SPLAT Festival

Intergalactic vacations for the adventurous soul…

Family audiences are invited for the holiday of a lifetime as we head to intergalactic territories to spot alien lifeforms and experience the wonder of weightlessness.

Join the adventure as performers from Wriggle Dance Theatre take over the Splat Festival marquee with dance, live music, rockets and stars. Have the opportunity to take a selfie with aliens and travel through a black hole.

"Fantastic storytelling through music, movement and dance. All involved participate in the story throughout, my son loved it” – Audience member

“Amazing for children and the David Bowie influences made it just as good for adults.” – Audience member

TIMES: See Out of this World at 11.15 & 3.15 (45 minute shows)

A lost soul lives in a tree. In its branches they feel safe.

But now someone else wants to live in the tree too.

They feel threatened and vulnerable. Can they live in harmony with a stranger? Or is there something even more scary lurking amongst the branches…?

Highly Sprung presents Roots, a bold and beautiful new piece of physical theatre that explores issues of identity and belonging.

Set entirely in a six metre tree-like structure designed by Entify, Roots is a highly energetic and interactive piece. In their distinctive style, Highly Sprung performers move effortlessly in an around the tree structure using bungee aerial movement and dance. Creating an intriguing, entertaining and visually stunning experience for all the family.

Roots is a story with humanity at its heart, inviting audiences to consider how, when we embrace difference, we build positive and powerful communities that create a better future for us all.

Roots is co-commissioned by Birmingham Hippodrome and Deda Derby’s Offsite programme. It featured in the Summer in Southside Festival, Offsite at Derby Feste and as part of Journeys to Home – a new piece created by the company with community groups in Rugby.

TIMES: See Roots at 12.15 & 2.30 (30 minute shows)

What the SPLAT Festival Management Group Children say… “We chose this show because ROOTS is a powerful story and it’s suitable for everyone!”

Bee Guides Bombus and Borage have left the Hive with the Bee Cart .. 

Their mobile world of interaction and surreal but true information exploring all things Bees and Pollination. The Bee Cart, informed by science and fact, is an exciting, accessible walkabout theatre piece for audiences of all ages.

Bee Guides Bombus and Borage are from a secret government organisation called The Human Union of Pollinators – preparing for the worst but hoping for the best with their mobile world of interaction, Bee wisdom and surreal fun.

Delve into the world of Bees, learn the waggle dance and try out their Buzz Pollenator or their Flapper-Winger-Tronerators, meet a giant Varroa Mite, and maybe even get your nose pollinated!

The Bee Cart has been developed and toured extensively with support from The Co-operative Plan Bee. It was commissioned in 2009 by the British Science Association.

TIMES: See The Bee Cart at 11.00, 12.45 & 2.30 (45 minute walkabout slots)

What the SPLAT Festival Management Group Children say… “We chose this show BEE-cause we think you will BEE amazed by it!”

Can slow and steady beat the fastest animal in the forest?

Lop the hare, the fastest animal in the forest, is distraught when she discovers that not a single animal has signed up to compete in the Annual Animal Racing Contest, for fear of losing against the reigning champion. Hadrian the Tortoise decides to save the competition by volunteering to race against her. Baffled by the old shell’s foolish decision, but too proud to turn down the offer, Lop agrees to race Hadrian in what she believes will be her easiest race yet.

Can slow and steady beat the fastest animal in the forest? Come one and all to the woodland place, Tortoise and Hare are having a race!

What the SPLAT Festival Management Group Children say… “We chose this show because it’s funny and suitable for all ages and it looks really fun!”

TIMES: See The Hare & The Tortoise at 11.45, 1.30 & 3.15 (a 10 minute show, repeated a few times in 45 mins)

Overnight a small mysterious shed appears. 

The doors are opened, words and stories tumble out, music and laughter begins to fill the air and then, as if by magic – children start to arrive.

Tales will be told at various intervals throughout the day.  Between story times the shed becomes a pop-up library where children and families can read together.  There will also be a small writing desk with paper and pencils where older children can pen their next masterpiece.

TIMES: Storytime at 11.30, 12.30, 1.30, 2.30 & 3.30 (for 30 mins)

The children in Clapham Terrace, St Patrick’s & Sydenham Primary Schools have been inspired by Mimika Theatre and working with Dave McKenna from Wriggle Dance to create their own brand-new piece of dance theatre. Collect your free ticket from the Splat Marquee before the show. 

TIMES: Sydenham 11.00 – 11.30

The children in Clapham Terrace, St Patrick’s & Sydenham Primary Schools have been inspired by Mimika Theatre and working with Dave McKenna from Wriggle Dance to create their own brand-new piece of dance theatre. Collect your free ticket from the Splat Marquee before the show. 

TIMES: Clapham Terrace 2.30 – 2.45

The children in Clapham Terrace, St Patrick’s & Sydenham Primary Schools have been inspired by Mimika Theatre and working with Dave McKenna from Wriggle Dance to create their own brand-new piece of dance theatre. Collect your free ticket from the Splat Marquee before the show. 

TIMES: St Patrick’s 1.30 – 1.45 

SpongeBlob & Fantasy Faces

SpongeBlob Face Painting and Warwickshire Fantasy Faces have joined forces to bring face painting and glitter fun to the SPLAT Festival.   Kathryn (SpongeBlob!) is based in Balsall Common, while Sophie (Fantasy Faces) is from Leamington.  We have very different painting styles but we are both passionate about providing a quality service, and helping kids to enjoy the transformative power of face painting. 

Stall Area

11am – 4pm

FREE – just join the queue on the day

ARTventurers & Warwick Arts Centre

We have two really exciting craft areas that you can join in with on the day, one for under 6’s and one for those over 6 years.

ARTventurers (under 6) will have around 6 different art, creative & slightly messy play activities which to engage imagination and enthuse creativity but also provide an opportunity to take home a little masterpiece and keepsake from the day!

Warwick Arts Centre's Creative Learning Team will be based in the Art Gallery space, and is using inspiration from our Art & Nature Trail to inspire young minds and encourage crafty fingers to make and create. This is perfect for everyone over 6 years old!

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11am – 4pm

Just join in on the day, but if it’s really busy you may have to wait or come back when it quietens down.

This year we are excited to welcome Kev's Whippi Ice Cream Van, The Pony Espresso Coffee Truck, The Jabberwocky Gourmet Toasities and The Urban SPice Box to the Splat Festival. There should be something to satisfy everyone's taste buds!

Please note that although this is a free festival and all activites and shows are free, the food and drink vendors will be charging normal prices.

Get your dancing shoes and headphones on and bop the day away in the silent disco. There will be some not-so-silent choir performances from St Patrick’s and Sydenham too!

SILENT DISCO TIMES: 11.00 – 11.45, 12.15 – 1.00 & 1.30 – 3.00

CHOIR TIMES: Clapham Terrace Choir 12.00 – 12.15 & Sydenham Choir 1.15 – 1.30

Company: Juice Sound & Light

No Festival is complete without bouncy castles and games, and these are all free for you to enjoy!  We’ll have a Jungle bouncy castle, inflatable obstacle course with slide, along with some traditional fete games like Tin Can Alley and an Angry Birds Game.

Inflatables & Games Areas

11am – 4pm

Just join the queue on the day

In the Activity Zone you will find, Facepainting, a silent disco & school choirs, Art Venturers Messy Play and School run activities.

11am – 4pm

Free with no ticket required