The Street Performance World Championship hits our shores for the next two weekends, apart from all the amazing talented street performers, you have the opportunity to take part in the World Record attempt for the largest amount of Wallys in one place. To guarentee your place in the attemot you have to preorder your Where’s Wally suit from whereswallyworldrecord.com Profits will be donated to Africa Aware.
The SPWC will take place over two weekends in
June 11th/12th-The People’s Park (Town Park), Portlaoise
June 11th/12th – Fitzgerald Park, Cork City
June 16th – 19th – Merrion Square, Dublin 2
Here’s the blurb:
FREE FAMILY FESTIVAL COMES TO 3 CITIES IN IRELAND THIS JUNE
Street Performance World Championship (SPWC) will bring 16 of the most talented street artists in the world to Ireland this June to compete for the title of Street Performance World Champion. This free family festival runs in Fitzgerald Park, Cork City and The People’s Park (Town Park), Portlaoise on June 11th and 12th and in Dublin’s Merrion Square on June 16th-19th.
WORLD-RECORD HOLDING SWORD SWALLOWER, INDIAN SNAKE CHARMER AND THE WORLD’S STRONGEST DWARF AMONG THIS YEAR’S HIGHLIGHTS
With the European debut of Australia’s Goliath: the World’s Smallest Strongman, the return of 2 time Street Performance World Champion and 11 time world record holder The Space Cowboy, and a visit from Indian snake charmer Jardu this years festival promises to be the best yet. The reigning World Champion and only Irish act ever to have claimed the title, magician, ventriloquist and all round messer, Dublin-born Jack Wise returns as the special guest to this year’s festival.
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE TO BECOME THIS YEAR’S WORLD CHAMPION
Over both weekends, members of the public will vote for their favourite performers in all three locations and the act with the most public votes in total will be crowned the 2011 Street Performance World Champion. Entry to the festival is entirely free of charge, with the talented performers, who have dedicated their lives to this amazing art form, asking for contribution from their audience at the end of each show.
STREET PERFORMANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LISTINGS:
CORK: Fitzgerald Park
As part of Cork Midsummer Festival 2011 and supported by Cork City Council
Saturday June 11 – Sunday June 12, 2011
12 8pm daily
PORTLAOISE: The People’s Park (Town Park)
Supported by Laois County Council and Laois Partnership with kind assistance from Laois Chamber of Commerce and Laois Vintners
Saturday June 11 – Sunday June 12, 2011
12 8pm daily
DUBLIN: Merrion Square, Dublin 2
Supported by Dublin City Council
Thursday June 16 Sunday June 19, 2011
12 8pm daily
FULL LIST OF PARTICIPATING ACTS in alphabetical order
BOB AT LARGE
USA
Bob at Large is no stranger to danger! This is where circus meets streets and three-wheeling, cylinder stacking, comic adventure begins. Unbelievably high skills and deadly stunts are tightly woven into a show with as much comic tension as a family of whales on a bungee cord. Now you decide; unbalanced inspiration or inspiration-ally unbalanced Bob’s show is a giggle a minute.
FUNNY BONES
JAPAN AND U.K
Welcome to the crazily creative world of Funny Bones. Japan’s K-Bow and the U.K’s Crispy come together to create a non-talking, upside down, ad-libbing mess. Their absurdly funny, haphazard show will make your face hurt from smiling, your hands sore from clapping and your heart scream for more. With hat juggling, comedy mime, breakdancing and slightly frightening, but hilarious giant Zombie puppets, this tour of hilarity is where Charlie Chaplin meets Michael Jackson’s Thriller.
GOLIATH: THE WORLD’S SMALLEST STRONGMAN
AUSTRALIA
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, introducing the magnificent, the
majestic, the colossal….Goliath! Standing at just 4ft tall with washboard abs to rival Hugh Jackman , we introduce to you the Worlds Smallest Strongman. Bending solid metal bars with his brute strength alone …ooooh… lifting up audience members over his head without breaking a sweat …aaahh… Goliath will perform feats of strength before your very eyes. This show is not to be missed. We repeat this show is not to be missed.
GREG FRISBEE
USA
Side splitting funny, this professional idiot does the daftest things that the human brain can come up with, so you don’t have to. You’ve heard of fire juggling, but how about juggling with your hands on fire?! Gregs bizarre assortment of stolen circus props is guaranteed to have your head spinning and you belly-aching with laughter. The festival’s answer to Cilla Black, this modern day cupid is known for hooking audience members up on dates. So what’s your name, and where do you come from?
JACK WISE
IRELAND
In 2010 you voted him into the history books, you wanted him back, you couldn’t get enough…Re-introducing the reigning Street Performance World Champion and special guest at this year’s Championship – Jack Wise. Jack is the kid you werent allowed to play with in school. Comedian, ventriloquist, sword swallower, magician and all round messer, he performs the impossible with unrivalled experience and sure fire delivery. Razor sharp wit, Jedi mind tricks and downright dangerous stunts, the energy in Jacks show is comparative to a 10 year old stuffed with two cans of coke, two bags of Skittles and shaken vigorously for 4 minutes. Get ready to laugh your face off.
JARDU
INDIA
In India, magicians are not made, theyre born. Jardu has been flown from the foothills of Rajasthan to bring this years World Championship some magic from another time and another world. Astounding tricks and breathtaking snake charming will enchant the imagination of the whole family. A wonderfully colourful, high energy show of wit, suspense, mystique and comedy.
JITTERBUG JACKSON
NORTHERN IRELAND
This is a story jam-packed with imagination and ridiculousness and sprinkled off with just the right amount of bananas. Jitterbugs is the first show at the World Championship who will have your heart pumping as hard as his. This really is the perfect blend of energy, crazy and all-round stupid as this northern lunatic will show you what unsupported balancing is really about. This is a must see for people of all ages, shapes, shoe sizes, mammals and fish.
KENNETH LIGHTFOOT
USA
www.wix.com/gogolsss/sleight-of-humor
If you ever looked at a magician and thought that all magic is just an illusion, think again as this is a genuine talent the likes of which you will never have seen before. This American magician is world famous for his ability to throw playing cards at close to the speed of sound. In a world of copycat X-Factor knock offs, Kenny Lightfoots show is not just original, its mind altering. Magic does not get any more surreal than this.
LINDSAY BENNER
USA
A beautifully riveting show from start to finish, this stunning piece of street theatre will fashion a tale of love, longing and juggling from an excessively large and vivid mind. Lindsay will take any man that comes too close to her, clean him off, dress him up, walk all over him, and he will love every minute of it. From orchestral movements to flaming finale, the charming Lindsay Benner creates a one-woman comedy show of epic proportions. Stunningly clever street theatre from a mistress of charm. Perfect for the whole family.
THE MIGHTY GARETH
U.K.
www.myspace.com/themightygareth
From Londons Covent Garden, the birthplace of street performance, The Mighty Gareth has emerged as a truly hardcore street entertainer. Magic, fire eating, whip cracking, chainsaw juggling and pretty much any dangerous skill that you can think of, this master crowd pleaser has something to impress literally everyone. Get there early because this totally unforgettable show is going to be huuuuuuuuuuge.
MR.SPIN
AUSTRALIA
www.bamboozledproductions.com/mrspin
A massive hit at 2008 Street Performance World Championship, Mr. Spin`s show comes complete with super high-skill juggling, quick fire off-the-wall comedy and more than a little hint of danger. If you have ever wondered what a ‘suicycle’ is, wonder no more as you’re about to see a show that is as crazy as it is skillful. Without a doubt one of the globe’s best (and zaniest) jugglers, his finale includes him juggling 3 baseball bats whilst on a zigzag unicycle he built himself, and all with a glass of water balanced on his forehead!
ROSS VEGAS
AUSTRALIA
members.iinet.net.au/~rossthompson1/Pinstripe_Circus/Ross_Vegas.html
Our insurance company didnt know what to make of this one. Vegas will perform a horizontal one-handed handstand while balancing on an unstable stack of chairs at a dizzying height above the ground. When not hip-hoppin and b-boppin and beat boxin, this crazily versatile Australian will be putting his life on the line for your entertainment. Amazing music and acrobatics combined with fire, this show is like the X-Factor on steroids. This show ain’t just good, it is freakin’ awesome!
THE FAMOUS RUBBERBAND BOY
NEW ZEALAND
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Famous-Rubberband-Boy
Introducing the freak-liest boy in show business. The Famous Rubberband Boy is so funny he should have been twins! A master of rubberband-ology and inventor of The Human Catapult (the largest rubber band you’ll ever set eyes on), he holds two world records for facial contortion alone. This comedy daredevil performs the most outrageous straitjacket escape youll ever see. The Alpha, The Omega and The Rubberband Boy! Anthropomorphic creature of stationary, Man or Monster? You decide!
THE SPACE COWBOY
AUSTRALIA
The Space Cowboy is on the ultimate Street Performer diet. He ingests glass neon tubes powered by 2000 volts of electricity for starters, hammers 6 inch nails directly into this face for his main course and washes it all down with his chainsaw juggling finale. Exercise is key, regularly breaking out a sweat by dragging hefty weights with nothing but fish hooks in his eye sockets. To finish the day, this Australian world record breaker swears by a good night sleep…on a bed of nails that is.
THE UNKNOWN STUNTMEN
U.K.
These heroes of the street really are legends in the world of street entertainment. With lightning improvisation and a frankly disrespectful lack of actual skill, these charming scamps will win a place in your hearts and in your pockets. Death-defying feats, barely-competent juggling, and awesome comedy acrobatics that will have you asking Did I really just watch that? *Really*? This is one show that you will watch again and again and again.
WACKY CHAD
USA
Extraordinarily random. Eye-poppingly impressive. Hilariously funny. Wacky Chad has taken bouncing to a whole new level! Laugh until it hurts as this stunt comedian balances a shopping trolley on his face and rides around on a miniature BMX that would make Bicyclin’ Barbie jealous! Wearing his trademark orange t-shirt and sneakers, Chad resembles an satsuma defying gravity as he reaches neck-straining heights on his beloved pogo stick! If you don’t like laughing, go somewhere else.