Schools and community groups are already getting in the Fuse Festival mood through a series of special visits from Medway’s very own roving puppet Sparky. Sparky is working with the children, encouraging them to get active, healthy and creative by unlocking their imagination and ‘sparking off’ dozens of activities – from karate and Zumba through to carnival performances, costume, mask-making and banners.
Sparky, his new giant-sized puppet big brother Magma and the children will all then participate in ‘Lighting the Fuse’ – a week of festivities in the run-up to the Festival and in the Festival’s launch night – an ‘Illumination Parade’ on Friday 17 June.
Sparky is no usual puppet (or ‘champion’ as he’s referred to as ‘puppet’ doesn’t do him justice)– he’s been created by carnival arts company Kinetika and is part of a national project called ‘Imagination Our Nation’, linked to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Medway is one of 5 regions to be involved and is working with children on the theme of ‘health and activity’. It is a creative project designed to expand the learning and creative potential of children through puppetry, arts, design and music. Since 2009 Fuse Medway Festival has been a focus for the children’s performance activity.
Sparky and Magna can be seen out on the streets in the run-up to Fuse Medway Festival during ‘Lighting the Fuse’ on Monday 13 June, 10am - 12noon (High Street, Chatham), Tuesday 14 June, 10am - 12noon (High Street, Gillingham) and again on Thursday, 16 June, 10am - 12noon, (High Street, Rochester). They will take their places alongside the children at the Festival’s Illumination Parade on Friday 17 June, from 4.30pm, Gillingham High Street.
Taking place between 17 and 19 June, Fuse Medway Festival is one of the South East’s most exciting outdoor arts festivals and offers a huge array of outdoor theatre, street art, dance, circus and wicked humour. It is funded by Medway Council and supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. For more information and a full programme go the website at www.fusefestival.org.uk or join the festival on Facebook or Twitter.
