Olympian joins huge Lake's street party

One of Britain’s most successful Paralympic athletes will join local people and visitors in Cockermouth on Saturday July 31 to celebrate the town’s remarkable recovery from the floods at a jubilant street party organised by Lakes Alive.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE will be among the thousands of people who are expected to take part in ‘The Banquet’ – a free carnival-style fete with dancing in the streets, fireworks and some of the best outdoor entertainers from across Europe.

Among the acts soaring into town for Baroness Tanni and the rest of the visitors to enjoy will be the Flying Buttresses with their enchanting duo Hodman Dodmanott and Sally Forth. There’ll be plenty of clowning around Mexican American style from the award-winning Teatro Pachuco and French dancing stars Le Danse d’Avril will be encouraging the crowds to trip the light fantastic in their Electro Ballroom.

The Lakes Alive event is designed to mark the revival of the town’s fortunes after the worst floods in its history. It is being supported by Allerdale Borough Council’s Flood Recovery Fund, with match funding by Arts Council England – North West.

Jonty Chippendale, chairman of Cockermouth Chamber of Commerce, said: "The Main Street in Cockermouth is now looking like the Main Street again. There are still some shops yet to reopen but a significant number are now trading and when you look down the street it looks like the street we used to know and love.

"The Lakes Alive party is a wonderful opportunity to showcase all the hard work that has been done in Cockermouth and to celebrate what has been achieved."

Lakes Alive is part of the nationwide programme of cultural events leading up to the OIympic and Paralympic Games in London in 2012. Baroness Tanni has won a remarkable 16 Paralympic medals including 11 Golds.

She said: ‘I’m looking forward to taking part in Lakes Alive’s exciting street party in Cockermouth to help celebrate the town’s recovery from last autumn’s devastating floods. The Lake District and the surrounding area is very special to me and we spend a lot of time there as a family.

‘Lakes Alive is Cumbria’s unique contribution to the Legacy Trust UK programme which was set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. I’m delighted that people in Cumbria are playing such a big and colourful part in the build up to the Games in London.’

Visitors will be able to bring their own picnics to enjoy at one of the many tables and chairs which will be laid out in the centre of Cockermouth. There will also be a choice of food stalls to sample.

Performers taking to the streets during the day include The Flying Buttresses who will introduce audiences to Hodman Dodmanott and Sally Forth - two backpacking travellers from the country of Oblivia with a giant following. This adorable duo will interact with the crowds and make everyone fall in love with them.

The pair has become so popular they’ve been seen by millions of people across the globe and even have their own fan club. Reviewers rave about their charm with "spellbinding" one of the most commonly used words to describe the act.

Also appearing is Teatro Pachuco who will turn heads with their extraordinary walkabout show complete with strange music and dreamy sketches.

They will present Just Passing Thru which sees a man standing alone in the street with a suitcase. Unexpectedly joined by a child, the two begin to create magic as they open a suitcase full of surprises.

And it will be hard to resist the energy of Le Danse d’Avril’s Electro Ballroom during which a couple give an expert display in ballroom dancing to electro beats before conducting a mass dance class for the crowds. Everyone is encouraged to put their dancing shoes on and take part in this infectious routine.

Julie Tait, the director of Kendal Arts International which runs Lakes Alive along with Manchester International Arts, said: "We want this to be a celebratory event that will bring everyone out onto the streets to enjoy a feast of great food and world-class entertainment.

"Come along and meet some new people, be amazed by some wondrous acts and see what progress has been made in Cockermouth. We’re delighted to have added this very special event to our 2010 programme and it promises to be one of the most memorable parties of the year."

Also taking part in The Banquet are Spanish puppeteers La Puntual who will delight children and adults alike with their traditional puppet show starring Malic who seems to have a special gift for getting into trouble. The act is inspired by the popular European tradition which for centuries was performed by travelling puppeteers in streets, parks and squares.

Frolicked’s outdoor puppet will introduce audiences to Arthur the Usher, one of the most efficient, service driven and hygienic ushers you’ll ever meet. Frolicked, a Yorkshire based puppet theatre company create creatures and characters from the world around us.

Look out too for the tutu-clad Fifi Pavlova and Dame Margot Fondue from the Bread and Butter Theatre Company. The duo will teach the crowds how to master the art of demi plies and pirouettes performed to ballet classics including Swan Lake and the Nutcracker.

Watch out for flying tomatoes and carrots when vegetable trainer Andre Krupp takes to the streets and The Last Chance Saloon will get the party going with a real swing with their ‘cowboy ceilidh’ complete with country music, dancing and Stetsons.

Comedy walkabout magician David Paine will defy the laws of nature with his astounding tricks including a finale which sees him handcuffed in a mailbag for 44 seconds before escaping in spectacular, if unconvincing, style.

There’ll also be a life sized puppet called the Big Bad Wolf and the Mancunian Steam and Pressure Navigation Company will set up Galvonium, a curious cross between a piano and an aquarium.

Jill Elliott, Allerdale Borough Council’s Strategic Manager for Business, said: "The importance of cultural events, such as Lakes Alive, in supporting the economic and social recovery of the area, following the floods, cannot be underestimated and Allerdale Borough Council is pleased that it is able to support this event in Cockermouth from the flood recovery grant it received from the Government. We are delighted to be working with Kendal Arts International in Cockermouth."

The following day Lakes Alive will be launching a new international street festival in Penrith, filling the town with a colourful collection of artists from across the world with a special focus on puppetry.

Around every corner of the town centre you'll find yourself drawn in by more than 20 performances from Catalonia, Spain, Holland, Switzerland, France, the UK and beyond as they take over the town with giant strolling creatures, comic creations, imaginative marionettes, enchanting shadow puppets, interactive experiences and much more to create a day bursting with surprises.

Lakes Alive is one of three annual programmes commissioned for WE PLAY, the Northwest cultural legacy programme for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. WE PLAY is funded by Legacy Trust UK, an independent charity set up to help build a lasting cultural and sporting legacy from the 2012 Olympic Games. The project is led by the Arts Council England Northwest on behalf of a new regional partnership. Lakes Alive is sponsored by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and has also received funding from Arts Council England and the Northern Rock Foundation.

For more information about all the Lakes Alive 2010 events go to www.lakesalive.org

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