SO Festival 2026 Programme
Friday 12th and Saturday 13th June – Skegness | Sunday 14th June – Mablethorpe
Join us for Lincolnshire’s free international festival of outdoor arts, where the pavements, parks and promenades of Skegness and Mablethorpe come alive with theatre, dance, music and comedy from local, national and international artists.
On this page you’ll find (click on the bullet to read more):
- The A to Z of performances
- A list of the free Activity Zone Community Workshops taking place in the week before and during SO Festival
- The Highlights and Documentary Videos from SO Festival 2025
We have lots of useful information to help you plan your visit on the Festival Information page. You’ll find information about parking, public transport, accessibility etc.
There’s also a section about Things To Do on the Lincolnshire Coast when you’re visiting SO Festival. Browse the lists of free or low-cost activities, activities for all ages and local beaches.
This year we have ‘Made In Lincolnshire‘ performances, which is our commitment to supporting local artists.
They vary from seasoned professionals, early career artists, through to children and young people. Many have taken part and benefitted from programmes and projects organised by SO Festival. This is work made in your communities, on your doorsteps.
We are so proud to be celebrating the creativity and diversity of talent from across our county!
| A to Z of Performances
We are proud to announce the first wave of performances for SO Festival 2026! Scroll down to read about each performance.
We will be adding more to the programme over the coming weeks, along with dates, times and performance spaces for each performance, so you can build your timetable for your visit!
Be the first the hear about updates and news by joining the mailing list to receive the SO Festival newsletter.
A LA PUPPET CARTE
A La Puppet Carte presents two charming pop‑up puppet stages mounted on electric tricycles, each offering a playful tale about friendship, curiosity, and home. Audiences encounter miniature worlds unfolding before them: a parent discovering the source of a mysterious noise, a magical samovar hiding secrets, and a gardener whose chicken can’t resist the corn. These intimate mobile shows bring gentle humour, surprise, and heart to public spaces.Suitable for all ages. Part of the Without Walls Network
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
BETTY BROWN BAGS
Inspired by a Lancaster folk play, this lively physical‑theatre adventure follows Betty Brown Bags and her musical partner Billy as they celebrate Northern working‑class resilience. With clog dancing, live music, comedy, and audience participation, the duo rally spectators to help defeat the wicked Sir George. A joyful, family‑friendly call to community spirit.
Suitable for all ages.
Link to read more about Raggle Taggle Arts
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
BOX MEETINGS
Kumulus
UK exclusive: First and only performance in the UK.
Box Meetings invites participants and audiences into a poetic world where everyday objects spark extraordinary stories. Created by Kumulus, a renowned French street theatre company, the show features participants from across Lincolnshire who arrive in small groups speaking invented languages, opening shoeboxes filled with symbolic items that blossom into imaginative scenes. Blending workshop and performance, the project is rooted in human connection, exploring vulnerability, creativity, and the shared meaning we build together.
Suitable for all ages.
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
HYDROPUNK
Hydropunk is a playful, chaotic water‑powered installation of taps, pipes, valves, and puzzles, while also serving as a striking environmental reminder. With only 1000 litres available, audiences must collaborate to conserve and recycle water to keep the contraption running. It’s hands‑on, inventive, and bursts with Artizani’s signature outdoor‑arts creativity.
Great family Fun! Suitable for all ages. Part of the Without Walls Network
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
NAPOLITO CLOWN
All the way from Mexico, this wordless, physical‑comedy performance uses expressive movement and global character inspirations to create a joyful, universal language understood by all ages. NOPALITO dazzles with rare technical feats, including advanced unicycle acrobatics and high‑level juggling, crafting a colourful journey through humour, emotion, and cultural celebration.
Suitable for all ages.
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
NEWTON‑O‑MATIC
Newton‑o‑Matic celebrates the scientific curiosity of Isaac Newton through hands‑on street‑side fun. Visitors try balancing an inertia hat, creating rainbow prisms, playing the Gravity Teapot game, donning a Newton wig, and testing their strength on the bell. Charming, silly, and welcoming to all ages, it’s a playful invitation to explore physics in action.
Suitable for all ages.
Link to read more about Mr Holly
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
NO BALL GAMES
This energetic and interactive experience invites audiences to relive childhood dreams of football glory. Whether taking to the pitch or cheering from the sidelines with provided scarves, participants become part of a fast‑paced match narrated by two comic “commentator‑managers.” A nostalgic, funny, and heartfelt celebration of the beautiful game.
Suitable for all ages.
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
SEAGULL LAKE
A lively outdoor street performance featuring cheeky, dancing seagulls causing seaside mischief with moments of litter‑picking heroics. Packed with humour, physical theatre and an unexpected Seagull Ballet, this interactive show invites joyful participation from the whole family.
Suitable for all ages.
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
TEABREAK
TEABREAK offers a gentle moment of rest as audiences enjoy a freshly brewed cup of tea served from a beautifully hand‑painted tuk‑tuk. Through an immersive audio journey, visitors trace the global travels of tea leaves and reflect on shared rituals that bring comfort across cultures. A warm, uplifting pause in the day.
Suitable for all ages. Part of the Without Walls Network.
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
THE HIDE
The Hide invites audiences into a quiet birdwatching installation exploring the experience of living with a non‑visible disability. Through stillness, storytelling, and the tale of G463 the White‑Tailed Eagle, the performance encourages deeper attention to our surroundings and compassion for the unseen.
Suitable for all ages. Part of the Without Walls Network.
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
THE PERFECT MISTAKE
From Germany and Sweden, this dynamic duet fusing juggling with live drumming, The Perfect Mistake turns improvisation into a playful, punk‑infused spectacle. Audience suggestions help shape the final moments as rhythms become visual and physical. Fast, fun, and skill‑packed, the show celebrates spontaneity and the artistry of both movement and music.
Suitable for all ages.
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
THREE SAD TROLLS
The last three trolls on Earth fight extinction by performing absurd antics, acrobatics, and clowning to rekindle human belief in the magical unknown. Full of surreal humour, visual artistry, and spectacular circus technique, this fantastically chaotic show is as touching as it is wildly entertaining.
Suitable for all ages.
Link to read more about Lanordika
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
TWO MEN AND A PLANK
This mischievous pop‑up performance from Denmark follows two sandal‑wearing characters locked in a comic struggle to place a single plank “just right.” Featuring slapstick, physical comedy, and playful rivalry, the show celebrates individuality and the joy of not taking life too seriously.
Suitable for all ages.
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
LOVE AT FIRST TIDE
A lively street‑theatre adventure inspired by Greek mythology, Love at First Tide follows an ancient sea goddess as she dives into the chaos of a modern dating show. With a charismatic host, a parade of unlikely suitors and plenty of audience interaction, the story blends mythic humour with reality‑TV mischief. Energetic, charming and full of youthful creativity, this playful performance reveals just how unpredictable the search for true love can be.
Suitable for all ages.
Link to read More about Grubby Knees
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
SEA SMART: A Water Safety Show
SEA SMART brings seaside safety to life through colourful characters, puppetry and storytelling. This vibrant interactive show explores the Lincolnshire coast and the simple steps we can all take to stay safe near the water. Co‑created with young people from CLIP Mablethorpe and supported by the RNLI, the performance reflects the ideas, voices and artistry of its young collaborators, resulting in an engaging and memorable learning experience.
Suitable for all ages.
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
WAVES & WONDERS
Waves & Wonders is a joyful circus celebration created by the Inclusive Youth Circus after weeks of exploration, practice and play. Guided by Creative Heights professional artists, young performers showcase aerial movement, acrobatics, balance and expressive choreography. The result is an uplifting performance that highlights new skills, growing confidence and the power of creative collaboration.
Suitable for all ages.
Link to read more about Creative Heights
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
CO-CREATION PROJECT
Hubbub Theatre Company bring their distinctive co‑creative approach to SO Festival, championing learning‑disabled creatives with collaboration, equity and kindness at the centre of their work.
For 2026 they join forces with Skegness Day Service to create a playful, community‑led performance shaped by local artists and Skegness Day Service Users. The project includes bespoke Hubbub Way training for creatives and staff, planting the seeds of a long‑term, inclusive creative community in Skegness.
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
PS. I’M HOME
P.S. I’m Home is a warm, joyful interactive installation inviting audiences into a space of comfort, nostalgia and belonging. Through hands-on activities such as puppetry, postcard writing and storytelling, visitors are encouraged to reconnect with their inner child. Journey through blanket forts and fairy lights on a sensory adventure of texture, sound and light. Created by The Lincoln Company, University of Lincoln students committed to inclusive, accessible art for all ages.
Link to read more about the Lincoln Company
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
SAMUEL PEARSON
Work In Progress
Samuel is an actor and puppeteer, currently a ‘marionettist in training’. Marionette performance is disappearing more and more each year, but in training in puppetry, Samuel wanted to explore marionette work. Inspired by the marionette and puppetry performances in Cleethorpes (and other seaside towns) that drew huge crowds of children and parents, a love of watching marionettes on TV throughout his childhood, and a delight in seeing all puppets come to life, Samuel is creating his very own marionette show!
Samuel’s work in progress will show the marionettes and the marionettist together ‘at one’s feet’, where the puppeteer isn’t hidden but in full view, to see the workings of these characters come to life, and how the marionette and puppeteer work together. Suitable for adults and children to enjoy, sit in the delight and wonder of these stringed characters, and their stories. Enjoy entertainment at the seaside!
Suitable for all ages.
Link to read more about Samuel Pearson
Information TBC within the next few weeks.
Activity Zone Free Community Workshops
Choose from a selection of free workshops taking place in Skegness and Mablethorpe in the week before and during SO Festival 2026.
Dates, times, venues and booking information will be added in the next few weeks. To hear about them first, please join the Newsletter Mailing List.
AI WORKSHOP
AI in Schools
The AI Workshop introduces participants to core concepts such as machine learning, algorithms, and data‑driven decision‑making. Through simple coding challenges and interactive demonstrations, learners explore how AI models are created and tested. The session encourages curiosity, problem‑solving, and digital awareness, offering a friendly entry point into the technologies shaping the future.
Date: TBC
Times: TBC
Venue: TBC
Suitable for: TBC
Booking Link: TBC
AI in Schools delivers engaging, hands‑on workshops designed to build confidence and understanding around Artificial Intelligence, coding, and the evolution of modern technology. Their mission is to make AI literacy accessible and inspiring for learners of all ages, using practical programming activities that demystify how AI systems think, learn, and operate.
MAKE SOME NOISE
Noise Academy
Make Some Noise introduces participants to DJing, beatboxing and sound technology using professional decks, microphones and effects. With expert tutor support, groups explore mixing, rhythm, tempo, transitions and vocal sound design, building creative and technical skills toward a mini live showcase. Participants must attend the evening workshop on 5 June and the evening performance on 11 June at Xsite (times TBC), where they will present their set as part of an urban event.
Date: TBC
Times: TBC
Venue: TBC
Suitable for: TBC
Booking Link: TBC
Noise Academy is a Lincolnshire‑based music education organisation specialising in DJing, music production, and creative performance skills. Their tutors are practising artists and educators who support young people in building confidence, creativity, and technical skills through hands‑on music‑making.
ACCESIBLE CIRCUS SKILLS
Creative Heights
Creative Heights offers a welcoming, hands-on circus experience where people of all abilities can try aerial acrobatics, hula hooping, juggling and more, supported by specialist instructors using safe counterweight techniques. To prioritise access, Friday sessions are reserved for participants with disabilities, including those needing the hoist, and can be booked online. Saturday and Sunday are open drop-in sessions for everyone.
Suitable for all ages.
Date: TBC
Times: TBC
Venue: TBC
Suitable for: TBC
Booking Link: TBC
Grubby Knees Ltd is a not‑for‑profit youth theatre company dedicated to ensuring every young person has access to creativity. Their holistic, inclusive approach empowers young performers to express themselves, collaborate, and create original work in a supported, professional environment. All productions are shaped by young people under 21, who take on roles from devising and performance to design and direction.
TO THE MOON AND BACK (Exclusively for schools)
Barmpot Theatre
To The Moon and Back is a miniature puppet show in a suitcase, following a determined barn owl on a magical journey across fields and even to the Moon. With handcrafted puppets, gentle clowning and original music, it offers a warm family experience. Children also create an eco owl with Oxcombe Pottery, which becomes a wildflower seed sculpture or decoration.
This workshop is for schools and isn’t open for public booking.
Barmpot Theatre is an award‑winning Lincolnshire company known for high‑quality family storytelling rooted in puppetry, original music, and accessible performance. They specialise in bringing engaging, heartfelt theatre to rural communities and non‑traditional spaces, championing stories that reflect local heritage and imagination.
URBAN SPORTS ZONE
XSite Skatepark and School’s Out
Urban Sports Zone and School’s Out transform the XSite Skatepark into a lively challenge course of fast, fun mini‑games inspired by street sport culture. Groups rotate through target‑based football and basketball stations, creative physical challenges, and skateboarding tasters. A social zone, including 3v3 football and drop‑in activities, creates a festival‑style atmosphere where families can stay, play, and explore at their own pace.
Date: TBC
Times: TBC
Venue: TBC
Suitable for: TBC
Booking Link: TBC
School’s Out is a community‑focused sports and wellbeing programme run by Magna Vitae, providing inclusive opportunities for young people across East Lindsey. Their work centres on building confidence, physical activity and positive social experiences. XSite Skatepark partners with them to offer authentic, street‑inspired environments for youth engagement.
VISUAL ARTS WORKSHOP
Rose Visual Artists
This visual arts workshop uses zine‑making, drawing, and collage to explore identity, ideas, and lived experience. Participants learn simple DIY publishing techniques and create their own zine expressing what matters to them, from everyday moments to wider social issues. The session introduces zines as tools for communication, activism, and personal storytelling, encouraging authentic self‑expression grounded in community.
Date: TBC
Times: TBC
Venue: TBC
Suitable for: TBC
Booking Link: TBC
Rose is a socially engaged artist, storyteller, and community organiser whose work nurtures connection, resilience, and belonging through creativity, nature, and personal narrative. She specialises in creating radically inclusive, welcoming spaces where people feel empowered to express themselves.
If you’re not familiar with SO Festival watch the Highlights Video and Documentary form SO Festival 2025 below
