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Wales’ largest free outdoor arts festival ‘Big Splash’ returns this Summer!

Get ready for Wales’ largest free outdoor arts festival, returning to Newport on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th July 2025!

The Riverfront presents 'Big Splash', an annual festival, drawing thousands to the city, featuring live music, street theatre, dance performances, workshops, craft and activities for all the family.

All free of charge, the two-day event is the perfect family experience, recommended for all ages. Described as “a slice of Covent Garden in Newport”, the streets of Newport will turn into a giant outdoor stage. Save the date and join us at this year’s festival.

VOLUNTEER AT BIG SPLASH

Do you enjoy being part of something creative and community-driven? Do you love the arts, culture, and live events? Do you want to help at Wales’s biggest free outdoor arts festival? Big Splash is returning to Newport this July, and we would love for you to join us as a Volunteer to help bring the festival to life!

We are looking for friendly and reliable people to take on supporting roles as:

Green Room Hosts (age 16+)

Green Room Hosts (age 16+)

  • Creating a warm and welcoming space for our acts and performers before and after their shows
  • Perfect for those who love to help others, are good at keeping an eye on the time with an eye for detail and have a calming presence (to help any pre-show nerves!)
  • This role is exclusively indoors at The Riverfront, so we can accept applications from 16–17-year-olds too
View Role Profile Here
Festival Runners (age 18+)

Festival Runners (age 18+)

  • Supporting with any errands, whether helping to set up, rushing a forgotten item to the right person, assisting our tech team, or anything else that pops up
  • This is the role for you if you are adaptable, proactive and calm under pressure
View Role Profile Here
Zone Helpers (age 18+)

Zone Helpers (age 18+)

  • A welcoming face for the designated festival zones, you will be an important point of contact for attendees, keeping an eye on health and safety (including crowd flow) and safeguarding concerns
  • A match for you if you are friendly and approachable, with an eye for health and safety matters
View Role Profile Here
Feedback Champions (age 18+)

Feedback Champions (age 18+)

  • Striking up conversations with attendees to let them know about our audience survey, and encouraging participation
  • Perfect for those who are confident communicators and can put people at ease by quickly building rapport
View Role Profile Here

We welcome volunteers from all walks of life and are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible experience for everyone. You don’t need event experience, as whilst it’s a bonus, we will provide all training. Our volunteer training sessions are on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 July at the Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre between 5.30pm-7.30pm and you must be available to attend ONE of these sessions if successful in your application.
 

Application Deadline: Tues 8 July at 23:59PM

ACTS

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Able Mable

A hilarious clown character who dazzles with juggling, escapology, quick changes, and madcap mayhem. Expect balloon-popping, ladder balancing, and disappearing volunteers in this high-energy, ground-based comedy act. Full of flair and mischief, Mable is guaranteed to entertain and astonish.

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Adam Horton - The Public Typist

Follow the sound of clacking keys and step into a world of storytelling magic with public typist Adam Holton! Give him three random words and a character name and watch as he types a unique story just for you—right before your eyes in just five minutes. 

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Logy on Fire

Logy on Fire delivers a high-energy, family-friendly show combining vaudeville tricks, fire play, and razor-sharp object juggling — all with a rock 'n roll twist. Expect danger, comedy, and plenty of audience interaction in this raw, skilled performance that’s as thrilling as it is hilarious. 

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Pom Pom People

The Pom Pom People are whimsical wanderers spreading Radical Kindness through spontaneous pom pom surprises, heartfelt moments, and colourful creativity. With smiles, sparkle, and fuzzy flair, they bring joy, imagination, and connection wherever they roam. Keep your eyes peeled — you never know when you’ll get pom pommed!

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Circus Raj

Circus Raj brings the thrill of Rajasthan’s elite street performers to life with dazzling acrobatics and fearless fakir acts. Starring Dumbo’s own Iran and Govinda, this bold, colourful show fuses tradition and spectacle in an unforgettable cultural celebration. A breathtaking experience packed with skill, spirit, and world-class talent!

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Kitsch & Putt

Introducing our comedic competitive couple 'Harry Hole-in-One' and 'Birdie Bogie'. Strutting their stuff around the golf course, showing off their sports-casual style and challenging the public to join their elite swingers club & test their technique!  limber up, eyes on the ball, aim and FOOOOOUR!!! Family friendly act brought to you by Kitsch & Sync Collective.

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Matt Pang presents Thingamabob

With an internationally renowned blend of circus, invention and humour, Matt brings to life a giant ball slinging, self exploding piece of handcrafted gadgetry, inspired by the famous Rube Goldberg machines and Heath Robinson contraptions.

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The Felicity Footloose Show

The Felicity Footloose Show is full of fun frolics and daredevil antics! Watch as she juggles, dances and performs daredevil acrobatics to try and impress her hero Johnny! She’ll even go as far as to hang from her toes and juggle knives hanging upside down!

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Can Y Ddraig / Dragon Song

Join Dewi the dragon on a magical quest to find his lost voice, exploring Newport’s landmarks along the way! A fun, family-friendly show celebrating Newport’s stories and the Welsh language through music and laughter.

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ToodlePips

South Wales' favourite retro trio whisk you through a harmony-filled musical journey where old meets new. From swing classics to surprise modern hits, expect sparkling frocks, sweet vocals and plenty of singalong fun for the whole family. Feel-good, toe-tapping, proper British charm! 

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Purple Punch Street Show

A joyful street show that will take you from a daring tea party to a gripping wrestling match and culminate in a thrilling aerial acrobatic finale. With the competitors carefully selected and an audience roaring for more, get ready for the final wrestling match of the season! 

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Milk Slice

Milk Slice is a guitar and drums duo that showcases a mix of original songs, blending mellow guitar with sincere lyrics, interjected by acoustic covers of classic songs. Milk Slice have been described as ‘unique’ and ‘quirky’, playing at several festivals across Newport.

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YouCan TooCan Circus Workshops

Circus Workshops for the whole family. Have you ever wanted to learn to juggle? Spin a plate? How about getting to grips with some diablo tricks. Then why not pop into a YouCan TooCan drop-in Circus Workshop and give it a go.

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Wattle & Daub

Two beautician babes on a mission to embellish just about anyone they can get their hands on. A facetious walkabout that will leave you transformed... or hopefully at least questioning existing beauty trends. 

ZONES

Splashtonbury at The Riverfront

Splashtonbury at The Riverfront

The main festival hub full of family-friendly fun! Get creative with arts, crafts, and workshops, enjoy live music, circus performances, dance, and interactive street shows. This zone spans The Riverfront Theatre, Terrace Garden, Dock Stage (with youth music from Operasonic), Dance Studio, Art Gallery, and Studio Theatre.

Usk Plaza

Usk Plaza

A lively street theatre hotspot bursting with energy! Enjoy thrilling circus acts, fire juggling, and community performances throughout the day. Visit the Information Station, hosted by the friendly Newport Live team, to get all your Big Splash questions answered - and don’t miss out on free face painting while you’re there!

Celebrate Stage

Celebrate Stage

Catch live performances from local community groups and professional artists on the Celebrate Stage by the Red Wave along the riverbank. Stroll down Big Splash Boulevard for workshops, games, walkabout acts, stalls and riverside fun connecting The Riverfront to the Celebrate Stage.

Newport Now Creative Quarter

Newport Now Creative Quarter

A vibrant showcase of local arts, culture, and creativity, with activities spread across key creative hubs including Gallery 57, The Place, and Waterstones. Explore exhibitions, performances, and workshops celebrating local talent, while enjoying surprise pop-up shows and roaming acts bringing energy and fun all along Commercial Street.

DONATE

Since 2010, Big Splash has transformed Newport into a giant outdoor stage, welcoming over 25,000 people each year to experience free street theatre and access to the arts.

As Wales’ largest free outdoor arts festival, Big Splash relies on funding, partnerships and the generous donations of supporters like you. Run by The Riverfront Theatre, a charitable trust, every penny we raise goes back into creating community events and supporting the arts.

Your donation—big or small—helps keep this unforgettable, family-friendly experience alive and free for all.

Donate today and be part of the splash that makes it all possible. Thank you for keeping the arts alive!

SPONSORSHIP AND PARTNERS

A huge thank you to our funders, sponsors and partners for helping make Big Splash possible.

Want to get in on the action and become a sponsor for Big Splash? Take a look at our sponsorship deck here!

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