Summer scene in the dock

The Captain came inshore on Sunday to experience Summer in the Scene Dock at the Theatre Royal - billed as ‘an outdoor summer festival’.

The Scene Dock is the outside space at the rear of the theatre where trucks usually unload sets, costumes, props and other scenery - but with the musical Hamilton in the midst of a six-week run, the dock has been transformed, with its own stage, two open-sided caravans with seating, a bar, food outlets, a couple of children’s play areas and lots of other seating – ‘though do get there in good time or book, as the scene dock area is not large.

It’s open from Thursday-Sunday for the rest of the month – click here for see https://theatreroyal.com/whats-on/summer-in-the-scene-dock/ and to book.

Some sessions are free and some need to be booked and paid for. There really is something for everyone – from DJ sessions to a Camp Bake off.

The first of last night’s two free sessions was the Kelliwik Golowi Band – a folk group from beyond the Tamar, as they were keen to emphasise – Callington in fact. The 18 of them played everything from ‘Border’ pipes (a Northumberland bagpipe) to penny whistles via banjo and trumpets. They entertained us with a great variety of lively Celtic folk tunes from Cornwall to Wales and the Isle of Man. They were keen to invite Plymothians across the Bridge to the Kelliwik Golowi Festival in Callington (Kelliwick in Cornish) on 15th November.

Sundsay's second free act was the Real Steel Band – our local, but nationally famous (3 times winner of the best band on the road at the Notting Hill Carnival) Steel Band. They were magnificent – it is truly astonishing how a collection of highly-polished ‘old oil drums’ can produce such a wide variety of powerful, pulsating music.

By the end of their hour, unsurprisingly, you could see the sweat pouring off the band members – they were really working hard. The Real Steel Band’s local performance will be in the Millennium Building on Union Street on 20th August, which will be their final rehearsal before heading off to compete at the Notting Hill Carnival this year. Tickets start at just £3 and all proceeds will go towards bringing The Millennium back into use.