Junction brings tropical nature to Goole with Takeover Festival

Come and take a trek through a tropical paradise from Mon 15 May – Sun 21 May with Junction’s Takeover Festival in partnership with Marshlands Primary School.

Developing the festival since November last year, 29 Year 5 pupils at Marshlands Primary School have taken over Goole’s theatre – Junction – and the nearby West Park for a season of work inspired by their chosen theme of Tropical Nature.

Including indoor and outdoor performances families are encouraged to come along and meet an exciting mix of wild animals from a zoo, walk around the park with 2 giant parrots, learn to play African drums, explore aerial performance and more.Each year Junction works with a local primary school and gives them a two-week window to programme the work they’d like to see Junction promote.

This year, with Marshlands Year 5 pupils, two facilitators supported the pupils in selecting their theme and discussing what kind of performances would attract a wide variety of audiences. Classes explored a whole range of performances from theatre to dance, circus to comedy and selected their favourites to create a unique festival.

Pupils took part in various workshops with Junction to learn about programming events, discover budgeting and marketing and even try out some production skills including creating a brochure for print and recording a podcast.

Ellie Tillotson, Takeover Festival Producer: “It’s been a pleasure working with the year 5 children from Marshlands Primary School. They have created a wonderful line-up full of diverse performances, from African drumming to a zoo full of animal puppets! A big thank you to the school staff for supporting the children on this creative journey.”

Andra Chelcea, Creative Engagement Manager, Junction: “Takeover Festival is a great opportunity for the young people in Goole to engage with our venue and with the Arts. We are glad that we’ve been able to provide this every year to one of the local schools and let the youth guide the programme of an entire festival. It develops their skills in so many areas, but it also strengthens their engagement with the Arts; this year the young people have also worked towards getting a Bronze Arts Awards certificate, in recognition of their hard work. Come and join us and support Goole’s youth’s work.”

Gracie, Year 5 Producer: “Marshlands Primary School was picked for Takeover Festival this year. It is a small school with the best teachers.”

The programme for Takeover Festival 2023 includes a range of free events.

Scarlet Oak Theatre
The Zoo That Comes To You
Mon 15^th May, 6pm
Venue: Junction
Tickets: FREE
Follow the efforts of two wildlife enthusiast who provide respite, care or a temporary home to those in need. They now have a sanctuary full of animals. However, no-one has come to visit their zoo. So everybody – animals and humans alike – have decided it’s time to get you out, see the world and bring the zoo to you!

Creature Encounters
Squakwabout
Sat 20^th May, 11.30am, 12:30pm & 2pm
Venue: West Park (if the weather is too wet, you will find us at Junction)
Tickets: FREE
Squawkabout is a rumbustious, romping walkabout exploring the Victoria fascination for collecting. Meet the playful and inquisitive tropical birds, in a vibrant rainbow of colour. Either the Captain or his wife will be available to answer questions relating to the flora, fauna and topography of the bird’s natural habitat.

Drum Roots
African Drumming Performance and Workshop
Sat 20^th May, 1pm
Venue: West Park (if the weather is too wet, you will find us at Junction)
Tickets: FREE
Drumroots and Tanante are founded on the drumming and dance traditions of Guinea in West Africa. Focusing on the Djembe, they also play other drums and ethnic instruments. Drum Roots celebrate culture and music in joyous rhythms and electrifying performances.

Rogueplay Theatre
Forests
Sun 21^st May, 11.30am & 2pm
Venue: West Park (if the weather is too wet, you will find us at Junction)
Tickets: FREE
A highly visual, family-friendly show using acrobatics and dance to powerfully challenge forestry practises. Forests comprises of a 5-metre bamboo tree with interweaving ropes, connecting performers and tree together. This network of rope allows the tree to be felled and re-grown replicating the intricate fungal connections underground.

Fantastic Faces
Tropical Face Painting
Sun 21^st May, 11am – 3pm
Venue: West Park (if the weather is too wet, you will find us at Junction)
Tickets: FREE
Head to the bandstand in the park and choose a tropical design created by one of the Fantastic Faces artists. This award-winning company from Hull only use eco-friendly products, hypoallergenic paints and bio-degradable glitter.

Takeover Festival
Mon 15 – Sun 21 May
Junction, Paradise Place, Goole, East Yorkshire, DN14 5DL
West Park, Airmyn Rd, Goole DN14 6XA
01405 763652 / junctiongoole.co.uk