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David Saunders discovers what’s in store at the multi-artform event
Image: Flamingods
Thursday 8th-Sunday 11th August multi-artform event NOVUM returns for its second year, bringing the best local, national and international talent to Newcastle Civic Centre and The Great North Museum: Hancock.
The festival features spectacular visual arts installations, vibrant music, dazzling circus performances, spoken word and live theatre as well as free family-friendly activities and opportunities to get involved. It’s also brimming with talent with the likes of DJ Yoda, performance art specialist Lawrence Malstaf, break dancer Rob Anderson, dance circus production company Motionhouse, and a whole load more.
STAY & PLAY
NOVUM’s Stay & Play are free family-friendly activities taking place around the Civic Centre throughout the weekend between 11am-5pm, including screen printing fun with Huge Dollops Of Joy (Friday 9th), enchanting puppeteering with The League Of Curiosity (throughout), Hippocampus-themed printing with Northern Print’s Seeing Seahorses (Saturday 10th) and Juan Loaiz’s Afro-Latin American music extravaganza, Heartbeats In Clave! (Sunday 11th).
On Friday 9th and Saturday 10th audiences can become cygnets, via purpose-built aerial rigs, with All Ways Good: Swanning And Swooping; alternatively, explore the movement and music of India as part of Ripu – Enemies of the Mind, as well as take part in fun, dragon-themed activities with Unfolding Theatre’s Here Be Dragons.
A BIT OF FLEX
NOVUM will bring various acrobatic acts to dazzle you with awe-inspiring gravity and fear-defying performances from the likes of Bristol-based Cirque Bijou (throughout) who over at the Civic Centre will be delivering their brand new aerial spectacular, Do Your Thing, which includes live music, singing from local choirs, hat juggling and acrobatics, as well as The Flying Piano sing-a-long, which is exactly what it says it is.
Dance-circus production company Motionhouse come roaring into the festival with their piece WILD, (Friday 9th-Sunday 11th) where performers roam animal-like through a forest of tall poles. And continuing with the circus antics on Sunday 11th are Newcastle Circus Arts, whose show Shy Bairns Get Nowt explores what it means to be Northern for young people today.
STIMULATING SOUNDS
Alongside the visual stuff, NOVUM will be pleasuring our ears with some of the finest musicians. Head to the Civic Centre Banqueting and feast on all kinds of wonderfulness from world-class turntablist and producer DJ Yoda (Saturday 10th) who headlines the event with an exclusive immersive audio visual showcase created especially for the festival. Also dropping the dance beats, albeit with a jazz, gospel and house edge on Friday 9th are Newcastle quintet Knats.
Promoters F54, Generator and The Glasshouse will be joining in the party with shows from the likes of modernist folk outfit Hector Gannet (Thursday 8th), anthemic spiritualists Flamingods, Welsh-Nigerian Pop/R&B artist Kima Otung, and soulful solo artist Ruth Lyon (all Friday 9th).
Other highlights include Newcastle-based indie/grunge pop singer-songwriter India Arkin and Teesside alt. folk maestro Amelia Coburn, who will be captivating audiences on Thursday 8th.
COMMUNITY
NOVUM is set to create an engaging festival experience for the local community through the programming of local artists alongside touring performers, as well as providing opportunities for local people to get involved.
Locals can also join in the fun and become a living, breathing work of art as part of Lawrence Malstaf’s striking installation SHRINK 01995 at the Great North Museum: Hancock, sign up to take part in a masterclass with photographer Andrew Brooks and tour some secret Newcastle locations ahead of a Secret Cities exhibition, or get down for breakdance competition Triple Threat, who are looking for individuals and crews to battle it out in on the dancefloor.
