ROAM THE ROWS WITH MAKE BELIEVE CHARACTERS
1st August 2009
Chester's only free outdoor arts event is doubling in size for 2009.
Roam the Rows returns to the city's historic streets over four weekends in August with a line-up of more than 25 events and activities, ranging from a Mad Hatters' Tea Party to live Flamenco guitar performances.
Event organisers, Chester Performs have introduced the expanded programme after last year's festivities attracted 5,000 people.
Amber Knipe, Programme Manager, Chester Performs said: ‘’We are really excited about this year’s Roam the Rows, we wanted to contribute to Chester’s bustling retail scene – we hope the performances, interactive events and installations will pull more visitors into the city. Chester’s Rows are a unique architectural feature that should be celebrated more in the region, creating them into one massive stage and offering FREE events seemed a natural way to do this.”
Performance Events
Live art theatre duo and professional artists Alice Robinson and Ceri Rimmer will create characters that will animate the Rows with a series of different performances. While local community group Save the Family will perform ‘on demand’ sketches of 7 characters from Cheshire author Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Short circus performances will be showcased along Watergate Street, while Locomotion, who were a hit at last year’s event will perform free running, acrobats and latest urban dance craze parkour. Deva Cheerleaders are on hand to perform one of Chester’s biggest cheers and brand new salsa bar D’Meltin’ Pot will carry out dance lessons to culminate in a performance on August 30th. Specially commissioned dance performance Stir, inspired by Chester’s maritime history, will be performed during the Bank Holiday weekend. And stylist Emma Swinnerton of the Vintage Shop is collaborating with Soul Hair to dress models in fashions from the last half century.
Musical Events
A Singing Flash Mob are back to scatter themselves to perform along the Rows and streets, Chester Musicals will sing classic Broadway hits, and Dee British Sign Language Choir will sign audiences favourite pop songs, and the Fab Four will re-create songs and performances from musicals. Plus the winner of Chester’s Got Talent Andy Hill will give performances at the 500 year old Church, St. Peter’s throughout the day.
Interactive Events
A Giant Board game inspired by Chester’s myths and legends will take centre stage at The Cross, 2 professional artists will lead an interactive treasure hunt throughout the street and Rows, whilst a Mad Hatters’ Tea party will take place all day in the award winning Watergate Deli’. Audiences are encouraged to Come Doodle on giant canvasses situated along the North Row, whilst the Cartoon Gallery will leave equipment for attenders to cartoon themselves out. Wine specialists Corks Out are offering free wine tasting sessions accompanied by live flamenco guitar performances, plus a Mermaid lying outside of the Vintage Shop will pose for an interactive life-drawing session. And to release some summer angst a balloon popping therapy session will be lead by the Great Company.
Installations
Over a hundred model butterflies created by Chester school children will dress the North and South Rows, an ever evolving exhibition of local people’s photographs of Chester will be installed along the South Row, and life size, paper chain people will be straddling stairways, balanced on banisters and hung from alleyways.
Roam the Rows is a FREE event; Chester Performs has worked with a variety of professional artists, community groups, businesses, retailers and partners to deliver the programme. The arts organisation enjoyed recent success with Chester’s film and digital media festival, Screen Deva which took place in May. They also present a regular programme of contemporary performance of film,SOAPBOX which showcases work in venues not normally used for performance or cinema. Find out more visit www.chesterperforms.com
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