Photo Credit: Kathryn Kirton – Robin Deacon Artistic Director and CEO of SPILL
SPILL Festival 2025 is returning to Ipswich on Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th October, with a diverse programme of arts experiences and events taking place in multiple venues and public spaces across the Borough.
The Artistic Director and CEO of SPILL, Robin Deacon, revealed the festival programme at a launch event in St Stephen’s Church, and spoke about a long weekend that will be packed with four days of performance, play, participation and much more.
Robin said, “SPILL very much remains a global festival, keeping Ipswich in dialogue with other international locations all around the world. Our work increasingly taps into the location, not only of Ipswich, but also Suffolk – its cultures, communities and histories. We also like to offer opportunities for the people of Ipswich, of all ages, to get involved in art in a really hands-on way. As well as brand new international, national and local artist commissions, we are very excited to welcome back some extremely popular old friends for this year’s festival. With our reconfigured festival format over one long weekend, now you won’t need to wait two years for each SPILL Festival; there will be a steady stream of activity throughout each year.”
Photo Credit: Malle Madsen. Kaboom_ The Art of Destruction by Live Art Denmark.
SPILL’s flagship international commission for 2025 is Leviathan by Slovenian artist Mark Požlep, a reflective audio-visual installation which presents an imagined dialogue between Suffolk’s fishermen and the colossal Leviathan, a mythological sea creature and witness to ecological collapse.
Photo Credit: Mark Pozlep (Leviathan Commission) by Kobe Wens
SPILL vs Brighten The Corners – a celebratory co-curated night of music and DJing at St Stephen’s Church. Keep watching the SPILL website for live announcements of special guest performers for the Festival Friday.
Photo Credit: Alexander Ward
The Festival will launch at an event on Thursday 23rd at St Clement’s Church, where you can explore the Leviathan installation, hear about the festival directly from artists, and enjoy performances from Stacy Makishi, Robin Deacon, and other special guests. Gourmet fish and chips will be provided (vegetarian alternative available).
More details can be found at spillfestival.com.
SUFFOLK THEATRE 