Welcome to 'Dippers & Dunkers'
A very warm welcome to Margate’s second festival of New Variety, Burlesque and Seaside Entertainment.
The festival takes its name from the locals who would ‘Dip and Dunk’ their sea-bathing visitors into Margate’s salty waters. The beautiful ‘Blue Flag’ beaches of Margate have always had a classless, ageless and universal appeal and the festival will let you ‘dip’ into a wide variety of arts and heritage-focused activities, all with a contemporary twist!
Having received incredible feedback from last year’s festival, we are thrilled to extend ‘Dippers & Dunkers’ to a full week. So, come and join us for fun and frivolities from 20-27 August, 2010.
The amazing 1950s ‘Sideshow Illusions’ return to Margate’s Old Town, featuring two newly restored sideshows: ‘The Monster Show’ and ‘Professor Jon’s Flea Circus’. Rumour has it, that Professor Jon’s fleas have escaped; will he find them before the show…or will they find you? As part of the sideshow tradition, we are also playing host to the wonderful and crazy Insect Museum.
The Theatre Royal Margate plays host to the outstanding and award winning ‘Sassy Seaside Show’, showcasing the best of national and international New Variety. British Burlesque is explained in ‘A Glimpse of Stocking’ and the legendary Earl Okin, sex symbol and musical genius, will wow you with his hilarious show. Book your tickets early to avoid disappointment!
Come along and ‘Shape up and Sway the Dippers & Dunkers Way’ with original 1950s keep-fit on the beach, or gentle ‘Tai Chi by the Sea’.
The festival features three art exhibitions; with a wealth of body art in ‘My Body, My Art’, seaside glamour in the ‘Margate Mermaids’ and caricatures of Margate from the 1700s onwards, in ‘Margate Drawn’. All offer a wide variety of popular art forms, as well as exploring Margate’s social history.
Take part in numerous educational ‘Talks and Walks’ or try your hand at one of our taster burlesque workshops. If you just want to browse around the Old Town, amble through the ‘Bo-Ho Market’ where you can buy arts, crafts and artisan made goods.
There are lots of activities suitable for all the family and some particularly for children these activities are identified by our ‘Nippers at Dippers & Dunkers’ crab.
Stroll along and watch our traditional ‘Punch & Judy Shows’ on the Piazza and pay a visit to the ‘Insect Museum’.
From Monday 23 August, young people can take part in ‘Puppet Making’ (adults must be accompanied by a child) or join the circus in one of our ‘Circus Workshops’ where children of any age (7 to 97), can learn new tricks and skills. If you fancy creating a mini masterpiece during the festival, the ‘Nippers Art Club’, offers seaside themed arts activities over the week.
Click on the side menu for details of each of the activities. A full programme detailing all of the events will be widely available in July.
Download last year's programme to see what you missed! (pdf, 2.9MB)
Please note: All images are under strict copyright to the artists' and organisations. Full permission needs to be granted for any usage whatsoever. We would like to acknowledge thanks to the following for their kind use of the images on this page. Kim at IMMI Photography, Total Pap, The Insect Circus, Marie Muscat King, Nick Evans and Mark Proctor and Thanet District Council.