A popular mini-festival is to launch a world first takeover of a North East building.
The Caper is to stage a takeover of Sunderland's City Hall in what organisers say will be an amazing event and 'great night-out'.
Sunderland band The Futureheads will headline the music lineup, Alfie Joey will be among the comedy acts and dance experts will be teaching Michael Jackson's moves.
In what is believed to be a world first for a civic building, Sunderland’s new City Hall will host the inaugural Let’s Caper@CityHall on Friday April 5, from 7pm to midnight.
Set up to showcase a range of local and regional creative and cultural talent, each Caper program includes great local food and bars, five bands, four comedians, dance lessons, DJs, live art, and an artisan night market: all in one night and all under one roof.
Leader of Sunderland City Council, Councillor Graeme Miller said, “When the organisers approached us about running a Caper at City Hall, following the success of previous Capers at Baltic and Grainger Market, we jumped at the chance as part of our much wider drive to bring people back into our fantastic city centre.”
A packed program on Friday April 5 will see The Futureheads headlining the music line-up playing in a transformed-for-the-night Council Chamber. They will be supported by the brilliant up-and-coming Sunderland singer songwriters Lottie Willis, Isabel Maria, Lily Mac, and Sara Leilah, each playing a set.
The best of North East comedy will be hosted upstairs by the ever-brilliant Alfie Joey, with Steffen Peddie and Sunderland’s own Nick Cranston and Alex Redman keeping the laughs coming across the evening. Once they’re done, laughs of a different sort will continue as the room transforms into a silent disco for the rest of the night, with people dancing together to different playlists.
And if dancing’s your thing, you’re in luck as before the bands come on the Council Chamber will be the venue for Michael Jackson dance lessons provided by Sunderland’s EL Dance Studio.
Director, Matthew Bourne-trained Emily Lewis said: “Think learning to moon dance and the moves from Smooth Criminal, and Bad!, people love learning something new and learning a new dance with a big group is just so much fun.
“We can’t wait for the Caper.”
The evening will also see Pop Rec’s all vinyl DJ set playing out in City Hall’s fabulous glass and steel atrium, and don’t be surprised if there’s some Sunderland College-inspired coordinated moves: think flash mobs.
Along with all this entertainment under one roof, there will also be some of the best street food the North East has to offer, a range of bars providing quality local drinks, and a selection of independent artisan and vintage traders and artists with unique, Sunderland-made items for sale.
Recommended Reading:
- Sunderland Empire sponsors BUSINESSiQ Business of the Year Award
- Cynthia Erivo angers in resurfaced clip about Sunderland
- We attended The Botanist launch event in Sunderland
Organiser Sean Bullick said: “The Caper is all about having a great night out. The range and quality of the entertainment is fantastic, and the atmosphere is always welcoming, safe and fun.
“We love the fact that our events attract people of all ages and from all backgrounds: three generations of the same family dancing together is a common Caper sight. We feel really proud to have been given this opportunity in Sunderland and can’t wait for what will be a unique night out.”
It’s all in one night and all under one roof on Friday April 5, from 7pm to midnight. Tickets in advance are £20 from www.thecaper.co.uk.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here