Mansfield’s The Full Shebang Festival is coming on September 11

The Full Shebang mixes different elements of art and culture together in an unusual package

Amongst the happenings there’ll be jaw-dropping parkour, high-rise acrobatics, a man that leaks water, a Guinness World Record hula-hoop artist, colourful walkabout characters, and animation and circus workshops, offering all the family a full-on day of fun with tons to see and do.

First Art (registered charity no 1193429) is part of the Creative People and Places Programme funded by Arts Council England, and works to get more people to experience and shape extraordinary cultural events across Ashfield, Mansfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire.

Supported by Without Walls’ Touring Network Partnership and Mansfield District Council, The Full Shebang was a runaway success at its premier in 2019, and the charity is aiming to top that next month, as it works to get more people to experience and even shape extraordinary cultural events across the local area.

It'll be fun for all ages to explore art and culture in Mansfield

“We’re delighted to be able to bring The Full Shebang back to Mansfield,” says Karl Greenwood, First Art’s director. “This is a chance for people to see and have a go at things that they wouldn’t do normally. We’re bringing acts from all around the country, as well as some home-grown talent.”

Leading the line-up will be On Edge by Justice in Motion, a show that combines heart-stopping parkour moves with compelling outdoor theatre on a construction site. Other treats will include Joli Vyann with their show Lançe Moi En L’Air, which is a mix of circus, dance and theatre to create a spectacular, physical performance.

They’ll be joined by State-side artist Symoné, a hula hoop artist extraordinaire who can hula-hoop with up to 50 hoops at once, and acrobatic theatre company Mimbre with their breath-taking all-female show, Lifted. One of Europe’s classic street shows will also be making an appearance, with the very amusing The Squirting Man that promises lots of laughs and water.

Contemporary brass band Back Chat Brass will be performing modern pop classics, and quirky pair String and Strong, who are covered head-to-toe in colourful string, will be playing ‘80s throwback games for all to get involved.

There will be games to play and great joy around them

The full programme will be announced soon, and will feature shows, live music, puppets and activities across the town centre. Most of the shows use no spoken word and are suitable for all ages, and First Art has taken steps to ensure that all of the events are performed to the current Covid-19 guidelines.

More details about The Full Shebang Festival can be found at www.thefullshebang.co.uk, and will be updated regularly in the lead up to the event.