Festival of Thrift returns as ‘upcycled’ online-only spectacle

A celebration of sustainable living is set to take place this weekend – with a twist.

The annual Festival of Thrift returns on Saturday, September 12.

Normally held as a physical event, this year’s instalment – dubbed Thriftfest Upcycled – will be an online-only spectacle.

Organisers say the day will include 13 activities, ten workshops, six talks and four demonstrations.

They say audience members can get involved right from the outset, with the day’s live stream due to get underway with an anthem and animation created for the occasion.

That will be followed by the unveiling of One Beautiful Moment – a socially distanced dance piece, I Move the Air, by Linzy Na Nakorn and Alice Phelps, performed on Redcar’s seafront.

Ringmaster and event MC Paulus [pictured left] will then guide people through an energetic on-screen schedule where they can opt to listen to soothing tales of wit and wisdom, spot clouds, create an energy superhero and make sounds with broken tech.

Participants will also have the opportunity to marvel at circus skills, watch a live fix-along, learn sign language, join a poetry sisterhood, cook with foraged plants and buy sustainable goods from independent traders.

Alongside the live stream, a series of free online talks and debates on some of the biggest sustainable issues of the day, ranging from green energy to fixing the food chain, is scheduled.

Speakers from Lush, Olio, Greenpeace, the Royal Institute of British Architects and Extinction Rebellion are also lined up.

Stella Hall, Festival of Thrift director, said: “Our festival is all about coming together and having fun and, although it’s very sad we’re not able to do that physically this year, our digital edition is packed full of fabulous content.

“We defy any family not to find something to do.”