SIRF & The Fringe 2009

Summer is here and that means it's festival time. This year's Stockton International Riverside Festival is on from Thursday 30 July to Sunday 2 August, and will see artists and street theatre companies from across the globe heading for Stockton Town Centre.

It's like a circus out there!

Trinity Gardens will once again become the heart of the festival, which this year will see a SIRF premiere with NoFit State Circus who will be giving a series of workshops in the run up to their show Parklife; giving local creative groups a chance to be part of Britain’s leading contemporary circus.

Check out Mimbre at SIRF

And for those Britain's Got Talent fans, you'll be pleased to see street dance has made it's way to Stockton, with all male quartet Balletboyz II – The Next Generation, joining the party as well as urban dance piece Deabru Beltzsak, who will hit the streets blending dance with fire and rhythms!

Other highlights include Little Box of Horrors, a playful and artfully choreographed peep show and Digital Funfair where audiences can release their tension with a virtual coconut shy.

Taking it to the streets

The Community Carnival will take place on Saturday 1 August. This year the theme is Small Wonders, Big World and it's hoped over 1,000 people will join in and make their way along Stockton High Street as they take part in the vibrant and colourful procession.

Jan Doherty, festival co-ordinator, said: "One of the best things about SIRF is the mix of world class performers who are at the forefront of street arts and the community participation which is at the heart of the festival."

The World Famous will bring the curtain down with a breathtaking finale at Trinity Gardens on Sunday 2 August. They are taking inspiration from their surroundings for the show, called Trinity, celebrating the building and its history.

Ahead of the finale, The World Famous will create an installation at Trinity Green using music, light, fire and fireworks to animate Trinity Church.

BBC Tees has all the news on SIRF and The Fringe 2009, click the links at the top right of this page for more information.