SEMILONG.info

The people of Northampton don’t have to go as far as Covent Garden if they want to be entertained with hilarious street theatre, dance and art. This Saturday (29 May), Northampton’s Market Square is the place to be if you want to be astounded by some of the UK’s top street acts.

Friends and families should come to the town centre between 11am and 3pm to enjoy the free entertainment. Youngsters will be encouraged to get into the spirit by having their faces painted and a balloon modeller will be close by to rustle up hats, dogs or whatever takes people’s fancy – also completely free of charge.

Towards the end of half term week, Thursday 3 to Saturday 5 June, children and teenagers can not only get their faces painted but also try their hand at learning circus skills. Between 11am and 3pm each day there will be free circus skills workshops on Northampton Market Square including training for plate spinning, tightrope walking and juggling.

Saturday Street Theatre In the Square - Acts

Jon Hicks executes outsized artworks right in front of your eyes, with speed, dexterity, attitude and immaculate timing to his stylish music. From the minimal to the monumental, Jon - the speed painter extraordinaire - enthrals his audiences with his high skill comedic shows, creating incredible pieces of art and artistic oddities

The duo of Jones and Barnard have a totally fresh approach to the presentation of comedy and classic tales, combined with a sensitive use of volunteers to comedic effect making the audience part of, not apart from, the show. These much-loved street theatre veterans leave audiences wondering how two men can perform a story with 12 characters and 9 mythical beasts and switch to the universal language of eccentric dance, classic song and variety skill routines.

The Reckless Invention show has taken the street theatre scene by storm with unique comedy that fuses breakdance, physical comedy, audience participation and 80’s rap. Turbo remixes Vanilla Ice’s ‘Ice Ice Baby’ and there is homage to the ‘Hello’ video from Lionel Ritchie. Think Rock Steady, Grandmaster Flash, MC Hammer, Rick Astley mixed with headspins, beatbox and. An aural bus ride through the linoleum streets of Cardiff, 1985 – it’s the one, the only, Turbo Jonez.

Just in Case is an all-action musical comedy thriller. Two sharp suited performers arrive with five mysterious flight cases. Inside each case is a new comedy adventure such as an unforgettable tribute to The Sound of Music, smashing plate manipulation and a juggling version of Hamlet.