A giant chess set, mast-climbing and sea dogs - it's all coming to Sunderland!

Mast climbing, street theatre, a giant chess set and the tale of three eccentric sea dogs - they're all coming to Sunderland.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Apr 2018, 06:00 BST
Sophie Lisa Beresford who will be performing street theatre at The Tall Ships Races.Sophie Lisa Beresford who will be performing street theatre at The Tall Ships Races.
Sophie Lisa Beresford who will be performing street theatre at The Tall Ships Races.

More details have been revealed of the live entertainment at The Tall Ships Races.

It will include local artists Emma Bloomfield, Sophie Lisa Beresford, Penella Bee and Thomas Potts performing throughout the event as part of the ‘Wearside Emerging’ project.

Emma Bloomfield in action.Emma Bloomfield in action.
Emma Bloomfield in action.
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l Emma will re-enact the story of Jack Crawford who, although being press ganged into the Royal Navy, came to be hailed as the Hero of Camperdown. He famously “nailed the colours to the mast” after his ship came under heavy fire at the Battle of Camperdown and the Admiral’s flag was felled.

Jack’s daring climb to the top of the mast will be recreated by Emma who climb a mast of one of the Tall Ships in a daring display of aerial artistry.

l Sophie Lisa Beresford will give a street performance called “Infinite Aurora.”

It fuses traditional cultural heritage going back centuries with contemporary Mackem street style rave culture to celebrate the city and its residents.

Panella Bee performs.Panella Bee performs.
Panella Bee performs.
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Her performance will include singing, dancing, a DJ set and a few surprises – all out of the back of a customised boy racer car!

l A giant chess board will be Penella Bee’s stage, salvaged from an enchanted ship, the Senora.

The chess set is made up of a number of static characters. Audience members are invited to spin the wheel and determine which character comes to life which they do by bursting into a variety of different dance styles - contemporary, hip hop, robotics and circus manipulation such as staff spinning, hula hoops and dance veils.

l Thomas Potts will follow the humorous misadventures of three characters; Spottee, Dottee and Pottee, who are eccentric seadogs who find themselves shipwrecked in Sunderland.

Thomas Potts who will be portraying three eccentric seadogs who find themselves shipwrecked in Sunderland.Thomas Potts who will be portraying three eccentric seadogs who find themselves shipwrecked in Sunderland.
Thomas Potts who will be portraying three eccentric seadogs who find themselves shipwrecked in Sunderland.
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As their story unfolds, they have a lot in common with various Sunderland notables including Joseph Swan, the man behind the light bulb; Clarkson Stanfield, the marine painter and Spottee finds out about his ancestor and namesake, the smuggler who haunts the caves of Roker ravine.

Programme Producer for The Tall Ships Races Sunderland 2018, Helen Green, said: “We have offered commissions to four Sunderland artists who will pop up in areas around the event zones. They range from breath taking trapeze performance to street dance, music to strolling theatre.”

To keep up to date with the latest news from The Tall Ships Races Sunderland 2018 go to www.tallshipssunderland.com follow on Twitter @TallShipsSund or Facebook at: Tall Ships Races Sunderland