It was a Merry Mischief Day in Monmouth on Saturday which saw crowds turn out to see lively circus acts, street theatre performers, musician and community group parade floats take over the streets. Among those to join the parade were a giant Jabberwocky float, a large horse, a flying saucer manned by a “visitor from outer space” and huge pigeons who walked among the crowds.
Popular free arts and environmental event the Wye Valley River Festival has kicked off in style with thousands of people enjoying its distinctive mix of live performance and interactive arts.
The 2022 festival, which runs until Sunday (5th June), has already seen dancers, performers and even a giant Jabberwocky and huge pigeons flood the streets of Monmouth, visitors to Tintern Abbey be spellbound by innovative sound installations and community groups display their creative skills with work specially created for the popular open access festival.
Organisers Wye Valley River Festival CIC have been delighted to see crowds return as the biennial event made its live return following a four year absence. The festival began on Friday May 27 at Tintern Abbey, with the unveiling of amazing site-responsive sound commissions, inspired by the festival theme Human ⇋ Nature, by Chris Watson, Rhys Trimble and Simon Presto.
Visitors had the chance to experience the extraordinary sounds of the deep ocean with Chris Watson’s piece the Three Realms, conduct their own natural sound concerto with the Soundbeam installation and dial up a chosen celebrity to hear their ‘Letters to the Earth’. Dame Emma Thompson, Sam Lee and Jenny Ngugi are among those to record pieces for people to listen, reflect, and let their words resonate. The installations will be in place for visitors to Tintern to enjoy until Sunday.
The launch also saw a performance by specially-commissioned troupe The Bikesplorers, who are touring throughout the festival along a 65-mile route, camping on the way and putting on pop-up performances for audiences.
Banners and artwork created by local groups as part of the 2022 Festival creative community champion projects were on display as part of the procession.
Also on Saturday, at Tintern Village Hall dance therapist Cleo Lake took participants through an Afrikan Caribbean performance workshop. On Sunday, the Redbrook Revelry Day saw Bristol-based Steppin Sistas and local choirs walk and sing in Hidden Valley and bicycle-powered performance troupe The Bikesplorers play alongside funky street band The Wod Wos trio.