On Thursday, I had the pleasure of attending the first day of the annual Street Peformance World Championships in Dublin’s Merrion Square. Much like their stint in Cork the week previous, the SPWC boasts thrills of fire-breathers, sword swallowers, magicians and balloon animals. However, this is no ordinary day at the zoo.
We spent the day seeing some great acts including:
Les Vitamines - a French-Candian duo who contort and perform the most amazing acrobatics including ‘the throwing of the dwarf’; zany, funny and incredibly talented the two had the crowd in tears and got involved by spraying them with water pistols.
Quick Change - delightfully cheesy American couple, Quick Change’s street performing talent is costume changes. But these are no mere human costume changes, oh no, these changes take place at super-human speed in the blink of an eye. Set to the most retro disco hits Quick Change would be a hit at any 40th birthday party for sure.
Jack Wise - he describes himself as a comedian magician and certainly fits the bill. He hypnotised the crowd with his spinning pinwheels, had us doubled in laughter asking children to bring forth their mothers watches and also entertained the older crowd with some sly double-ententre. He was one of the few Irish Acts at the festival and implored the crowd to vote for him based on this.
The Sam Wills - New-Zealander, Sam Wills, was the most entertaining for me. High energy, high octane and highly funny. Wills reminded me of Lee Evans constantly joking and leaping around the place. He called upon a member of the crowd for some participation involving the subtle placement of a cucumber, flaming torches and a machete sword. Great showman all round.
The performers all reiterated that none of them get paid to perform at the show, so their payment is whatever donation you wish to contribute at the end of each show with the recommended donation of €5 if you really the performance.
Other than performers there are other talented folk peddling their skills including two of the best balloon modellers I’ve ever seen creating masterpieces such as rainbows, tinkerbelles and spidermans to the delight of children young and old. Also the best of face-painting from the classic lions and tigers to the abstract flowers and butterflies for only €4.
Having only set up on the day there were plenty of attractions including the Garden of Light which were not up and running at the time I visited. Also the refreshments amounted to Bewley’s tea and coffee (not really weather appropriate) or Frozen Yoghurt. But we were assured that there would be a lot more buzz, activities and refreshments on during the peak days of Saturday and Sunday. We only had a taste of the SPWC and will be back today for sure.
Sunday, now here comes the important bit, Sunday is the big day for the festival. Sunday features the World Record Attempt at Spacehopping. Spacehoppers, being those giant rubber balls we used to plonk down the streets on our arses while holding two rubber anttenae. Well they’re back from the decade fashion forgot and the SPWC crew are attempting to smash the World Record for the most people to Space Hop at once. They need 1500 people to take part from 2pm outside the Pepper Cannister Church on Upper Mount St.
Whatever you get up to this weekend make sure you drop by the Street Performance World Championships in Merrion Square.
See http://www.spwc.ie for more info and times
