This year’s annual Swindon Festival is the flagship event of our Brunel 200 celebrations. The Festival runs from Friday 7 to Sunday 16 of July and features activities, performances, creative and fun events which the whole family will enjoy!
Download the festival flyer (PDF - 838 KB opens in a new window)
The Arts Community in Swindon has joined forces to produce “Building Bridges”. The show will celebrate the ageless spirit of creativity, inspired by Brunel, which is still prevalent in Swindon today. The two evening performances will feature favourite local companies. The young people’s matinee includes local schools and youth groups.
Dorcan Performing Arts Group will be presenting their newly commissioned work which has been funded by Patheon UK through Swindon Borough’s Council Percent for Art Scheme.
Building Bridges” is supported by Brunel FM, Swindon’s new commercial radio station launching summer 2006.
Where: Wyvern Theatre
When: Friday 7 July (7.30pm), Saturday 8 July (2.30pm & 7.30pm)
Prices: £10 and £11 for evening performances, £6 & £7 for matinees
Info: www.wyverntheatre.org.uk or call 01793 524481
Building Bridges - special 2 for 1 offer on tickets is now available for all performances on Friday and Saturday. Book as normal but quote 2 for 1 to get the special offer of two tickets for the price of 1.
The story of Brunel’s transformation of Swindon from a sleepy market town to a dynamic industrial setting is told through a series of photographs, prints and postcards of people and places. This exhibition is run in partnership with English Heritage, STEAM, Swindon Museum and Art Gallery, the Civic Trust and Arts Services.
Where: Wyvern Theatre
When: Friday 7 July to Monday 4 September
Price: FREE
Expressive Arts Project
A group of young people aged between 14 and 25 are being given the opportunity to celebrate Brunel’s work using imagery and colour. They will explore Brunel’s work through photographs, pictures and postcards and interpret the images through expressive urban art. The aim is to develop young people’s appreciation of Brunel’s legacy, educate them on the industrialisation of Swindon, encourage them to respect the local environment and consult them on issues that are important to them.
Where: Town Centre
When: Saturday 8 July & Sunday 9 July, 10am to 4pm
Info: www.youthinfoswindon.org
In celebration of Brunel, the Brunel Centre’s Arty Party workshops will give children the chance to recreate similar designs for themselves and win a prize for their efforts.
Where: Brunel Centre
When:Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July
Time: 11am - 3pm
Info: For children 5-11 years old. FREE
A taste of the big weekend of the festival with lunchtime performances.
Where: The Parade outside Debenhams
When:Tuesday 11 - 14 July
Time: 12 - 2.00pm
Great Exhibition of 1851 Children from twenty different Primary and Infant schools in Swindon will visit The Ridgeway School to re-create the Great Exhibition. Each school will present work on a famous scientist and, combining science with performing arts, they will bring their discoveries to life. They will also take part in fun and exciting workshops, which will include a Rainforest Roadshow, the Science of Photography and designing and making Jet Toys.
Where: The Ridgeway School, Wroughton
When: Wednesday and Thursday 12 and 13 July. 9.30am to 2.30pm
Saturday 15 July 10.30 - 4pm
Street theatre, music and installations…all free of charge in Swindon town centre!
Creativity and invention… over 30 performances from 15 international acts!
A spectacular and colourful parade by local young people,on the theme of Brunel - Engineer of the Imagination.
Lets all do the conga …for Brunel!! Join Swindon’s biggest dance event, no experience necessary!!.
The Swindon Big Dance, co-ordinated by Swindon Dance, national dance Agency, takes the form of a fun Conga event.
Come as an individual, couple, group or family!
For full details contact Swindon Dance on 01793 463210 and check out www.swindondance.org.uk
Assemble at the Town Hall at 1.15pm
Sponsored by the Brunel Centre.
Rodbourne Living Story is a community based project, which tells the story of the Rodbourne area of Swindon. Join a fun walking trail, at your own pace, around the area of Rodbourne to look for clues which bring together the story of this community.
Copies of the trail are available from the National Monuments Records Centre.
When: Sunday 16 July, 11am to 5pm
Price: FREE
Info: www.livingstory.org.uk
Linking the past, present and future, “Crossing the Great Divide” will be a day of spectacular celebration held in the very areas Brunel and Gooch founded. This year, The New Mechanic’s Trust is working with local performers, community groups and Bristol artists Cirque Bijou, to take the traditional “Children’s Fete” dating from 1866 to new heights. An exciting sound and light installation in the GWR Tunnel Entrance will take you across the time zone.
Where: The Park (Faringdon Road); The Works; GWR Tunnel Entrance; the Railway Village and the Community Crossroads
When: Sunday 16 July 12.00pm onwards
Price: FREE
Sunday 16 July 9.00pm.
A sensational FREE closing event to the Swindon Brunel Festival will be held at The Park (Faringdon Road)
Prepare to be wowed by the biggest firework and pyrotechnic show Swindon has ever seen!!
Music, performance and the soaring Heliosphere followed by a spectacular show by internationally acclaimed fireworks company, Walk the Plank.
Accessibility Guideline Notes
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