Visitors to Holifield’s Big Tent Festival in Gweek next week will be the first to see elements of Shallal Dance Theatre Company’s new show Ladders and Footprints. The performance takes place at 11.45am on Friday, June 16, as part of Holifield Farm’s annual three-day festival.

Shallal’s main dance company has been rehearsing new dance performance work inspired by Cornish Victorian philanthropist John Passmore Edwards as part of their Cornish Doorways project. As well as original dance and music created by Shallal members and associate artists, the show will include creative writing and poetry translated live into British Sign Language and stunning costumes inspired by Passmore Edwards’s vision for education and equality.

"We have loved learning about Passmore Edwards and feel that he should be better known," said Shallal creative director Jo Willis. "Audiences can expect a colourful range of work; Shallal's performances are as eclectic and varied as the people who create them."

Audiences will be treated to a diverse show, including a ground-breaking new dance performance lead by dancer Kerry Jackson and inspired by Passmore Edwards’ quote: "Fund the ladder and the poor will climb it themselves." There will also be a dance inspired by one of Passmore Edwards’ unfulfilled dreams - to build lighthouses in Cornwall and France for the safety of sea-goers. The audience will be able to join in and dance with Shallal at the end of the show.

The performance at Holifield previews elements of a new show to be performed in and outside Falmouth Library on July 14. Shallal loves performing at Holifield, which gives the Company an opportunity to see how the audience will react to the new work before the big show in Falmouth. One Company member said that Holifield Big Tent Festival was the highlight of her year, as "we stay on and watch other performers, join in with workshops, see old friends and share delicious food in a lovely environment."

Shallal Sketchbooks, newly funded by Feast Cornwall and Falmouth Art Gallery, will also be running a fun, drop-in drawing workshop during the day at the festival, which all are welcome to attend.