Town lit up for glorious finale (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)

Town lit up for glorious finale

LYME'S seafront was transformed on the weekend, with lit sculptures, breakdancers and live music bringing the Parade alive.

Ninja Dave of fire performers FlashFire carries out a stunt at the Lyme Youth Arts grand finale in the Marine Parade Shelters

It was the grand finale of September in the Shelters, the first ever scheme from Lyme Youth Arts (LYA) where volunteers and professionals led young people in a month of workshops in light, sound and sculpture.

Volunteer Marshall Stapleton praised the young people. "I was impressed with the enthusiasm, energy and creativity of all concerned and it has been a pleasure and privilege making new friends and helping them along with their ideas," he said.

Kicking off the finale events on Friday were fire performers FlashFire, who musically synchronised their flaming juggling, and complex patterns with fire hoops and wands.

There were spins, breaks and body pops as UK breakdancing champions, Soul Maverick, performed for the crowds, and had the young people of LYA learning their own moves in front of the large audience.

One onlooker, Lynne Crocker, said: "This is what Lyme Regis needs - something different for its youth. Well done."

The enormous sculptures made during the September workshops, led by Annalisa Renee and Darrell Wakelam, were finished just in time on Saturday, ready for their big display in the night.

As it got dark, the shelters were lit up with coloured light chasers, designed by teenager Ryan Turner, and the sculptures took centre stage.

Joining skiffle and busking band, Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs, on stage was LYA's own band, the Busk Town Rats, with their home made instruments, including buckets, sandwich container banjos, and drainpipe glocks.

Organiser Fran Williams said: "The next day all was quiet on the seafront again - no signs that anything had gone on, even though for a whole month, people had got together and had such a good time. They had filled the space in such a creative and friendly way.

"I'm sure some of us will miss that for some time to come - I know I will."

ArtsFest director and town mayor Sally Holman added: "Seeing the young buskers joining in the opening ceremony was a great pleasure. Young people making music and inviting others to join in - that's the spirit of participation which ArtsFest is built on.

"Lyme Youth Arts is an admirable concept and fits alongside ArtsFest events and workshops really well."

Anyone who would like to get involved with future LYA events should contact Fran on 07968 177663, or email kraken@lymeregis.com