Pirate Capers at Derby Market Hall
Visitors to Derby Market Hall in the Cathedral Quarter will be transported to the high seas over the next two weekends to mark the historic building’s 150th anniversary and celebrate the national Love Your Local Market fortnight.
‘Plundering Pirates’ street theatre performances will be held on May 19, 20 and 21 and then again next week on May 26, 27 and 28 at the Market Hall behind the Guildhall Theatre. The free family-friendly entertainment has been produced by Furthest from the Sea Music, Comedy & Arts and supported by the Market Hall Traders with performances at 11.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm. Visitors will join Fishpaste and the notorious Pirate Captain on their quest to find the clues and unearth the lost treasure of Derby. There will also be live music, dancing and Messy Moss juggling workshops from 11am to 3pm on Saturday May 21 and Saturday May 28.
As well as a wide range of existing traders, several new businesses will set up stalls in the Market Hall for the fortnight – offering a wide range of additional goods and services. Daniel David Webber from Furthest from the Sea explained: “We are delighted to be working with the market traders to bring this free entertainment programme to the Market Hall. ’Plundering Pirates’ is a fun and interactive performance for all the family and we are hoping that visitors will really get into the spirit of the high seas and come in fancy dress to join in the fun.”
Linda Aston, chair of the Derby Market Hall Traders Association added: “We are working with the city council to plan our main 150th anniversary celebrations later in the year but the actual date of the building being shown to the public for the first time is May 29 which coincides with the end of the national Love Your Market fortnight. “I am delighted that our celebrations are focused on street theatre and live entertainment. Markets such as this are the epitome of retail theatre – with businesses interacting with the public in a way that you just don’t find in conventional shops. “Many of the businesses are run by third or fourth generations of families and we have seen all kinds of activities over the years but I’m pretty sure that this is the first time we have been taken over by pirates! “We have all sorts of characters here in the Market Hall so we are looking forward to the next two weekends of fun and frolics and I hope that it encourages people back here to support the wide range of very unique and good quality businesses that we have here.”
Martin Langsdale, chair of the Cathedral Quarter management group which drives forward activities under the area’s Business Improvement District (BID) status, concluded: “Markets are a vital part of our nation’s high streets and town centres offering so much more than just a shopping experience and Derby Market Hall is an important and valued part of the Cathedral Quarter.”