Derby Festé, “one of the best UK street-arts festivals”, has announced the two Derbyshire-based companies who will be creating new work especially for this year’s event.
Maison Foo and Freckled Mischief will perform during the Festé weekend. The organisers say they were “overwhelmed” with their response to a call-out for local talent.
This will be only the second time that Derbyshire artists have been commissioned to create work for this annual highlight of the Derby cultural calendar.
Maison Foo will present Person Birds—life-sized characters, half person, half bird—and will use physical theatre “to attract crowds to watch this new mischievous species and its most ridiculous tricks”.
Freckled Mischief, a street theatre company based in Derby, will present a “unique” take on The Wizard of Oz. The Tinman, Lion and Scarecrow will ask members of the public for directions and guidance as they try to find their way to the familiar yellow brick road.
Stephen Munn from the Festé programming group said, “we’re delighted to have the opportunity to commission more new work for Derby Festé from these two exciting Derbyshire companies.
“We think it’s hugely important that a festival like Festé supports and nurtures local talent and now that the funding for the festival is secure through to 2016 we’re in a position to be able to offer this exciting opportunity.”
Derby Festé will be staged on Friday and Saturday, 25 and 26 September. Further details are available at the Derby Festé web site.