Photographer marks 20 years of street festival

A photographer is exhibiting his snaps from the last 20 years at the Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF).

Adam Parkin said he first attended the Teesside street theatre festival "in the womb" when his parents visited in 1991 just days before he was born, adding: "I've been there pretty much every year ever since."

His pictures aim to "capture the moment" from the public's point of view. He said: "I was attending the festival before I started taking photos so it's a continuation of that."

The exhibition, entitled SIRF's Up 2026: 20 Years Photographing the Festival, is at ARC Stockton Arts Centre until 8 August.

"A lot of people describe my photos as realistic because a lot of the time I'll just sit down at the front and watch a show while taking photos of it," he said.

The 34-year-old last exhibited at ARC Stockton Arts Centre a decade ago, covering 10 years of the theatre, dance, music and art acts that descended on the town from across the globe. His new show updated the collection.

Parkin, who is from Stockton, said: "It's just a very community atmosphere, everyone's happy, everyone talks to each other.

"Stockton's such a small town and to have such an international festival... it makes me quite proud actually."

He was inspired to take up photography at the festival after he took part in program called shutterbugs, where young people paid £1 for a disposable camera and were invited to take pictures of the festival.

The photos were developed and put into a competition.

"I don't think I ever won it," Parkin said, but noted people also shared their memories of the initiative in the comments book at his last show.

The photographer has also been a visitor experience ambassador for the festival since 2014, not including the two years it was cancelled due to the pandemic.

He hoped the exhibition would inspire first-time visitors and regulars.

"There's people that attend the festival year in, year out, and I hope for them it's a retrospective look and it brings back a few memories of shows from times gone by.

"But I also hope for newcomers, it shows Stockton in a positive light."

This year's 39th SIRF and will run from Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August.

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