We Are Weymouth is thrilled to announce the return of its acclaimed Dusk Til Dark series this September, with workshops taking place this summer. This stunning new performance brings art, storytelling and the natural environment together in an unforgettable way. Produced by Activate Performing Arts as part of its biennial Inside Out Dorset Festival, and sponsored by We Are Weymouth, this year’s event is set to be bigger than ever before.
On 19th & 20th September, Weymouth’s streets will come alive with hundreds of silk flags, local dance groups and international dance artists fusing contemporary dance, martial arts and live soundscapes coming from boom bikes. This is Dusk Til Dark 2025 – the Sonnet of Samsara.
Part of the national Beach of Dreams project, the work has been created by Jayachandran Palazhy, Founder and Artistic Director of Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts in India, and UK arts charity Kinetika, with choreography by Charlene Low and will culminate on Weymouth Beach. This collaboration between professional dance artists and local community performers will unfold at sunset, transforming the coastline into a dramatic stage where movement, music, and imagery collide.
Now in its fourth year, Dusk Til Dark has become a flagship moment in Weymouth’s cultural calendar – a key part of the town’s journey towards becoming one of the Towns of Culture 2025. Previous years have featured large-scale, participatory light and sound installations that celebrate place, people, and shared experience. These events aim to use public space in surprising ways, offering free, thought-provoking performances that connect audiences with their surroundings and each other. All of these events have been produced by Activate Performing Arts.
Dawn Rondeau-Irvine, Chief Operations Officer at We Are Weymouth, comments: “Dusk Til Dark is about creating a sense of wonder and connection – it’s art in the public realm that brings people together. Our aim as a Business Improvement District is to help facilitate unique events like this, that not only impact our local community but due to its international reach, encourage visitors (locals and guests) to experience Weymouth in a new way, whilst boosting our economy. Sonnet of Samsara continues our Dusk Til Dark tradition with a moving, visually stunning piece that includes our harbour, bridge, town and beach and promises to be our biggest and most spectacular event yet.”
Dom Kippin, Producer, Activate Performing Arts comments: “Sonnet of Samsara is the culmination of a remarkable creative journey uniting artists, communities, and landscapes across the country as part of the Beach of Dreams project. To bring this final performance to Weymouth, a town so deeply connected to the sea and storytelling, is incredibly special. We’re proud to collaborate with We Are Weymouth and local participants to transform the town into a living, breathing artwork. With over 60 performers, more than 600 pennants and dancers from across the globe, it’s set to be an incredible few days not just for Weymouth but for Dorset.”
Free to attend and suitable for all ages, the performance complements the wider #WeyBackWhen campaign, which celebrates Weymouth’s evolving identity through stories, images, and live experiences.
For event updates and summer listings, visit: www.weareweymouth.co.uk
Top Image Credit: Jeeva Prahaava ‘Life Flow’ – Attakkalari Centre, Bangalore, India – Credit Attakkalari
Body Image Credit:- Beach of Dreams Kinetika The Beach of Dreams Silks Credit: Mark Massey
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