The legendary Brutus Gold Love Train rides into the 24th Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) to bring disco grooves to the town on 5 and 6 August.
For four extraordinary days in August (4 – 7), Stockton-on-Tees in the North East of England will be transformed into a vast performance space for both homegrown and international street theatre artists.
Stockton Council, organisers of SIRF, are delighted to welcome back the opulent and history-drenched Spiegel Tent (Salon Perdu) to Parish Gardens for the four day celebration.
During the daytime there will be a free, family-friendly line-up programmed by SIRF favourites, The Chipolatas.
The evening line-up involves two incredible, not-to-be-missed shows.
Taking to the stage on the evenings of Friday, 5 and Saturday, 6 August will be Brutus Gold – a Tees Valley legend who needs no introduction to disco fans.
Bringing Disco Inferno to SIRF will be Brutus Gold and an amazing cast of characters, hot moves and hotter grooves. It’s the perfect opportunity to dress up, get down, do the Hustle and win a prize for the night’s best dancer.
The disco ball will be glittering from 10pm on both evenings for this over 18s show. Tickets cost £12 and can be purchased at ARC by calling (01642) 525199. Grab your friends to take to the party and take advantage of a buy ten tickets and get one free offer.
The man himself, Brutus Gold, said: “It is fantastic to be coming back to SIRF having just completed a 12 date tour of Italy and two nights in Las Vegas. We want Festival goers to step back into the 1970s and groove their thing to top tunes from the Bee Gees, Barry White, Abba, Kool and the Gang and KC and the Sunshine Band.”
The Spiegel Tent’s second evening show comes courtesy of Australian performers, The Dirty Brothers. They will perform Thursday, 4 to Sunday, 7 August.
Shep, Pat and Gordon, better known as The Dirty Brothers, are the kamikaze clown princes of sideshow, mixing silent comedy and sketches with some eye watering stunts.
As well as sword swallowing, they dance blindfolded and bare footed across a maze of mousetraps. This show has been a huge hit with audiences at Edinburgh and Sydney Festivals and if you have seen and enjoyed Circus of Horrors at SIRF in the past, you are sure to love this show by The Dirty Brothers.
Tickets for the over 18s show cost £10 are available from ARC Box Office on (01642) 525199. Audiences can take advantage of a Buy One Get One Free offer for the Thursday night show and party goers can buy ten tickets and get one free for the other evenings.
By day, the Spiegel Tent hosts a must-see programme for everyone! Cabaret Chipolatino is hosted by The Chipolatas and is an eclectic mix of performers from around the globe, blending circus, story telling, ballads and breakbeats.
Performers include Karl Stets, an illusion seller who uses elements of circus, dance and subject manipulation to create a world where objects come to life.
Paramo Cero creates a unique sound using musical instruments made from recycled materials including a briefcase guitar, a bottle xylophone and bedside cabinet bass.
Regular visitors to SIRF will enjoy the return of The Chipolatas with their musical mayhem and inspired lunacy.
The Spiegel Tent also welcomes Taffy Thomas who has been storytelling since the 1970s and is the nation’s first Laureate for Storytelling. He has a repertoire of more than 300 tales he is ready to share with all.
Acrobatics galore comes thanks to the 5 Ring Circus Cabaret which features youngsters from across the North East who are exploring their circus dreams.
Younger disco fans can still get the disco vibe and learn classic dance routines from the 70s and 80s. As part of the daytime programme on Friday, 5 and Saturday, 6 August, there is the 70s V 80s Disco Dance Party.
This is a party everyone is invited to and tuition and entertainment is provided by Angel De Lyte and Chad Valley from the Love Train and features Louie Scott showing people Michael Jackson routines including the moonwalk and ‘Bones’ from the Manchester Broken Glass Street Crew showing dancers 80s body popping moves. The dance party is free. Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
The free daytime programme starts on Thursday, 4 August and runs through until Sunday, 7 August.
For all the latest programme information, log onto www.sirf.co.uk.
NOTE TO EDITORS: All media enquiries for SIRF should be directed to Emma Chesworth at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. E-mail emma.chesworth@stockton.gov.uk or telephone 01642 526162.
The Stockton Weekender is an independently produced festival, presented by Tees Music Alliance with support from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and Arts Council England. The Stockton Weekender runs alongside SIRF – one of Europe’s finest festivals of street theatre. For details log onto www.stocktonweekender.co.uk.
All media enquiries for The Stockton Weekender should be directed to Ciara Johnson at Tees Music Alliance. E-mail ciara@teesmusicalliance.org.uk or telephone 01642 606525.
