Vai Tolworth launch - the puppets come to life!

We were excited to welcome Tolworth's two new puppets to the community at the Vai Tolworth launch ahead of the Brazilian Festival at the end of the month!

Designed by Mandinga Arts, and commissioned by The Community Brain, as part of the Arts Council England-supported Vai Tolworth project, the puppets represent the communities of Tolworth and Sao Paulo and celebrate the link between the two cities through Corinthian-Casuals Football Club and Corinthians Paulista.

The launch event signals the start of a series of schools' workshops in 4 local primary schools, working with over 250 children, to learn samba drumming, dancing and silk flag making. SHEDx are delighted to be working with a team of fantastic artists to deliver these workshops: Taru Arts, Kinetika, and Kinetika Bloco.

Puppets receiving a warm welcome to the community - including someone offering to be the football!

About the puppets creators - Mandinga Arts

Mandinga Arts researches, designs, creates, and delivers extraordinary and innovative artistic experiences using custom-made costumes and puppets, engaging communities in lively processions and performances throughout the UK and Europe, and as far afield as China and Colombia. Mandinga is known for its distinctive style bringing together live music, carnival, street costume, puppetry, and dance, drawing on diverse influences from Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. Mandinga facilitates high quality community contributions and brings a new aesthetic to the growing carnival and outdoor performance movement in the UK and overseas. The company blends a range of traditional skills with new technology for an inventive and imaginative approach to design and performance. This adventurous practice, and a willingness to share new ideas and methodology, keeps Mandinga Arts at the forefront of design and delivery for outdoor performing arts.