THE Lakes Alive series of outdoor spectaculars in the Lake District moves onto its next show after the success of WOW Factor, the finale of the Windermere on the Water festival (WOW).
Lakes Alive is intended to feature some of the world's best outdoor performers, bringing a taste of the Edinburgh fringe festival to the Lake District's towns and villages.
Crowds were WOWed at the finale of the Windermere on the Water festival (WOW).
Internationally-acclaimed French performers Transe Express provided an uplifting experience as they took to the air in an extraordinary human mobile.
Kendal Arts International is organising this ambitious summer season. Julie Tait, from Kendal Arts International, said: "Most cultural events in Cumbria take place indoors. Lakes Alive will enable large numbers of people to enjoy some really stunning and exciting performances in the great outdoors, set against a backdrop of lakes and mountains."
In August Swiss circus company Nicole et Martin, will be touring Ambleside, Ulverston and Kendal. The duo, who won the prestigious Tapwater Awards at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2006, use music, storytelling and simple props to re-tell traditional fairy stories from central Europe including 'Hansel & Gretel', 'The Bremen Town Musicians' and the 'Fisherman and his Wife'.
Also in August, all the fun and amazing skills of an African circus will come to the Lakeland villages of Grasmere and Hawkshead as part of a new street arts roadshow. Bani Obashwe's performances include the bamboo pole, in which a young acrobat climbs up to 12 metres above the ground and changes from a young sportswoman into an African Queen.
Lakes Alive will come to a dazzling conclusion with the three day Mintfest street arts festival in Kendal from August 29 to 31. Like last year's successful pilot event, this will include a packed line up of top acts from all over the world performing at usual and unusual locations across the Town.
Mintfest's grand opening will include a performance by Dutch entertainers Tuig who use fire, air and water to spectacular effect as a man is slowly raised 14 metres above the ground before making a breathtaking jump.
Over the next two days every corner of Kendal will come alive with comedians, acrobats, jugglers and musicians.
The highlights will include a show by the Whalley Range All Stars at Abbott Hall Park.
Other acts confirmed so far include performers from across the UK as well as Finland, the United States, France, and Germany.
More information at
www.lakesalive.org.
