Live at the Quarry is a sell-out success!
More than a thousand festival-goers enjoyed an exciting smorgasboard of entertainment this July at a new event organised by Theatre Orchard and Culture Weston.
‘Live at the Quarry’ (1 – 17 July) was showcased at Weston-super-Mare’s historic, old town quarry with a series of live shows taking place under canvas in a fairy-lit stretch tent and run on solar-power.
The magical venue presented a diverse mix of socially spaced shows, where audiences lost themselves in music, comedy, cabaret, theatre, dance, poetry and spoken word, as well as the stunning surroundings of the natural landscape.
‘Live at the Quarry’ was made possible through Arts Council England and the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund, which enabled Theatre Orchard to showcase a celebratory, top quality and affordably priced programme, welcoming audiences back to outdoor arts, in the beautiful ‘hidden gem’ of Weston’s old town quarry.
People of all ages enjoyed a range of evening and daytime shows as nationally acclaimed acts performed alongside some outstanding local and regional talent – from sell-out music and DJ sets to theatre, poetry and family workshops, including collaborations with the town’s Loves Café and The Brit Bar.
Amongst the highlights were popular South West artists including Booty Bass, Kosheen, RSVP Bhangra, Roustabout Theatre and Bristol Comedy Box, as well as emerging talent from Weston and a new commission from theatre maker Tom Marshman. A table of complimentary tickets for each performance was also available for NHS workers.
A locally designed, artisan handcrafted bar served up some of the South West’s best beverages and locally made vegan snacks from Loves Cafe.
Fiona Matthews, artistic director at Theatre Orchard said: “Live at the Quarry was a truly uplifting event bringing together the brilliance of live arts and an amazing community spirit under one canvas roof. Huge thanks to the amazing audiences and our band of volunteer Culture Makers who helped to make it all such a great success.
“In keeping with the beauty of the surroundings and in line with our green policy, the event also promoted sustainable practice and eco-friendly features from solar powered performances to locally sourced drinks and food.”