News: Without Walls 2025: A Bold New Chapter for Outdoor Arts – Touring to Stockton and Beyond

 Without Walls 2025: A Bold New Chapter for Outdoor Arts – Touring to Stockton and Beyond

Outdoor arts network Without Walls has lifted the curtain on its 2025 programme – and it’s shaping up to be one of its most powerful, inclusive, and creatively adventurous seasons yet. With a diverse collection of new shows spanning circus, dance, puppetry, theatre and immersive installations, this year’s lineup reaffirms the organisation’s commitment to accessible, high-quality art in public spaces.

Crucially for our region, several of these brand-new works will feature at the Stockton International Riverside Festival (1–3 September 2025), one of the UK’s most prestigious outdoor festivals and a key Without Walls partner.

🌍 Outdoor Arts with Purpose

With 79 performance days and every artist booked for at least four festivals, the 2025 season isn’t just ambitious in scale—it’s a resounding declaration of support for public creativity and connection. Ralph Kennedy, Director of Without Walls, notes, “These performances will inspire communities, spark conversations, and demonstrate the power of art to connect us.”

Here’s a deeper look at the shows set to dazzle Stockton audiences and others across the UK:

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🔧 Artizani – Hydropunk

A whimsical yet urgent interactive installation, Hydropunk invites audiences to navigate a chaotic world of valves, sprays and pipes — all designed to challenge how we think about water. With only 1,000 litres to go around, cooperation is key. Expect fun, puzzles, and a powerful environmental message. Ideal for families and thinkers alike.

📍 Touring to: Stockton, Birmingham Weekender, Brighton Festival, Norfolk & Norwich Festival.

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🤸 Levantes Dance Theatre – HUG

A living sculpture. A circus performance. A poetic exploration of human connection. HUG is all of the above. Featuring aerial dance and physical theatre set on a huge structure shaped like a giant hug, the show asks: What does it mean to connect, physically and emotionally?

📍 Touring to: Stockton, Brighton, Birmingham, Ensemble Festival.

Photo: Roswitha Chesher

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🎵 Mish Weaver – Waiting Song

Two trapeze artists suspended in a poetic moment of anticipation. Waiting Song is a lyrical circus theatre piece about hope and future joy, co-created with its audience who are invited to share what they’re waiting for. Delicate, moving, and participatory.

📍 Touring to: Stockton, Birmingham, Brighton, Ensemble Festival.

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🌿 Nandita Shankardass – Roots to Rise

Dance, poetry, and ecological storytelling meet in this celebration of ancestry and environmental activism. Roots to Rise is a meditative and empowering piece that invites audiences to reflect on their relationship with the land and with one another.

📍 Touring to: Stockton, Brighton, An Indian Summer Festival.

Photo: Pranita Choudhury

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🛞 Stopgap Dance Company – RO-TES-រទេះ

An electrifying world premiere choreographed by Nadenh Poan, a Disabled artist from Cambodia, in his first major choreographic work. RO-TES-រទេះ reimagines the wheelchair as a vehicle of joy, innovation and cultural expression. Set to infectious rhythms and fuelled by community.

📍 Touring to: Stockton, Birmingham, Norwich, Brighton.

Photo: Chris Parkes

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🐓 Theatre-Rites & Miguel Altunaga – Eshu at the Crossroads

A puppetry-meets-dance spectacle grounded in Afro-Cuban storytelling. When travellers face a decision at a mystical crossroads, they meet a magical rooster in this enchanting tale of choice and discovery. Created by Theatre-Rites and choreographer Altunaga.

📍 Touring to: Stockton, Birmingham, Brighton.

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🎪 The Bigger Picture

Since 2007, Without Walls has supported over 200 productions and toured work across 22 countries. The 2025 programme continues to support both established and emerging artists, using public spaces as stages to inspire wonder and reflection.

Backed by Arts Council England, the network spans over 30 UK festivals and continues to bring outdoor arts to communities with low engagement.

For those in the North East, the Stockton International Riverside Festival remains a vital stop on this national journey — bringing world-class creativity right to our streets, parks and plazas.

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📅 Festival Watch – Key Dates:

• Stockton International Riverside Festival: 1–3 September 2025

• Certain Blacks – Ensemble Festival (London): 26–27 July 2025

• Greenwich + Docklands International Festival: 23 August – 8 September 2025

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For more info, visit: www.withoutwalls.uk.com

Follow them on:

• Instagram: @withoutwalls.uk

• Facebook: /WithoutWallsUK

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North East audiences, take note:
2025 isn’t just a year of shows – it’s a year of shared experience, collaboration, and creative resilience. Whether you’re drawn to thought-provoking theatre or interactive installations, Without Walls and Stockton International Riverside Festival promise something extraordinary for every curious heart.