As always The Riverfront was action-packed over the summer period welcoming the community to join in on fun activities, events and performances. Read on to find out more.
July
The month of July began the summer with a busy programme of performances on our main stage. Starting off with the King and Queen of Country, Islands in The Stream celebrating icons Dolly Parton and the late great Kenny Rogers. This performance was followed by more amazing professional tribute music with the Bowie experience and Total 90s.
Always offering plenty for the family, Chores came to the stage using comedy and chaotic acrobatics to tell the story of two young boys needing to clean their room and do their chores. Monkey was back with a new Milkshake! Live show bringing along Milkshake friends and presenters; and more After-mirth was on stage with comedy for parents and babies.
July was also the month of the first ever Cultivate performance. Cultivate is The Riverfront’s new scratch performance, it’s an event that invites the audience in to meet local artists as they share short work in progress performances. This platform is an amazing opportunity for the Riverfront to support local artists with the development of their performances and the progression of their career.
A significant event that took place in July was the welcoming of Hope, the life-sized suffragette statue made from 80,000 Lego bricks. Hope was welcomed with an official unveiling and fundraising event. This was the first of a series of events all aiming to raise funds for a statue of Newport’s very own suffraget hero – Lady Rhondda.
The (Future) Wales Coast Path offered a programme of events and activities open to the public during July. These were part of the year-long series of events and installations investigating our relationship to land and water and how we might respond to rising sea levels on the Welsh coastline. Joined by artists Alison Neighbour and Vikram Iyengar and marine social scientist Dr Emma McKinley, an informal discussion about the lighthouse was held on 26 July.
Big Splash
The Big Splash is the largest outdoor arts festival in Wales and is one of the biggest events in The Riverfront’s calendar and this year it was bigger than ever!
There was a huge build up to the event where anyone and everyone got involved. Our community and arts development team worked closely with Jessica Ackerman going into Jubilee Park Primary and Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Teyrnon to create decorative festival flags that were used to decorate the theatre during the festival. A poster competition was also hosted and linked to big splash-themed art on the walls; winners were awarded with cinema tickets and craft materials.
A huge variety of acts took to the streets of Newport to entertain the thousands of people who came to the city. The Theatre were proud to welcome Welsh artists including Kitsch and Sync, Theatr Iolo, Hijninx, Taking Flight, Flossy and Boo, as well as many more!
The list of amazing acts was endless. Crowds gathered in Friars walk as Dandyism used dance to explore African dandyism as a celebration of style and cool as well as a concern for humanism, gender and identity. Everyone stopped for selfies with the Roo’d giant kangaroos who bounced around the streets on stilts and audiences’ belly-laughed at many performances on the circus stage located in front of The Riverfront.
The Riverfront also hosted the ‘Splashtobury’ area within the festival where family activities took place. Crafting resources were available throughout for people to make and take until their hearts were content. This was also the location of the first ever Newport Bus to attend Big Splash. Newport Transport generously parked one of their buses outside where people could write, colour and draw all over! As expected, this was a huge hit with attendees! We also introduced the Community Stage to this years festival which celebrated local performers from across the city.
It's fair to say, Big Splash was a huge success. It’s a fantastic event where crowds come in masses to be a part of the fun and excitement with family and friends. It’s an opportunity to watch and take part in spectacular art, music and activities throughout the city. It’s an event that attracts thousands and brings a smile to people’s faces. The team are already counting down the days for next year!
August
The focus throughout the summer was on fun activities for all. The Summer of Fun program saw over 100 FREE workshops/performances/creative intervention and crafty makes, both at The Riverfront and across the city including breakdance, graffiti, dance, music, drama and workshops focusing on well-being. The Riverfront were delighted to work with many different artists and creative organisations.
Returning for the summer was Oh Susannah Sewing Club’s, where children could learn new sewing machine skills to create a range of sustainable products from re-usable facewipes to up-cycled phone accessories.
Throughout the summer months The Riverfront screened many children’s films for only £2.50. From Minions: The Rise Of Gru (U) and The Railway Children Return (PG) to DC League of Super Pets (PG) and Moana Sing Along (PG), they showed all of the favourites!
Among the many holiday activities was, Cinema Club for all the film fanatics. Every Wednesday children could watch a film in the morning and take part is a range of related activities in the afternoon.
The activities were a hit with children and parents, check out the schedule for October half term!
September
As children returned to school and the exciting mayhem began to calm down, all staff’s attention turned to the new Autumn/Winter season which is now in full flow.
With hugely successful performances including Some Guys Have All The Luck: Rod Stewart and The Story of Soul, the building has been bustling. The Riverfront also welcomed An Evening of Burlesque to the Stage on 24 September, it was night of laughter, cabaret, mystery, and glamour! This stylish cabaret show was completely new to The Riverfront but it was a huge hit and the Newport audience came in their masses to attend.
Cultivate returned to the studio with three new artists who showcased their work. The audience was filled with students from University of South Wales who all took notes in preparation for their performances in December which we can’t wait for!
As term-time is back in play, so were the popular weekly workshops. Hubble Music and Movement, Hatch Youth Theatre, Ceramics for Adults, Rubicon Dance classes, Breakdancing and Capoeira returned for the season. Along with the classics, The Riverfront have also introduced the Well-being Choir for adults. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet new people, enjoy a sing-a-long and try something new. These sessions are free and welcome drop-ins.
Staff at The Riverfront worked in partnership with Gwent Police to arrange a free day of make and take activities as a welcome for Ukrainian families who have recently moved to the city. It was an opportunity for The Riverfront to open the building to new members of the community and offer them a space to relax and enjoy quality time with their family.
The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre were delighted to announce the re-opening of their Art Gallery with the Gypsy Maker 5 Exhibition. This exciting installation of specially commissioned work was the latest in their ground-breaking Gypsy Maker project, an initiative that supports the development of innovatively created artistic works by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller artists. The project has now left the gallery to continue their tour around the UK.
The Mezzanine Gallery also displayed the Pride exhibition. This exhibition worked in conjunction with Pride in The Port and was titled ‘Which LGBTQAI+ Welsh Icon Inspires YOU The Most?’. After the Pride exhibition the Mezzanine gallery became the home of The Wales and the Battle of Britain Anniversary Exhibition, for a week. This exhibition was part of the nationwide commemorations marking an important chapter in the history of the Second World War.
The Riverfront opened it’s doors on the 17 September for the Creative Space Craft Clear Out, the perfect spring clean but in September. For anyone who had a studio of materials that were no longer in use, a surplus of supplies or frames in need of a good home; everyone was welcome at The Riverfront’s version of an artist’s car boot sale.
To finish off the month, on the 24 September a Dinosaur came to town to roam the streets of Newport and give a sneak peak of what’s to come in October with Dinosaur World Live. It was lovely to see so many people turn up and brave the roar of the big, friendly beast. Many explorers even dressed for the occasion and came ‘photo-ready’ in their dinosaur tops and hoodies.
It’s fair to say The Riverfront have had an amazingly busy summer! Keep your eyes peeled for what’s coming up over the Autumn and Winter months, and if you haven’t already, book your tickets for Panto!
