Festival returns with 50m life sized sperm whale, soap sud show and human towers

A family theatre festival is returning to Shepton Mallet for a fifth year - with highlights including a 50m life sized sperm whale, human tower and a show made entirely of soap suds. All the World’s our Playground is the only UK festival programmed by primary school-aged children.

The event will also see immersive walkabout blockbuster movie scenes, with organisers promising "something for everyone". It will take place across Shepton Mallet, including in Collett Park, across the town centre and in venues including The Art Bank, Shepton Mallet Library and St Paul’s Junior School.

Festival directors have worked with seven schools to organise this year's programme. Twenty-six different artists will take part in 21 different shows.

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Louise Lappin-Cook, director of organisers Make the Sunshine said “we are hugely excited about this year’s festival which is set to be our biggest yet. We have some truly incredible local acts and performances and international artists coming to Shepton.

"Across this programme we have worked in partnership with seven schools and their youth programming panels - it’s been amazing to see how young people have made their decisions. We have such an exciting line-up this year with over 26 different artists joining us over the weekend and 21 different shows.

"And thanks to support from The Arts Council and Shepton Mallet Town Council most of the events are free and all tickets are £3 or under. We want to make sure theatre and performance is accessible to all."

Leo, a young programmer from St Paul’s School, aged nine, said “It means a lot because we get to plan activities and make people happy, as well as making sure that everyone has their say. Young people don’t always get recognised, a lot of others say it’s for older and more important people, but we are all important and different in our own special way."

One performer causing ripples of excitement amongst the young programmers is Matt Pang, who has headlined a previous festival. He will return with his show Those in Glass Houses - a comedic international touring show including swinging bricks, comedic catapults and "orchestrated glass-shattering chaos".

Collective ContaKt will showcase incredible acrobatics in their live show Foley. The company has its roots in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France and the UK and specialise in high-level acrobatics and live music. Expect breathtaking tall human towers, high throws and majestic movement.

There will also be a theatre show created entirely out of soap suds by a window-cleaning theatre-making duo Crow’s Nest, celebrated author Kristina Stephenson of Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and The Museum of Marvellous Things fame will run an immersive prop-tastic storytelling session, and aKa Dance Theatre will wow audiences with their magical moving shed.

Sunday sees Maypole dancing and Bristol theatre-making team Cardboard Adventures come to Shepton Mallet with their show Boxville - where everything is made out of cardboard - even the stage - and the audience have the opportunity to craft along with the time travel adventure show.

As well as a range of national and international theatre companies the festival will also feature workshops and performances from schools and community groups across the town.

All the World’s our Playground will take place on Saturday, July 13 and Sunday, July 14. Ticketed events can be booked by visiting www.makethesunshine.co.uk