Mintfest Programme: 31 August – 2 September 2012

Gabbro is a Gargoyle who has recently left his perch on the side of the Cathedral to explore the surrounding area.

The most exciting harmony-infused Americana/Pop outfit to emerge on the scene since Mumford & Sons.

Desert Island Disk - A tropical island, a gramophone, flotsam, jetsam and one hapless castaway.

The Iliad - Unravel the myth of Troy in the most exquisite way.

The Fountain Machine is a clanking iron contraption. A meandering performance that arrives at a charming climax.

Bash Street Theatre’s new silent movie-style show involves circus skills, live music and a little bit of magic.

A ground breaking mobile performance ensemble featuring a unique sound system on wheels and a colourful troupe of young musicians.

Trolleys spin, glide and slide in this highly physical, humorous outdoor performance where contemporary dance, acrobatics and street dance merge.

A five piece music group playing authentic, traditional flamenco and contemporary flamenco rumbas.

Legwarmerz - A love story of limbering up in Lycra. Legwarmerz are on a mission to bring Free Fun Fitness to everybody.

Bambolina & Dodo - A poetic pantomime full of romanticism, comedy and illusion.

Big kids, little kids and even grown-up kids will adore this opportunity to explore the fantastic world of circus skills!

‘Amortale’ is a tale of love, with all the mixed emotions of passion, disappointment and shared hilarity that love can provoke.

Fire Village Royale - The public enters a world in which each short performance is a melting pot of acrobacy and fire installations and effects.

A giant ball, gas canisters, a disturbed man, a trampoline – a laugh a minute show with skills to take your breath away!

Athletic yet sensitive, Push explores the quality of touch and it’s physical and emotional resonance.

Feel the rhythm, Feel the ride, Get on up, It's djembé time!

Dedicated to promoting swing music & dance; All the great sounds from 1930s Harlem and throughout the big band era.

De fuego is a sensational guitar duo, playing energetic instrumental flamenco and rumba-based music.

Dennis is one of Europe’s most accomplished virtuosos of the unusual and hypnotic instrument, the saw.

CSI Clowns - Watch these comic heroes as they explore how the building blocks of life are created and try to solve a crime.

Cabinet of Curiosities - This travelling treasure trove is full of weird and wonderful artifacts, each with it’s own bizarre tale to tell.

Festival TV: Live Chat - Join Richard and Kate to see what’s been making news at Mintfest this weekend.

Good time rags and reels, show stoppers and sight stealers; music for foot stomping and toe tickling.

Sit, relax, enjoy and emote at the world’s first fully portable museum of one minute masterpieces.

A wheelchair. Seemingly abandoned. Discover the soul and humanity of this object through playful interaction.

Strolling Gardeners - These boys help the balding to sprout hair, children to bloom and everyone else to have a fun filled '5 a day'.

Green and Pleasant Land - Peculiar places, curious customs, bicycle-generators: join us on a quest for a happier, greener future.

Door Bitches - Two vulgar fashionistas appear at the place to be and then decide who is beautiful enough to enter.

Combining dance, objects and music, Little Universe is a playful and visually striking event made especially for the outdoors.

The Alchemist’s latest assistant has met a grisly end. Continuing with his experiments alone, Archie makes yet more mistakes with catastrophic consequences…

Gandini Sailors - A juggling divertimento, quoting the classic Hollywood musicals in a humourous cheeky way.

5IVE - Five women find strength in unity as they take on the world.

Silent Movie - Expect laughter and audience participation as an exasperated Director tries to film scenes for his latest movie with an incompetent cast and crew.

A Dickens of a Time - A musical comedy show featuring the Victorian trio, The Gaslights, who explore the age of adversity and scientific invention.

White Suit combines close harmony singing with larger than life physical performance to tell the story of a landmine survivor.

Enjoy the Hot Potato Syncopators, a comedy swing whoopee band featuring a brace of ukuleles, musical saw and tea-chest bass played by three eccentric English gentleman. Tip top jazz!

Professional jazz musician, bitten by the Lindy bug, Keith McGee has taught across the US and Europe.

From traditional Indian classics to popular Bollywood movie hits, these authentic Rajastanhi gypsies have to be seen to be believed!

Kakatsitsi are a group of traditional drummers, dancers and singers from the Ga tribe of Southern Ghana.

Techno-infused circus waltzes, polkas and cancans for all the family. Put on your dancing shoes!

Mad Dog Mcrea blend a unique mixture of folk rock, pop, gypsy jazz, bluegrass and ‘shake your ass’ music.

New Maniax - A hilarious street extravaganza which will be a spectacle of laughs, tricks, music and explosions.

Man Machines - A nonverbal show full of electrifying dances and bizzare little stories rife with moments of pure mime poetry.

Falling up - The UK’s premier all female street theatre company celebrates the beautiful reality of every body.

Mischief La-Bas presents Elvis Cleaning Company, The Spivs and The Triffids.

Daddy is that you? - This musical play based on traditional Thai stories is accompanied by a workshop in Thai music and dance.

12 Degrees North - A unique dance performance for all people and all spaces which could stand, walk or run…..in any direction.

Nuru Kane and The BFG fuse the melodies and rhythms of North and West Africa.

Thingamabob uses a mixture of circus, invention and comedy to bring extraordinary gadgetry to life.

Action Painting - A get involved mechanical painting machine spectacle from the ever-inventive Pif-Paf.

Flhip Flhop - A whole bag of classic comedy routines, shaken up and updated for the hip-hop age. Hilarious and exhilarating.

Red Hippo explore a musical world influenced by traditional folk music with jazz-influenced arrangements.

Richard Dedomenici will spend the weekend building an igloo out of Kendal Mintcake.

Stones and Bones - Find out all about archaeology and fossils and hear stories of giants and wizards. Thrills and spills galore!

Betty Brawn is known as the Strongest Lady Alive! Be amazed and delighted by her lovely feats of strength. Strongest Lady Alive! Be amazed and delighted by her lovely feats of strength.

Surreal McCoy presents Hells Cockies and The Urban Meerkats.

A Turn or Two. Love. Loss. Life. Three separate sharings from a solo dancer.

The 2 Men present The Tourists, The Wardens and Patent Pending.

Water in front of, above and below you. Enjoy the fabulous sights and sounds of the magical fountain.

Trundlehonk! is full of live music, physical comedy and slapstick. A wonderful medley of mayhem that you won’t want to miss!

Seasaw - A trail of contemporary dance, performance art and physical theatre vignettes, inspired by the relationship between humans and water.

Astronauts Caravan - An amusing journey through space and time, cosseted in a sumptuous 70s décor and sensitively piloted by two ex astronauts.

A six-piece drumming group based in Waterford, Ireland.

The Red Shoes is a rich reimagining of the dark and disturbing fairytale in a forest of Chinese poles.

25 different acts in 25 minutes. Fast, silly, funny and clever, with plenty of audience participation.

NetNietNiets - Three women, a stack of suitcases and a bench with a guitar player. Where will the contents of these suitcases lead?