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Saturday / Evening / 4MB
Sunday / Daytime / 3.5MB

AJ JAMES (UK)
AJ's Giant Leap. Extreme sports entertainer AJ James takes his award-winning acrobatic show to new heights by performing a breath-taking stunt on a mini trampoline as his finale. His show has delighted crowds on three continents and has been translated into French, Spanish, German and Japanese.
 

Artizani (UK)
Revolution proves that love is a foolish as you always thought it was. From honeymoon to ironing room and untimely doom the story ends in an unexpected redemption - and a spectacular finale every bit as extravagant as a Busby Berkley Classic. Punt. A boat drifts down Stricklandgate as two Oxbridge undergraduates regale and serenade you.
 

Avanti Display (UK)
Leak. Some locals have experienced bizarre happenings - water spurting out of television sets and IPods, the Archers coming out of taps and flashes of newsreaders in the bathroom steam. A company is brought in to investigate. A situation is being monitored. A V.I.P. visits. Spray begins to fly...
 

Balkanatics (UK)
A Balkan-inspired brass band that plays wild, rhythmically driving music from South Eastern Europe and Anatolia that always gets audiences dancing. Born out of London's cosmopolitan music scene it combines the cream of the UK with the best immigrant musicians.
 

Mr Bunk (Canada)
Mr. Bunk presents a unique mixture of improvised physical comedy and outrageous puppetry. Watch him create a spectacle out of nothing and don't miss the highlight of his show which features audience members playing characters in a ridiculous and unforgettable pantomime. Every show is different, but always hilarious! UK debut.
 

Cachuete (France)
Cacahuete, invite you to join them for a snack, an aperitif or even a glass of milk in the cannibals' cocktail.
 

Circus Fudge (UK)
Blunderfudge. Washing machines that play music, disco dancing with sink plungers, and the legendary Ironing Board of Death all feature in this one man kaleidoscope of circus, foolish theatre, music and comedy.
 

Cocoloco (UK)
“Cocoloco... surreal, sometimes black, always with the emphasis on irony and satire. They come from film and experimental backgrounds... a unique working relationship where improvisation always ends in chaos and laughter...” Tempodrom kulturbureau - Berlin
 

Curious Eyebrows (UK)
Street Show. A traditional blend of high-energy street performance comprising hilarious comedy, daring deeds, astounding circus skills and audience participation…..though not necessarily in that order! Blite. Two monochrome figures, one dressed entirely in black, the other in white… They struggle to maintain their own singular appearance, as the laws of nature and humanity seem to thwart them at every turn. Unpredictable, impossible, mystifying, unique...
 

Faceless (UK)
Conference of the Birds. Inspired by a 13th century Sufi poem this is a visual adventure set to the inspirational music of foremost contemporary British/Asian compose, Nitin Sawhney. A flock of birds is gathered together and persuaded to follow a quest for enlightenment. They must undertake a long and arduous journey in which they will experience many dangers, the most challenging of which is to confront themselves.
 

DAEMON OR DOPPLEGANGER (UK)
Come and make a self portrait in clay to figure in our instant exhibition of a contemporary terracotta army. No need to wait 2,000 years for immortality - the emperor Qin Shi Huang Di must be turning in his tomb.
 

Fairly Famous Family (UK)
Our resident Company at Mintfest 2007 and based in Ambleside, the Fairly Famous Family prove that Cumbria can hold its own in producing top-notch street theatre. Performances include Below the Behind. Meet 'top' street magician David Paine and his long-suffering cameraman Barry. David performs feats of spoon bending and telepathy that defy the laws of nature (and many trades descriptions laws), while Barry brings out some Oscar winning performances from the crowd. Justin Case. Seven suitcases and seven comedy adventures including their never to be forgotten tribute to 'The Sound of Music'.. Cheesy Rider. Armed only with a mobile cocktail bar and upholstered moped, Ronnie Ronco and Kenny K-Tel present a tribute to the bri-nylon underbelly of sixties 'culture'. Now Wash Your Hands. Mr Armitage & Mr Shanks present a public lecture on the topic of 'lavatory safety for pleasure and profit. The Lifeguards. 'Firm but fair', they're there to protect you but remember - no running, no smoking, no horseplay and definitely NO PETTING (even you Mr Blair!).
 

Famos Bramwells (UK)
Magician and comedy improviser, Paddy brings brio, hilarity and inventiveness to the streets - but blink and you'll miss the trick.
 

Frambeusas Con Nata (Spain / U.K.)
It's time to don your glad rags and high heels and tango the night away to these moonlighting Hallé musicians.
 

Mike Hancock (UK)
All Shook Up. Do you believe a man can fly? You will after you see an incredible act of levitation in a show that culminates with two strangers falling in love and being serenaded by a flaming rendition of "Great Balls of Fire”! Mike will also be your host at the late night festival club.
 

IOU Theatre (UK)
Waylaid - a woman awakes to find herself frozen and tethered in a snow-covered desert. The only evidence of how she came to be here is a wrecked car. As she gathers her thoughts, the inhabitants of this wilderness emerge and dissolve in the whiteness - alarming and engaging, propelling her forward and hemming her in. Funny, disturbing and moving, IOU transport you to a starkly optimistic inner world.
 

Kookaburras (UK)
It's samba all the way from Staveley (near Kendal) and delivered with style and energy by this popular local group.
 

Lanternhouse International (UK)
Surprising cyclical interventions at unexpected times and places. Gas guzzlers beware!
 

Lempen Puppet Theatre Company (UK)
Dan's Baby. An in-utero private view of Europe's first “pregnant man”. Watch the cute, but rather strange baby as it moves in the belly. Riverbed Dive. Enjoy a calming journey amidst a busy town centre. Dive to the riverbed without getting wet and find out who lives there...
 

Little Big Top (UK)
The Sunflower Show. A gardener opens the lid of her wheelbarrow to reveal a world where seeds grow into the most extraordinary plants and battle with slugs and other mischievous garden pests for survival. Flower pots become stacking cups, have a go at watering a seed in a pot … will it grow? Especially suitable for the very young.
 

Love Arts (UK)
Bubblerama and felt workshops.
 

Martha!Tentatief (Belgium)
Tornado Dragon. Sail into a magical world of technology and discover more about this revolutionary vacuum cleaner produced in China and taking Europe by storm. Marvel at the machine's remarkable qualities which become more staggering and unbelievable as the demonstration unfolds. UK debut.

Mental Floss (UK)
Roll Up, Roll Up, Roll Up ...Archibald Floss invites you to visit his 'Museum of Prodigies' but beware - he's always on the lookout for new specimens. Just hope he doesn't want you!

Pete Moser (UK) sponsored by Wainwright's Yard
The Fastest One Man Band in the World. Ever been serenaded by an orchestra that moves … And dances...? Watch out for the fastest one man band in the world…in his many disguises...music to your ears and eyes…
 

Osadia (Spain) sponsored by Eric Wright Group
Whose Hair Dares. Is it art, is it street theatre or is it just hair dressing with a twist.? Do you dare the demon barber's chair?
 

Pif Paf (UK)
Fantastic Animal Troupe. Welcome to the world's finest (and only) exhibition of Living Specimens of Extinct Species! Our three wildly experienced handlers will bring you hair-raisingly close to a world otherwise lost.
 

The Real MacCaws (UK)
A wonderful Brass Band with a combination of New Orleans jazz, African Hi-life, reggae, funk, soca and samba. Colourful presentation and high energy music creates a non-stop carnival atmosphere.
 

Rouge Elea (France) sponsored by Eric Wright Group
A subtle duet of air and guitar, of circus and emotion, of red silk and rope - danced under the spreading branches of an ancient tree.
 

Senmaru (Japan)
Senmaru is a performer of "Edo-Daikagura". The original purpose of Daikagura was to serve as a talisman for the people, chasing away evil on behalf of the gods of the shrines. Today, the performance is becoming people's entertainment. Senmaru wears a "kimono" and performs Japanese traditional juggling. Various objects are spun around on the top of an umbrella. A teacup is balanced on top of a long pole. Don't blink! UK debut.
 

Surinder Sandhu Band
The Fictionist Tour. Surinder Sandhu has established himself as one of the most inventive, exciting and talented composer/soloists both in the West and East. “the most spectacularly mind blowing East meets West compositions I have ever heard'. Dawinder Bansal - bbc.co.uk
 

Tanante
Based in Manchester but trained in West Africa, Tanante present high energetic and rhythmic performances featuring traditional drumming, singing and dance.
 

Thingumajig (USA/UK)
The Mystery of the Sock Snatcher. Join Lefty the Sock in his heroic search when his partner and “sole” mate suddenly disappears. Who is responsible? Will Lefty get taken to the cleaners or will it all come out in the wash? Find out in this whimsical and captivating "sock-puppet" show, suitable for the whole family.
 

Tres (Spain)
Barcelona-based Tres is a musician whose instrument is silence. His repertoire includes silent cocktail parties for libraries , tubas on the lake, blackout concerts (in which all the ambient sounds of public buildings are slowly switched off) as well as concerts of silence. For this magical concert in Kendal Castle he will be joined by Shelley Barlow who has recruited a team of Cumbrian drummers and bell-ringers. The concert also features 8 tuba players including Ben Thomson, winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Soloist of the Year in 2006 and 2007.
 

Umdumo Wesizwe (Zimbabwe)
The newest accapella sensation to come out of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe's cultural melting pot). Vocal music that is laced with music styles of Afro Pop, Jazz, R&B, and Reggae.
 

Les Zanimos (France).
Andrée Kupp - terrible trainer and vegetable tamer brings you... a carrot on a trapeze, a crooning mushroom, a rock 'n' roll melon and more on a market stall gone wild.