Swashbuckling fun comes to Coventry with 'Pirates of the Canal Basin' - The Coventry Observer

Swashbuckling fun comes to Coventry with 'Pirates of the Canal Basin'

Coventry Editorial 21st Apr, 2022   0

THERE will be swashbuckling fun aplenty when Coventry Canal Basin is transformed into a pirate harbour full of wonderful characters for the latest UK City of Culture event.

Performance company EGO is bringing Pirates of the Canal Basin from Thursday to Sunday, April 21 and 23, in conjunction with Cardiff’s internationally renowned No Fit State Circus.

The event will feature a stranded pirate ship which will stage live music, theatrics and aerial performances.

The fully immersive show, commissioned by Coventry City of Culture Trust, promises to transport audiences into a live-action experience with characters eager to teach, talk and interact with audiences.




Picture by Nicola Cashin. s

Performers from NoFit State Circus will join a 60-strong community ensemble to deliver the show to visitors of all ages.

The two-hour event will start at 8pm, with the second half of the performance taking place after the sun sets.


Georgina Egan and Corinne Emerson are Co-Artistic Directors of EGO.

Georgina said: “We’re so excited to bring our pirates to the Canal Basin, the show is jam packed with everything one would expect to find on a pirate harbour and with many more surprises that will be revealed.”

Corinne said: “Pirates of the Canal Basin is accessible for everyone, there’s music and magic, acrobats and aerialists and a swashbuckling pirate adventure story that all the family will enjoy.”

Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director at Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “Pirates of the Canal Basin will be a magnificent performance spectacle based on and around the historic Coventry Canal.

“The project began with the name of the show and we’ve supported EGO to partner with NoFit State Circus to turn their vision into a playful show, that will bring joy and laughter to family audiences of all ages this weekend.”

Tom Rack, Artistic Director of NoFit State, said, “It’s been a joy to support EGO in delivering their vision and to finally see this project come to fruition. For sure, it’s going to be a fantastic spectacle and a whole lot of very important fun.”

As part of the show, young visitors will get the chance to earn their sea legs in a ‘Pirating for Beginners’ class, with Big Mouth Hap at The Pearls of Wisdom School for Proper Pirates. Tompot Blenny will attempt to read audience members’ futures, guided by his mystical visions.

The Contraband will bring merriment with their music, pirate ‘Merry Makers’ will charm audiences with daring acrobatics and close-up magic, with pirates telling swashbuckling tales of the seven seas in The Sunken Chest, an old pirate saloon.

Visitors can even learn some pirate health and beauty tricks at the Apothecary, from tips on how to grow the thickest pirate beard, revive a drunken parrot, or de-rust a hook.

Every pirate ship has a plank to punish seagoers for their crimes, and Pirates of the Canal Basin is no exception. Audiences can expect an unfair trial at The Pirate Court of No Appeal with Judge Blind Goby.

Tickets – at £7 – are available at coventry2021.co.uk – the UK City of Culture website.

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