Coventry Mysteries Announces Events and Performances for Festival, 23-26 May

Now in its fifth year the Coventry Mysteries announces the festival programme for 2014. The festival brings together international artists and performers, local talent and unused city centre spaces to enliven Coventry over the late Bank Holiday weekend.

The Coventry Mysteries is rooted in Coventry's medieval festival: drawing on the city's tradition of craft and performance. An arts festival for the 21st century it aims to bring different communities together and to create moments of everyday wonder and civic pride for the people of Coventry and surrounding areas. This year the Coventry Mysteries Festival takes place from Friday 23 - Monday 26 May.

Events and performances include:

Dominoes: Station House Opera will create a simple but spectacular 1579m line of concrete blocks, that will weave in and out of buildings and through the city's streets, with the help of local volunteers. This is the first time that this international phenomenon has been created outside of London in the UK. This quiet coup: is the climax to this year's festival on Bank Holiday Monday 26 May.

The Last Supper: Reckless Sleepers present their intimate production in the medieval Parish church of St John the Baptist. They serve up a startling set of last statements, last meals and last minute scenarios from the famous, the infamous, and the forgotten.

The Institute of Impossibility: Award-winning LAStheatre transform Drapers' Hall, one of the cities empty historic spaces into a theatrical adventure exploring the evolution of all things, from satellites to storytelling, crops to houses.

A daytime disco for toddlers: Big Fish Little Fish take over Coventry's The Dog nightclub for a daytime dance party for parents and children up to 7 years. Real club DJs mix eclectic dance music from old skool rave and indie anthems at a baby friendly volume so the whole family can party together.

Missing: Using first hand interviews of families, politicians and the police, this haunting show brings to light the stories of the 210, 000 people who go missing every year in the UK.

"Pavement Picasso": international pavement artist Julian Beever creates a specially commissioned 3D pavement drawing of the River Sherbourne that runs underneath the city's streets.

Made of Stars: Proving dance isn't just for girls, an intensive dance boot-camp for local 16-24 year old men will culminate in a high octane performance across the city centre.

Perhaps Contraption: An astonishing and truly unique twisted brass art pop marching band will take to Coventry's streets.

Textile installation: Artist Debbie Smyth creates a beautiful pin and thread installation inspired by Coventry's ribbon trade, its jacquard looms and landmark factory, "Cash's", and their name tags that link us all.

Transforming empty shop windows: International graphic designers and illustrators present work alongside Coventry University students to create pop-up art in shop windows.
Through the Walls: Young Coventry artists exhibit their work for the first time in a new artist led gallery and studio space in Coventry city centre, Bishop Studios.

Junk Orchestra: Over 150 schoolchildren will herald the start of the festival with instruments they've made from everyday objects.

Once Upon a Time: Booktrust bring their story show for 3-6 year olds and their families to libraries in Foleshill, Hillfields and the city centre.

For further information and full listing details visit here: www.coventrymysteries.com/news/press-releases/ and www.coventrymysteries.com