Newbury comes alive as thousands join spectacular outdoor arts procession presented by Rara Woulib for Corn Exchange Newbury's outdoor programme
On Saturday 5 September, more than 2,000 people witnessed a spectacular night of music, movement and mystery.
Internationally renowned French company Rara Woulib brought Deblozay to the streets of Newbury as part of Corn Exchange (Newbury) Trust’s free outdoor programme which is funded by Greenham Trust and Arts Council England.
The immersive performance, meaning ‘bedlam’ in Haitian Creole, turned the town into a moving theatre, with audiences following a procession of performers who appeared to have returned from the dead.
The evening began in Victoria Park, where thousands gathered in anticipation. Dressed in ragged black-and-white clothing, with ghostly, white-painted faces and surrounded by glowing oil lanterns, the performers gradually came to life through song and the distinctive sounds of their instruments.
The procession moved through the park before heading towards Parkway, where the scale of the audience became particularly striking. Crowds filled the space, while residents watched from windows and balconies above. The enclosed surroundings created dramatic acoustics, amplifying the music as more than 50 local community singers, positioned throughout the crowd, joined the performance.
The route then took audiences through Northbrook Street before unexpectedly changing direction towards the Methodist Church and into the alleyways surrounding Bond House. Performers appeared throughout the spaces, communicating with one another through sound and keeping spectators guessing about where the procession would lead to next.
Newbury’s hidden spaces became unexpected stages as the performance continued, eventually reaching the Northbrook Street multi-storey car park where light, shadow and echoing acoustics added to the atmosphere.
After winding through further alleyways, the procession stopped behind Camp Hopson before crossing the canal bridge to arrive at the Marketplace. Here, the haunting atmosphere gave way to celebration. Performers, community singers and members of the public danced together, bringing the spectacle to a joyful conclusion.
The final moment came outside the Corn Exchange building, where a spectacular organ was unveiled and cranked by one of the performers, filling the night with a final melody as the crowd danced.
By transforming some of Newbury’s most familiar spaces, Deblozay gave audiences a unique opportunity to experience their town from an entirely different perspective.