September 2024 Newsletter

Thank You from Start Thurrock

What. A. Summer.

We have had the most incredible few weeks bringing some unique creative activities and amazing acts to you, right across Thurrock.

The weather wasn’t on our side for Colourscape, but we were really pleased to bring back the immersive, multi-sensory experience to Blackshots.

Plus, there was the brilliant Music of the Spheres at Lakeside which featured a range of incredible performers at one of our community’s most popular venues.

On top of this, we’ve had great fun at the Big Lunch events working with our brilliant partners Thurrock Council, Thurrock CVS, Impulse Leisure and more to bring a range of activities to our local green spaces!

The circus acts that have performed have wowed the crowds, plus we have loved the opportunity to work on co-creation projects at The Pyramid Resource Centre in Chadwell-St-Mary with graffiti art king Scotty Brave, a mural at the newly opened Purfleet Pantry with our friends K&B Designs and a spectacular performance with Autin Dance Theatre and residents across Thurrock.

And it was great to round off the summer at the historic Orsett Show with two amazing puppetry acts, not forgetting we also supported U-Turnships CIC with the second Afro Food Fest, T100’s tenth anniversary celebrations and Thurrock’s first ever Pride event.

Thank you to everyone who has attended, taken part or supported and we hope you have enjoyed yourself.

We’d love to hear your feedback on any Start Thurrock events you’ve been to this summer, so please let us know what you thought here.

Start Getting Involved with the Mystery of the Missing Market

We are delighted to have teamed up with site specific theatre experts Teatro Vivo who have been working with local people in Ockendon to develop an amazing, immersive theatre experience!

The Mystery of the Missing Market is a comedy detective show, set in the very heart of the community, which will include song and dance numbers performed and shaped by local people.

And we need your help to make it a success.

We are looking for Community Actors to work alongside our professional cast, and with Temujin Gill, choreographer of the NHS dance piece for the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony, to bring The Mystery of the Missing Market to life.

We need:

• Adults of all ages
• Secondary school aged young people
• Primary school children aged 6 +

They will help create various parts of the show including writing songs, acting, singing and dancing.

We are also looking for Community Makers – adults to work alongside our designer to imagine and build a vital large piece of set for the show.

No experience or specific skills are necessary, and any accessibility or mobility issues can be accommodated.

Workshops and rehearsals sessions will take place in the evenings or on weekends in September and October.

You don’t need to be available for all of them – just as many as you can make.

To sign up please contact Bid Mosaku from Teatro Vivo via email at bid@teatrovivo.co.uk

You can find more information here.

Start securing your tickets

The Mystery of the Missing Market will be performed in South Ockendon on Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27 at 11am and 3pm on both days and FREE tickets for the performances are now available!

Click here for more details or visit our Event Brite page to reserve your tickets!

Start planning for 2025

We are delighted that Start Thurrock has been awarded Arts Council England funding for 2025/26.

This means we can continue providing YOU with creative activities and opportunities for at least another year.

We’re really proud of the work we have done since 2023 to allow people in Thurrock to choose, produce and take part in brilliant arts and cultural experiences on our doorstep.

Our work wouldn’t be possible without the Creative People and Places programme funded by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

You can read more here.

Be part of a coastal celebration

Can you sew? Are you part of a sewing group in Thurrock?

Join artist and designer Rahemur Rahman for an exciting embroidery project as part of Kinetika’s Beach of Dreams festival in Thurrock in May 2025.

From October 2024 to March 2025, contribute to this large-scale artistic commission by helping create two stunning land boat structures. Use recycled silk batik fabric to craft panels that express your unique vision for the future. Free workshops, travel expenses and materials are provided.

Sign up to reserve your place by September 25 at the latest!

Kickstart creative activity in Aveley

Calling all residents and community groups in Aveley! Start Thurrock is hosting two drop-in meetings at the Aveley Community Hub later this month and we’d love you to join us!

Pop in at any time to hear about Start Thurrock and meet the team. Share your ideas and what you would like to see in Aveley and find out how you can help shape local creative activity. Free refreshments and creative activities will be available.

If you’d like to attend, there’s no need to book – pop in any time between noon and 2pm, or 4pm and 6pm on Monday 30 September at the Aveley Community Hub, High Street, Aveley, RM15 4BX.