Streets Ahead event, part of the Newark Creates cultural programme led by Newark’s Cultural Consortium, held in Market Place

Newark’s streets were filled with music, acrobats, and fun over the weekend as the free Streets Ahead event returned to town.

Part of the ongoing Newark Creates cultural programme organised by Newark Cultural Consortium in association with SO Festival, Sunday’s event saw Newark Market Place play host to national and international street theatre performers and outdoor acts.

Hundreds of people of all ages came out to enjoy the programme, with professional dance company 2Faced Dance entertaining the crowds with their energetic performance of Last Orders, which saw four men in a local pub who are forced to confront their differences with vats of physicality, barrels of humour and a pounding soundtrack.

Belgium based circus company 15ft6 then entertained the crowd with their ‘League & Legend’ production, with pole vaults, poles and tape, and local musical duo The Fighting Nightingales also performed their comically tall tales to strange music.

Guests could also enjoy personalised cycle rides in Flying and Submarine cycles and interactions with the tiny lost travellers, Hodman Dodman and Sally Forth, and Bingham Big Band brought the proceedings to a close.

There were also stalls from Newark Book Festival, The Open Doors Programme, and Book Bench artists.

Newark Creates spokesman Clare Janes, paid tribute to Sara Bullimore, who is the “heart and soul” of Newark Creates and has worked so hard to make the event happen.

She said: “The atmosphere was really wonderful and everyone who took part in the event evaluation strongly agreed or agreed that these events made them want to come to the town centre more, encouraged them to experience culture and arts in a local setting, and gave them a greater sense of pride in Newark High Street and the local area.

“The many smiles on people’s faces were testament to the success of the event.”

To keep up to date on the latest from Newark Creates, visit www.newarkcreates.co.uk

Newark Creates is a cultural programme led by Newark’s Cultural Consortium which has seen the curation of free arts and heritage activities across the town since 2021. The Streets Ahead event is supported by Newark Town Board’s Newark Heart project, alongside Arts Council England, creating opportunities for more events than ever before.