A group of young people have performed a show highlighting the creative impact street art can have. 

Revolution Performing Arts (RPA), one of the South West's leading performing arts companies for children and young people, presented 'Street Lights' on Saturday, July 6, at the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon.

In partnership with Swindon Paint Fest, Swindon’s first street art festival, RPA’s annual showcase aimed to bring the murals of Swindon’s town centre to life through performance.

Swindon Paint Fest was launched by Artsite in 2022 as part of Swindon's regeneration and enhancement.

The festival aims to inspire the community and provide a platform for artists to showcase their talents by developing murals, public art, and creative events.

'Street Lights' showcased more than 200 young performers hailing from Swindon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

Each group had been inspired by a specific piece of street art, resulting in a range of performances that include dance, theatre and musical theatre.

This creative process involved direct collaboration with the artists behind the murals, giving students an opportunity to delve into the world of street art.

Each mural was projected on the stage before the corresponding performance. This added context and emphasize the artistic inspiration behind each act.

Laura Barnes, artistic director of RPA, said: "'Street Lights' is an exciting event that brings together visual and performing arts, highlighting the amazing creativity and talent of young people in our area."

She added: "The entire performance is inspired by Swindon's vibrant street art, and it's been incredible to see how these artworks have sparked a new dimension of creativity.

"The story of the artists' work continues through the performances of our young talent.”

'Street Lights' tied the performances together with an overarching narrative, while an original soundtrack, created by a group of RPA's young people working with an experienced music producer, punctuated the scenes.

Swindon Paint Fest saw a strong turn-out in 2023 with hundreds of people attending from all around the globe, including artists from the United States and Spain.

It featured workshops, exhibitions, and live painting, transforming many areas of Swindon with street murals.

This year's festival is set to take place in late August.

RPA is based in Swindon and has classes across the town including Shrivenham, as well as having venues in North Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

It was initially set up in September 2007 before expanding to include primary school age children.