Inside Out Dorset 2021 brings Sense of Unity as Dundu puppet parades through Weymouth

As dusk fell, the sound of drums began on Swannery Car Park as more than a thousand people gathered to watch the spectacle, Sense of Unity.

Crowds were dazzled by the Whitley Bay-based drumming team Worldbeaters, which were accompanied by the hypnotic lit-up, man-shaped, giant puppet Dundu.

The Worldbeaters starting the parade from Swannery Car Park

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The show comes from Inside Out Dorset and is commissioned by Activate, which have provided a host of performances across the county over the past few days - with the last event happening this evening.

Incredible show tonight in Weymouth by @InsideOutDorset@Dorsetecho @lovefordorset @LoveWeymouth @weymouth @ActivatePArts pic.twitter.com/nTxap1j2Iz

— Daniel Sands (@sndsphotography) September 24, 2021

Inside Out Dorset co-ordinator Bill Gee said: "These shows are about bringing us together.

"Sense of Unity is made up of the Worldbeaters from Whitley Bay and the Dundu from Stuttgart in Germany.

"The show's concept is about life and light, and to share happiness and joy.

"Sense of Unity shows how we want to spread unity. We do that by welcoming the Dundu from Germany. Even though we have voted out of the European Union, we want to show we're still part of the European family - and that we can still work together.

"The Worldbeaters and the Dundu have been touring all over the world since 2017 when we started up.

"Everything was put on hold during the pandemic, but Inside Out is originally from Dorset so it's great to bring such a happy show to the county's unique areas."

Baby Dundu with one of the Worldbeaters

Last night's parade began on the Swannery Car Park before heading towards Westham Bridge, then along Westham Road, then to Commercial Road, Park Street, Great George Street, before ending at the Jubilee Clock Tower on The Esplanade.

At the start of the show, the Dundu puppet takes the form of a baby before it grows - to the sound of the Worldbeaters - into the hypnotic giant.

Baby Dundu transforms into giant Dundu on Westham Bridge

This year's Inside Out Dorset took place in five locations across the county including Moors Valley Country Park & Forest (Gaia), Poole and Christchurch (Last Orders), Symondsbury (Gaia), and last but certainly not least Weymouth (Sense of Unity).

"Puppets have been around for a millennia, but what's unique about the Dundu is it's internally lit and moves to the music from a west African harp called a Kora," said Mr Gee.

"This is complimented by the Worldbeaters who bring their dynamic drumming to the street-parading performance."

Giant Dundu at the Jubilee Clock Tower on The Esplanade

Mr Gee spoke about the challenges Inside Out Dorset have faced in recent times.

"The uncertainty of the pandemic - coupled with leaving the EU - has cost us a lot," he said.

"It's been difficult to get acts to come over from Europe to perform, but we were able to get our star act, the Dundu.

"I would like to thank Weymoud BID who stuck by the event completely through the challenging times."

Next up for the Worldbeaters and Dundu is a trip to Milton Keynes, but not before playing their final show in Weymouth this evening.

The parade this evening will start at 7.30pm in St Edmund Street and go down St Mary Street, crossing junctions with St Alban Street and Bond Street, and ending at the Jubilee Clock Tower on The Esplanade.

The show will again feature the Worldbeaters and the Dundu alongside the five puppeteers, which will make their way through the town.

The Worldbeaters and giant Dundu finish the performance with another scheduled in Weymouth town centre tonight