Fuse, the free street arts festival, is back with a range of performances, including granny racing and the odd alien or two. Kaynat Choudhury reports.

This couple of old dears may not look it but they could give Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button a run for their money.

While most women their age are happy to be going down the bingo, Granny Doris and Granny Mary will be racing around Medway next weekend on souped-up shopping trolleys. The duo, better known as Granny Turismo, will be in town as part of the three-day Fuse Festival and may well be busting out a few crazy dance moves along the way.

Also arriving for Fuse will be Tiny, a 125-year old dinosaur, along with Puppit and Digit, two robotic alien life forms, from the Andromeda galaxy.

The festival, which is happening from Friday, June 15 to Sunday, June 17, is famous for bringing Kent-based talent to the forefront as well as presenting contemporary international arts.

“Being able to offer such a spectacular festival free to local communities is what we’re all about,” said Lélia Gréci, artistic director of the festival.

“Fuse is for everyone.”

The festival opens with a parade organised by Sparky Initiative, Medway schools, community groups and the University of Kent on Gillingham High Street.

Street art is the theme for the Saturday which starts off with a huge dance flashmob on Chatham’s High Street.

Meanwhile, at the Riverside, Chatham’s Jane Pitt will be putting on her show Ri-Zound, of floating Medway voices translating the sounds of the river.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Jane. “I’m hoping to create a festival pleasure-boat atmosphere.”

Other home-grown talent to look forward to includes Sophie Fuller, Alix Godden and Rebecca Ashton, choreographers whose act Changes in the Current is a live and interactive visual memory bank.

Saturday night ends with a mind-blowing aerial performance, Barricade, by NoFit (CORRECT) State Circus as they build a barricade to defend themselves from a crazy oncoming storm.

The Big Picnic rounds off the festival and takes place on the grounds of Rochester Castle on Sunday.

The day will be filled with family-oriented activities, competitions, workshops and performances, like the enticing Paper People, street vendors who tell Olympic-related stories with 3D characters that emerge from the newspapers they are selling and Kawa Circus, an act all the way from Rajasthan, who will showcase their talents using a traditional dancer, acrobat and a tightrope walker.

The festival finale is the UK premiere of Fando Comme Lis, a modern French burlesque mime show telling the story of a shy boy and mischievous girl using aerial circles, ropes, Chinese masts and acrobatics.

DON'T MISS

Friday, June 15

Opening parade from 4.30pm at Gillingham High Street.

Saturday, June 16

Dance flashmob at noon on Chatham High Street

Granny Turismo throughout the day at Chatham High Street

Barricade at 9pm at the Great Lines, Gillingham.

Sunday, June 17

Whatever Floats your Boat at 11.30am at Rochester Castle Moat

Fando Comme Lis at 5pm at Rochester Castle Moat.

For more information about the festival programme, visitwww.fusefestival.org.uk.