Salute to Hollywood star at Sandwell arts festival
This year's Sandwell Arts Festival will culminate with a dance and procession celebrating West Bromwich-born Hollywood film icon Madeleine Carroll, organisers have announced.
The first details of the programme for the event, which will run from August 12 to 23 and attracts thousands of people every year, have been revealed.
Events will be taking place in Sandwell's six towns and there will be a wide range of activities and attractions taking place on the high streets, in parks and in libraries around the borough.
Organisers are teaming up with Creative Black Country and No Fit State Circus, a street circus performance in West Bromwich, on August 15 and 16, which is expected to be one of the highlights of the festival.
On August 22, there will be the Giants' Dance – this will celebrate the life of Madeleine Carroll, one of the borough's most famous daughters.
Carroll, who was born in Herbert Street, West Bromwich in 1906, took the movie world by storm in the 1930s and 40s appearing in some of the biggest films of that era.
At the height of her success, she was the highest-paid actress in Hollywood.
Sandwell Council's arts service manager Garry Morris said: "Madeleine Carroll is the West Bromwich girl who shot to fame in Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps, as well as starring in other big films such as The Prisoner of Zenda.
"There will be a series of workshops across Sandwell when dance scenes and giant puppets – including one of Madeleine – will be created for the annual community procession."
"Sandwell Arts Festival is back for the sixth year running – and it's set to be fun and colourful. There will be opportunities in libraries, parks and the high streets of our six towns to make, see and do.
"We're encouraging people to save the date and look out for details of activities over the coming months," he added.
Sandwell Arts Cafe, based at Sandwell College's Central Sixth campus, formerly The Public building, will be taking centre stage for a number of festival events.
"Schools, community, groups, parents and volunteers form the backbone of the festival," said Mr Morris.
Last year's event included activities for the community such as making large street puppets, computer games design, knitting groups, drama and henna design, which were free for people to get involved in.
Anyone wanting to get involved or get more information about the festival can get further details by emailing lucy_monk@sandwell.gov.uk
