Now in its ninth year, much-loved outdoor arts festival Imagine Watford will return from Friday, June 28, to Sunday, June 30, to transform the streets once again into a place of wonder and excitement, with spectacular theatre, dance and music performances, free for all the family.

Programmed by Watford Palace Theatre, the festival brings world-class acts to the streets of Watford as well as supporting local artists to create new shows.

Watford Palace Theatre’s Artistic Director, Brigid Larmour, said: “We bring world-class acts to the streets of Watford, as well as supporting local artists to create new shows, all crammed into one glorious weekend. So make a day of it, and visit a local restaurant with your friends and family, or just come along yourself to join the crowds enjoying the event.”

Events take place on The Parade, Watford. All events are free and do not require a ticket.

Invasion

The streets are filled as the spectacular, beautiful and flirting creatures of Close-Act theatre are spreading out and causing confusion among the people.

Friday, June 28, 9.30pm

Take it Outside

Whatever it is you make, create or do, if you are a Watford creative, join Tangled Feet, one of the UK’s leading outdoor arts companies, to learn about making work for the outside.

This is a free workshop but you must pre-book a space. Call 01923 225671 or book online at www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Saturday, June 29, 11am

Seed

Join Wilford planting trees where he shouldn’t - living in his shed and on the run from his past and his arch-enemies, slugs.

Saturday, June 29, 12pm and 2.50pm, and Sunday, June 30, 12pm and 2.15pm

Topiary Trauma

Meet Daisy, Lawna and Mo, glamorous 1950s housewives in sunny suburbia. But recently they have all been having some trouble with their topiary. Are these ladies of leisure losing their minds or do the flora and fauna have a mind of their own? A comedy dance performance for all the family.

Saturday, June 29, 12pm and 7.20pm

La Grand Phrase

These four colourfully costumed men, like tubby Michelin figures, joyfully travel from space to space. This outstanding choreography breaks with expectations concerning skinny dancers.

Saturday, June 29, 12pm and 7.45pm

The Actual Reality Arcade

The Actual Reality Arcade is a life-sized interactive game zone inspired by classic arcade games for everyone to enjoy.

Fire rockets, dodge barrels, avoid lasers, build Tetris walls, shoot aliens and become Pac-Man.

Saturday, June 29, 12pm

Imagination Station

Welcome to the Imagination station; a giant cube canvas covered in the brilliant doodles of Sophie Carpenter. Join us by the pond and bring your creativity; we’ve got all the colours you need to put your own stamp on this purpose built Imagine Watford installation.

Saturday, June 29, 12pm, and Sunday, June 30, 12pm

Sacred Shapes

Using odissi dance, renowned for its geometric and sculptural qualities, the performers create a kaleidoscope of movement.

Saturday, June 29, 12.35pm and 4.40pm, and Sunday, June 30, 12.30pm and 3.15pm

Lance Moi En L’air

The performance is about the sensitivity and connection between two people, bringing about compatible contradictions.

Saturday, June 29, 12.40pm and 6.05pm, and Sunday, June 30, 1pm and 3.45pm

Gnomus

Come and meet Gnomus who will be checking every leaf and every flower on Watford High Street to inspire a new generation of conservationists.

Saturday, June 29, 12.45pm, 1.45pm, 2.45pm, 3.45pm, 4.45pm and 5.45pm

Art Cart

Come find our fabulous flamingo art cart and create some magical artwork.

Saturday, June 29, 1pm and 3.15pm, and Sunday, June 30, 12pm and 2.30pm

Circus Flavours

Join Upswing for a showcase of diverse, energetic circus acts followed by hands-on aerial workshops.

Saturday, June 29, 2.15pm and 4pm, and Sunday, June 30, 2.15pm and 4pm

Roll Up, Roll Up

Working with simplicity and the cypher to bring a new light to circus and hip hop theatre. Cyr wheel and juggling meets musicality, originality and play.

Saturday, June 29, 1.05pm and 6.50pm, and Sunday, June 30, 12.40pm and 3pm

Lifted

Lifted is a collection of funny, poetic and surprising moments, which explore in different ways what it means when one body is carried by another.

Saturday, June 29, 1.35pm and 5pm, and Sunday, June 30, 1.45pm and 5pm

Full Circle

A slow and intriguing performance, builds gently through to suspense, hilarity and unforeseeable consequences.

Saturday, June 29, 2.50pm and 6.55pm, and Sunday, June 30, 1.30pm and 4.15pm

2! 4! 6! 8!

The Palace Youth Theatre march about town asking all of the right questions, like ‘what do we want?’ and ‘when, precisely, do we want it?’

Saturday, June 29, 3.35pm and 5.50pm

Dance Party

An 8 piece brass and percussion bands playing raw energetic up-beat covers of pop and party music.

Saturday, June 29, 8.30pm and 9.50pm

The LIPS

A chorus of delightfully deviant divas whose mouths have embarked on the rocky road to stardom, fame and fortune.

Saturday, June 29, 9.20pm

The Hair Rollers

Time for your appointment at Kitsch & Sync’s salon. These three vivacious ladies are ready to snip, snap and slick you into style, and to have a good gossip too.

Sunday, June 30, 12pm and 5pm

Theatre For One Ensemble

A selection of 3-minute performances by various artists each performed to only one person at a time (plus curious onlookers).

Sunday, June 30, 12.30pm and 4pm

Phileas Fogg

Join Phileas Fogg and his valet Passepartout as they attempt to circumnavigate the world in just 80 days. The year is 1872 and it’s day 79 of the journey. Our intrepid adventurers are just hours away from crossing the finish line, if they can just coerce their hot air balloons to go in the right direction they stand to win a grand prize.

Sunday, June 30, 3.30pm and 5.10pm

H.O.H

Combining hip hop, physical theatre and contemporary dance, H.O.H throws subliminal social and political issues with sophisticated humor on a football pitch.

Sunday, June 30, 2.15pm and 5pm

Wild

Following the success of Block, Wild, the daring new dance-circus production from Motionhouse, explores our disconnect with the natural environment. In our urban lives, is the wild still shaping our behaviour?

Sunday, June 30, 3pm and 5.45pm

Visit www.imaginewatford.co.uk for full details, follow @ImagineWatford on Twitter and @WatfordPalaceTheatre on Instagram for live updates.