Step inside a shipping container and discover a pop-up world of creativity! Southampton Solent University’s School of Creative Industries brings a bold and unique visual arts showcase to the heart of War Memorial Park. Packed with vibrant ideas from emerging artists, this exciting festival feature celebrates fresh talent shaped by hands-on, inclusive learning.
Calling all adventurers! Would you like to take part in an Eco Quest?
The realm of fairytales has been attacked by classic villains who are polluting and destroying their magical world. Can you build the three pigs a new home? Help Jack to plant some magic beans? Take down Captain Hook and his rubbish wielding pirates? Find Thumbelina’s secret habitat?
Have fun exploring this family Trail at Basingstoke Festival and become an eco-warrior along the way!
Hydropunk is a multi-sensory interactive installation.
Taps, valves, pipes, pumps, sprays, and leaks come together to form a chaotic, yet playful water machine full of games and puzzles, all fed by a central reservoir. But there’s a twist: Hydropunk is also a striking environmental metaphor. With only 1000 litres of water to work with, once it’s gone, it’s gone! To keep the fun flowing, participants must work together to conserve and recycle water, engaging in a constant challenge against waste and leakage.
Can you help save 1,000 litres?
Artizani created Hydropunk in collaboration with Tenderfoot Theatre.
Grow is an interactive, nature-inspired theatre adventure combining dance, sound and storytelling. It explores skies, oceans and jungles while inspiring care for our planet. With tactile, sustainable props, Highly Sprung’s Grow nurtures curiosity, creativity and a lifelong connection to the natural world.
Duration: 40 minutes
Location 2: ///land.lush.issued
Rummage through the rubble with Bin Rat and friends from Squeaky Clean Street Cleaners to discover where all the junk goes! Scrape scraps off the streets and find out what literally happens to litter in this fun, feral, family show that explores our relationship to waste and where it goes, and asks the question: is tidiness really the answer?
With Last Baguette’s zany style, absurd humour and lots of disco dancing, this show asks you to think before you throw – where is away?
The Last Baguette makes entertaining, accessible and eccentric work for family audiences and uses live music, physical comedy, puppetry, visual storytelling and silliness to talk about important issues of our times.
Duration: 50 minutes
Saturday – Location 3: ///join.bulb.waving
Sunday – Penwood: ///amazed.discussed.sending
Bamboo
Watch as NoFit State’s world-class artists build towering sculptures which morph, transform and become an improbable, delicate circus playground that seems to defy the laws of physics. Watch this meaningful, joyful performance with live music, comedy and amazing feats of strength and agility. Celebrate what’s possible when humans and the natural world trust each other and work in harmony. Brought to you from the team behind Sabotage which came to Basingstoke Festival in 2025.
Duration: 45 minutes
The Magical Toy Hospital is opening a brand new wing at Festival Place, Basingstoke!
Appointments will soon be available for teddies, dolls and even the occasional dinosaur. Please be advised: every patient must be accompanied by at least one careful owner.
Scratch Built Productions, in collaboration with Forest Forge Theatre Company, invites you into a fun, interactive, and immersive experience where they will transform an empty shop unit into a hospital. Using puppetry (and of course 20 years at magical medical school) they will bring your toys to life right before your eyes.
On Sundays, the magical medical team will be joined by Oakley Stitchers and the Repair Cafe should your favourite friend require some specialist care and additional TLC.
Duration: 45 minutes
Location 4
The Creative Emporium, Festival Place,
Upper Level (Opposite Superbowl)
Enjoy a tour of the Holy Ghost Cemetery and discover the ruins and graves found on this historic site. The tour will be led by Debbie Reavell of the Basingstoke Heritage Society.
This event is free however places are limited. To secure your free ticket, scan the QR code or email [email protected]
Ticket holders will meet in the Memorial Garden next to the Holy Ghost Cemetery, Vyne Road (opposite the Great Western Pub)
What3Words: ///gravy.issue.plenty
Duration: 60 minutes
One Tenth Human present an interactive game-show adventure that explores the extraordinary world of water, pipes and poo. Can you help Bubbles win the golden crown? And what will you discover along the way? Bubbles and Spritz are here to help you find out!
Saturday – Location 7: ///crowd.intro.toward
Sunday: Oakridge: ///skills.hope.sang
Performance: 30 minutes
Installation: 60 minutes
Meet Bella, a beautiful Asian elephant, and her human companion Kyra as they arrive in Basingstoke on a heartfelt search for Bella’s herd. As they wander through the town, Bella and Kyra discover the true meaning of community and learn how we can all care for one another — no matter what our species.
Brought to life by three highly skilled puppeteers, Bella is a theatrical experience that bridges the magic of imagination with real-world themes. Told in three stand-alone sections, you can join for all or part of their journey.
This production is a collaboration between Animate Puppet Co, Basingstoke Festival, and playwright Rebecca Lyon.