THURROCK’S very own free arts festival of Walking, Talking & Making, the T100 Festival has returned with a fantastic line up of creative talent from the area joining in with exciting events following its theme, T100 People. It culminates on 25 June with a finale performance of a section from The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant. The Thank You Dance, led by Kinetika’s Ali Pretty and Jeanefer Jean-Charles, returns to Thurrock to say a huge Thank You to all T100 People.
This year’s T100 partners include Essex Book Festival, Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions, theatre troupes The Complete Commedia Company and Rendered Retina, The Port of Tilbury and local schools amongst many others helping to host and add to the festival’s events. T100 People began on 2nd June, with attendees taking part in a community celebration full of creative flags at intu Lakeside and then heading to the Purfleet-on-Thames Beacon, where it culminated in workshops, performances, activities led by the Purfleet-on-Thames Community Forum to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. T100 will return to Purfleet on 11th June with a special procession of the Thank You Dance key worker flags, hot on the heels of their appearance at The Mall for the Platinum Jubilee Pageant. The procession will lead from the Purfleet-on-Thames Beacon to High House Production Park where visitors will be welcomed by Kinetika’s giant skeleton puppet ‘The Midnight Robber’ for Essex Book Festival’s ‘Criminally Good Day’ event. There will be site tours, talks, craft and writing workshops for all ages and criminally good storytelling.
On 9th June, performances will also take place on the Kennington estate as pupils from Kennington Academy lead a walk to celebrate the role their school plays in their community as well as share inspirational stories about key workers. At Langdon Hills on 12th June attendees can not only enjoy a scenic walk, but they will be treated to an artist-led workshop. More artistic celebrations follow on 18th June in East Tilbury as the T100 hosts a number of walks followed by a free community event by Thurrock Lifestyle Solutions at Gobions Park which will include music from Kinetika Bloco with their distinctive British carnival sound, and fun family-friendly activities.
On Sunday 19th June, the T100 Festival moves to Grays, with a very special walk from Grays Town Park to Grays Beach Riverside led by a procession with music and silk flags from The Platinum Jubilee Pageant. Once at Grays Beach Riverside, event attendees can watch Yacht Club sailing and get involved with Fathers’ Day craft workshops, drama sessions and pop-up shows from The Complete Commedia
