Newark Creates present ‘Ignite: Fire, Flame and Frenzy’ performances and shows in Newark Market Place, on March 1
Things will be heating up this March when thrilling fire and light performers take to the streets for an evening of special shows in the town centre.
Organised by Newark Cultural Consortium’s programme Newark Creates, ‘Ignite: Fire, Flame and Frenzy’ will take place on Saturday, March 1, in Newark Market Place.
All shows and performances will take place after dark so that the lights and flames can truly shine.
Held in collaboration with Emergency Exit Arts and Lightfires, the main event will take place from 5.30pm to 8.30pm — with last entry to the queue at 8pm to ensure everyone can enjoy the experience fully.
It starts with some interactive family fun at Doctor Kronovator’s Fire Laboratory, where visitors are able to the Doctor and his team prepare their experimental flame and steam-powered contraptions, try their luck at a test of strength machine and create chemical reactions.
More activities will be spread out across the Market Place and surrounding streets, with an LED Hoop Show roaming from 6.30pm to 7pm, followed by an 5-minute acrobatic light show at 7.30pm on Church Street which promises to leave audiences spellbound.
The Living Lamp-Posts, from Theatre Illumiere, stand at over ten feet tall, and will be entertaining passers-by at half hour intervals between 6pm and 8.30pm.
On the same day, other town centre organisations are offering creative classes and workshops, including ‘Create Late’ at the National Civil War Centre, from 5pm to 8.30pm, where visitors can use recycled and scrap materials to make things.
At Hope Community Methodist Church on Barnbygate, at 2pm and 3.45pm, and expert craftswoman from The Company of Artisans will lead Medieval Stained Glass Making sessions. Booking via the Newark Creates website is essential as free places are limited.
Ahead of the day, Artist Emily Cartwright will lead craft sessions in the Buttermarket, where participants, aged six and over, can make light-up, flame inspired headdress.
These sessions will take place on Tuesday, February 18, and Wednesday, February 19, from 10am to 1pm, and from 1.30pm until 4.30pm each day.
Free places can be booked by emailing sara.bullimore@inspireculture.org.uk.
Newark Creates is a cultural programme led by Newark’s Cultural Consortium which has seen the curation of free arts and heritage activities across the town since 2021.
Over the past year, the programme has been supported by Newark Town Board’s Newark Heart project, alongside the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, creating opportunities for more events than ever before.
Carol Newman, director of Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries, said: “From bookbenches to Newark-on-Sea, a comedy juggling show, graffiti, the Festival of Creativity and now this stunning light and fire show, our Newark Creates programme over the past year has certainly been eclectic.
“Thousands of people of all ages have engaged with our activities and this is exactly what we are all about, encouraging creativity and bringing colour and fun to the heart of this wonderful town.”
Organisers hope that the continued success of events in the town centre will also help to encourage more visitors to shop in Newark business.
Louise Casey-Simpson, chairman of the Newark Towns Fund, added: “Seeing Newark really come to life for these events has been wonderful — and I’m really excited to see the town centre benefit from this March event.
“It’s so important to create opportunities to encourage people into our town as there are so many amazing businesses here, from great quality restaurants and pubs, to fantastic independent retailers.
“This event will be a great chance to make a night of it and get a bite to eat too.”
