Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 5 November 2022

OVER 1,500 town-goers headed on down to Nuneaton town centre to marvel at two giant illuminated puppets walking around the streets.

The ‘gentle giants of the lights’ named “DUNDU” and “BABY DUNDU”, amazed the crowd as they interacted with audience members and visited community groups.

They were in town for a free event titled “Sharing the Light” arranged by international firm Dundu.

It was supported by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Global Streets, and Imagineer Productions, who previously put on past local attractions.

Imagineers Productions CEO, Jane Hytch, said: “We were overwhelmed by the audience who came to Sharing the Light in Nuneaton and we were thrilled with the performances created by local people.

“DUNDU said that it was the best response from a community they had received on their tour, and they felt really welcomed by the town. Audiences described it as ‘magical, fantastic, and giant and mesmerising’ in their feedback.

She concluded: “If we work in Nuneaton again which I hope we will, we will expect much larger crowds as local people clearly want to see things that inspire them and their families.’’

It started with a light procession featuring JVS Dance and Aspire in Arts stopping by the George Eliot statue in Newdegate Street as BABY DUNDU was born, before it increased in size in Abbey Street.

Giant illuminated puppet DUNDU first met with Nepalese children, before heading to Newdegate Street, where it observed Pam Chater’s Dance Academy’s performance.

It then returned back to Newdegate Square and then exploring Harefield Road to take in Embody Dance’s light performance.

Finally, it went back to the statue before rejoining the procession and waving goodbye to Nuneaton.

Deputy Leader of Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Coun. Clare Golby, said: “It was amazing to see these giant puppets in the town centre. The crowds were great and surpassed our expectations.

“I need to acknowledge some comments about people leaving early because there were no barriers, and they couldn’t see anything.

“The event was an interactive one, after a short while the puppets actually moved through the crowds and all around the town centre and barriers would have detracted from this.

“Seeing the puppets move so gracefully through the town and all the kids and families who got to see them was wonderful.

“My children thought it was brilliant. Hopefully we can work with Imagineer again to bring more events to the borough.”