hub of creative performance and participation for families and children of all ages to enjoy. With live theatre, creative workshops, a silent disco, dance performances and a party and fashion parade – all produced by artists from the local area – its set to be an engaging and enjoyable expression of the creative arts for all across West Howe.

Split into three parts from 12pm until 7pm, the day will begin with participatory workshops. Visitors can get artistic as they decorate t-shirts with UV paint using a spinning mannequin. Bournemouth-based artist and prop maker, Ben Irwin, will be on hand to assist in the making of the items, which will later be used in the end-of-day fashion parade. Switching things up, music and sounds educator, DJ Simon Kilmister will be on hand with a silent disco – don a set of headphones and dance like no one is watching!

During the afternoon session, guests can watch theatre performances from the south-west’s Tall Tails Theatre Company who will stage a Makaton performance of Madame Carol Sell & Mr Popsy. More thrilling theatre comes from the educational Treehouse Theatre Company. Each of their performances are made up of Bournemouth-based actors and are devised entirely through audience suggestions – this one is guaranteed to be lots of fun! And for those who were unable to attend last year’s West Howe community event as well as the main Arts by the Sea Festival, there will be screenings of past performances and highlights to sit back and delight in.

A party and fashion parade will round off the day. Participants can claim and adorn the items they created earlier and head outside to watch a performance by Bournemouth studio, Dance For All. Entertainment is accompanied by walkabout performers and dancers, and music courtesy of Simon Kilminster’s ‘Hush Club’. Finally, a celebratory fashion show proceeds with a dance class for those that wish to join in, or simply enjoy the mesmerising lights and bubbles.

Arts by the Sea Festival Director Andrea Francis said, “Arts by the Sea brings people into Bournemouth’s wonderful town centre locations, but it’s just as important to us to bring Arts by the Sea out into communities too. West Howe is comparatively underserved in cultural activity, and we want to give residents more opportunities to enjoy being creative and experiencing culture right on their doorstep”.

The West Howe community event is equally as important for its residents as it is its local artists and performers, many of whom are returning for the first time following an extended period of restrictions. The ties in neatly with the festival’s artistic theme ‘Connect’, fittingly chosen now friends, families and loved ones can unite.

The main Arts by the Sea programme will attract over 100,000 visitors to over 100 unique installations, musical performances, exhibitions, dance, theatre and more. It takes place from Friday 1st October to Sunday 3rd October across Bournemouth’s beautiful town centre and seafront locations – with some programming extended beyond these dates – where people of all ages can get lost in a world of creative experiences and accessible art across many forms.

Now in its 11th year, Arts by the Sea is delivered by BCP Council in association with Arts Council England, and under the creative direction of From The Fields (Bluedot Festival / Kendall Calling). For more info visit www.artsbythesea.co.uk or follow @artsbythesea on social media: #Connect2021 / #artsbythesea.