in partnership with The B-Bar
Keyham Giants Jubilee Tea Party & Parade – Thur 2 June
Image: one of the Keyham Giants designed and made by the Keyham Community and the Barbican Theatre team at the first tea party in March 2022 (credit Gemma Ward for Barbican Theatre)
Barbican Theatre, Plymouth is excited to be bringing a Giant’s Tea Party & Parade to Keyham as part of the community’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations on 2 June.
This follows the first tea party event held at Keyham Green Places in March 2022 where the party-goers met the giants designed and made by members of the Keyham community (including members of The Scouts, Keyham Krafties and Wolseley Wanderers) enjoyed a picnic, treasure hunt, music, junk band workshops and crafting.
Image: Barbican Theatre’s giant jellyfish puppet at the first Keyham Giant’s tea party in March 2022 (credit Gemma Ward for Barbican Theatre)
Suzie West, Barbican Theatre’s Talent Development Lead, who is producing the event says
“We’re so excited to be coming back to Keyham with our biggest and most fun Giant’s Tea Party and Parade yet, to help the community enjoy their Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. We wanted to give communities in Keyham, Ford & Devonport an extraordinary event that reflects their identity – and have loved building the giants they designed and bring the characters they wanted to represent their community to life.”
Image: the Keyham Giants were designed and made by the Keyham community and the Barbican Theatre team for the first tea party in March 2022 (credit Gemma Ward for Barbican Theatre)
The Keyham Giants project has involved schools and community groups from the Keyham, Ford and Devonport area. They will be spending time with specialist community art leaders, puppeteers, musicians and theatre companies to build their own Plymouth Giant puppets for a Giant Jubilee Tea Party and experience a community arts event of giant proportions.
These community groups, trusts and partners set up in each residential area will be given funding and a team of community creatives, cultural partners and the specialist support they need to build their very own giant, who represents their community spirit and culture.
Suzie says
“The community groups already came together to build their giants and puppets in March and we’re so happy they will come together again to make each giant a parade fit for royalty! They will also work with the parade performance teams to design the music and theme of the final giant tea party, and route they want their Giant to parade along. It’s going to be so much fun for everyone involved!”
Image: Meeting their giant at the first Keyham Giant’s tea party in March 2022 (credit Gemma Ward for Barbican Theatre)
The giants’ parade will start from 12noon on Thursday 2 June travelling, along the residential streets with music and movement. The parades will meet at North Downs Park at around 1pm for a Giant tea party, where all are invited to join in.
There will be additional activities, plenty of cake and roaming performances for the public to see and be part of, before and after the giant’s tea party, as well as party games and other fun family friendly activities planned at the Wolseley Trust and Scout Hut towards the end of the afternoon. All events are free and everyone is welcome to join in as much as they want to.
Sarah Taylor, Chief Executive WolseleyTrust, says
“The Wolseley Trust is delighted to be working with the Barbican Theatre on this special event and look forward to celebrating the Jubilee with all our community on the day. It has given such a valuable and fun opportunity for groups in our area to come together and celebrate their community. We are very grateful to the Barbican Theatre for bring this to our area and for sharing their energy and creativity with us all!”
Image: Barbican Theatre’s first Giant Backalley Puppet Parade came to Keyham in June 2021. (image credit Joshua Marsh for Barbican Theatre)
Activities and the parade will take place between 11am and 4pm. A leaflet with information about the Keyham Giant’s Jubilee Tea Parade and a parade route map will be delivered to homes in the Keyham and Ford area the week before the events take place (inside The Waterfront & West Chronicle), so residents don’t miss it!
The Keyham Giants’ Jubilee Tea Party and Parade is created by Barbican Theatre, in partnership with The Wolseley Trust, and funded by Keyham Community Sparks Grant and Arts Council England’s Let’s Create Jubilee Fund.
The four Giant's Jublee Puppet Parade routes
