The dazzling outdoor theatre performance will form part of Middlesbrough Council’s big Christmas light switch-on in its yuletide events calendar.
The Christmas Dream Machine is fun for all the family and follows the journey of Ava and her teddy bear as they go on an adventure across the skies of her home town in search of the Christmas Dream Machine.
The performance, in Middlesbrough’s Centre Square on Thursday, November 22 from 6pm-7.30pm, will be followed by a fireworks finale which will officially mark the beginning of the town’s Christmas festivities. The event is free and numerous car parks will be free from 4pm.
The Christmas Dream Machine has received support through Arts Council England’s National Lottery funded Project Grants programme.
Also confirmed for 2018 is the Magical Middlesbrough Parade, Santa’s Grotto, Festive Huts and the Town Centre Pop Up performances featuring The Big Sing.
Cllr Mick Thompson, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Culture and Communities, said: “The Christmas Dream Machine will be an incredible event for Middlesbrough and one fitting with our city-scale aspirations.
“It’s going to be an amazing family friendly event that will bring the community together and kick start the festive celebrations for us all.”
The Magical Middlesbrough 2018 Christmas celebrations is sponsored by the Cleveland Centre, Ashall Projects and Bowmer and Kirkland.
Graeme Skillen, Cleveland Centre Manager said: “This really is the biggest Christmas lights switch on Middlesbrough has seen to date. The Christmas Dream Machine show is set to have all the family in awe. It’s nothing like anything we’ve seen here in Middlesbrough before. As a proud local business and community champion, Cleveland Centre is delighted to be a partner of Middlesbrough’s festive programme. This is the fifth consecutive year that we’ve supported Middlesbrough Council with its Christmas programme which gets bigger and better every year.”
Mark Ashall, of Ashall Projects, said: “We are really excited to be sponsoring the Christmas Dream Machine performance and the Magical Middlesbrough parade. Both events like these and the development of Centre Square bring people into the heart of Middlesbrough and help to boost the local economy.”
Darren Stoker, of Bowmer & Kirkland, said: “We are proud to sponsor the Christmas Dream Machine which is a whole new take on the Christmas lights switch on, and of course the Magical Middlesbrough parade a well-known firm favourite. They are set to be fantastic events for all of Middlesbrough to enjoy.”