Shop front festival

SHOPPERS in Coventry IKEA might spot some unusual activity in the bedroom department if they’re lucky.

The store is one of the venues taking part in the Shop Front Festival – part of the build-up prgramme for UK City of Culture 2021.

Produced by Theatre Absolute, the pop-up arts festival will see theatre, dance, music and audience participation in all kinds of places across the city over the weekend of March 23 and 24.

The IKEA bed department will become the stage for three performances of Coventry Dreaming, by renowned choreographer Nina Von Der Werth.

As well as IKEA, a number of disused shopfronts will also provide a stage, while other venues and shops around the city centre – including gyms, cafes, restaurants and newsa- gents – will become part of the set for the ambitious event.

The Shop Front Festival will offer a range of family activities too – such as a ‘real-life’ arcade, cartoon workshops and an improvised, live soap opera.

Jacqui Ibbotson, Great Place Project Manager for the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “The Shop Front Festival is going to be a fantastic event for the city but is also of national importance.

“There is a huge conversation taking place about city centres and how they are much more than a place to shop, and must draw people in through culture.”

For the full festival programme visit theatreabsolute.co.uk/shop-front-festival

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