Derby’s streets were filled with energy and imagination as Derby Festé took over the city centre with a full day of free outdoor performances, ending with a dramatic Festé After Dark finale.
The sun shone as Derby Market Place, Cathedral Green, Derby Market Hall, The Spot and Osnabruck Square became the backdrop for a vibrant programme of dance, aerial performance, circus and interactive street theatre. Thousands of people discovered a variety of UK, international and East Midlands artists, alongside walkabout acts that animated the spaces in between.
Councillor Gurkiran Kaur, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for City Centre, Culture and Tourism, said:
Derby Festé transformed our city centre into a vibrant, welcoming space where everyone could experience world-class culture for free. It was wonderful to see families, residents and visitors come together to enjoy such a variety of mesmerising performances.
As a Council, we’re proud to work with our amazing cultural partners and funders to deliver such wonderful day. Events like Festé play a vital role in celebrating our city, supporting the local economy, and showcasing Derby as a place where creativity and the arts are for everyone.
One of the highlights of the event on Saturday 26 September was Gorilla Circus with A.I.Thentic, a towering 20-metre-high aerial production that combined circus, dance and theatrical storytelling to explore how our relationship with artificial intelligence is changing. The performance provided a striking climax to the day’s activities as the Festé After Dark headliner at Cathedral Green.
In total, 17 acts delivered 37 performances, including Linden Dance Company’s CAGED, co-presented with Fabric, performed in, on and above an imposing three-metre birdcage structure.
Also co-presented with Fabric, Midlands-based 2Faced Dance Company’s Before It’s Gone brought a lively, physically dynamic performance that encouraged audiences to consider their connection with the natural environment, weaving in themes of creativity, hope and climate action.
Garbh in Derby Market Place (Image: Tom Platinum Morley)
Shyam Dattani and Mira Salat’s Garbh, presented in-the-round, reimagined the traditional Gujarati folk dance Garba’ for contemporary outdoor performance. Adding a playful touch to the programme, Wild Giants’ Big Dog Buddy – an over-enthusiastic giant puppy – was a favourite with families.
Throughout the day, visitors experienced surprise moments, spotting musicians performing high above the crowds and encountering roaming characters including majestic peacocks and dancing hippos.
Many performances were non-verbal, making them easy to engage with for a wide range of audiences. British Sign Language interpreters were available throughout the day, while selected performances featured touch tours, captions and audio description.
Derby Festé was presented by Derby City Council with project grant support from Arts Council England National Lottery funding, alongside Fabric, Without Walls, Cathedral Quarter Derby, and Derby Theatre.
In addition to the main programme, Festé Fringe saw partners across the city are host free exhibitions and events at Artcore, Derby Museum and Art Gallery and Pickford’s House, while QUAD was celebrating its 18th birthday. Derby Market Hall features a Banks Mill takeover with local makers and drop-in creative workshops.