Mintfest on the streets
Every year a kaleidoscope of performers take to the town centre to bring the streets to life in a way quite like no other... For those of you who have experienced Mintfest before, you know what we're talking about. For those of you who haven't, come along and find out what it's all about!
Around every corner you'll find the best performers from all around the world performing comedy, dance, music, acrobatics and other weird and wonderful things you'll have never seen before.
Mintfest on the streets takes place on Saturday from 12pm until 4.30pm along Stricklandgate from the Town Hall to the Library and Sunday from 1-5.30pm in the same locations, plus other sites at Abbot Hall Park and K Village, The Lakes Outlet. There is also an international food market to tickle your taste buds at K Village running until 9pm throughout the weekend.
All details subject to change at short notice.
Download full festival programme here
Artists performing for your enjoyment and amusement On the Streets:
Avanti Display: The Water Seller Selling waters collected from around the world.
Axial Dance: The Bo Sisters Two shepherdesses in search of their missing sheep.
Bad Taste Cru: Tribal Assembly A contemporary Bboy/breakdance troupe explore individual choice and circumstance. Commissioned by Without Walls.
Blaze with More Music and Dan Fox: Boom Bike Big Band A 21st Century street band built around the Blaze Boom Bike.
Cat in the Vacuum Theatre: Macbeth A vibrant interpretation of Shakespeare's classic.
Chipolatas: Three musical clowns performing feats with squeezebox and breakbeats.
Canopy: The Preeners A raucous peahen and her new-romantic son doing a spot of 'subtle' self promotion.
Copperdollar: The Stimulators (Saturday only): Curious Carney characters who entice you to explore the world of Spidora later than night.
Dj-dj-dj-djembe A Djembe African drumming and percussion duet
Encore: Guido & Laverne Equipped with a camera and acerbic banter, they'll provide you with a memory of your visit to treasure forever.
Fittings: Master Juba Stickman drums and dances his way shouting the achievements of Master Juba: The Wonder of the World.
Gadsden & Smith with Deaf Men Dancing: Alive! A joyful live dance and visual art piece fused with British Sign Language. Commissioned by Without Walls. A CD with audio description of the show is available from the Info tent for a deposit of £20.
Grand Theatre of Lemmings: The Illusionarium The special effect take over as a movie director tries to create a new star for his movie.
Greenbanks Productions: Silent Movie An exasperated director tries to film his movie with an incompetent crew and inpromptu cast.
Headzup: Vagabonding A unique and charming brand of puppetry, songs and storytelling. A Made in the Lakes commission.
Jilted Pig: The Postal Workers Encouraging people to fight the PAP (People Against Post).
Los Kaos: Meet the Dinosaur Get up close and personal with a 'real live' dinosaur.
Lucid Productions: Sink Dancing Two dancers discover enlightenment through tap dancing. A Made in the Lakes at Lanternhouse commission.
MarkMark: Zigmund and Froyd, The Crystal Gaze Comedy magic where the tricks go spectacularly wrong.
Original Mixture: Pulcinella Interactive walkabout featuring the ancestor of Mr Punch.
Pas Par Tout (Germany): Kul-Gong Exuberantly comical mask and physical theatre in a globe-balancing performance.
Reckless Invention: Turbo Jonez and the Temple of Boom A 'beats archeologist' from Cardiff in search of some phat beats to scratch.
Red Herring: That's The Way to Do It! Punch and Judy break out of their booth to wreak havoc in the streets. Commissioned by Without Walls.
Responsible Fishing UK: Stone Busking A seemingly impossible installation of stacked and balanced rocks.
Safetycatch: Watch the Birdie A photographer from the silent movie era poses volunteers for old-fashioned portraits in a paper moon.
Shiva Grings (Ireland): The Pigeon Chaser A lovable, singing, improvising clown.
Squashbox Theatre: The Sea Show (Saturday only) A mix of puppet show, theatre and comedy cabaret with characters from the sea. Skillywidden (Sunday only) Meet Skillywidden the Pisky and all his faery friends from the Cornish countryside.
Stickleback Plasticus: Cat's Choir Furry felines who reflect on their lives and comment an everyone who passes by.
Swank: Sputknicker Sisters Two former Soviet circus stars come out of retirement to once again perform the Russian barre.
Taffy Thomas (Sunday only) The Uk's first Storyteller Laureate brings out the 'Stop Me and Ride One' trike for its final show.
Whalley Range All Stars and Babok: Imaginary Friends The cast and their life size puppets lead the audience through the streets of identity. Commissioned by Without Walls. Made in the Lakes at Lanternhouse.
Wildings: Lenny Stobbart Lenny will draw you warts and all - even if you don't have warts.
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Performance dates and booking information
Mintfest on the streets
Various venues across town
1-5.30pm, Sunday, 4 September 2011
Admission: £FREE






