Derby’s Hubbub Theatre Company perform at SO Festival

Derby’s Hubbub Theatre Company will be bringing their distinctive co‑creating approach to SO Festival in Lincolnshire in June, championing local learning‑disabled creatives with collaboration, equity and kindness at the centre of their work. Hubbub have joined forces with Skegness Day Service to present a performance called ‘Joy’.

‘Joy’ is a playful, community‑led performance shaped by local artists and Skegness Day Service Users. The project includes bespoke Hubbub Way training for creatives and staff, and developing a long‑term, inclusive creative community in Skegness.

Performances of ‘Joy’ takes place at The Pavilion, Skegness on Friday 12 June, 2pm to 2:30pm and again on Saturday 13 June, 3pm to 3:30pm. The installation is open from 2pm to 4:40pm on both days.

SO Festival is Lincolnshire’s free international festival of outdoor arts, featuring theatre, dance, music and comedy from local, national and international artists. SO Festival 2026 takes place in Skegness on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th June. For more information, please see: https://www.sofestival.org

The production of ‘Joy’ follows a successful Co-Creation Commission for Hubbub Theatre, selected by SO Festival in partnership with the Day Centre in Skegness. This initiative aims to bring communities and artists together to create meaningful, collaborative experiences. Hubbub Theatre Company were selected to lead the project from 13 other creative groups following an open call for applications.

Jen Sumner, founder and Artistic Director of Hubbub Theatre Company said “We are really grateful to SO Festival for this wonderful opportunity to share our unique creative practice. We have loved working with the day service users, it has literally brough us so much joy and we can’t wait to share this with the wider public”.

Hannah Alvey, Community Producer of SO Festival, added: “It has been incredibly special to be part of this project. Seeing a truly co-created performance come together, shaped by the ideas, creativity and energy of everyone involved, has been so rewarding. The process has been just as meaningful as the final piece, and we’re really proud to share this work with the Skegness community as part of SO Festival.”