Gloucester will be hosting national and international touring theatre and dance companies when the Strike A Light Festival gets underway on Wednesday October 10th.

The week-long event features performances from companies who will be appearing at venues across the city. Emma-Jane Benning, Co Artistic Director for the festival, says the event is a significant date in the city’s calendar. She said: “There’s something here for everyone. We make sure to programme activities and shows that will be enjoyed by young and old alike.

“The festival isn’t just for people who have a keen interest in theatre, we want to make it an event that is truly inclusive to people of all ages and backgrounds. We feel it’s incredibly important to offer opportunities for people to access the performing arts.

“The festival is not bound to a stage or one location, it takes place at various locations across the city including the centre, Tredworth and Matson, allowing us to take show directly into communities.

“My role is focused on selecting the best shows to appear at the festival, those that can deliver professional high-quality impact and really involve the audience members. I’m so pleased with the acts that will be appearing at this year’s festival, all different sections of the community will be able to relate to our performers.

The festival has been running for five years, with attendances and the quality of performers increasing every year. Emma-Jane continued: “We hold two festivals every year, so this will be our eleventh event.
“The festival has gone from strength to strength, it’s really pleasing to see such great support from the people of Gloucester and from people who travel from further afield to support the event.

“We expect approximately 2,500 people to attend the shows. We have a high engagement from schoolchildren which is vitally important. The arts offer so much, especially to the younger generation. Young people consume messages and ideas through performing arts, they can be inspired and challenged by what they’re seeing.”

“This year we’re particularly excited to be welcoming a fantastic theatre company from Canada called ‘Theatre Conspiracy’. Their production ‘Foreign Radical’ is a totally immersive show, looking at the ideas of surveillance and security. It’s a really exciting show that I’m sure teenagers with an interest in technology and gaming will enjoy.

“There are other excellent shows ranging from breath-taking acrobatics to an interactive show for children aged between 7-12 called ‘Ground Control’, with no adults allowed!

“We make a significant effort to ensure all our events offer value for money. Most shows and performances cost between £5-£10. For anyone who hasn’t attended a show at the festival before I’d really encourage them to give it a try.

“People can have preconceived ideas of what theatre is, we want to open people’s minds and introduce new ideas. It’s great for Gloucester to be hosting such a wealth of talented performers."