People Express offers arts activities and showcases cultural opportunities at several festivals throughout the year.
The FESTIVAL OF LEISURE is the districts annual event which attracts over 5000 people. The People Express marquee invites festival goers the opportunity to take part in artist led drop-in arts activities.
TIMBER is a forest festival set in the heart of the National Forest which attracts national audiences. In 2019 People Express and Derbyshire LGBT+ commissioned writer and story teller Thom Seddon to work with young and older members of the LGBT+ communities, to create brand new fairy tales inspired by nature, woodlands and forests. Thom, who is based in Nottingham, has worked across the UK as a performer, drag queen and spoken word performer.
The stories can be read in an digital anthology here.
In South Derbyshire, we hosted a series of writing workshops at People Express for a group of young people from the local LGBT+ community to create the fairytales.
Across Derbyshire, Thom worked with the Derby Young Person’s group and Golden Rainbows groups based across the county in Derby, Belper and Chesterfield.
The stories were performed around the campfire at Timber Festival.
THE PURPOSE:
People Express believe the arts is for everyone and can enrich the lives of those that take part. By attending festivals and events each year People Express is able to meet and work with a wider audience and offer arts and cultural opportunities to people who might not access the arts in gallery or theatre settings.
