Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Library of Birmingham Set To Become Fun Palaces.
On Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th October Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the Library of Birmingham will be transformed into a Fun Palace offering a weekend of free arts, science and discovery for all to enjoy.
Budding detectives can join in a fun Murder Mystery Trail and follow clues across Birmingham city centre, interview suspects, try finger printing, study handwriting and use real–life forensics to solve a crime. Scientists from the University of Birmingham will offer lots of fun interactive exhibits including an erupting volcano while students from Coventry University will be creating personal bags for life. Artists will be running a range of craft workshops where visitors can design their own bunting or make a kaleidoscope plus there will be lots other fun games and activities throughout the day including an all-ages sensory trail.
Fun Palaces is a free nationwide celebration of arts, culture and sciences taking place over the weekend of 4 and 5 October. Marking the 100th birthday of Joan Littlewood, one of the Twentieth Century’s most significant cultural innovators, Fun Palaces 2014 brings to life the vision she created with Cedric Price for spaces linking arts and sciences, entertainment and education, a campaign of culture at the heart of all of human life.
Fun Palaces, created in partnership with the Albany, Deptford, brings together over 100 Fun Palace Makers, including Joan’s own theatre, the Theatre Royal Stratford East, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Roundhouse, Turner Contemporary in Margate, Gladstone’s Library, York Cocoa House, Brockwell Lido, Old Bexley CofE Primary and a Canadian radio station, as well as a Digital Fun Palace, in one of the most ambitious creative collaborations the UK has ever seen.
“Fun Palaces belong to everyone and can be created by anyone” explains Jenny Smith, Creative Producer at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. “The Fun Palace at The REP and Library of Birmingham underpins Joan Littlewood’s vision – it’s a free, local event with community involvement and participation at its heart. It brings together arts, culture and science, it will transform the public spaces in The REP and the library and ultimately will offer the chance for everyone to have a go at something be it science or art.”
Joan Littlewood and Cedric Prices’ vision for the Fun Palace was “choose what you want to do…dance, talk or be lifted up to where you can see how other people make things work. Sit out over space with a drink and tune in to what’s happening elsewhere in the city. Try starting a riot or beginning a painting – or just lie back and stare at the sky.”
The Fun Palace at Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the Library of Birmingham takes place on Saturday 4th October from 10am–5pm and on Sunday 5th October from 11am–4pm. For further information visit www.birmingham-rep.co.uk or www.funpalaces.co.uk