Circus acts prepare for 16th annual festival

The Showwomen are one of the headline acts on Saturday evening

Organisers of an outdoor circus and street arts festival are preparing the stages for their 16th annual event.

The Out There Festival in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, claims to be the biggest of its kind in the UK.

Festival director Joe Mackintosh said this year's event would showcase creative works from hundreds of children.

"We’re also celebrating the shared vision and imagination of the community, highlighting the best UK artists in the outdoor arts as well as the developing stars of the future," he said.

Mr Mackintosh said about 65,000 people attended last year.

Almost all performances are free to watch, although donations are encouraged.

However, some events are ticketed where capacity is limited, on a "pay what you can afford" basis.

The line-up will include Primus, a circus act featuring roller skating and bicycle tricks, and Those in Glass Houses, which warns spectators to brace themselves for "swinging bricks" and "comedic catapults".

Showwomen is one of the headline acts, which is about female variety performers from throughout history.

Assistant principal Roni Longman says getting children involved in the project means they are more likely to engage with arts and cultural events

Children from Ormiston Herman Academy in nearby Gorleston-on-Sea were among many local schools who took part in workshops and watched rehearsals.

They also helped print hundreds of coloured flags and other decorations for the festival.

Assistant principal Roni Longman said: "We do a lot as a school to make sure children are aware of, and [are] developing, our culture; making children feel that sense of belonging.

"It's also tied in really nicely because we've been studying printing earlier this year... the children have absolutely loved it."

The Out There Festival runs this Thursday-Saturday.