Popped into town with Mum last Saturday, who needed to visit the bank for something. The city centre is always very hectic and busy at the weekend with the market or other displays, but this weekend it was the 10th anniversary of the Essex streetdiversions Sept 2012. They had them last year I think. There were people in costumes on stilts, giant inflatable green dragons and people just in costumes, which made me feel less self-conscious in"T the old clothes and trainers I was wearing. It was a fairly warm bright day for September, but I still wondered how warm it was for 'Les Goulus', who wear wearing little more than sandals, greek style pants and make-up. We walked curiously past the Insect Circus Society, which had entrance free on the front. The Italento lady dressed as a ballerina and posing to ballerina style music was also noted.
The flyers handed out said it was 'the free festival of international outdoor performance. Unique to Essex, the festival celebrates its 10th year in the new city of Chelmsford and the quality line-up of international outdoor arts is bigger than ever. To mark the occasion, we've programmed some of the best acts from the 550 shows presented since the free festival began in 2003.'
On the back of the flyers there were quotes:
"The privilege of absurdity: to which no living creature is subject, but man only" Thomas Hobbes
"If anyone were to ask me what in my opinion was....the most stupid spot on the face of the Earth, I should decidedly say Chelmsford" Charles Dickens
"We don't stop playing because because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing" Anonymous.
And also on the back. Supported by:
High Chelmer www.highchelmer.com/, Meadows Chelmsford, www.themeadows.co.uk/, Essex & Suffolk Water, www.eswater.co.uk/, The Printing Place Ltd www.printingplace.co.uk/, The Essex Chronicle www.thisistotalessex.co.uk/essexchronicle, The Woodland Group www.woodland-group.com/, www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/essex/
The full artistic programme and updates for 2012 can be found at chelmsford.gov.uk/streetdiversions or in the Essex Chronicle, on BBC Essex or via Facebook.
Twitter@CultEventsTeam, Facebook: Streetdiversions.