Page 31 - Demo

July 2025 | Phonebox Magazine 31Milton Keynes International Festival returns to inspire, IF: The full listings transform and engage the city and beyond.IF: Milton Keynes International Festival is known for a distinctive biennial programme of installations and performance, outdoor spectaculars, circus, comedy, cabaret, live music and free family activities. In times of change and challenge, 2025 sees a programme which embraces a spirit of resilience, freedom and possibility, inspiring its many audiences to imagine a brighter, shared future.Vertical choreography and live music on a 40-metre-high sculpture. Over 2000 white paper peace doves in one of the UK%u2019s leading retail destinations. A new poetry commission spelt out by a robot. The planet Mars up close. It%u2019s all in the 10-day programme, which includes two world premieres from the UK and four UK premieres from Germany, Spain, Catalonia and France.Friday 18 to Sunday 20 July, times vary Klub Girko: Human Time Tree TimeCampbell Park Copse, MK9 3FTFriday 18 July 2pm & 6pm / Saturday 19 July & Sunday 20 July 11am & 2pmFriday 18 to Sunday 20 July, times varyNoFit State: BambooFriday 18 July 5pm Festival Central, Campbell Park, MK9 4ATSaturday 19 July 12.15pm & 3.15pm: Festival Central, Campbell Park, MK9 4ATSunday 20 July 12pm & 3pm, Queen%u2019s Court, centre:mk, MK9 3AGFriday 18 July, 9.45pmDeabru Beltzak: SymfeunyXscape, 602 Marlborough Gate, MK9 3XS/ Campbell Park, MK9 4AT%u2022 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHT %u2022Friday 18 to Sunday 27 July, 10am %u2013 11pmMichael Pendry: Les ColombesMiddleton Hall, centre:mk, Midsummer Boulevard, MK9 3EPFree event. Find a moment of peace and reflection. Michael Pendry%u2019s beautiful multi-media installation will fill the space with thousands of delicate white paper doves. This moving artwork explores connection and belonging, with opportunities for everyone to get involved in creating and displaying their own doves across the city.Friday 18 & Saturday 19 July, times varyZwermers: Pan~//CatwalkFriday 18 July 12pm & 2.45pm Queen%u2019s Court, centre:mk, MK9 3AGSaturday 19 July 12.45pm & 3.30pm (community performances) Unity Place, 200 Grafton Gate, MK9 1UP%u2022 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHT %u2022Friday 18 to Sunday 20 July, times varyLuke Jerram: Mars Wrap Around ProgrammeThe Open University Campus, Kents Hill, MK7 6AASaturday 19 July, 1.15pm & 6pmPagrav Dance Company: One SkyCampbell Park Bulbfi eld MK9 4ATSaturday 19 & Sunday 20 July, times varyOsadia: Whose Hair Dares Saturday 19 July, 11.30am & 4pm Midsummer Place, MK9 3GBSunday 20 July, 11.30am & 2.30pm Festival Central, Campbell Park, MK9 4ATMonday 21 to Sunday 27 July, times vary (no show on Thursday 24 July)Luke Jerram: MarsChurch of Christ The Cornerstone, 300 Saxon Gate, MK9 2ESMonday 21 July, 3pm %u2013 8pm / Tuesday 22 July & Wednesday 23 July 10am %u2013 8pm/ Friday 25 July 10am %u2013 12.30pm/ Saturday 26 July 10am %u2013 4pm and 7pm %u2013 9pm/ Sunday 27 July, 2pm %u2013 6pmJourney to the red planet without leaving Milton Keynes! Luke Jerram%u2019s stunning planetary sculpture, featuring real NASA imagery and a captivating soundscape, will be on display at The Open University and then at Church of Christ the Cornerstone for everyone to enjoy.Thursday 24 & Friday 25 July, times varyGijs van Bon: NyxThursday 24 July 8.30pm %u2013 10.30pm MK Rose, Campbell Park, MK9 4ATFriday 25 July 8.30pm %u2013 10.30pm Festival Square, centre:mk, MK9 3FN Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 July, 1pm and 7.30pmKamch%u00e0tka: FugitStarting point: Wolverton (exact location sent to bookers in advance)Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 July, 6pm %u2013 10pmMark Anderson: Warning NotesFred Roche Gardens, 406 Silbury Boulevard, MK9 2ND%u2022 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHT %u2022Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 July, times varyArchitects of Air: TerceradixCampbell Park Bulbfi eld MK9 4ATThursday 24 July, 11am %u2013 4.30pm (last admission / Friday 25 to Sunday 27 July, 11am %u2013 7pm (last admission)Step into a world of wonder in Campbell Park! Architects of Air%u2019s monumental walk-in sculpture is a beautiful and intriguing maze of light and colour, promising a truly unique and immersive experience for Festivalgoers of all ages.Thursday 24 July at 7pmMaureen Onwunali: Utopia in VerseTerceradix, Campbell Park Bulbfi eldMK9 4ATFriday 25 July at 7.30pmEnsemble Augelletti: The Morning StarMars Church of Christ The Cornerstone, 300 Saxon Gate, MK9 2ESFriday 25 to Sunday 27 July, times varyTania El Khoury: Memory of BirdsCampbell Park Copse, MK9 3FTFriday 25 and Saturday 26 July: on the hour between 11am and 6pm / Sunday 27 July: on the hour between 11am and 4pm%u2022 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHT %u2022Friday 25 & Saturday 26 July, 9.45pmTranse Express: DNASaxon Gate car park by The Point, MK9 3NEPrepare to crane your necks in amazement beside The Point! Transe Express will present a truly breathtaking spectacle. A 40-metrehigh sculpture suspended in the night sky becomes the stage for a mesmerising vertical choreography of climbing, aerial dance and circus artistry, all accompanied by electrifying live music. %u25b2 SPIEGELTENT EVENTS %u25b2Located in Campbell Park, this iconic venue will once again be at the heart of the Festival hosting a dazzling array of comedy stars including Lou Sanders and La Voix, fabulous music from the likes of The Demon Barbers, The Selecter and Roachford, family fun with Monski Mouse%u2019s Baby Disco Dance Hall and the Rubbish Shakespeare Company, and a whole lot more!Friday 18 July, 6.45pmThe Noise Next Door: FreewheelingThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4AT/ Tickets: %u00a313.50Friday 18 July, 8.45pm and Saturday 19 July, 2pmYUCK CircusThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4AT/ Tickets: %u00a325Saturday 19 July, 7.30pmThe Demon Barbers 25th Anniversary CelebrationThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4AT/ Tickets: %u00a325Sunday 20 July, 2.15pmMonski Mouse%u2019s Baby Disco Dance HallThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4AT/ Tickets: %u00a312.50Sunday 20 July, 8pmLou Sanders plus supportThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4ATTickets: %u00a325.50Monday 21 July, 8pmA Night with La Voix plus support from Tori ScottThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4AT/ Tickets: %u00a327.50Tuesday 22 July, 8pmLe Vent du NordThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4AT/ Tickets: %u00a322Wednesday 23 July, 8pmThe Selecter plus supportThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4AT/ Tickets: %u00a332Thursday 24 July, 11.30am & 1.30pmScoot Theatre: Quentin Blake%u2019s Mrs Armitage on WheelsThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4AT/ Tickets: Adults %u00a313.50 (under-16s %u00a311)Thursday 24 July, 8pmPeat and Diesel plus support from Fraser MorganThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4AT/ Tickets: %u00a327.50Friday 25 July, 7.30pmLucy Spraggan plus support from Isabella CoulstockThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4AT/ Tickets: %u00a332Saturday 26 July, 2pmRubbish Shakespeare Company: Rubbish Romeo & JulietThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4AT/ Tickets: %u00a313.50 (under-16s %u00a311)Saturday 26 July, 7.30pmRoachford plus support from George MontagueThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4AT/ Tickets: %u00a331Sunday 27 July, 2pmShlomo%u2019s Beatbox Adventure for KidsThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park MK9 4AT/ Tickets: %u00a313.50 (under-16s %u00a311)Sunday 27 July, 7.30pmCeilidh Liberation Front: The Festival Wrap PartyThe Stables Spiegeltent, Festival Central, Campbell Park Milton Keynes MK9 4AT / Tickets: %u00a316.50Booking: https://ifmiltonkeynes.org, 01908 280800.