Roll up, roll up for the finest Freedom ever!

Roll up, roll up, it’s time to run away to the circus as the Freedom Festival prepares to go all fruity.

Hull’s showpiece cultural event today announced the line-ups for two of its major arenas – and revealed that the Fruit Market and Marina will be the epicentre for its packed programme of free and ticketed shows arriving in the city this September.

Organisers have promised a selection of the hottest cabaret, comedy and music acts will play at this year’s festival, which will take place from Thursday, September 6, to Sunday, September 9.

Among the star attractions will be an acclaimed Belgian family circus, called Circus Ronaldo, which will set up its big top in the car park next to the Ruscador pub, and a stunning mirrored dance hall, the Teatro Spiegeltent, which will stage a host of variety of dance, comedy and cabaret, at the Marina edge, on Humber Quay Street.

Circus Ronaldo, which will be making its Freedom debut, presents its new show Amortale – described as an “evening of comedy, theatre and visual delights” – as part of a UK premiere tour.

Among the acts lined up to appear in the Spiegeltent are Squeeze frontman and double Ivor Novello award-winning songwriter Chris Difford, who has formed a double act with Red Dwarf star and stand-up comedian Norman Lovett, ITV’s Show Me The Funny winner Patrick Monahan, plus a host of red hot acts coming direct from the Edinburgh Festival.

Festival director Peter Irvine said: “There’s a major expansion of Freedom this year, with a much bigger event arena in the Fruit Market, which will be renamed The Freedom Quarter for the duration of the festival.

“We’re building two big tented theatres, one at each end of the Fruit Market.

“The first will be home to an exciting and very different kind of show from Belgium, Amortale, from internationally- acclaimed Circus Ronaldo.

“At the Marina is a fabulous Speigeltent, which holds 300 people in very comfy and beautiful surroundings with a very unusual kind of bar.

“We will present an exceptional series of shows, major hits of the Edinburgh Festival, coming direct to Hull before they go to London or anywhere else.”

Tickets for these shows are on sale from Friday, July 13, with prices ranging from £5.50 to £11. Family tickets will also be available.

Packed between the two stages, which will effectively bookend the Fruit Market, will be a number of live music stages and bars which will host a programme of free dance, live music, bands and DJs from Hull’s thriving music scene, alongside artists from the UK and Europe.

Big name headliners for the Pier Stage, which will overlook the Humber on Nelson Street, will be announced shortly.

A further E20 stage will welcome a host of top international jazz acts and world music.

Councillor Terry Geraghty, portfolio holder for leisure and culture at Hull City Council, said Freedom was shaping up to be a huge event in Hull’s cultural calendar:

He said: “The success of Freedom is largely down to the high calibre of art and music acts that visit the city over the festival.

“I am pleased that once again we have exciting and unique cabaret, comedy and music that will provide excellent entertainment for residents of Hull and visitors to the city.”

Cluny Macpherson, regional director, Arts Council England, said: “We’re really pleased that our support for Freedom with its exciting programme of innovative art helps bring great art to everyone in Hull.

“There is something for everyone and the Spiegeltent and Circus Ronaldo will give Hull’s visitors and local people the opportunity to experience international performances on their doorstep.”

* Tickets for Circus Ronaldo and all Teatro Spiegeltent shows are on-sale from 9am tomorrow at www.seetickets.com and www.freedomfestival.co.uk or by calling 0871 220 0260. You can also buy in person from City Hall / The Wilson Centre of by visiting the Freedom Festival 2012 on Facebook.

WHAT’S ON IN THE TEATRO SPIELGELTENT

From comedy to cabaret, children’s dancing to stand-up and music, there’s a rich programme of variety to be enjoyed at the Teatro Spiegeltent, in Wellington Street, at this year’s Freedom Festival. Here’s the low-down on what’s on offer.

Friday, September 7

5.45pm A Taste Of Freedom.

Four acts, one hour and one tantalising tease at what’s on offer throughout the rest of the Freedom Festival. Tickets £5.50/£4 concs.

7.30pm Doug Segal

This mind reader, described as “Derren Brown – but funny” brings his show How To Read Minds And Influence People to Freedom. Prepare to be bamboozled by his psychological trickery. Tickets £5.50

9.15pm Abandoman

Described as “Flight Of The Conchords meets 8 Mile”, this Edinburgh Fringe smash creates “hilarious musical sketches at lightning speed live in front of their audience”. Tickets £11/£8.50 concs.

11pm The Comic Strip

Following a sell out 2011 season at the Edinburgh Fringe, Comic Strip duo Asher Treleaven and Gypsy Wood recreate revive the ’60s vintage nightclub era of Go-Go, Burlesque and Stand Up. Tickets £5.50/£4concs.

Saturday, September 8

11am Baby Disco Dancehall.

Youngsters and grown-ups alike are invited to join Monski Mouse to bop along to lashings of swing, jazz, rock, pop, funk, latin, soul and more! Featuring Monski Mouse at the decks and her small team of experienced early childhood performers. Tickets £5.50/£4.

12.30pm The Velveteen Rabbit. Classic kids story-telling. Tickets £5.50/£4concs

2.15pm Patrick Monahan

ITV’s Show Me the Funny winner Patrick Monahan is back with a brand new show called Shooting From

The Lip. Top notch anecdotal stand-up from the loveable Teessider who appeared on this year’s Let’s Dance for

Sport Relief. Tickets £5.50/£4 concs.

4pm Lili La Scala

With a gentle nod to Gracie Fields, Flanders and Swann and many more, this show will raise a

smile as the diminutive diva with the big voice performs a selection of comedic, vintage songs. Tickets £5.50/£4concs.

5.45pm Doug Segal

The mind reader returns. Tickets £5.50/£4concs.

7.30pm Chris Difford and Norman Lovett

Squeeze legend Chris Difford joins forces with Red Dwarf star Norman Lovett for an evening of “song, tall tales and big laughs”. The show charts Chris’s life in rock with Norman providing the deadpan commentary. Tickets £11/£8.50

9.15pm Showstoppers

This award-winning troupe creates a brand new comedy musical at each performance. Audience suggestions spontaneously become an all-singing, all-dancing show on the spot, with unpredictable and hilarious results. The show has played sell-out seasons in London’s West End, and has been a must-see staple of the Edinburgh Fringe for five years. Tickets £11/£8.50concs.

11pm to 12.30amm Snake Davis And His Band

He’s played with some of the biggest stars on the planet and is no stranger to Hull. Snake Davis and his four-piece band see off Saturday night in the Spiegeltent with a late night sax show. Tickets £5.50/£4concs.

Sunday, September 9

12noon, Freedom To Speak

Join Alan Johnson MP and a panel of other speakers for a day of discussion, thought provoking debate and a trawl through the Sunday papers, in “a cross between Question Time, What The Papers Say and brunch down the pub”.

Afternoon. An afternoon programme of music presented by Beverley Folk Festival. Times and tickets prices tbc.

CIRCUS RONALDO

Circus Ronaldo, in the Humber Street car park, next to the Ruscador pub,

This family circus show will perform their new love story Amortale at the Freedom Festival, nightly at 8pm, from Thursday, September 6, to Saturday, September 8.

The show is described as “a tale of love, with all the mixed emotions of passion, disappointment and shared

hilarity that love can provoke”.

Tickets cost £10 adult, £7.50 concessions, £25 for a family ticket ( comprising two adults and two children).

Please note this show is not suitable for children under the age of 10

Visit www.circusronaldo.be