30 years has been lovely. But what next?

Thirty years. Jumped Up has created shows, exhibitions, films and well-intentioned chaos in all sorts of places, such as parks, schools, pubs, boxing gyms, streets and festivals, community gardens, Grand Halls and community halls, and sometimes we have even been let into theatres.

What a privilege to have spent decades “making up stories and playing games”* with so many incredible artists and audiences.

Thank you to all the artists and partners who have contributed their memories to the posts celebrating Thirty Years of Jumped Up, and to those of you who have commented online or sent us emails – it’s given me a warm fuzzy feeling of appreciation on these dark December days. None of our work can happen without the artists we commission, the participants we collaborate with, or the audiences we present to. We love hanging out with you all.

Our 30th year has been astonishing. March 2023 saw the culmination of 12 months work, dancing with Jo Fong and the How Shall We Begin Again? crew. This was, with no exaggeration, life-changing – and we look forward to continuing dancing in residencies led by local dance artists Jenna Unwin and Sonny Nwachukwu – everyone is welcome at Dance Included. And the joy of Bollywood with Shiamak also makes our Thursdays all the more fun.

The Culture Forum sessions, involving training, Open Space discussions and some lovely networking, remind us how collaborative and generous the local arts sector is. Smoke & Mirrors also demonstrated how talented local artists are, with Lamphouse Theatre’s Gunpowder Plot and Rose Croft’s fire sculpture being central to two very special community bonfire nights. Hosting Jess Thom’s and Touretteshero event Burnt Out In Biscuitland at The Key, with DJ Gizmo in the bar, was full of care, humour, and deep thinking – gifting us a roadmap for 2024.

And that’s where we are looking to now.

We are deep into fundraising to match our Arts Council funding, and are thinking a lot about how to care for everyone we work with, and how to bring joy to Peterborough, building everyone’s resilience, connectivity and agency. 

There is more dancing planned, plus we have events that include everything from roller-skaters and parkour to civil war reenactors and guerrilla gardening.  We hope to see you there.

Best wishes and Happy New Year 2024!

Kate Hall

Creative Producer

Jumped Up Theatre

*“Making up stories and playing games” is how my daughter, when very young, used to describe my job. Jumped Up may be 30 now, and finally a grown-up, funded organisation and all settled down in Peterborough, but let the fun, games and stories please continue!