Several years ago Cragg Vale Gamelan’s show "Revelation" attracted large crowds who enjoyed the spectacle of the enormous smoke-breathing dragon and the 18’ high skeleton. This year once again Gamelan Street Theatre will open the festival — this time with their brand new show Voyage. The story of a small child’s magical sailboat journey to strange lands inhabited by weird and fearsome mythical creatures.

With the aid of a grant from the Millennium Festival Fund the gamelan has created a new street theatre performance to take on tour around the region and beyond. The creation of Voyage has involved around 40 local people who have designed, built, devised, directed, choreographed, composed and rehearsed for this premiere performance.

Gamelan Theatre Director, Sally Martin, worked with performers for the past few months. Many of the performers are working in full head masks and have had to learn brand new techniques and ways of showing emotions that don’t depend on facial expressions. Musical Director Dave Nelson has worked with Sally and written exciting and evocative music, which works to complement the theatrical performance and add to its dramatic qualities.