Organisers of Shrewsbury’s fifth annual Street Theatre Festival are celebrating another successful event after thousands of people poured into the town to enjoy the show.
Residents and visitors packed out the town centre which was closed to traffic for the action on four stage areas involving a host of international performers.
The sun shone on the three-day event except for brief showers on Sunday but festival director Bill Ferguson said the crowds were good throughout the festival.
“It’s been a blast, there are so many smiles on people’s faces. The acts look fabulous and there’s a really different atmosphere to normal, without any cars and lots more people on the streets,” he said.
“There was a good turnout on the Friday and Saturday and a little bit of bad weather on the Sunday which held a few people back. Overall it was a great event,” he added.
‘Loved it’
As well as daytime acts the festival’s headline act Woody Bop Muddy on Saturday evening was also a roaring success.
Neville Street, festival co-producer, said: “It went fantastically well, we did some market research while the festival was going on and the general consensus was people in the town are very very supportive of the festival.
“Everyone thinks the acts are fantastic and the atmosphere in the town was great, everyone really loved it.”
It is the first year Mr Street has been involved as an organiser and he said a meeting was planned with Mr Ferguson to discuss next year’s event.
“We will be sourcing more excellent acts for the 2011 event,” he added.
Meanwhile some Market Hall traders have claimed the event wrecked business over the weekend but Mr Street said that was far from the intention of the festival.
“We will be contacting as many businesses in the area as we can to find out their opinions on the festival.
“We just want to get as many people into the town spending money as we can with the festival, that’s important to the local economy.” The International Street Theatre is supported by Shropshire Council and Arts Council England. Visit www.shrewsburystreetfest.co.uk
by Anna Williams