THOUSANDS of people watched mesmerising shows celebrating life and light which paraded through the streets of Weymouth.
In an event which organisers said 'brought people together after being apart for so long', crowds were dazzled by the Whitley Bay-based drumming ensemble Worldbeaters and the puppeteering skills of a German crew who controlled a hypnotic lit-up, man-shaped, giant puppet called Dundu.
SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE: Inside Out Dorset 2021 brings Sense of Unity as Dundu puppet parades through Weymouth
The Sense of Unity shows - the first on Friday night followed by a bigger event on Saturday night - were the finale of the 10-day Inside Out Dorset biennial international arts festival commissioned by Dorchester-based Activate.
A trader's group said with so many people attending, businesses will have benefitted from the spectacular event as it moved through the town.
Inside Out Dorset co-ordinator Bill Gee said: "We felt so warmly welcomed by the people of Weymouth.
"On Friday we estimate more than 2,000 people were there and on the Saturday, we think it was around 4,000.
"It was totally extraordinary and it was incredible how the crowd took to the parade so well.
"There was a few beautiful moments including one where the giant puppet put its hand up to the window of some sitting inside their home."
He added: "After the past 18 months we've all suffered, it was great to provide the people of Weymouth with such a special night filled with amazing memories."
READ MORE: Inside Out Dorset ready for second night of giant Dundu puppet and drums in Weymouth
SEE MORE PHOTOS HERE: Inside Out Dorset's second night of wonder featuring the giant Dundu and the Worldbeaters
Mr Gee said the next festival will be in 2023 and organisers will discuss with Weymouth business leaders about any further show within the town.
The events saw a parade on both evenings - on Friday from Swannery Car Park, along to Westham Road and up to the seafront finishing at the Jubilee Clock. Saturday was a longer route through town centre streets before going onto the seafront and again ending at the Jubilee Clock.
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.
"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."
He added: "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."
The kora driving the Dundu was played was played by Stefan Charisius who said the atmosphere in Weymouth as 'intense'.
He said: "We were ecstatic about the huge crowd that turned up.
"Dorset people seem to be very open to this type of art. It's unique and visually beautiful."
The musician added: "The giant light figure Dundu is harmonic with the west African music that I play, but that can only be achieved by the hard-working puppeteers. It's a very strong harmony.
"The Dundu works with the UK artists The Worldbeaters. When they play their amazing sound, the visuals of the giant Dundu gives off a sense of forward marching. However, when the Dundu is seen by only listening to the Kora harp - it gives off a more peaceful vibe.
"What's interesting is when viewed at night people just see the giant Dundu walking through the streets with people forgetting the puppeteers are there - and that fantasy happened at the weekend.
The event was supported by the BID (We are Weymouth) and manager Dawn Rondeau said: “Sense of Unity really struck a chord with us all here at We Are Weymouth. After so much time apart in recent months, we wanted to bring a sense of community back to our events, and do everything we can to support our local businesses.
"We have been blown away by attendance, the performance itself and the wonderful feedback we have had from locals.”
In build up to this stunning Sense of Unity finale, Activate hosted a series of workshops across Weymouth and Portland giving residents an opportunity to try their hand at making puppets to represent their communities and then put them into action by creating their own puppet theatre scenes.
Caroline Suri, Activate Producer - Theatre, Education & Engagement - said: “We wanted to make a link between Sense of Unity and the sense of community in Weymouth and Portland, to help bring people together after we’ve all been kept apart for such a long time. We provided hot meals on many of the sessions and worked with the town council to reach out to under-represented communities.”
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