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A feast of culture!

Victoria Morley
28/ 5/2008

STORYBOOK characters, a huge inflatable whale and a fusion of great music and exotic smells provided Stopfordians with a veritable feast last weekend.

The town centre overflowed with carnival spirit as talented artists proved just how rich and diverse Stockport culture is at the Culturefeast festival 2008.

The fabulous four-day event began on Friday with a delicious local and continental market in the Underbank area, each stall selling a fantastic range of goods and produce.

On Saturday a combination of dance, literature, poetry, comedy, visual arts, community performances and street theatre exploded on to the streets.

To mark National Year of Reading, a storytelling arena was installed in Merseyway where families listened to authors describe scenes from their favourite books as well as exploring the stranded 30ft whale, which concealed a hidden sea shanty theatre show inside its belly.

Another highlight included a breathtaking high wire act performed by the nationally acclaimed Bernie Bennett.

Youth Action Stockport was in Adlington Walk on Sunday to unveil its young people’s graffiti project – visitors were even invited to paint a piece of the jigsaw, which will make up a specially commissioned 28ft by 8ft Culturefeast art installation.

Talented Stockport bands, many of whom have taken part in Stockport’s Battle of the Bands contest, rocked the Market Place stage in the festival’s finale.

SEE this week's Express for more great pictures from the event ...