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The Teesside cultural organisation have received £30,000 from the Arts Council’s National Lottery Project Grants to fund their production Departing at 18:25, which is inspired by the forthcoming 200th anniversary of the Darlington-Stockton Railways
Photo by BIFF
The Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance (BIFF) had been given the fantastic news that it is to recieve £30,000 from the Arts Council’s National Lottery Project Grants to help develop and deliver a thrilling spectacle entitled Departing at 18:25, which is inspired by the forthcoming 200th anniversary of the Darlington-Stockton Railways (1825-2025), and will form the centre piece to next year’s BIFF Festival.
The production will have plenty of compelling narrative, emotive drama and heartfelt dance performances presented by over 100 characters with confirmed countries so far being Mexico, Colombia and the UK with more to follow. Its storyline focuses on migration and follows passengers on a train that have to make life choices determined by their destination. The carriage represents the diversity of our community, made up from a multi-cultural society but as the train travels along the track the clickety-clack provides the rhythm of life.
Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance will also turning sixty in 2025 as it marks six decades of offering Tees Valley audiences its elaborate brand of globetrotting entertainment.
Olga Maloney, Artistic Director of Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance, adds:
“These are exciting times for the Festival as we celebrate a massive milestone for our event and for the town itself. Not many festivals can boast our longevity and reach six decades of entertaining audiences and inspiring generation upon generation of up-and-coming dancers.
“We couldn’t have lasted this long without the love and support of local residents, the international dance community and our backers. 2025 promises to be an extra special year that will live long in the memory for years to come.
“The marriage of trains, dance, drama, education, music and culture will look to keep us on the right track to help make lovely memories and break new ground. It will be extra special as we can align our heritage celebrations with those of the 200th anniversary of the Darlington-Stockton Railways.
“BIFF 2025 will have something for everyone.”
There will be two taster performances being staged this November for ‘Departing at 18:25’ that will include 70-minute full length shows and workshops to give people an exciting insight into what they can expect next year.
They will be taking place on Friday 29th November at The Georgian Theatre, Stockton-on-Tees (7.30 pm) and Saturday 30th November at Theatre Hullabaloo, Darlington (8.00 pm). All seats are priced at £10. Tickets can be purchased directly from the BIFF What’s On box office (Stockton show) and from Theatre Hullabaloo (via the Hippodrome Theatre Box Office).
