This collaboration celebrates our shared commitment to community-rooted arts, creativity and storytelling!

All photographs taken by Kate Jackson https://www.katejacksonphotography.co.uk/

Caldmore Community Garden is delighted to announce Autin Dance Theatre as our new Associate Artistic Company. We’re excited to have Autin Dance on board to bring new and inspiring elements to our annual Festival of Lights procession.

Our ongoing work with Autin Dance Theatre follows a series of successful creative projects, iFestival of Lights in 2023 and 2024, where Autin Dance Theatre captivated audiences with roaming and stage performances featuring the iconic Brimstone the Dragon and Echo the Sea Giant from Out of the Deep Blue.

As part of this year’s Festival of Lights 2025, Autin Dance Theatre will be working with Year 5 pupils at Caldmore Primary Academy to create a choreographed movement piece for the annual lantern procession through Caldmore.

In addition, there will be two opportunities for families to also take part in the lantern procession and learn some choreographed movement with Autin Dance Theatre during our Garden Saturday workshops

These free, creative sessions are open to children, parents, carers, and local residents of all ages. Together we’ll explore movement, storytelling, and simple performance techniques to build confidence, connection, and shared celebration. Everyone is welcome!

Whether you’ve danced before or not!

Together we’ll shape the light and movement of the Festival of Lights Lantern Procession!

Dates: Saturday 25 October & Saturday 1 November
Times: 11am–1pm and 1pm–3pm (two separate workshops for families to sign up to – please look on social media for sign up links)
Location: Caldmore Community Garden

With thanks to Arts Council England for funding this project

About Autin Dance Theatre

Autin Dance Theatre is an award-winning, innovative dance company and registered charity

based in Birmingham, UK, under the artistic direction of acclaimed choreographer Johnny Autin.

ADT’s mission is to inspire, educate, and drive positive social change through thought-provoking

and engaging multi-disciplinary arts activities. The company actively connects with local

communities, participants, and audiences, delivering work in theatres, public outdoor spaces,

and unconventional settings.

As a collaborative ensemble known for its unique blend of contemporary storytelling, striking

physicality, and large-scale designs, ADT creates socially inclusive and mass- participatory

movement projects across the UK and internationally. From dynamic outdoor processions to

immersive static performances, the company transports audiences on unforgettable journeys. Its

critically acclaimed productions include Out of the Deep Blue, Street Games, Brimstone the

Dragon, Parade – The Giant Wheel, and Light Up Fest, all of which have garnered a strong

reputation for impactful community engagement and artistic excellence.

In 2025, ADT is performing Up in the Sky, a groundbreaking new aerial dance production

featuring a colossal 7-metre rig, exploring themes of displacement, resilience, and belonging.

autindt.co.uk

@AutinDT

For full details about the company please visit: autindt.co.uk

Autin Dance Theatre media contacts:

Artistic Director Johnny Autin johnny@autindt.co.uk +44 (0) 755 798 1497

Autin Dance Theatre CIO | Birmingham, UK |T: +44 (0) 755 798 1497| hello@autindt.co.uk

autindt.co.uk | @AutinDT | Registered Company No 10824986 | Charity No 1210281

Festival Coordinator Kirsten Tranter kirsten@autindt.co.uk

Creative Producer Annalise McIntyre annalise@autindt.co.uk

Outdoor Arts Consultant Adam Towndrow adam@autindt.co.uk

Education & Participation Coordinator Natasha Boyes natasha@autindt.co.uk

Communication & Marketing Paulina Ozynska paulina@autindt.co.uk

Autin Dance Theatre CIO | Birmingham, UK |T: +44 (0) 755 7

Friday 31st October 2025, 5-7pm

Get your wands ready and your cloaks on – it’s time for a Harry Potter evening at the Garden

Come dressed as your favourite witch or wizard and discover which Hogwarts House you belong to! We can’t wait to see your costumes!

Join us for:

Potions lessons

Sorting Hat

Forbidden forests

Make your own wand

…Expect the unexpected!

On Saturday 20th September 2025 we will be marking the changing of seasons with our Leap Into Autumn event.

This year we’re working in partnership with Froglife who will be celebrating their Coalface to Wildspace project which is coming to an end after 3 years.

Froglife is a national wildlife charity committed to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles – frogs, toads, newts, snakes and lizards – and saving the habitats they depend on.

Join us in celebrating with Froglife where you and your family can take part in a range of activities!

• Amphibian clay zone- make your favourite amphibian or reptile out of clay
• Sound zone- listen to soundscapes we have created with people from around Walsall about their nature experiences
• Habitat Exhibition stall – showcasing the ponds and habitats we have made around Walsall
• Pond dipping with FrogLife at the following times 12.30pm/2pm/2.30pm/3pm/3.30pm
• 3D short film showing, Frogglebox – Layers through time
• Layers of Time Lego® Brick Display – take a look at one of our amazing Lego displays and have a go at creating a wildlife friendly garden from Lego
• Birmingham and Black country Amphibian and Reptile group- stall about their work
• Juneau Projects will be making wooden wildlife medallions
• Lego exhibit- take a look at one of our amazing Lego displays and have a go at creating a wildlife friendly garden from Lego
  

See you on Saturday 20th September 12-4pm!

Coalface to Wildspace, Midlands

What is the project about?

Coalface to Wildspace, Midlands is an exciting project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the West Midlands Combined Authority. The project is focusing around neighbourhoods across Walsall from 2022 to the end of 2025.

There has previously been very little focus on reptile and amphibian conservation in this region, so this project is raising awareness through public engagement, improving habitat through community interventions, and bringing attention to local natural and geological heritage.

To find out more information about Coalface to Wildspace click the link below

Coalface to Wildspace, Midlands

🎪🌞 Roll up, roll up… the Circus is coming to the Garden! 🌞🎪

Join us at Caldmore Community Garden on Saturday 19th July for a Circus Garden Party to kick off the summer holidays in style! 🎉

🕛 12PM – 4PM | FREE ENTRY | Fun for all ages!

🎶 12–1PM – Circus-themed songs with B’Opera!
Enjoy a joyful, circus-themed live music concert the whole family will love.

🎭 1.30PM – Dazzling Circus Show by Kids Circus Workshops!
Sit back and be amazed by a playful performance full of fun!

🎪 2PM – Circus Skills Workshop!
Ever wanted to learn some circus skills? Now’s your chance to join in and learn from the pros!

🎨 Plus all afternoon:
✨ Arts & Crafts
🎟️ Tombola
☕ Café with homemade cakes and refreshments

🎈 Bring the whole family for an afternoon of laughter, creativity, and community fun in the beautiful garden setting.

With support from National Lottery Community Fund, Black Country Touring and Youth Music, thank you for making this event possible!

CircusGardenParty #FamilyFun #CaldmoreEvents #SummerAtTheGarden #FreeFamilyDayOut #caldmorecommunitygarden #Walsallfamilyfun

It’s time for our annual Festival of Lights in Caldmore! 

On Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th November come and join us in the garden for a weekend of creativity and performing arts in Caldmore to light up the community!

SeedHeart

Meet Grey. Our journey begins as Grey finds themself trapped inside a jar. They try to remember how they got there and how they could be free…

SeedHeart tells the important tale of human impact on the environment and questions what we can do to restore our once green planet, with interactive chaos in the laboratory on the way!

Watch as our story unfolds (literally) from a single suitcase, and follow Grey’s journey to a better future with magical pop-ups, puppetry and interactive scenes.

Before the performance we have a shadow puppet family workshop for children over 5 years old (with adult supervision). This will start at 4.30pm and you will need to book a place ahead of the workshop. To do this, either email caldmoregarden@gmail.com or whatsapp on 07384 112705

7pm – there will be a fire show from Helter Skelter!

And finally to end Saturday night, join us round the campfire to toast your own marshmallow

Sunday is the day for our lantern procession around Caldmore!

Visit the beautifully illuminated Caldmore Community Garden and join us at 5:45 pm in time for the lantern procession to light up the streets of Caldmore. 

Come dressed up as a Fantastic Creature in a lit-up costume – but remember to be safe when creating your extravagant costumes!

We will be accompanied by Autin Dance with their giant dragon puppet, who will walk with us through Caldmore and then join us at the Garden for Brimstone show after the procession at 7pm. 

Grab yourself a slice of cake and a hot drink in our cafe!

At 7.15pm the weekend will conclude with a fire finale with Helter Skelter – it’s something not to be missed! 

The event is brought to you by Black Country Touring and funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority Inclusive Communities Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund.

This Thursday 31st October from 5.30pm

Join us for a Halloween Spooktacular Party at Caldmore Community Garden!

Will you dare to walk through the Tunnel of Horrors?

Will you pass the potion making test at the Potions Lab before things go horribly wrong and you get turned into a frog?

Will you join the Zombies for their zombie walk?

Enter the tipi tent for Halloween inspired storytelling! with stories like Room on the Broom and Funny Bones!

Our garden will be transformed into a haunted wonderland, full of eerie lights, creepy decor, and surprises around every corner

Come dressed up in your Halloween costume, and don’t forget a torch!

We will be joined by Birmingham Tree People on Saturday 21st September for our Sustainable Futures Festival

Benjamin’s youngest brother – David Springer – contacted Birmingham TreePeople on behalf of the whole family at the Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group, in the hope of carrying on this iconic legacy through his love of trees and nature.

Growing up in a large, loving family with seven siblings, David explained that their usual ‘stomping grounds’ were Newtown, Nechells, Aston, and some of Lozells and Handsworth. With its good number of tree-pit locations, Newtown’s Burbury Park has been identified as the ideal home for The Zephaniah Forest: a 65-strong conglomerate of poetry-tagged, community-consulted, and communally planted trees, to commemorate the life and works of Benjamin Zephaniah – 65 trees for the 65 years of Benjamin’s inspirational life.

The Zephaniah Forest poetry competition – Trees Please, Poetry Please? – aims to create a 65-strong mini forest Tree Trail containing the poems, each one dedicated to a specific tree, for the 65 trees being planted in Burbury Park, Newtown this coming Winter in memory of Benjamin Zephaniah.

The Zephaniah Forest Tree Trail will be recorded via TreePlotter, with each poem available online through the application (as well as being recorded on our website with the poems and an image of the tree, regularly updated throughout the coming years to ensure establishment).

The tree pit locations for the legacy mini-forest have already been plotted, ready and waiting for Benjamin’s newly planted memorial trees during National Tree Week 2024, from the last week of November to the first week of December, in time for the anniversary of Benjamin’s untimely passing.

We are working with the Benjamin Zephaniah Family Legacy Group, and have teamed up with Bradley Taylor (a prominent poet in the arts community), to bring this incredible legacy back home to where Benjamin grew up with his loving family.

The deadline is 1^st December 2024, and entrants can submit up to three poems, no longer than an A4 piece of paper. Are you a poet or creative who would like to submit their ditty towards a project dedicated to a Brummie legend? Please follow this link, and scroll down to see the submission form: https://birminghamtreepeople.org.uk/trees-in-birmingham/the-zephaniah-forest/

On Saturday 21st September at our Sustainable Futures Festival you will have the opportunity to write and submit a poem for The Zephaniah Forest Competition!