Quays Festival welcomed audiences back to Salford Quays on the weekend of 14-15 August 2021, with a celebratory programme of family-friendly performances, installations and workshops that were free to enjoy.
Highlights included a spectacular new aerial performance created by specialists Scarabeus Aerial Theatre. Originally commissioned for The Lowry’s WEEK 53 Festival 2020 that was sadly cancelled due to the pandemic, Powerflex featured four professional aerialists who performed suspended from The Lowry’s iconic tower.
The festival also celebrated the launch of a new sculptural installation Through No.4 by Liz West. Installed permanently on MediaCity steps, the 6 metre long, prismatic corridor of light invites people to pass through and see the world around them transformed by colour.
“I am delighted that Quays Culture have commissioned me to make Through No.4, a development of my Through series,” says Liz West. “I am looking forward to seeing the work glisten and throw out mesmerising sundial colour ways onto the quayside. I hope that it brings joy to those who pass nearby and through it. This walk-through structure encourages visitors to look at their surroundings in a different light. Making their way inside the multi-coloured corridor people see the world around them transformed by multicolour. The barrier between the outside and inside creates a multi-coloured striped cloak and distortion in an array of different hues, transforming the usual colourations and appearance of the outside environment.”
A rare opportunity to enjoy the fusion of swimming, music and dance also featured as part of the weekend, with a playful Colour Swim event in partnership with Uswim. With choreography by Darren Pritchard led by House of Ghetto dancers, participants joined in a playful mass dance from within the water, with Manchester School of Samba providing the live soundtrack!
A free drop-in workshop programme engaged participants’ creativity with open percussion sessions and screen printing inspired by the colour blends of Through No.4.
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