Record-making Flash Mob to be staged in Stockton-On-Tees
to celebrate Disability Pride Month
to celebrate Disability Pride Month
What it's all about
As Our Stomping Grounds Festival is now in it's fourth year and the learning disabled artists and community members decided that this year's themes should be 'Out There', we're making that happen with a joyful gathering. They don't want to be invisible or scared to have a presence in their own area and so we were determined to stage something in Disability Pride Month, which conveys the inclusivity of the learning disability community, and the ambition and presence of learning disabled neurodivergent people in Tees Valley.
When did the Our Stomping Grounds Festivals begin?
The festival was created in 2022 as a moment of reconnection after two years of isolation during the Covid Pandemic and it proved so popular that it has grown and grown since. Full Circle Theatre Company are keen to share the opportunities they have to take part in high quality arts activities and have built their own work around involving others.
Who is taking part in the Flash Mob?
On this occasion, for the flash mob, we are joined by many groups of people from Stockton, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool after sending out lots of invitations and making public call outs. Full Circle choreographed the routine, and they, along with members of our team have all taught the groups various moves and formations so that they can do the whole flash mob routine, or the groups can take elements and build their own accessible routine from it. The groups were also provided with a short film of the whole routine to assist with learning.
Bigger platforms for learning disabled artists and communities
The Record-Breaking Flash Mob also marks ten years since Little Cog, ARC Stockton and participants from the acclaimed 45 Days to Find My Way project first surprised Stockton High Street with a flash mob in 2016. Coming back to create a bigger event reflects the growth of Little Cog and Full Circle's work in the Tees Valley, creating a platform for community members with the least heard voices. The Festival and community activity have been funded by Arts Council England.
Check out Our Stomping Grounds Festival - the whole programme will be announced later in the year
Our Stomping Grounds has firm favourite fixtures returning, along with new strands - there will be original professional learning disabled-led theatre, Stomp Cabaret, ARCtic Piranha and a music event, the Short Short Film festival, Take Up Space Conference, Joyful Noiz workshops and much more.
How to Contact Us
Audiences can find out more about Our Stomping Grounds Festival 2026 and upcoming events, including new production The Market Inspector here, but if you need information in another accessible format please don't hesitate to get in touch [email protected] or through ARC on 01642 525199.
What is Disability Pride?
Disability Pride recognises that being a disabled person is not a deficit, and acknowledges the barriers disabled people experience in society whilst celebrating the diversity of the disability community. Disabled people are in every community in society, which enriches everyone's lives, and we are clear that human beings do not have to fit into the constructed norms defined centuries ago to lead meaningful lives. Disability Pride aims to remove outdated stigma about disability, and to address many of the misconceptions about disabled people. It challenges societal ableism demonstrating that human life is not defined by economic or patriarchal rules. We are taking time to be together, to spend time with allies and to celebrate with pride.
As Our Stomping Grounds Festival is now in it's fourth year and the learning disabled artists and community members decided that this year's themes should be 'Out There', we're making that happen with a joyful gathering. They don't want to be invisible or scared to have a presence in their own area and so we were determined to stage something in Disability Pride Month, which conveys the inclusivity of the learning disability community, and the ambition and presence of learning disabled neurodivergent people in Tees Valley.
When did the Our Stomping Grounds Festivals begin?
The festival was created in 2022 as a moment of reconnection after two years of isolation during the Covid Pandemic and it proved so popular that it has grown and grown since. Full Circle Theatre Company are keen to share the opportunities they have to take part in high quality arts activities and have built their own work around involving others.
Who is taking part in the Flash Mob?
On this occasion, for the flash mob, we are joined by many groups of people from Stockton, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool after sending out lots of invitations and making public call outs. Full Circle choreographed the routine, and they, along with members of our team have all taught the groups various moves and formations so that they can do the whole flash mob routine, or the groups can take elements and build their own accessible routine from it. The groups were also provided with a short film of the whole routine to assist with learning.
Bigger platforms for learning disabled artists and communities
The Record-Breaking Flash Mob also marks ten years since Little Cog, ARC Stockton and participants from the acclaimed 45 Days to Find My Way project first surprised Stockton High Street with a flash mob in 2016. Coming back to create a bigger event reflects the growth of Little Cog and Full Circle's work in the Tees Valley, creating a platform for community members with the least heard voices. The Festival and community activity have been funded by Arts Council England.
Check out Our Stomping Grounds Festival - the whole programme will be announced later in the year
Our Stomping Grounds has firm favourite fixtures returning, along with new strands - there will be original professional learning disabled-led theatre, Stomp Cabaret, ARCtic Piranha and a music event, the Short Short Film festival, Take Up Space Conference, Joyful Noiz workshops and much more.
How to Contact Us
Audiences can find out more about Our Stomping Grounds Festival 2026 and upcoming events, including new production The Market Inspector here, but if you need information in another accessible format please don't hesitate to get in touch [email protected] or through ARC on 01642 525199.
What is Disability Pride?
Disability Pride recognises that being a disabled person is not a deficit, and acknowledges the barriers disabled people experience in society whilst celebrating the diversity of the disability community. Disabled people are in every community in society, which enriches everyone's lives, and we are clear that human beings do not have to fit into the constructed norms defined centuries ago to lead meaningful lives. Disability Pride aims to remove outdated stigma about disability, and to address many of the misconceptions about disabled people. It challenges societal ableism demonstrating that human life is not defined by economic or patriarchal rules. We are taking time to be together, to spend time with allies and to celebrate with pride.
