Mysteries off to good start

It started on a high note on Sunday with the 'Big Sing' in the Lower Precinct as people were invited to shop and sing with Vocal Explosion's Juliet Russell.

A group of enthusiastic singers, some who had previously had no singing experience, performed the African-inspired pieces to a large group of Sunday shoppers who soon took a break from trawling the shops to enjoy the performance.

The group had previously taken part in singing workshops and rehearsals to prepare themselves for the big performance. Local choirs, young people and musicians were invited along to make the experience one of the biggest and best that Coventry has seen.

It was the group's first performance in public and they were received extremely well by the on-looking crowd, who seemed to enjoy the diversity of the music. The power of the singing even inspired children as young as six to pick up a song sheet and join in.

The festival continues throughout the week with more events. Art projects will be showcased, with an interactive Giant Peace Jigsaw to play with at the Cathedral and a special outdoor exhibition being installed in the Precinct.

'Container', from the Coventry school of Art and Design will be in Broadgate on Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 from 12 to 2pm with a vivid performance as a response to the theme of urban development and transformation.

The hollow shipping container depicts a cold, industrial and alien environment. The idea is to put a vulnerable and lone human being in this context to see the change in their reaction. This person comes in the form of German-born Joana Tischkan, a 2nd year Dance and Theatre student of Coventry University. The creative idea of the dance is watching how Joana engages with this performance space as an object through her movements.

German sonic artist Wolfram Spyra will capture Joana's movement and emotional response in the contained environment. He will do this by attaching speakers and amplifiers to the container to intensify every sound Joana makes. 

Nana Ama Akpoblu, a 2nd year Journalism student at Coventry University and press officer for the Mysteries Festival, said: "Watching Joana rehearse her dance moves was surreal. The container is wide open but she doesn't run out. In a still moment she begins to touch the floor as if to see if it's real. Her emotional change is quite intense."

For more information about the festival, visit the website http://www.coventrymysteries.com/ or pick up a brochure from the Festival Shop in Shelton Square, the city museums or Tourist Information.