Free tickets now available for Coventry’s GENERATE Festival of Community Performance

Thursday 8th of July 2021 07:32 AM

Free tickets are now available to book for Coventry’s new City of Culture open-air GENERATE Festival of Community Performance during five weekends in August.

It offers the opportunity to venture outdoors, discover up-and-coming talent from across the region and access some much-needed outdoor theatre, dance and music inspired by the Royal Shakespeare Company’s successful community performance programme The Dell.

Between July 31 and August 30, Coventry City of Culture Trust and The Albany Theatre will play host to a range of high energy family-friendly community performances from groups across Coventry and Warwickshire responding to the theme of ‘freedom’ and celebrating the diversity of the city.

GENERATE will take place at Blue Coat Church of England School & Music College in Coventry and will include amateur theatre, dance, youth and student groups, and choirs.

CEO and artistic director of The Albany Theatre, Coventry, Kevin Shaw said: "For me, Generate Festival showcases exactly what The Albany Theatre is all about.

“Although in recent years our programme has seen us present many more professional and in-house productions, our roots stem firmly from community theatre, and supporting local performance groups is vitally important to us.

“This festival will play host to the incredible talent that we have across the city and bring it all together in one extraordinary place!

“With the help of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, we are excited to delve into the world of outdoor events and hope to welcome a diverse range of audiences to join us for five action-packed weekends in the sunshine this summer.

“The arts are good for you, and here at The Albany we strive to enrich Coventry's communities with unique opportunity and plenty of great performing arts.”

Chenine Bhathena, creative director of Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “We are so excited to be releasing tickets for GENERATE today. This festival will showcase the brilliant local grass roots and community talent that we have here in Coventry.

“Taking place across an entire month there are plenty of chances for people to come along and witness the creativity of our community and amateur arts and performance groups first-hand. From theatre to choir performances and dance, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.”

Twice-daily performances kick off on Saturday July 31 and continue until Monday August 30 on the Bank Holiday weekend at 2pm and 6pm each day.

Visitors, including families, festival-goers and theatre fans, are invited to bring a picnic for a relaxed afternoon or evening in an outdoors setting. Food will also be available to purchase and there will be a bar.

The free tickets are available to book on Friday July 2 from 3pm.

Booking in advance is required for this event due to COVID restrictions. Go to https://coventry2021.co.uk/what-s-on/generate-festival-of-community-performance/

The GENERATE programme is part of #LoveCoventry, a Coventry UK City of Culture 2021 programme funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.