Coventry’s UK City of Culture programme heads to Warwickshire

Coventry’s UK City of Culture programme heads to Warwickshire next weekend with a second big spectacular, following the Midsummer Fire Gardens, with a breath-taking performance from a world-leading high wire artist.

Chris Bullzini, who is one of only a handful of people from across the world who can claim the title of a funambulist – a 19^th Century term for a high wire walker, will be displaying his extraordinary skills in a show at Compton Verney on July 16, 17 and 18.  Part of our Summer of Surprises.

Chris, who has performed at events and venues across the globe, is the star of a documentary – Life on the Wire – which is soon to be broadcast on the BBC.

The new show, Caelum et Terram (Mother Earth and Father Sky), co-produced by Remarkable Productions, the Coventry City of Culture Trust and Compton Verney Art Gallery and Park, will see Chris traverse the Upper Lake in the Compton Verney park on a 100-metre wire.

It also includes performances from aerialist Eloise Currie, fire performance from Flame Oz plus pyrotechnics, spectacular lighting, specially commissioned live music and pre-show entertainment from Rimsky and Handkerchief.

Gates will open at 8pm on each night with licensed bars and street food on offer, with the main performance taking place at around 9.30pm as the light starts to fade. Tickets for the event, which is part of Coventry 2021’s Summer of Surprises, are priced £8 and are available from the coventry2021.co.uk website.

Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be taking our Summer of Surprises programme into Warwickshire and this really promises to be a spectacular event.

“Chris Bullzini is one of just six or seven people in the whole world with the skills to be able to walk a high-wire, and this show is going to look incredible against the stunning backdrop of Compton Verney’s Capability Brown-designed lakes and parkland.

“The event will include fire dancers, dramatic lighting, pyrotechnics and a stunning aerial choreography. Part of Summer of Surprises, this promises to be an event to remember, so we are urging people to book their tickets quickly. This will be a great night out under the stars, so bring your picnic and be ready to chill on the grass and enjoy the show.”

Julie Finch, Compton Verney’s Director CEO says: “We are thrilled to be hosting this unique event in our stunning ‘Capability’ Brown park. We’ve worked closely with the Coventry team to develop a show that showcases the spectacular backdrop of our house and grounds. We are absolutely delighted to have this opportunity to work with Coventry City of Culture Trust on the launch event for their ‘Summer of Surprises’.” 

Car parking will be available on site and there will be a limited number of shuttle buses from Pool Meadow to Compton Verney each night.

Chris said: “After an introspective year spent training my craft, I’m excited to return to the skies above a live audience, pushing boundaries of large-scale circus at its finest, we bring you Caelum et Terrum (Earth and Sky) on a 100-metre wire above your heads.”