Dundee’s Botanic Garden is to host a music and light show featuring aerial dancers as part of a five-day festival next month.
Over the Garden Wall will see the attraction transformed into an open air performance space as one of 40 events planned for Dundee University’s Festival of the Future between October 12-16.
The festival will explore what the future could look like with venues across the city hosting talks, shows and panels for people of all ages, exploring matters of science, art and culture.
Botanic Garden to Enchanted Forest
The Enchanted Forest-style show will run over three nights costing £4 per ticket.
Festival organiser Emma Preston said: “Dundee has enjoyed a cultural renaissance in recent years, but the city has never seen anything quite like this before.
“Over the Garden Wall will bring an entirely new look to this beloved space, shining a light on parts of it that even regular visits may have overlooked.
“Combining colour with performance and specially commissioned music, we want people to take a new look at this natural space and to celebrate the life that exists there in a way that people of all ages can enjoy.”
It comes as the garden is showcased in an exhibition this year celebrating 50 years since it was born from an old potato field.
Live theatre experience among events
Other highlights in this year’s programme include a performance of Scottish Dance Theatre’s, Ray, walking tours telling the story of Dundee’s streets, and The Evidence Chamber, an interactive live theatre experience where the audience is the jury.
Meanwhile, for families there is a host of workshops and activities, including fairy trails, pond dipping sessions, and messy play for babies and pre-schoolers with the Art at the Start project.
The Overgate Shopping Centre’s Gather Space will also host pop-up events throughout the event.
Ms Preston added: “The pandemic has been instrumental in reminding us of how beneficial spending time together can be.
“Our programme has been designed to give people the opportunity to share in memorable experiences with family, friends, and even people we have never met.
“From story sessions and silent discos, to lectures on forensic science and yoga sessions, there really is something for everyone.”
Festival returns after absence
Launched in 2018, the festival celebrates everything from science to music, food, theatre and art.
It was not held in 2020 or 2021 due to the Covid pandemic.
In previous years famous faces including comedians, musicians, and TV hosts have performed at the festival.
The last time it was held in 2019 Scissor Sisters frontwoman Ana Matronic discussed “transhumanism”, which centres on how humans might evolve using technology, and performed a DJ set at V&A Dundee.
TV personality Johnny Ball — father of BBC radio presenter Zoe Ball — also give a talk on Maths to a sold out audience at the Bonar Hall.
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