Over three spectacular weekends in March, bold explorers of all ages squeezed into the belly of an 18-metre-long inflatable Sperm Whale and embarked on an unforgettable underwater adventure!

The Whale made a splash in Bourne, Stamford, and Deeping St James, captivating audiences with its magical marine tale. The Bourne location was the grounds of the Red Hall, the Stamford location was The Recreation Ground, and the Deepings location was Jubilee Park.

Led by an acrobatic deep-sea diver, audiences swam through the bubbling, kelp-swirling depths to meet an ancient Leatherback Turtle, discovering its age-old journey and the harsh reality of ocean pollution. With mesmerising puppetry, comedy, and music, Circo Rum Ba Ba brought the wonders—and challenges—of the marine world to life, inspiring audiences to take action against plastic waste.

This immersive experience made waves across South Kesteven, with over 1,600 people visiting The Whale across the three weekends. Each Friday, special performances were held for schools and pre-schools, with 10 schools and nurseries from across the district attending, offering young minds a magical yet meaningful introduction to environmental conservation.

Alongside the performances, wraparound activities kept creativity flowing! Renowned Stamford-based artist Karen Neale led under-the-sea-themed craft workshops at Stamford Arts Centre, while the fantastic Hannah Peacock brought hands-on fun with arts and crafts to the Red Hall in Bourne. The Deepings Community Library buzzed with storytelling sessions from Beth Guiver, and the talented Karen Leung delighted children with stunning face painting.

This project was organised by the Arts and Cultural Services Team at South Kesteven District Council and was made possible thanks to a successful bid to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, allowing us to offer this incredible, immersive experience free of charge for attendees.

One delighted parent shared their experience:

“Our 8-year-old daughter loved the show and was so inspired by the craft session that she came home and made an entire family of jellyfish and turtles! The ladies running the craft session were so welcoming and encouraging. We really hope to see more initiatives like this in Bourne. Well done to you and your team for running such a successful and enjoyable event!”

Although not part of the same funding provision, The Whale will surface for one last journey in South Kesteven, landing in Grantham on Friday 16th, Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th May. We can’t wait to welcome more brave explorers for this unmissable experience!

Circo Rum Ba Ba is an exuberant all-women troupe bringing extraordinary spectacles to unexpected places. Blending theatre, circus, and music with stunning costumes and offbeat humour, they create breathtaking performances that are both visually spectacular and deeply engaging.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for this incredible adventure. With your help, we can all play a part in protecting our oceans. Let’s keep the momentum going and make a splash for a cleaner, greener world!

 This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.