June 2025 Newsletter – Grab your picnics!

Grab your picnics…the Big Lunches are back!

We are delighted to be playing a part in bringing you these amazing events featuring creative and physical activities, live entertainment, sports, and heaps of family fun throughout the summer holidays- all alongside our partners.

This year, we will be getting everyone moving with dance and music-themed acts at each of the locations.

There will be something for everyone including folk dance and hip-hop hybrid acts, contemporary acrobatic performances and much more!

You can read who’s coming to your nearest Big Lunch on the links below:

South Ockendon – Monday 28 July

East Tilbury – Thursday 31 July

Chadwell-St-Mary – Thursday 7 August

Purfleet-on-Thames – Wednesday 13 August

Blackshots –  Monday 18 August

Aveley – Friday 22 August

Corringham – Thursday 28 August

Plus, there’s Picnic in the Park:

Tilbury – Wednesday 6 August

You can read more about the Big Lunches here.

Could you give up an afternoon or two to help make sure these events run smoothly?

Our partners at Thurrock CVS are recruiting volunteers to help out with stewarding, setting up and litter picking at each of the eight locations.

It’ll be a great chance to support your local community, enjoy the brilliant entertainment on offer and meet new people.

Alternatively, you can volunteer with us directly by dropping us an email!

Last chance for Teatro Vivo tickets!

Time is running out to grab your FREE tickets for The Myths of the Marshes –  a one-of-a-kind outdoor theatre show filled with fascinating stories from Purfleet-on-Thames, perfect for the whole family.

Teatro Vivo have put together this show with local people, and a brilliant community cast alongside a host of professional actors will make this a truly special experience.

You’ll walk around Purfleet-on-Thames, meeting at The Royal Hotel, helping the great, great granddaughter of Bram Stoker find inspiration for her new book…

There are two shows per day on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June, so take your pick and we’ll see you there.

Get your FREE tickets today!

Pick up producing with Teatro Vivo

Have you ever thought about theatre producing, or running a public event? Maybe you’re already doing it, but want some tips to make it more manageable.

Join Teatro Vivo producers Mark Stevenson and Esme Cooper for a free workshop exploring their producing process and sending you away with template documents and more confidence for your next project.

There are two sessions in Purfleet-on-Thames to choose from on Monday, July 14  – 12.30pm at St Stephen’s Church or 6.30pm at Mulberry Drive. Pick whichever suits you best!

Open for Kids Business!

Over the last few weeks, local youngsters have been dreaming up creative ideas for their ideal shop as part of Kids Business Thurrock…and now the doors are set to open for you to come and have a look.

Wishlers Corringham will be open at the old Lloyds bank building at 22 Grover Walk, Corringham, on Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6.

Opening hours are between 10am and 4pm but the shop will be shut for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.

They’ve let their imaginations run wild, so please pop in and give them your support.

This project has been brought to the area by leading arts organisation Hunt & Darton and supported by Start Thurrock.

Proud to be a part of Pride

We had such a great time at Thurrock Pride.

It was a joy to support such a brilliant celebration of diversity, acceptance and inclusion yet again.

Did you catch Casson and Friends and their Lets Play Thurrock! workshop? There are loads of chances to get involved with performances across the borough this summer which they are working on with Applause Rural Touring.

If you fancy getting involved, then drop us a line today.

Look out for something big from Thurrock’s young people

Last month, along with U-Turnships CIC, we travelled to Bradford – the UK City of Culture for 2025, with a group of young people.

They experienced a performance from the groundbreaking theatre group CommonWealth, met the youth panel for the City of Culture, visited art installations at the local moors, and much more.

We hope they’ve been inspired by what they saw and keep your eyes peeled for what’s to come from this group!