Arts, Bournemouth, Events & Entertainment | Posted on September 29th, 2026 | return to news

Bournemouth’s Arts by the Sea elemental theme brings fire and lightning

A dramatic Arts by the Sea featured poetry, music and sculpture, and, as night fell, plenty of flame.

Elemental was the theme of the 16th edition of Arts by the Sea, with artists demonstrating almost all aspects of nature and power.

Stars of the show, Paka Paka’s Rusty the mechanical horse and Elsie the fire-breathing dragon put on rousing performances that had crowds flocking to see them in action. Rusty roamed the lower gardens during the day, making friends, while visitors were more reticent to get near a sleeping Elsie and her collection of fiery brass instruments as night fell.

From the bandstand, beats rolled over the gardens from Freefall Collective, CJP Band and many more, with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra making an appearance on the Saturday. When Elsie’s show started, music, fire and mechanical movement entranced the crowd, with transitions and flame from the gentle and teasing to the dramatic.

Steamship Circus provided Fireshow as the next after-dark performance act. Playing with fire and power tools, while dancing and making creative, blazing, scenes from their props and bodies. Not for the faint of heart, they brought fire up close and personal to the thrilled crowds.

Event headliner, Frequency Rider by Lords of Lightning, actually a Lady of Lighting, stood atop a giant Tesla coil, she danced sending millions of volts into the skies with every move to a furiously-paced electronica soundtrack.

But the event wasn’t all high-energy. With poetry readings, art installations and sculpture to admire including West Cliff’s latest statue, plus craft events and music from the bandstand.

A pertinent part of the elemental theme for Bournemouth came from Theatre Témoin’s Flood. A journey into a future shaped by rising seas, considering our evolving relationship with the ocean.

The Arts by the Sea Fringe continues until 11 October, with arts and music events around the town, encouraging everyone to get involved with art across many levels.