Liberty 2010 ‘Great Success’
Trafalgar Square was transformed on Saturday into a showcase and celebration of the artistic and sporting talent to be found within the UK’s Deaf and disabled community.
The free event brought street arts, dance, aerial performance, comedy, cabaret and children’s activities to the heart of London – to the bemusement and enjoyment of many of the city’s visitors
Among the performance highlights were an exclusive preview from Graeae’s new musical ‘Reasons to Be Cheerful’ (featuring the songs of Ian Dury), an aerial collaboration between Candoco and Scarabeus inspired by the myth of the minotaur, music from Heart n Soul and the Orpheus Centre, and an array of cabaret artists including Francesca Martinez, Steve Day and Liz Carr.
Organisations in attendance included event supporters Unison, Transport for London and Arts Council England, and disability-led organisations including Attitude is Everything, Shape, Artsline, Independent Living Alternatives and Cooltan Arts.
The Street Arts zone included Brown Paper Packages by theatre company Kazzum, which will feature a large brown paper package from which performers emerged creating scenes, landscapes and puppetry in the style of a pop-up book.
This year’s Liberty was dedicated to the memory of David W Morris, an advisor on disability issues at the GLA and the organisers of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, who died earlier this year.
