Town centre in party mood for Children's Capital of Culture finale
ROTHERHAM town centre is alive with activities tonight as it plays host to The Birthday Party as our year as the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture comes to an unforgettable close.
Already hundreds of people are in party mode as a full daytime programme for local schools switches into an evening of entertainment put together by the young people behind the year’s cultural programme.
Highlights include the much-talked about giant 30ft baby sculpture, fiery installations, a magical bedtime story and a youth-led live music takeover.
This evening’s celebrations began at 6pm with family friendly activities and a dramatic Fire Garden installation in Minster Yard, featuring flaming sculptures, burning bushes, giant lotus flowers and extraordinary fire-powered kinetic artworks including The Fire Bird and Bubbles of Love.
At around 7pm, internationally acclaimed rapper OneDa will debut a brand-new anthem about Rotherham co-written with local young people, who will perform alongside her.
From approximately 7.30pm, the main show begins in All Saints Square.
The Birthday Party has been created by artistic directors Walk the Plank, a multisensory show that centres on a fantastical bedtime tale, ‘Dreaming Up A Story’, journeying through a magical version of Rotherham.
Featuring large scale puppetry, it has been written by young people working with Grimm and Co and conceived by creative director Bev Ayre with direction from Richard Babington.
Accompanied by original music by Patrick Dineen with projections from Illuminos and pyrotechnic effects from Peter Finnegan.
At 8pm, live music including from Sheffield MC KDOT will bring the show to a dramatic close.
Throughout the day, Rotherham Minster has hosted exhibitions celebrating the borough’s transformative Children’s Capital of Culture year.
Work by land artist James Brunt, created with children across the borough using natural materials, will be displayed alongside poetry inspired by the artworks.
An original soundtrack by musician Caro C, developed with pupils from St Ann’s Junior and Infant School, will fill the Minster with the hopes, dreams and birthday wishes of Rotherham’s young people.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to arrive early and stay late for this landmark celebration, a spectacular birthday party for Rotherham and its next generation.
To see the full programme, visit www.childrenscapitalofculture.co.uk.