Spoilt for choice: more than 200 acts at Hull Freedom Festival

There is even a choice of two Saturday night spectaculars, Over and Out from Walk the Plank and Periplum’s The Bell.

When it was shown in Mexico, the thought-provoking The Bell, created in response to the Irag War, reportedly almost caused a riot among spectators, when some, hearing the call to arms, literally wanting to join in.

Last year the festival’s organisers were taken by surprise by a surge in numbers, with an estimated 115,000 people attending.

They are not trying to break records this year, but are focussed on trying to attract a broad-cross section of people locally and regionally, with what they describe as their most ambitious festival yet.

Across the weekend, the city centre street festival features a family-friendly mix of street theatre, music, dance, comedy, spoken word and more across more than 30 venues.

“There’s a big push in the UK to invest in outdoor arts and when you see The Bell you will see what we mean by large-scale,” said executive director Jenny Coombes.

Tonight in a first for the festival the banks of the River Hull will form a backdrop for a mass choral performance by Voices of Freedom, with new work by composer Graeme Stewart. Viewing will be from Tower Street from 9pm.