June newsletter – Big Lunch performers announced!

Big Lunch performers announced!

Get ready, Thurrock – this summer’s Big Lunches are starting to take shape, and some brilliant performers have now been confirmed.

Expect circus, theatre, stunts, storytelling, acrobatics and plenty of surprises across East Tilbury, South Ockendon, Chadwell St Mary, Corringham and Blackshots.

Based on feedback from residents about what they’d like to see in their local area, Start Thurrock has booked dance and circus acts across all locations to bring the energy to our Big Lunches.

Families can look forward to performances including Grow from Highly Sprung Theatre, Bamboo from NoFit State Circus, Ride from ZoieLogic, plus exciting circus artists that have been developing work specifically for Thurrock’s Big Lunches – more on that below!

Our event partners Impulse Leisure, Active Essex, Thurrock Council and Thurrock CVS are helping to pack each Big Lunch with even more family fun including face painting, bouncy castles and live DJ sets. Plus there will be basketball, skateboarding, dance demonstrations, Qigong, sound therapy, and creative activities with local organisations including Kinetika, CoDa Dance, Arts Outburst, Thurrock Museum and Thurrock Libraries.

Each location will have its own mix of activities – see below for specific details of your nearest Big Lunch:

East Tilbury

South Ockendon

Chadwell St Mary

Corringham

Blackshots

Start Thurrock and Lavrak Circus bring acrobatics to the Big Lunches

Start Thurrock is going big this summer, teaming up with circus producers Lavrak on their Freshly Baked commission programme to bring bold, brilliant and seriously fun performances to the Big Lunches and Tilbury’s Picnic in the Park.

In East Tilbury, Chinese pole show Edges will use audience support to create beautiful tricks five metres in the air.

In South Ockendon, trapeze artists Ruby, LK and Jen will bring Don’t Drop Me, a playful show packed with trust, teamwork and daring stunts. And Hype Sister! will be at Corringham – a bold, 90s-inspired wheelchair acrobatics show about friendship, difference and connection.

The partnership will also roll into Tilbury’s Picnic in the Park, with an incredible street skating performance led by a world record holding circus performer – read more about them below!

And see all events on our Big Lunches page.

Start the summer of fun in Purfleet, Tilbury and Aveley

The Big Lunches are not the only thing happening this summer. We’re also supporting other community events across Thurrock and helping to make them even brighter and more creative.

Tilbury’s Picnic in the Park, run by Tilbury Riverside Project, will be packed with entertainment from local singers, dancers and performers on Thursday 13th August and we can reveal Start Thurrock has organised streetskating act Inviktus Skate Collective to entertain visitors.

Inviktus will bring a 20-minute outdoor show to the Anchor Field in Tilbury, mixing styles from rollerskating jams, club-style dances and circus in a high-energy celebration of skate culture and the communities built around it.

Expect choreographed routines, freestyle moves and plenty of wow moments from this exciting street skate collective, founded by Guinness World Record-holding circus artist Symoné.

We’ll also be joining Purfleet’s Community Fun Day and Aveley’s community treasure hunt. Start Thurrock will be bringing creative entertainment to each event, with more details coming soon.

Start creating potato puppets in South Ockendon

Following the success of the Mystery of the Missing Markets in 2024 and the Revel Puck Circus curtain raisers in 2025, Start Thurrock are ‘In the Market for New Ideas’ in South Ockendon.

Presenting a series of new family-friendly events at the Derwent Parade market, we’re giving residents the opportunity to enjoy a variety of different art forms whilst providing feedback and sharing ideas about what creative activities they’d like to see happen next.

Last month, residents enjoyed Out of the Box circus. Next up is 6FootStories’ Potato Puppet Playground on Saturday 25 July, which mixes potato crafts with ancient mythical storytelling.

Then in August you’re invited to join artist Nat Campbell on Saturday 8 August to make your mark and help paint a new community mural. Click here for more event details.

Start getting involved in Chadwell St Mary art trail

Chadwell St Mary artist-in-residence Lucy McDonald has been working with local people to create new artwork for the Chadwell Art Trail, and there are still lots of ways to get involved.

Come along to one of the free drop-in workshops where you can help design a new artwork for the trail. Everyone is welcome, no experience is needed and all materials will be provided, with free drinks and snacks for everyone who joins in.

30th June 2pm-4pm: Emmanuel Church

7 July 11.30am-1pm: Chadwell St Mary Library

On 11 July, there’s an extra-special chance to get hands-on and help physically make one of the new artworks for the trail at Wickham Park. This is a brilliant opportunity to be part of something that will brighten up a local space and be enjoyed by the community.

And don’t forget, if you can’t make one of the design workshops for the public art pieces, there are still more ways to get involved through the Window Wanderland part of the project.

You can pick up a pack from Chadwell Library or the Pyramid Centre to make your own display, or come along to an inspiration workshop led by the Pyramid Centre team.

29th July 11am-1pm: Pyramid Centre

5th August 12pm-2pm: Pyramid Centre

12th August 11am-1pm: Pyramid Centre

Plans are really taking shape now, with Arthur Barns Court residents installing their piece this month, students from Palmer’s College working on ideas to brighten up Wickham Park, and more opportunities for the community to get involved coming soon.

Thanks for reading!