Spill Festival

Celebrating culture in Ipswich

SPILL Festival of Performance returns to Ipswich this autumn from October 27th31st, bringing the strange, the striking and the surprising for the whole family to enjoy.

Follow in the footsteps of astronauts when you visit the spectacular installation GAIA (Oct 27th-31st); a seven-metre-wide model of the Earth, floating from the ceiling of Ipswich Town Hall. Head out on to Cornhill to watch the strange sculptures of CHORUS (Oct 27th-30th) as they spin and hum, whirling like a swarm of fireflies or planets in motion above the heads of the audience. Explore an alien environment on the Waterfront when you step inside LUMINARIUM (Oct 27th-31st), a maze of colourful domes and tunnels.

Take a mystery tour with HERE’S TO TOMORROW (Oct 28th) – an exciting adventure led by intergalactic tour guides which transports you to a world far away from Ipswich –which has been developed by the SPILL Young Curators, all aged between 16 and 21, who have put together a selection of

music, dance and other performances by talented young people.

Kids can have the chance to design their own custom play spaces with KIDS BUILD THE FUTURE (Oct 28th-30th) at Ancient House. With the help of visual artists, architects and builders you could design your own base, castle, maze or a future Ipswich – it’s like Minecraft come to life!

SPILL 2021 will also see the return of festival favourite THE PYRE PARADE (Oct 30th). Head down to The Hold throughout half term and post your bad news from the last year into special boxes standing next to our Pyre Parade effigies. While you’re there you can learn about the history of black communities in Ipswich, create your own history and record memories by taking portraits in the POP-UP PHOTO STUDIO (Oct 30th), using professional equipment, props and

costumes, or take part in one of The Hold’s Pyre-Parade-inspired family workshops. Then join us as we noisily make our way through the town to Christchurch Park. Everyone is welcome – wear black and bring something loud to bang, such as wooden spoons on saucepan lids before we engulf the effigies in flames and send all our bad news up in smoke! Find out about these events and everything else SPILL Festival has to offer at spillfestival.com or call the Box Office on 01473 210169.

Gaia in Belfast, 2019 Photo: W5

ALBESILA LUMINARIUM Photo: Alan Parkinson CHORUS by Ray Lee Photo:Roy Riley