HUNDREDS of children have enjoyed a day of fun in the sun in the centre of Worcester, at a free festival aimed at making the city a more joyful and creative place.
The Scala Arts Centre hosted its first ‘Festival of Play’ today (May 23) at The Arches and The Hive, as hundreds of children danced and played in the sun.
From storytelling and hula hooping, to dancing and video games, the Festival of Play catered to children aged between 3 and 11 years old, with Scala aiming to share its vision for the future.
Steve Taylor, Lidia Taylor, and Hollie Taylor (Image: Daniel Kelly/NQ)
Steve Taylor, who visited the Festival of Play with his daughters, Lidia and Hollie from Lower Broadheath, said: “We saw it advertised and just thought we’d pop down.
“It’s lovely just being out really. There’s so much to do.
“The littluns like the arts and crafts. Hollie loved the K-pop. We pulled up at about 11am.
Dilsad Kosem and Gursat Kosem (Image: Daniel Kelly/NQ)
“The best thing about the festival is the variety, there’s so much on offer. We enjoyed doing the arts and crafts.
“The sun’s out, and obviously, the hula hoops are a big hit. We’ll be going over to the Range after this to get a hula hoop.”
Hundreds visited the Festival of Play in Worcester (Image: Daniel Kelly/NQ)
Sam Jackson, who visited the Festival of Play with her son Heron, said: “Our friend works at The Hive and she told us to come.
“We’ve been here for a couple of hours and it’s been amazing.
Brendan Meaklim with children Henry and Alice, from Northwick (Image: Daniel Kelly/NQ)
“We are having a lovely time. The storyteller was fantastic.
“It’s been great. Everything is great.”
Charlie Rea and Tom Hutchinson with Spiderman (Image: Daniel Kelly/NQ)
The Festival of Play was developed with access and inclusion in mind. 150 pupils from Worcester’s SEND schools spent the day enjoying different workshops across the site yesterday (May 22).
Cllr Alex Mace was in attendance with his children and said, ‘it is great to see everyone spending time together and enjoying this space’.
Cllr Alex Mace with sons, Henry and Laurie (Image: Daniel Kelly/NQ)
Hannah Phillips, chief executive and artistic director of Scala, said: “So it’s the Festival of Play.
“It’s our opportunity to share Scala Arts Centre’s vision and programme with the local community and families.
“It’s a free arts festival for the local community. We’ve got circus, aerial, dance, arts and crafts, storytelling, and more.
Sam Jackson (Image: Daniel Kelly/NQ)
“It’s an opportunity to support local creatives and companies, particularly emerging talent. So you will see lots of superheroes in capes, and they are all our emerging producers and volunteers.
“What we are really trying to do is with the whole of the Scala Arts Centre is a regeneration project in partnership with Worcester City Council, and what we want to do is make our city more playful, more joyful, and more creative.”
