Street theatre, performances and live music will take place in Hull next week as part of an exciting programme celebrating the city’s rich history.
Giant birds, mermaids, brass bands, Victorian stiltwalkers and a contraption powered by Brussel sprouts will all be appearing across Hull’s streets in July.
Hull City Council has commissioned events company Continental Drifts to deliver the programme, and also develop a digital history trail inviting people to explore Hull’s historic and beautiful city centre.
The trail can be navigated on a smartphone, allowing explorers, young and old, to discover some of the city’s historic secrets.
The Hull History Hunters programme, which has been funded by the European Regional Development Fund, will take place from Saturday 3 July until Sunday 11 July.
It is also being supported by Princes Quay Shopping Centre.
Councillor Rosemary Pantelakis, portfolio holder for arts and culture at Hull City Council, said: “We are a city that embraces arts and culture, so it’s fantastic to see such a brilliant line-up of performances heading to Hull as part of this wonderful programme.
“The past 18 months have been tough for all of us, so this opportunity to entertain and put smiles back on people’s faces, especially children, is fantastic and incredibly important.”
You can find out more at www.hullhistoryhunters.uk
Street performance programme, 3-4 July and 10-11 July
The Birds
Saturday 3 July and Sunday 11 July
10-10.30am at Whitefriargate and Trinity Square; 11.30am-12pm and 1pm-1.30pm at King Edward and Jameson Street
These fantastical giant birds with their stunning fanned tails entertain and inspire audiences. Accompanied by Major Apus, an avid bird watcher, they are a real treat for children and families.
The Birds do a meet and greet or mix and mingle walkabout performance with their minder Major Apus.
Hodman and Sally
Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 July
10.30-11am & 2.45-3.15pm at King Edward and Jameson Street; 11.45am-12.15pm at Whitefriargate and Trinity Square
An enchanting interactive puppetry walkabout. Hodman and Sally have lived happily by themselves for hundreds of years, blissfully unaware of the changing world around them. Now they have ventured out in search of fame, fortune and friendship, enjoying a second youth touring the world with their possessions strapped to their backs.
The Flatulator
Saturday 3 July
10.45-11.15am at King Edward and Jameson Street; 12.45-1.15 & 2.30-3pm at Whitefriargate and Trinity Square
Saturday 10 July
10.30-11am & 2.45-3.15pm at King Edward and Jameson Street; 11.45-12.15 & 2.30-3pm at Whitefriargate and Trinity Square
Seemingly powered solely by Brussels sprouts, the contraption is piloted by the often unrecognised, and usually confused, Victorian professor Keith Robinson.
With its wings flapping, pistons pumping and of course the unfortunate but inevitable accompanying sounds of gas propulsion, this very peculiar and curious contrivance is guaranteed to entertain as it trundles along.
The Mermaid
Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 July
12.15pm-12.45pm & 2.30-3pm at King Edward and Jameson Street; 1.15-1.45pm at Whitefriargate and Trinity Square
On his perilous journey to find the source of the Humber, Victorian explorer Jeremy Microft-Hulbert has captured an exotic creature just by the South Ferriby Cement Works.
Kitsch Café
Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 July
Various locations and times
Brace yourselves as Pam and Johnny arrive on the world's only mobile 60's cafe complete with Stylophone, Spam and 60's classic tunes.
Divine Company
Various locations and times
A range of performances will include Victorian stilt-walkers and vintage sailor girls.
New York Brass Band
Sunday 4 July
11-11.45am & 3.15-4pm at Whitefriargate and Trinity Square; 1.45-2.30pm at King Edward and Jameson Street
New York Brass Band are North Yorkshire’s only contemporary New Orleans-inspired brass band.
Fat Brass
Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 July
11-11.45am & 3.15-4pm at Whitefriargate and Trinity Square; 1.45-2.30pm at King Edward and Jameson Street
Fat Brass cut their teeth in the mud UK festival circuit and on the sticky floors of London clubs, evolving into a turbo-charged roaming hip-hop jazztronica outfit, playing reflective originals that show off the best in drum and brass.
The Aristocrats
Sunday 4, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 July
10.45-11.15am at King Edward and Jameson Street; 12.45-1.15 & 2.30-3pm at Whitefriargate and Trinity Square
This larger than life aristocratic Lord and Lady Pompous, straight out of the 18th Century, are all dressed up with their fabulous sculptural hair styles, powder faces and gorgeous gowns. They are totally aghast at their surroundings and lost in their own pompous aristocratic world.
The High Flyers
Sunday 4 July & Sunday 11 July
10-10.30am at Whitefriargate and Trinity Square; 11.30am-12pm and 1pm-1.30pm at King Edward and Jameson Street
The High Flyers resemble an early flying machine with elements of Mad Max and Leonardo da Vinci concepts all rolled into one. This engaging performance transcends language barriers and takes people on a journey into their own imaginations. Set in an imagined future dystopia, packed full of bizarre characters trying to re-gain the magic of flight, this back-to-basics underworld of crazy contraptions and quirky characters is inspired by 19th century theatre sideshows.
The Camel
Sunday 11 July
10.30-11am & 2.45-3.15pm at King Edward and Jameson Street; 11.45-12.15 & 2.30-3pm at Whitefriargate and Trinity Square
From deep within the desert rides his pint-sized, meerkat majesty Prince Amire, sitting atop his companion Kitty the Camel and assisted by his argumentative nanny, Kesha. Come forth and witness the miniscule majesty of Amire as he struggles to maintain his status whilst all around him try to bring him down.
