Prepare for a weekend of free family entertainment at the Arts on the Beach festival, taking place on the 15th and 16th of June at Watergate Bay.
This year’s event, themed around ocean conservation, offers a rich programme of live theatre, music, dance, creative workshops, and enlightening talks, shortly following Earth Day 2024.
Dazzling Performances and Interactive Art
One of the festival’s highlights is the return of Eko, a 13-foot puppet from Johnny Autin Dance Theatre’s Out of the Deep Blue show. Eko, a playful ocean spirit, will interact with festival-goers, sharing stories about the oceans, plastic pollution, and the biodiversity crisis. Johnny Autin describes Eko’s mission as delivering crucial environmental messages in a fun and engaging way.
Visitors can also explore the belly of an 18-metre inflatable whale, presented by Circo Rum Ba Ba. Inside this unique structure, children can embark on a mission to help a lifelike leatherback turtle, crafted by Jimmy Grimes of War Horse fame. They will learn about the dangers of single-use plastics and discover how small actions can make a significant difference. Marianne Groves, co-founder of Circo Rum Ba Ba, emphasises empowering children to make positive changes.
Art from Waste: Beach4Art and Georgina Peters
Celebrating art from waste, the festival introduces two new artist residencies. Beach4Art will transform the sand into a canvas, creating a stunning lobster mural from beach-combed materials. Additionally, artist Georgina Peters will paint nature-inspired works and invite festival-goers to join her creative process, highlighting the importance of reusing and repurposing materials to protect the environment.
Dance and Music for a Cause
H&T Creative will present No Time to Waste, a dance piece that uses plastic waste as props to emphasise the environmental impact of discarded plastics. Weapons of Sound, known as “the UK’s greenest junk band,” will close the weekend with a vibrant performance using instruments made from recycled materials.
Engaging Workshops and Activities
Arts on the Beach 2024 offers numerous workshops and activities for all ages. Beach Guardian will guide attendees in crafting a mermaid’s tail from repurposed plastic, while Upcycle Kernow’s workshops will help children create sea creature costumes from trash. These costumes can be showcased in Sunday’s fancy dress parade, led by a giant lobster lantern made in collaboration with Truro City of Lights.
H&T Creative will also conduct workshops to teach young people captivating dance moves, further exploring the theme of plastic pollution.
Informative Talks and Special Celebrations
The festival includes talks by Beach Guardian and The National Lobster Hatchery, covering topics such as baby lobster adoption and the benefits of community beach cleans. These sessions aim to inspire and educate budding conservationists.
In addition to performances and workshops, the festival coincides with National Lobster Day on 15 June and National Sea Turtle Day on 16 June. Father’s Day also falls on Sunday, with the popular Watergate Bay Beach School offering unique activities like wild whittling and mallet making for children to enjoy with their dads.
Arts on the Beach 2024 Line-Up
Performance:
- Out of the Deep Blue by Johnny Autin Dance Company (puppetry/dance)
- Everywhere’s a Beach by Hikapee Theatre (acrobatics/theatre)
- No Time to Waste by H&T Creative (dance)
- The Whale by Circo Rum Ba Ba Theatre (immersive theatre)
- Jack by Hall for Cornwall Youth Dance Company
- Shipwrecked Pirate by Hotch Potch Theatre (roaming stilt performer)
- Mysterious Sea Creature by Vicky Bartlett (roaming stilt performer)
- Hello Stranger by Treviglas School and Wildworks Theatre
- Bathing Belles by Cscape (dance)
Participation/Workshops:
- Truro City of Lights (two-day build of a giant lobster and parade)
- Blystra Arts (two-day craft tent with sea/eco-friendly activities)
- Beach Guardian (mermaid tail workshops)
- Upcycle Kernow (upcycling workshops to create sea creature-themed pieces)
- Shallal Arts (drop-in beach tent sanctuary)
- Watergate Bay Kids’ Zone Beach School
Music:
- Silent Disco – Saturday 15 June, 5-7pm
- Weapons of Sound (live music) – Sunday 16 June, 5-6pm
Talks:
- Beach Guardian
- The National Lobster Hatchery
Food:
- My Mum Makes Thai
- Poppy’s Paella
- BBQ
- Treleavans Ice Cream
- Cubs Iced Coffee Truck
- St Austell Brewery pop-up bar
- Woodfired pizzas and hotdogs at the Beach Bar, Watergate Bay
Sponsors
The festival is generously supported by Cornwall Airport Newquay, Land Rover Discovery, Korev by St Austell Brewery, Steven Scown Solicitors, and Hall for Cornwall.
A Community-Focused Event
Helen Bishop, head of sustainability and engagement at Watergate Bay Hotel, underscores the festival’s role in raising awareness about ocean conservation while supporting local charities and talent. “This year’s brilliant Arts on the Beach line-up uses creativity to highlight the threats to the ocean and the urgent need to protect it. As well as telling those important stories, this festival is all about community,” she says.
Arts on the Beach 2024 promises a weekend filled with creativity, education, and fun, all while promoting a vital environmental message. For more information and to view the full timetable, visit the Arts on the Beach 2024 website or contact Laura Smith at events@watergatebay.co.uk.
